(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2022 Issue #106)

by Mary Bittner, OFS

Consider the following question, suggested as part of a recent discussion on synodality:

• What could be the best contribution we, as Secular Franciscans, can make to the life of the Catholic Church?

You might want to keep in mind that our Franciscan charism is a gift that is meant to be shared with the wider Church.

Got your answer? Here’s what Pope St. John Paul II had to say in 2002:

“The Church expects from you, Secular Franciscans, a courageous and consistent testimony of Christian and Franciscan life, leaning towards the construction of a more fraternal and gospel world for the realization of the Kingdom of God. ….

You are called on to give your own contribution, inspired by the person and message of St. Francis of Assisi, in speeding up the advent of a civilization in which the dignity of the human person, co-responsibility and love will be a living reality (Cfr. Gaudium et Spes 31). You must deepen the true foundations of the worldwide Fraternity and create everywhere the spirit of welcome and the atmosphere of brotherliness. Commit yourselves firmly against all forms of exploitation, discrimination and marginalization, and against all attitudes of indifference towards others.

You Secular Franciscans, by vocation, live belonging to the Church and to society as inseparable realities. Therefore, you are asked, above all else, to bear personal witness before all in the environment in which you live: …in your associations with all men and women, brothers and sisters of the same Father; in your presence and participation in the life of society; in your fraternal relationships with all creatures.”[1]

You can probably see where the Pope’s call for fraternity was coming from. The “spirit of welcome and atmosphere of brotherliness” he cited 20 years ago is even more sorely lacking in society today. Instead we see polarization, politically and even within the Church. “Brotherliness” is apparently irrelevant.

“Our society is very unchristian in this matter of brotherliness. We often condemn our society as being unchristian because of immodesty or sexual license, but it is equally unchristian because it has no place for brotherliness in public affairs. Public life is a matter of rights and duties, and society saves itself from collapse by balancing them. But if anyone should suggest that we must think of the needs of others and give up our rights in order to serve them, he would be laughed out of court. Yet this is the actual Gospel challenge. When we view our relationship with another from the angle of his duties and our rights, we actually move away from the Gospel spirit.” [2]

I think Pope St. John Paul II would agree.

Questions for Discussion

1. Is our public life simply a matter of rights and duties? Should it be?
2. Is thinking of the needs of others and giving up our rights to serve them the actual Gospel challenge, or part of it? What would happen if we began to do that publicly? How might people respond? Are you willing to try it?
3. Which articles of our Rule address fraternity in the sense of brotherliness?
4. This article has highlighted fraternity as something the OFS has to offer the Church. There are certainly other possibilities. What elements of the Franciscan charism would you choose

[1] Address to the 10th General Chapter of the OFS 2002

[2] Finbarr Connolly, C.SS.R. God and Man in Modern Spirituality (Christian Classics, Inc., Westminster, MD 1984)

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2022/09/05/fraternity-life-fraternity-our-secular-franciscan-witness/

By Carolyn Townes, OFS,  National Animator

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, U.S. Secular Franciscan Order

“Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures,” prayed Francis of Assisi, well before the Season of Creation began. With this simple but profound prayer, he has encouraged believers of many generations to recognize creation as the fruit of God’s eternal Love.

The Season of Creation (#SOC) is an annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home. We listen and respond to the cry of creation as one Christian community.

The Season of Creation is a period that brings together the entire Christian community worldwide to pray and take action for the care of the environment. It begins on September 1^st with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and ends on October 4^th with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It was established by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I, in 1989, when he proclaimed September 1^st as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation. Years later, the World Council of Churches (WCC) extended the celebration to October 4^th, the day on which St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment, is celebrated. For his part, in 2015 Pope Francis made the Season of Creation official for the Roman Catholic Church.

This year’s theme is “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”

The Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (19: 1-4) Creation never ceases to proclaim, but do we listen?

During the pandemic, many have become familiar with the concept of being muted in conversations. Many voices are muted in public discourse around climate change and the ethics of Earth-keeping. These are voices of those who suffer the impacts of climate change. (From the Invitation for Season of Creation)

Please use this Season of Creation to PRAY, REFLECT, LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF CREATION, and ADVOCATE. Remember, the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized are those who are most affected by the ravages of environmental degradation. Taking action during this Season is living out our Catholic faith and Franciscan call. Will you, like John the Baptist, be a voice crying out for creation?

Attached please find my annual prayers for the Season of Care for Creation based on St. Francis’ own Canticle of Creation and the prayer from Laudato Si’. Also the Season of Creation Celebration Guide is attached for your convenience. I have also added Mother Cabrini Regional JPIC Animator, Michael Huck’s “What If” Goals for Caring for Creation, which is a wonderful resource to use with your families, fraternities, and faith communities.

On August 31st at 2pm Eastern, 11am Pacific, join the Missionary Society of St. Columban for a prayer service to celebrate the beginning of the Season of Creation.

For more information and resources, please visit the Season of Creation website.

Thank you for your love and care of our Sister Mother Earth and to one another.

May the Lord continue to give you peace.

Additional resources Franciscan Resources:

What If Goals for Care of Creation SOC-2022-Celebration-Guide-Final-English Franciscan Season of Caring for Creation

SOC-2022-Celebration-Guide-Final-English

Franciscan Season of Caring for Creation

Did You Hear That?  It’s the Voice of Creation

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2022/08/29/season-of-creation-opens-with-celebrations-prayer/