Tel and fax: 0039-06.972.70.312e-mail ciofs@ciofs.org
Madrid, June 18, 2006
Feast of Corpus Christi
Circ. 42/02-08
To the SFO National Councils
To the SFO and YouFra International Councilors
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!
On this special day, in which the Holy Father invites us to “.........express the love and the faith of the Christian community for his Lord present in the Eucharist....., we must feel particularly called to participate in the Adoration of Jesus Eucharist, remembering “the respect and love shown by Francis, who in the Eucharist, lived all the mysteries of the life of Christ” (Gen. Const. 14.2).
I am pleased to inform you that, in its last meeting of April 2006, the CIOFS Presidency decided that the Secular Franciscan Order will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, from November 17, 2006 to November 17, 2008. Yes, you read correctly – we will dedicate two years to our Patron so that we can get to know her well and live her Franciscan and secular spirituality of a young spouse and mother, who did not hesitate to take on heavy government responsibilities in her “reign”, achieving, through love and dedication (in a very difficult situation for a woman), the mission that we speak so much about today.
We intend to celebrate this centenary in two phases:
ü the first year, from November 17, 2006, to November 17, 2007, together with the entire Family of the Third Order, supported and accompanied by the First Order, will be dedicated to learning more about the spirituality of Saint Elizabeth;
ü the second year, from November 17, 2007 to November 17, 2008, will be celebrated especially by the SFO and will be dedicated to going into further detail on the secularity of our vocation, inspiring ourselves to our Patron.
On February 23, 2007, a Historical Congress on Saint Elizabeth will be celebrated at the “Antonianum” Pontifical University.
For both these years there will be a small guidebook available with all the most significant events to help us focus on reflections shared by the entire Order.
For the whole duration of the centenary, a spiritual thought on Saint Elizabeth and a brief reflection on the concrete life of Secular Franciscans today will be published monthly in our Web page <ciofs.org>.
To co-ordinate and animate the centenary celebrations, the CIOFS Presidency created a Commission formed by:
ü Lori Pieper, United States
ü Tibor Kauser, International Councilor of Hungary
ü Francesco and Antonello Mattiocco, a couple belonging to the Fraternity of the deacons of Rome
ü a member of the German SFO
ü Xavi Ramos, CIOFS Presidency Councilor
ü an SFO General Assistant.
ü Barbara Bonauer
On the basis of the indications of the Presidency, this Commission will offer us guidelines to ensure that the centenary of Saint Elizabeth is not merely focused on the celebrations, but is, instead, characterized by a marked sense of formation and personal and community interiorization on the fundamental aspects of our Christian, Franciscan and secular vocation and our mission in this important historical moment.
Later on, with the suggestions of the Commission, we will provide further information on this event. Let’s get prepared to start!
Yours fraternally,
Encarnación del Pozo
SFO General Minister
