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Formation Friday May 26, 2023 (Part 6-writings of Francis and Clare)

It is important that we get to know the many writings left to us by our founder. Franciscans are blessed to have many of St. Francis’s and St. Clare’s writings. By reading what they wrote, and praying as they prayed, we allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our vocation and how we live the Franciscan Charism.

“A Letter to the Entire Order” was written between 1225 and 1226, around the time of Francis’ death. It came after papal permission was given for the friars to celebrate the Eucharist in their churches and oratories. Below is a particularly beautiful passage that refers to the Eucharist.

You can read the full letter at this link:

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/a-letter-to-the-entire-order/132-fa-ed-1-page-116

 

A Letter to the Entire Order (portion)

26Let everyone be struck with fear,
let the whole world tremble,
and let the heavens exult
when Christ, the Son of the living God,
is present on the altar in the hands of a priest!
27O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity!
O sublime humility!
O humble sublimity!
The Lord of the universe,
God and the Son of God,
so humbles Himself
that for our salvation
He hides Himself
under an ordinary piece of bread!
28Brothers, look at the humility of God,
and pour out your hearts before Him! Ps 62:9 [Vulgate, Ps 61:9]
Humble yourselves
that you may be exalted by Him! 1 Pt 5:6 Jas 4:10
29Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves,
that He Who gives Himself totally to you
may receive you totally!

Please read the passage above. Read through once. Then prayerfully consider each word and sentence a second time.

  • Choose four words or phrases that touch you deeply. Spend some time thinking about why you chose those words.
  • How does St. Francis regard the Eucharist? What words does he use to get this point across?
  • What does he mean when he speaks of the “humility of God?” What else do you know about God making himself humble?
  • Personal challenge: Spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament this week. How do you address our Lord and Savior? How do you offer yourself to Him Who gives Himself totally to you?

 

 

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Formation Friday 26 de Mayo, 2023 (Parte 6-los escritos de Francisco y Clara)
Por favor compartir con su fraternidad local

 

Es importante que conozcamos los muchos escritos que nos dejó nuestro fundador. Los franciscanos tienen la bendición de tener muchos de los escritos de San Francisco y Santa Clara. Al leer lo que escribieron y orar como ellos oraron, permitimos que el Espíritu Santo fortalezca nuestra vocación y cómo vivimos el carisma franciscano.

 

“Una carta a toda la Orden” fue escrita entre 1225 y 1226, cerca del momento de la muerte de Francisco. Se produjo después de que se dio permiso papal para que los frailes celebraran la Eucaristía en sus iglesias y oratorios. A continuación, hay un pasaje particularmente hermoso que se refiere a la Eucaristía. Puede leer la carta completa en este enlace:

 

Carta a toda la orden

http://franciscanos.org/esfa/ctao.html

 

26¡Tiemble el hombre entero,

que se estremezca el mundo entero,

y que el cielo exulte,

cuando sobre el altar, en las manos del sacerdote,

está Cristo, el Hijo del Dios vivo (Jn 11,27)!

27¡Oh admirable celsitud y asombrosa condescendencia!

¡Oh humildad sublime!

¡Oh sublimidad humilde,

pues el Señor del universo,

Dios e Hijo de Dios,

de tal manera se humilla,

que por nuestra salvación se esconde bajo una pequeña forma de pan!

28Ved, hermanos, la humildad de Dios

y derramad ante él vuestros corazones (Sal 61,9);

humillaos también vosotros

para que seáis ensalzados por él (cf. 1 Pe 5,6; Sant 4,10).

29Por consiguiente, nada de vosotros retengáis para vosotros,

a fin de que os reciba todo enteros

el que se os ofrece todo entero.

 

 

Por favor, lea el pasaje anterior. Léalo una vez. Luego, en oración, considere cada palabra y frase por segunda vez.

 

• Elija cuatro palabras o frases que le conmuevan profundamente. Dedique algo de tiempo a pensar por qué eligió
esas palabras.

• ¿Cómo considera San Francisco la Eucaristía? ¿Qué palabras usa para transmitir este punto?

• ¿Qué quiere decir cuando habla de la “humildad de Dios”? ¿Qué más sabe usted acerca de Dios haciéndose humilde?

• Desafío personal: Pase tiempo en adoración ante el Santísimo Sacramento esta semana. ¿Cómo se dirige a nuestro Señor y Salvador? ¿Cómo se ofrece a Aquel que se entrega totalmente a usted?

 
Diane F. Menditto, OFS
Vice Minister, National Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order USA
Listen – Discern – Go Forth National Theme 2022-2025
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SHAPING THE FRANCISCAN FOOTPRINT – May 18 – May 24 2023

Shaping the Franciscan Footprint

Five Important Spiritual Thoughts from the Liturgy of the Word

…and follow up for the Secular Franciscan

May 18 – May 24

  1 –- “For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God.” (Jn 16:27)

…You are loved with a divine love. What should that do for me?

