Category: Formation Friday

Open post

Formation Friday – Prayer is Fundamental – graphic attached May 8, 2020

Please share with your local fraternities
 
The bedrock of the Secular Franciscan life is prayer

 

• Rule Article 8

 

Jesus was the true worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do. Let them participate in the sacramental life of the Church, above all the Eucharist. Let them join in liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by the Church reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ.

 

• The bedrock of the Secular Franciscan life is prayer, stemming from the example Jesus has given us in the Gospels.
 
 
• Jesus prayed before, after, and during each encounter of his day.

 

• He never moved into action without first being present to and communicating with his Father.

 

• It is this example that we are to follow.

 

All that Secular Franciscans are and do stems from this communication with God.

 

From the FUN MANUAL

 

Prayer is Fundamental
 
• Franciscan life focuses on

 

• The Trinity (God desires to relate to us—the love shared by the Trinity overflows to us )

 

• The Incarnation (The Word made flesh–”The Humility of God”)

 

• Love (Our prayerfulness leads to loving actions)

 

Francis, through his prayerful relationship with Jesus, grew in his love for everyone. Like Jesus, Francis is willing to give his life for the sake of other people. This is the ordinary result of a prayerful spirit. It seeks the spirit of Jesus and is responsive to the Holy Spirit.

 

(See Ilia Delio, OSF, Franciscan Prayer p. 6—quoted in the Franciscan Journey)
 
+What part does prayer play in your daily activities and decisions?

 

+What is the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?

 

+Describe your personal communication with God.

 
 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

 

Prayer-is-Bedrock..jpg
 
 
Open post

Formation Friday – Mary, Protectress of Our Order May 1st, 2020

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy feast of St. Joseph the Worker!
Hopefully, we will be able to gather in person this May (not just on Zoom!).
Today’s Formation Friday might be a good way to begin May’s formation with a tribute to our Mother. Peace, Dona
____________________________________________________________________________
 
Mary Protectress of the Order (En español abajo)

 

“The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his every word and call.
She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family.

 

The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently”
 
(Rule, Article 9)

 

Mary, Mother of Jesus, is the model of listening to the Word and of faithfulness to vocations.
We, like Francis, seek all the gospel virtues realized in her.
 
The brothers and sisters should cultivate intense love for the most holy virgin, imitation, prayer, and filial abandonment.
They should manifest their own devotion with expressions of genuine faith, in forms accepted by the Church.
 
Mary is the model of fruitful and faithful love for the entire ecclesial community.
Secular Franciscans and their fraternities should seek to live the experience of Francis,
who made the Virgin the guide of his activity.
With her, like the disciples at Pentecost, they should welcome the Spirit to create a community of love.
(SFO Constitutions: Article 16.1, .2)
 
Questions for Sharing and Discussion

 

• What qualities of Mary are attractive to you?
 
• What is Mary’s role in our lives and in the life of the Church?
 
• What is the goal of devotion to Mary? How do you discern whether your devotion to Mary supports your Franciscan life?

 

• What example does Mary set for us as Secular Franciscans?

 

María Protectora de la Orden
 
 
“La Virgen María, humilde sierva del Señor, siempre atenta a su palabra y a todas sus mociones, fue para San Francisco centro de indecible amor, y por él declarada Protectora y Abogada de su familia.
 
Los Franciscanos seglares den testimonio de su ardiente amor hacia Ella, por la imitación de su disponibilidad incondicional, y en la efusión de una confiada y consciente oración.”
 
(Regla, Artículo 9)
 
María, Madre de Jesús, es el modelo para escuchar la Palabra y ser fieles a la vocación: en Ella, como Francisco, vemos realizadas todas las virtudes evangélicas.
 
Los hermanos cultiven el amor intenso a la Santísima Virgen, la imitación, la oración y la entrega filial. Manifiesten la propia devoción con expresiones de fe genuina en las formas aceptadas por la Iglesia.
 
María es modelo de amor fecundo y fiel para toda la comunidad eclesial. Los franciscanos seglares y las Fraternidades busquen vivir la experiencia de Francisco, que hizo de la Virgen guía de su vida y de su obra; con Ella, como los discípulos en Pentecostés, acojan el Espíritu para realizarse en comunidad de amor.
(Constituciones Generales de la OFS: Artículo 16.1, .2)
Para compartir y discutir
 
• ¿Qué cualidades de María son atractivas para ti?

 

• ¿Cuál es el papel de María en nuestras vidas y en la vida de la Iglesia?

 

• ¿Cuál es el objetivo de la devoción a María? ¿Cómo discernir si su devoción a María apoya su vida franciscana?

 

• ¿Qué ejemplo nos da María como franciscanos seglares?
 

