FORMATION FRIDAY – What are the Admonitions of Francis?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  

Ever wonder how to begin a good formation lesson about the Admonitions of Francis?  Well, today, the NFC gives us a great start on Admonitions 15- 18.    The first link takes us to the Franciscan Tradition website – full of free resources – All of the Sources, (Francis the Saint/Prophet/Founder, and much more).  And it also shows the translation of all in Latin (the language the devil hates according to exorcist!)   The simple lesson below is an easy way to get into a big topic and several big books.  The National Formation Commission breaks it down into small enough parts so that you can really discuss the admonitions and what they means to you.  Hope that you will share this within your fraternities.  Peace, Dona

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Focus on the Admonitions  (XV, XVII, XVIII) 

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/the-admonitions/144-fa-ed-1-page-128

[XV: Peace]

¹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ^{Mt 5:9}

²Those people are truly peacemakers who, regardless of what they suffer in this world, preserve peace of spirit and body out of love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[XVII: The Humble Servant of God]

¹Blessed is that servant ^{Mt 24:46} who no more exalts himself over the good the Lord says or does through him than over what He says or does through another.

²A person sins who wishes to receive more from his neighbor than what he wishes to give of himself to the Lord God.

[XVIII: Compassion for a Neighbor]^a

¹Blessed is the person who supports his neighbor in his weakness as he would want to be supported were he in a similar situation. ^{Gal 6:2  Mt 7:12}

²Blessed is the servant who returns every good to the Lord God because whoever holds onto something for himself hides the money of his Lord ^{Mt 25:18} God within himself, and what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.

To discuss or answer in your journal:

• How does Admonition XV inspire me in my dealings with others? (Family; friends; on social media; in political discussions)
• How does Admonition XVII speak to those of us who are servant leaders or those who aspire to offer service to the Order? What are the qualities of a servant leader who gives him/herself to God?
• How does Admonition XVIII  encourage us in our outreach to those who are less fortunate than we are? Which Franciscan qualities do we need to fulfill this Admonition?                                   

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Enfoque en las admoniciones de San Francisco  (XV, XVII, XVIII)

http://www.franciscanos.org/esfa/adm-ae.html

[Cap.. XV: De la paz]

¹Bienaventurados los pacíficos, porque serán llamados hijos de Dios (Mt 5,9). ²Son verdaderamente pacíficos aquellos que, con todo lo que padecen en este siglo, por el amor de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, conservan la paz en el alma y en el cuerpo.

[Cap.. XVII: Del humilde siervo de Dios]

¹Bienaventurado aquel siervo (Mt 24,46) que no se exalta más del bien que el Señor dice y obra por medio de él, que del que dice y obra por medio de otro. ²Peca el hombre que quiere recibir de su prójimo más de lo que él no quiere dar de sí al Señor Dios.

[Cap.. XVIII: De la compasión del prójimo]

¹Bienaventurado el hombre que soporta a su prójimo según su fragilidad en aquello en que querría ser soportado por él, si estuviera en un caso semejante (Gál 6,2; Mt 7,12). ²Bienaventurado el siervo que devuelve todos los bienes al Señor Dios, porque quien retiene algo para sí, esconde en sí el dinero de su Señor Dios (Mt 25,18), y lo que creía tener se le quitará (Lc 8,18).

Para platicar o contestar en su diario:

• ¿Cómo me inspira la Admonición XV en mi trato con los demás? (Familia; amigos; en las redes sociales; en discusiones políticas)

• ¿Cómo nos habla la Admonición XVII a quienes somos líderes servidores o quienes aspiramos a ofrecer servicio a la Orden? ¿Cuáles son las cualidades de un líder servidor que se entrega a Dios?

• ¿Cómo nos anima la Admonición XVIII en nuestro alcance a aquellos que son menos afortunados que nosotros? ¿Qué cualidades franciscanas necesitamos para cumplir esta Admonición?