2 –- “When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.” (Mt 28:17)

…Is my faith as strong as it should be?

3 — He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.  (Acts 19:8)

…Paul had tremendous courage to do this.  Do I have the courage to be a good Franciscan?

4 — Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (Jn17:3)

…This is my spiritual task.  Am I following through?

5 — “Holy Father, keep them in your name.” (Jn 17:11)

…The Lord is praying for me.  Have I responded well in my life?

Special meditation

BEING HERE

 “It is good that we are here.”

(Matthew 17:4)

 

        A Christian should be able to say such a statement every moment of their lives, simply because they are Christian. First of all, God has given us life, and now God through Jesus has given us eternal life. Even right now before the bliss of eternal life, even in the worst of all scenarios, at least we have life and the Holy Spirit continues to work for us. The spirituality of Christianity is thoroughly positive even as negatives happen. We can say the words that were found on one of the walls of the Dachau concentration camp: “I believe in the sun even when it isn’t shining.”  It is with true conviction that we should be able to say, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”

        But there are some things that block our acceptance of that statement.  One of those major blocks is what may be named the “IF ONLYS”:

        – if only I had been born into money, or in Southern California or Florida;

        – if only I had more time;

        – if only I had been a little smarter;

        – if only I had just a couple more breaks;

        – if only I could win the lottery;

        – if only I could have a better job;

        – if only things had not worked out the way they did;

        – if only I were younger;

        – if only I weren’t as old as I am;

        – if only my health could be a little better.

Many people keep saying “if only” and never see what they have right now, and therefore their approach to life becomes essentially negative.

        If we truly believe in God, we believe that it is good for us to be here—right here: this place, this time, this life, this situation, these circumstances. Yes, we can try to make it better, and indeed we should, but we have LIFE and we can live it to the fullest.

New National Database Update

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter Issue #108)

The National Database for the Secular Franciscan Order of the USA is expected to roll out in May 2023.

At the recent National Chapter in October, members of the OFS-USA Database Committee provided a demo of the new database and projected the database would be introduced in the spring.

Two years ago, it was decided by the NEC to initiate a project to replace the existing National Database, which was implemented in older technology and is difficult to maintain and support. The new database is being developed by a team of OFS members guided by a Steering Committee of NEC members.

The National Database contains information about all our members and our fraternities at all levels, as well as other organizations and individuals involved with our Order, such as the Provinces to which our fraternities are bonded, and the Friars and Sisters serving as our Spiritual Assistants.

The software for the new database was selected in June of 2022. Since then, the team has completed the database design, security model, most of the data conversion processes, and most of the user interface.

In late November, the team determined that the Annual Regional Reporting process in the current system would not be able to be updated to accommodate the 2022 reporting cycle (due in early 2023). The committee began building a prototype and is about 80% complete with the database, form and reporting. This was unanticipated, so the estimate for completing the database is extended to May 2023.

The new database will provide all the capability of the existing database, plus several significant enhancements. Aside from being easier to maintain and change, the new database will provide:

  • Online Help Desk for submitting requests, questions and issues
  • Enhanced data extract capability (PDF/Excel downloads)
  • Enhanced ad hoc and standard reporting (print-friendly rosters, directories )
  • Full history capture on key data tables (Organization, Person, Position Assignments)
  • Flexible permissions structure allowing read or write access to multiple fraternities and/or regions
  • Dual membership for members of newly forming groups and emerging fraternities(the sponsoring fraternity and the new group) without double-counting members
  • Separate membership status and profession status to simplify searches
  • Enhanced member search (global search, and search within a fraternity)
  • Implementation of National guidelines for required data based on member status
  • Capture of multiple languages/proficiencies, and interests for a member
  • Multiple addresses for “snow birds”

Contact us at support@ofsusadb.zohodesk.com with questions, comments and suggestions.

DATABASE  DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT TEAM:

Bill Mussatto, OFS                   Bob Herbelin, OFS                   Stephen Shields, OFS
Miriam Kennedy, OFS                                         Michael Hancock, OFS

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2023/05/22/new-national-database-update/

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Formation Friday – May 19, 2023 (Writings of Francis and Clare Part 5)

It is important that we get to know the many writings left to us by St. Francis and St. Clare. Franciscans are blessed to have many of St. Francis’s and St. Clare’s writings. By reading what they wrote, and praying as they prayed, we allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our vocation and how we live the Franciscan Charism.

