(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2026  Issue #118)

By Diane Menditto, OFS • National Vice Minister

As Secular Franciscans, we are called not only to profess our faith but to exemplify it in our daily lives. Our Rule reminds us that our vocation is rooted in Baptism and strengthened at Profession, where the Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim Christ by both word and example. This integration of faith and action is demonstrated through the fruits of the Spirit, our commitment to the Rule, and our personal witness.

The Fruits of the Spirit as Daily Witness

St. Paul reminds us: “By their fruits you will know them” (Matt 7:16). Joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23) are visible signs of the Spirit at work in us. When we live our Rule faithfully, these fruits blossom and become the way others encounter Christ. Joy is the enduring awareness of God’s mercy. Patience allows us to listen and nurture others rather than control them. Self-control helps us self-edit when we are angry. In this way, daily conversion becomes a proclamation of the Gospel.

Who Do We Say We Are?

Articles 4 – 10 of our Rule remind us that we are:

+Followers of the Gospel (Art. 4)

+Seekers of Christ (Art. 5)

+Witnesses and instruments of His mission (Art. 6)

+Penitential people seeking daily conversion (Art. 7)

+Prayerful and contemplative (Art. 8)

+Givers of ourselves (Art. 9)

+Witnesses to the poor and crucified Christ, even in difficulties (Art. 10)

These articles guide us so that we move from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel. They challenge us to risk living differently, to see Christ in those who seem unlovable, and to proclaim His mission through both speech and silence. Daily conversion, prayer, and self-emptying generosity are the hallmarks of our Franciscan identity.

Living Detachment and Justice

Articles 11–18 extend this vision outward, calling us to be detached from possessions and power (Art. 11), pure of heart (Art. 12), and accepting of others (Art. 13). We are summoned to build a fraternal and evangelical world (Art. 14), promote justice (Art. 15), and share in the creation and redemption of the human community (Art. 16). As peacemakers (Arts. 17 and 19) and lovers of all creation (Art. 18), we embody Francis’ vision of universal kinship. Detachment here is not only from material goods but from personal agendas, allowing us to listen with empathy. Justice is rooted in dialogue and the dignity of every person. Stewardship of creation flows naturally from our love of the Creator.

But What Do You Do?

When asked, our answer must reflect both identity and action. We are peacemakers who listen rather than sow discord. We care for creation as stewards of God’s gifts. We stand with the poor, not only serving but working to improve their lives. We cultivate relationships, welcome the stranger, and live simply, detached from possessions and recognition. We are generous, joyful, kind, gentle, and merciful, supporting the mission of the Church and evangelizing through example. In short, we bring our baptismal commitment to life with a Franciscan flavor, consciously promising to live the Gospel as St. Francis did.

Integrating Faith and Action

Faith without action can become sterile; action without faith can be self-serving. Our Rule, nourished by the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, integrates the two.

To integrate faith and action is to allow the Spirit to soften our hearts, to plant seeds in us, to nourish them through prayer and conversion, and to let them bear fruit in Franciscan service, justice, and joy. In this way, our daily lives become a proclamation of the Gospel, a rebuilding of the Church, and a living testimony that faith and action are inseparable.

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2025  Issue #117)

By Mary Frances Charsky, OFS  • International Councilor

Among the many treasures of our Franciscan heritage, few words echo more deeply than the closing line of the Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “It is in giving that we receive.” These words are not merely poetic; they are a spiritual truth lived out in the quiet generosity of countless souls who embody Gospel love. Today, we reflect on one such soul: Christine Gmeiner, whose final act of giving has blessed the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States in a profound and humbling way.

Christine’s bequest came without fanfare, without stipulation, and without expectation. Her estate offered a generous gift to the National Fraternity with no strings attached, no instructions, and no conditions. It was a pure offering, given in the spirit of trust and love. In receiving it, we are reminded that the most powerful gifts are often those that flow freely from the heart, echoing the selfless love of Christ.

This act of generosity invites us to pause and consider the deeper meaning of giving. In our Franciscan way of life, giving is not transactional, it is transformational. When we offer kindness, compassion, and resources to others without seeking recognition or reward we open ourselves to the grace of spiritual fulfillment. We receive not material compensation but something far greater: inner peace, joy, and a deeper connection with God’s love.

Christine’s gift is more than a financial blessing; it is a spiritual invitation. It calls us to reflect on how we, as brothers and sisters in the Secular Franciscan Order, might embody the same spirit of generosity. How might we use this gift to further the mission of our Order? How might we honor Christine’s legacy by becoming instruments of peace, channels of love, and bearers of hope?

The absence of specific instructions with this bequest invites us to listen to the Holy Spirit, to one another, and to the needs of our communities. Whether we use it to support vocations, outreach, youth, or the strengthening of fraternal bonds, may every decision be rooted in prayer and guidance by the values we hold dear.

Let us receive Christine’s gift with gratitude and reverence. Let it inspire us to give more freely, to love more deeply, and to serve more joyfully. Let us honor her memory not only with words, but with action. May her gift bear fruit in the lives of many, and may we too, be inspired to give without counting the cost, trusting that in giving, we truly receive.

For those who feel moved to continue a legacy of generosity, donations to support the work of the OFS in the United States are warmly welcome.

To learn more or to make a contribution or bequest in support of the Secular Franciscan Order for a Local, Regional, National or International Fraternity please contact:

Secular Franciscan Order-USA5000 Colerain AveCincinnati, Ohio 45223-1213

Email: info@secularfranciscansusa.org Website: www.secularfranciscansusa.org

1-800-FRANCIS

Let us continue to give with open hearts, trusting that in every act of love, we receive the grace of God. Let us pray for Christine and for the Gmeiner Bequest Task Force established in her honor. May Christine rest eternally in peace.