THE

SECULAR

FRANCISCAN

ORDER

 

!  NATURE (IDENTITY)

 

!  STRUCTURE

 

!  ORGANIZATION

 

 

 

NATURE (IDENTITY)

 

!  SECULAR

 

!  FRANCISCAN

 

!  ORDER

   

                                                                  SECULAR

 

!                                             Secular character

 

$                                              In the family

 

$                                              In work and social life

 

$                                              Fraternity with creatures

 

 

SECULAR CHARACTER

 

         After Vatican II

                                                         SFO General Chapter 1993:

            witness:

                     to the sacred in the world

                     to the Incarnation in selves

                     to fraternity

overcome injustices;

                                                            eliminate illiteracy;

                                                            restore the environment.

 

 

IN THE FAMILY

 

                                                         reflect divine love

                                                         promote God’s life-project

                                                         start groups of married couples

                                                         give specific formation

                                                         help families in difficulty

                                                         support political and legal initiatives

 

 

 

IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE

 

                                                         redeem human activities

                                                         spread Christian values

                                                         defend the gift of work

                                                         create places of welcome

                                                         support poor workers

 

 

 

FRATERNITY WITH CREATURES

 

                                                         love all creatures

                                                         point out inconsistencies

                                                         promote ecological debate

                                                         reduce consumption

                                                         avoid waste

                                                         join Franciscan organizations

 

 

 

                                                             FRANCISCAN

 

$                                              Franciscan Spirituality

 

$                                              SFO Rule of life

 

$                                              SFO General Constitutions

 

 

 

                                 FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

 

                                             Called to follow Christ,

                                           in the footsteps of St Francis.

 

                                                   ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

 

!                                                                     Trinitarian

 

!                                                       Incarnational

 

 

 

                                                              TRINITARIAN

 

$                                                         Experience God

             as transcendent Trinity;

            relate to the three Persons.

 

$                                                         Go to God the Father,

            by means of the Son,

            in the light of the Spirit.

 

 

 

                                                          INCARNATIONAL

 

$                                                         experience God

            as immanent in creation

 

$                                                         Christ-centred:

            transcendent Son, incarnated.

 

$                                                         “mad” love for Jesus Christ;

            rediscover Christ and his gospel.

 

 

 

                                           SFO RULE OF LIFE

                                                                          1978

 

                                                      Treats of life situations:

 

                                                                     family

                                                                     work

                                                                     society

                                                                     justice

                                                                     peace

 

 

 

                                        ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF RULE

 

!                                                                     Trinitarian life

!                                                                     Gospel of love

!                                                                     Penance

!                                                       Conversion

 

 

 

                                                             DERIVED ATTITUDES

 

!                                                                     Trust in Providence

!                                                                     Serve Jesus in others

!                                                                     Be aware of the Holy Spirit

 

 

                                          SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS

                                                                          2000

 

!                                                         everything is a creature of God;

!                                                         every person:

            has equal rights, and

is called to holiness;

!                                                         every baptized person:

            is prophet, king, priest, and

            takes part in public worship;

 

  

                                SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS (cont.)

 

!                                                         dialogue at all levels;

!                                                         representative authority;

!                                                         the laity are called into mission;

!                                                         all are to work for a better world.

  

 

                                                                     ORDER

 

                                                    Not religious, but secular.

                                         Canon 303: “third order”:

                                     “The members ... lead an apostolic life”

 

                                                         life according to the Gospel

                                                         includes active apostolic works:

                                                         as an individual

                                                         as a Fraternity

 

 

 

                                        “They strive for Christian perfection”

 

                                                            Sharing with religious:

 

                                                         life

                                                         spirituality

                                                         apostolate

 

 

                                                                “in the world”

 

                                                                    Developing:

 

                                                         secular state in life

                                                         talents

                                                         professional skills

 

 

                                                      “they share in the spirit

                                         of some religious institute”

                                                                             

                                                     Not religious or semi-religious.

 

                                                                      Adopting:

 

                                                         Franciscan spiritual tradition:

experience of God;

                                                         secular expression of charism;

                                                         Rule, General Constitutions, Ritual,

                        approved by Rome.

  

 

                                                  “under the overall direction

                                              of the same institute”

 

                                                          Spiritual assistance:

 

                                                         promotes gospel life,

            fidelity to the charism,

                                                         cooperates in mission

            in society and Church

                                                         promotes unity of Family,

            communion with Church

 

                                                     Spiritual assistance (cont.):

 

                                                                A double service:

 

                                                         overall direction (higher management)

                                                         spiritual animation

 

 

 

STRUCTURE

 

Fraternities:

 

  Local

 

  Regional

 

  National

 

  International, General

 

 

 

                                                      LOCAL FRATERNITY

 

                                                         primary cell;

                                                         canonically established;

                                                         written consent of bishop;

                                                         at least five professed members;

                                                         spiritually assisted by one Order.

 

  

                                                 REGIONAL FRATERNITY

                                                           (e.g., Singapore-Sabah)

 

                                                         union of local Fraternities

                        in a territory;

                                                         constituted by National Council;

                                                         link between local and national;

                                                         Spiritual Assistants cooperate:

            Conference of Regional Assistants.

 

  

                                                 NATIONAL FRATERNITY

                                                                  (e.g., Oceania)

 

                                                         union of regional Fraternities

            in a nation (or more);

                                                         constituted by International Council;

                                                         Spiritual Assistants cooperate:

            Conference of National Assistants

 

  

                                          INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY

                                                                     (The SFO)

 

                                                         union of national Fraternities;

                                                         constituted by Rule

            and General Constitutions;

                                                         Spiritual Assistants cooperate:

            Conference of General Assistants

                                                             

 

                                                          ORGANIZATION

 

                                                         Fraternities and Councils.

 

                                                         Assistants and Conferences.

 

                                                         Friar Ministers and Conferences.

 

                                                         Roman Congregations and Pope.