St. Clare’s Second Letter to Agnes of Prague
Explore the complete letter and more on the website of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition
CA:ED, 47 https://franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/the-second-letter-to-agnes-of-prague/223-ca-ed-1-page-47

What you hold, may you hold,
What you do, may you do and not stop.
12But with swift pace, light step, unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,c
13may you go forward
securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
on the path of prudent happiness,
14believing nothing,
agreeing with nothing
that would dissuade you from this commitment
or would place a stumbling block for you on the way,
so that nothing prevents you from offering
your vows to the Most High in the perfection
to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.

15In all of this, follow the counsel of our venerable father, our Brother Elias, the Minister General, that you may walk more securely in the way of the commands of the Lord.e 16Prize it beyond the advice of the others and cherish it as dearer to you than any gift. 17If anyone has said anything else to you or suggested any other thing to you that might hinder your perfection or that would seem contrary to your

18But as a poor virgin
embrace the poor Christ.

19“Look upon Him Who became contemptible for you,
and follow Him, making yourself contemptible in this world
for Him.
20Most noble Queen,
gaze,
consider,
contemplate
desiring to imitate Your Spouse,

[Who] though more beautiful than the children of men became, for your salvation, the lowest of men, was despised, struck, scourged untold times throughout His entire body, and then died amid the suffering of the Cross.

21If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him.
weeping with Him, you will rejoice with Him;
dying on the cross of tribulation with Him,
you will possess heavenly mansions with Him
among the splendor of the saints
22and in the Book of Life your name will be called glorious among
the peoples.”

  • GAZE: Take some time to gaze at Jesus on the cross.
  • CONSIDER: Put yourself there with Jesus. What was he thinking, feeling? What did he see? Hear?
  • CONTEMPLATE: Inspired by the Holy Spirit, how are you transformed, made different, by this experience?
  • IMITATE: What do you resolve to do in response to this transformation?

 

This letter tells us much about St. Clare, her spiritual thoughts and her strength as the founder of an order.

 

1. As you use St. Clare’s “gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate” describe its impact on your spiritual life.

2. St. Clare is writing to a nun (Agnes of Prague) giving her advice. What can you learn about Clare’s way of dealing with the world?

3. What spiritual advice does she give to Sister Agnes? How can we apply this to our spiritual lives?

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Formation Friday – 19 de mayo de 2023 (En español abajo)
Por Favor compartir con su fraternidad local

lo que tienes, hagas lo que haces, y no lo dejes (cf. Cant 3,4), 12sino que, con andar apresurado, con paso ligero, sin que tropiecen tus pies, para que tus pasos no recojan siquiera el polvo, 13segura, gozosa y alegre, marcha con prudencia por el camino de la felicidad, 14no creyendo ni consintiendo a nadie que quiera apartarte de este propósito o que te ponga algún obstáculo en el camino (cf. Rom 14,13) para que no cumplas tus votos al Altísimo (cf. Sal 49,14) en aquella perfección a la que te ha llamado el Espíritu del Señor.

15Y en esto, para que recorras con mayor seguridad el camino de los mandamientos del Señor (cf. Sal 118,32), sigue el consejo de nuestro venerable padre, nuestro hermano Elías, ministro general; 16antepónlo a los consejos de los demás y considéralo como más preciado para ti que cualquier otro don. 17Y si alguien te dijera otra cosa o te sugiriera otra cosa, que impida tu perfección o que parezca contraria a la vocación divina, aunque debas venerarlo, no quieras, sin embargo, seguir su consejo, 18sino, virgen pobre, abraza a Cristo pobre.

19Míralo hecho despreciable por ti y síguelo, hecha tú despreciable por Él en este mundo. 20Reina nobilísima, mira atentamente, considera, contempla, deseando imitarlo, a tu Esposo, el más hermoso de los hijos de los hombres (cf. Sal 44,3), que, por tu salvación, se ha hecho el más vil de los hombres, despreciado, golpeado y flagelado de múltiples formas en todo su cuerpo, muriendo en medio de las mismas angustias de la cruz.

21Si sufres con Él, reinarás con Él; si lloras con Él, gozarás con Él; si mueres con Él en la cruz de la tribulación, poseerás con Él las mansiones celestes en el esplendor de los santos (cf. Rom 8, 17; 2 Tim 2,12.11; 1 Cor 12,26; Sal 109,3), 22y tu nombre será inscrito en el libro de la vida (cf. Flp 4,3; Ap 3,5), y será glorioso entre los hombres. 23Por lo cual, participarás para siempre y por los siglos de los siglos, de la gloria del reino celestial a cambio de las cosas terrenas y transitorias, de los bienes eternos a cambio de los perecederos, y vivirás por los siglos de los siglos.
http://www.franciscanos.org/esscl/ctacla2.html

  • MIRAR ATENTAMENTE: Tómese un tiempo para mirar atentamente a Jesús en la cruz.
  • CONSIDERAR: Póngase ahí con Jesús. ¿Qué estaba pensando, sintiendo? ¿Qué vio? ¿Qué oyó?
  • CONTEMPLAR: Inspirado por el Espíritu Santo, ¿está transformado, hecho diferente, por esta experiencia?
  • IMITAR: ¿Qué decide hacer en respuesta a esta transformación?

