SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 2 - N. 10 - 1996 - March - II
From: Koinonia, 1995, N. 4
Antonio Morichetti TOR
Permit me on a personal basis to put some proposals before the spiritual Assistants. I see these proposals as a contribution to the pastoral commitment of the Assistants to the SFO Fraternities, in an attempt to make them ever more alive, present, diligent and functioning in this moment of history, so that thus the Fraternities play their part in the building of the Kingdom.
Truly, what I am about to communicate to you is not the result of fantasies, still less is it my own work.
First of all, I have to say that at the meeting held in Rome from 28 April to 4 May 1995, the Presidency of the CIOFS engaged in a shared in-depth reflection on the Apostolic Letter Tertio millennio adveniente (TM), in order to pick up the vital repercussions and concrete obligations it might give rise to for our SFO Fraternities.
The exchange of ideas led to various suggestions and proposals with regard to renewal and commitment: evangelisation ad intra to renew the Fraternities in terms of ideas and works; sensus ecclesiae ; inter-religious and inter-Christian dialogue; relations with non-believers; Gospel of charity and "-works of mercy-" as characteristic of the Order. The Minister General will give a preécis of the reflection in a circular letter which she will send to all the Fraternities as an incentive and guide in taking concrete initiatives on the Pope's guidelines as we await the third millennium: it pertains to us to hand on to future generations the faith in Christ, Lord of history and Redeemer of mankind.
Meanwhile permit me, on a personal basis, to suggest to the Assistants, some pastoral proposals which fall within the range of their service.
Secondly, I have to say that whatever I am about to put before you is to be found in programmes of reflection and ministry pursued by a group of Franciscan families: it is something which came to fruition during the international Year of the Family, and now continues to be enriched by a study of the Letter Tertio millennio adveniente.
1. To evangelize the Franciscan Fraternities
"-Wake up; revive what little you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in the way you live that my God could possibly call perfect-" (Apoc. 3,2).
We cannot deny that the words of the Apostle concern us at close quarters: the Franciscan Fraternity needs to be "-re-evangelized-" by means of a very thorough job of sensitization and "-ongoing formation-" with appropriate programmes, helps and initiatives suitable for promoting a time of "-penitence and reconciliation-".
To attain this goal, the following are presupposed: examination of conscience, prayer, discernment and dialogue, conversion.
We are talking about evangelisation ad intra in order to assist the Fraternity in making a healthy, obligatory and authentic review which will highlight its own life and work in terms of positive features, unfulfilled plans and omissions. In this way, the Fraternity is given the chance to spell out again its own identity, in the light of the Gospel, according to the needs of the ecclesial community and of society.
2. To evangelize the family
"-Each family, in some way, should be involved in the preparation for the Great Jubilee-" (TM 28).
We are talking about bringing "-the Gospel into the family-" to evangelize it and to make it the agent of evangelization, so that listening to and reading the Word of God will constitute the nourishment of every Christian family.
The Secular Franciscan Order, through which St Francis wished to sanctify those men and women who live as members of the family, knows well what it owes and how it relates to the family. The recent international year dedicated to the family gave rise in many fraternities to surprising proposals and to very many initiatives which are already producing marvelous results in terms of pro-life solidarity and initiatives, concrete gestures of brotherhood, rejuvenation and new incentives.
Commitment
When it comes to the new evangelisation the fraternities and families belonging to the SFO can and must contribute in a variety of ways:
a) by making their own houses available after the example of the
first Christians:
-- for times of listening to the Word of God;
-- for prayer and formation meetings;
-- for exchanging experiences and sharing the significant moments
of family life (cf. Const. 24,2);
b) for announcing the Gospel and bearing witness:
-- through active participation, according to their own means and
abilities, in the new evangelisation taking place in the
Church;
-- by committing themselves to live daily according to the extent
and features proper to married and family love;
-- by bearing witness to everyone of the possibility and beauty of
faithful and true love in all life's situations.
At the same time, to get other families involved, to conscientize parochial structures and/or to collaborate with all those who believe in family values, in order to reach everyone.
Ways and means
a) To help Christian families to find a "-time-" for prayer, for
listening to the Word of God and for worship:
-- by suggesting at least a sign of the cross, the recitation of
the Lord's Prayer or other familiar formulas at a time of the day
when the family is together;
-- by introducing, with suitable explanations, the families who are
most ready and able, to the praying of Lauds and Vespers and to the
reading of the Bible (especially in the special liturgical seasons
and in other particular circumstances) according to the method of
the lectio divina ;
-- by participating in festive liturgies and catechesis and by
practising works of charity.
b) The Christian community (especially pastors and spiritual directors) is not to fail in educating families and in accompanying them in listening to the Word, but is to assist them with timely suggestions and helps. It would be advisable to open genuine "-schools of prayer-".
3. To evangelize society
There is an urgency about proclaiming the Gospel: there is need, therefore, for faith and witness to grow strong again (cf. TM 42). Encouraged by the trust which the presence and action of the Spirit activates in the Church (cf. TM 45), the brothers and sisters of the SFO should feel that they themselves are active agents of the "-new evangelization-", by proclaiming Christ to the men and women of our day.
Perhaps it is necessary "-to go outside-" the inner core of the Fraternity and become more aware of the duty to proclaim the Gospel as is asked of lay people today if they are to respond to the command of the Lord and to have greater personal and communitarian fulfilment.
For this reason it is said in the Constitutions: "-The preparation of the brothers and sisters for spreading the Gospel message "in the ordinary circumstances of the world"... should be promoted in the Fraternities-" ( Const. 17,2). This way is also an indication of the totally secular and totally Franciscan style: in proclaiming the Gospel, to follow the model of Jesus, of the Apostles, of St Francis and of his first fraternity.