 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission
Mary-Protectress-1.jpg
Mary-Protectress-2.jpg
 
 
Open post

Formation Friday – plus 2 attachments Apr 24, 2020

Prologue of our Rule
Exhortation of Saint Francis to the Brothers and Sisters in Penance
In the name of the Lord!
Please read Chapters 1 and 2 of the Prologue to our Rule at this link:
https://secularfranciscansusa.org/the-rule-of-the-secular-franciscan-order/
 
Prologue
Integral part of the Rule
•       We are called to accept penance and conversion
•       Called to a turn-around in our lives
•       Called to turn from self-centeredness

•       Love becomes as vital to us as it does to the Trinity

 

Those who do not do Penance
•       Those who refuse to accept the call to conversion
•       They are “blind”
•       Ignore the Gospel
•       The light that is Jesus
•       They walk in the dark

They are deceived by a selfish spirit

For thought and Discussion

•       What impressed you about the Prologue to the Rule?
•       What effect does reading the Prologue to our Rule have on your life in particular? How can you put it into practice?
•       How is conversion a life-long process?

 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

 

Prologue-1.jpg
Prologue-2.jpg
 
 
Open post

Formation Friday (with attachment) Apr 17, 2020

 
Examine your Love and Commitment

 

• CONVERSION: the letting go of one’s ego…”

 

• “One is dying to a false self that tries to BE God, that tries to always be in control.”

 

• This is a reversal, a “TURNING TOWARD” the Holy Spirit at work within us.

 

– Francis and Jesus by Murray Bodo, OFM

 

1- Prayerfully participate in electing and supporting my local Council.

 

• Pray for them every day
• Use my God-given talents to collaborate on and assist with all projects.
 
What are some ways I can support my Councill?
Do I have talents and abilities that call me to serve on the Council?
 
2- Love my fraternity

 

• Be present at gatherings.
• Listen to my brothers and sisters.
• Offer to help out
• Reach out to excused members or to anyone who has missed a meeting. (Phone, email, card).
• Pray for our deceased members and for all those listed on the Prayer list
• Take note that for Franciscans, fraternity is a way of life (not just another “thing to do”).
 
What talents do I have to offer my fraternity?
Do I participate willingly in fraternity activities?
 
3- Love our Rule

 

• Be sure that I am aware of what I promised at profession.
• Read, pray and meditate on the Rule—perhaps one or two articles each day.
• Think about how the Rule leads me closer to Christ.
 
When was the last time I read the Rule?
Do I relate the Rule to my everyday life?
 
4- Love Scripture

 

• Be aware that St. Francis based everything he said or wrote on Scripture.
• Resolve to read a little Scripture each day.
• Pray the Liturgy of the Hours because it helps me pray in fraternity (with the entire Church) and is filled with Scripture.
 
Do I read Scripture each day?
Do I go from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel?
 
5- Strive for daily conversion

 

• Attempt to be a little better each day.
• Make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Remember that we are the “Brothers and Sisters of Penance.”
 
Do I review my actions and relationship with God each day?
How have I changed since I first became a Franciscan? How have I changed since last week?
 
BEST FOR LAST

 

6- Love the Eucharist and be changed by it
• Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days and every day if I can
• Take advantage of opportunities for Adoration—holy hours or just a visit to the tabernacle
 
What is my relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist?
Do I often visit with Jesus when there is an opportunity to attend Adoration?

 

 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

 

Conversion-and-Commitment.jpg
 
 
Open post

Formation Friday – The Cross of San Damiano Apr 12, 2020

Formation Friday – Good Friday 2020 (Important graphic attached)

Pray – Learn – Reflect
 
San Damiano Cross
 
Reflections on The Cross of San Damiano
By Patrick McNamara, OFM, Cap.
 
I look to the Cross, I gaze upon its figure,
I wait, I listen, I hope.
 
Will you speak, will you move, will I be moved.
 
Will you once again touch the heart of one who seeks.
Of one who questions, of one who seems so lost.
 
Will you embrace the soul, as you did that of Francis.
Will you take it to Yourself.
 
Will you give it peace, give it comfort, give it love
 
This soul waits, listens, prays for such grace.
This soul seeks the Love from the Lover.
 
It wavers. It stumbles. It falls.
 
Your gaze looks down, embraces all.
Takes all, Loves All. Your Grace heals, accepts.
 
Again you respond, Again you Love.
Again you speak to a searching and troubled heart. I turn.
I continue the journey. I continue in Hope.
I too have heard you Speak.
 
Read about the San Damiano Cross
https://secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/The-San-Damiano-Crucifix-8-page-explanation.pdf
 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

 


__,_._,___

 

 

 

 

—

Peace and blessings, 
Dona Gibbons OFS
Regional Formation Director

 

 

Good-Friday-San-Damiano.jpg
 
 
Scroll to top
Juan de Padilla