Esta carta nos dice mucho sobre Santa Clara, sus pensamientos espirituales y su fortaleza como fundadora de una orden.

 

1. A medida que usa el “mirar, considerar, contemplar e imitar” de St. Clare, describa su impacto en su vida espiritual.

2. Santa Clara le escribe a una monja (Inés de Praga) dándole un consejo. ¿Qué puede aprender sobre la forma en que Clara se relaciona con el mundo?

3. ¿Qué consejo espiritual le da ella a la hermana Inés? ¿Cómo podemos aplicar esto a nuestra vida espiritual?

 
Diane F. Menditto, OFS
Vice Minister, National Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order USA
Listen – Discern – Go Forth National Theme 2022-2025

 

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SHAPING THE FRANCISCAN FOOTPRINT – May 11 – May 17 2023

Shaping the Franciscan Footprint

Five Important Spiritual Thoughts from the Liturgy of the Word

…and follow up for the Secular Franciscan

May 11 – May 17

  1 — “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

           The chaplain told this true story: it was the story of one of the patients he once had in long-term care in the VA hospital where he worked. The veteran went by the name of “Vet” because he always referred to himself as “the veteran of the war.” The war was Vietnam and he was angry about it. It had ruined him—he was physically wounded although not that badly—but his real problem was: he had come home, he thought, to a world that did not receive him well. He felt his country was unkind; he felt his family was part of the problem. He began to abuse them, verbally mainly, but sometimes physically. Eventually his wife and child left, refusing even to talk with him. He had tried to explain, but they never came back and he became even more bitter than he was.

           The chaplain explained that “Vet” began to change a little when he received a series of anonymous one-line notes on postcards in the mail. The line read “You are responsible for what you do” with the word you underlined. The post cards were mailed from different cities on Monday or Tuesday of each week and always the same—sometimes printed, sometimes written, sometimes typed. They kept coming for over a year and he finally began to understand some things in his life and began to change not completely, but a little. He finally found out that his wife was responsible for the postcards; they did get back together briefly before she died. But he finally began to understand that he could not blame a place or a war for his anger. He ultimately was responsible for who he was and what he did, but before he understood it, he had to have it placed bluntly in front of him.

                 “Vet” needed a blunt statement from his wife before he began to understand. Only then could he change his ways. You and I often need blunt statements that shake us out of our complacency to make us see what we are doing. For example, arguably the primary directive that Jesus gave us while he was here on earth was to love one another. It is a relatively blunt statement that should make us understand this idea of love of others:

           Love one another as I love you.

Think of that: “as I love you” is a divine love, therefore much deeper than a human love and that is the love we should have for one another.

           We have all heard that plea to love from Jesus and the Scripture hundreds of times, but, let’s face it, people are still not as loving as they should be. In fact, there continue to be situations where there is a lack of love. That is certainly true on a national / international level: Christian people who are not loving. But perhaps on our own level, we are not loving the way we should: in our work place, our family, our home, our lives, and these words should apply to us. But often they do nothing—we just listen to them, and say “I wish so and so would listen” or “I’m doing this already” or “My circumstances are different.” It seems that the Lord can do nothing to get us to understand that he is talking to us.

           One rather negative spiritual author says simply that Christian people in America have lost their spark; that we are just going through the motions without any hope that their spiritual lives will catch fire. We need a shock to our system so that we can catch fire.

           The question becomes then: what will it take to make us understand that we have to love others? We will not have anyone like “Vet’s” wife because probably no one will take the time to do it. And so basically, Christians have to rely on the power of Jesus’ words—and that should be enough for a Christian. We must really hear Jesus’ directive maybe for the first time: if you are a Christian, you must love everyone, no exceptions.

           There was a popular song a couple of years ago that was a normal love song, but the title was a good one. The title was “Let Love In.” Perhaps we should look at love of others and then allow ourselves to be shocked. Imagine that Jesus comes up to us right now, points his finger at us, and says: there is love lacking in your life—you are the man / woman. Now is the time to let love in.

 

2 — “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. (Jn 15:26)

…The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.  Do I consider myself to be a person who always tells the truth?

 

3 –- “And when he comes he will convict the world.”  (Jn 16:8)

…Have I allowed the world to have too much of a hold in my life?

 

4 – “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (Jn 14:18)

…When I am lonely, I must understand that the Lord through the Spirit is with me.

 

5 — But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. (Jn 16:13)

…Again, Jesus has us think about the truth.  I might take the opportunity to ask forgiveness for the times when I have not been truthful.

 

www.frmikescully.com

www.thegospelandme.com

 

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Juan de Padilla