SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 1 - N. 16 - 1995 - November - II
From: CIOFS Bulletin, 1995, N. 2
Emerenziana Rossato
Last time we spoke about Vocation as being a free gift from God to us. Now we shall take a look at the Profession which is the reply to the vocation.
Each is a part of the same mysterious relationship that proceeds from God to man, that advances from His call to meet our answer and in the latter there is also the intervention of His providential Love. A Love that calls us to be his followers in Francis' footsteps: an uphill climb, often difficult, not always clear, but which brings us closer to the Lord every day. The Profession is the "solemn ecclesial act by which the candidate, remembering the call received from Christ, renews the baptismal promises and publicly affirms his or her personal commitment to live the Gospel in the world according to the example of St. Francis and following the Rule of the SFO" (CC.GG. art.42).
The responsibilities for ourselves and for others come from this Profession.
For us: this reply concerns our whole person - body and soul - in the environment in which we work, in the situations we live, and in our civil status in which we find ourselves.
For others: The Profession makes us be born into the Fraternity through reciprocal involvement; we are brought into the Franciscan Family which welcomes us as children; we make a promise to the Church which receives us and guarantees the professed and establishes a stronger link with him or her.
If the full importance had not been well understood at the time, it is advisable to renew it to recuperate the validity in continual conversion and to acquire a renewed act of fidelity.
The promise should also be repeated in moments of difficulty, and when we become aware that in time its importance to us has dwindled. It might be helpful to remember the fascinating people who have been faithful: the Saints, the Witnesses and many of our brothers and sisters who are shining examples of faith, coherence and faithfulness to the Franciscan ideal.
Most of the evils that afflict the Church and the whole world and which weaken a good part of human hopes, come mainly from the infidelity of men to the duties assumed.
Questions for reflection:
- What would the Church be like if all who were baptised lived the
promises of Baptism, if all who were married lived the promises of
marriage, and if all the priests who were ordained lived the
promises of the consecrated life?
- What kind of a world would we have if the politicians, heads of
state and men in power lived up to the promises made?
- What would the SFO be like if the faithful at Profession really
lived the Gospel in the same way as Francis did?
In any case, it always is a gift to ask for and a commitment to live.
Fraternal visit to the Republic of Central-Africa - Mimi Def
Chad to the North, the Congo and Zaire to the South, between the Sudan to the East and Cameroon to the West: this is the Republic of Central-Africa.
In December 1992 I discovered this country, that is, a small part of it near Bangui, because it is very spread out and the length of the trips would have taken more than a week. Bonar, Carnot, Bossangoa, Grimari, Alindao, Bambari... all places that bring faces and not landscapes to mind.
I experienced the sweetness of an evening at Sibut or in a fraternity at Bangui. I tasted the palm wine of Mbaiki. I admired the falls at Boali... and above all there were the many meetings, enriching for me as the one at the great Cathedral on the one on a day of meditation at the Parish of Bangui. I remember the fraternal meals shared in the homes with the occasion to share that which is the essence of our belonging, of our profession and of our Franciscan role.
I felt the importance of listening and of sharing, but also the difficulty of learning about a social and cultural context and about ways of life so different from ours. What a richness to discover to be brothers just the same, to consider that which unites us to be stronger than that which could divide us.
The Central-African SFO consists of 25 fraternities scattered throughout the country and has 680 members. In the April 1995 Chapter it was decided to create 3 Regions. A group of young people, aged 15 to 25, meet regularly with a member of the SFO. They know how to show their enthusiasm and their questions are very pertinent about the protection and respect for creation.
In January 1995 the Central-African Church had a worthy and joyous celebration for its first centennial. This celebration marked the end of a year of preparation, and the members of the fraternities actively participated. We hope that this shall be the occasion for the beginning of a dynamic fraternity as a sign of peace and joy in the local Church and in the life of this country.