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”:
‚ 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
Spiritual assistance:
‚ promotes gospel life,
fidelity
to the charism,
‚ cooperates in mission
in
society and Church
‚ promotes unity of Family,
communion
with Church
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.