C I O F S LIST

First Letter of the Conference of the Franciscan Family on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2000

"Reconciled in Jesus Christ"

Bringing the Gift of Reconciliation to a broken world

cHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!

Brothers and sisters,

1. The invitation of the Word of God to "sound the trumpets in acclamation," to declare the year 2000 holy and to proclaim liberation (see Lv 25:9-10) commits us to becoming actively involved in this great moment in salvation history announced by the Holy Father, John Paul II, in his letter,Tertio Millennio Adveniente. The invitation comes to us as members of a larger community the church and urges us to live this particular appointment also as a Franciscan family, today so diverse and numerous, which has its origin and foundation in Francis and Clare of Assisi.
Our "genetic" heritage permits us to receive and express in our own way the Word of God and of the church which invites us to celebrate "the great Jubilee Year 2000" ( Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16) as "a year of mercy from the Lord" (see Lk 4:19), "a year of favor from the Lord," a year for the remission of sins and the punishments due to them, a year of reconciliation between disputing parties, a year of manifold conversions, and of sacramental and extra-sacramental penance" ( Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 14).

2. Joining in the programs promoted by the universal church and particular churches, let us generously make our specific contribution. Let us foster initiatives of understanding with all components of the church as it is expressed on various levels: diocesan, regional, national, and international. Let us join them as a sign of fraternity and obedience to "our holy mother, the Roman Church" ( L3S 46; cf. TestCl 44).

3. The theme of reconciliation is central to the biblical and ecclesial vision of the jubilee and of our Franciscan identity: since it is an urgent need of our time, we have decided to send to you as a fraternal aid this first letter with precisely this theme in the year dedicated to "Jesus Christ, the one Savior of the world yesterday, today and for ever." This letter will be followed by others at the beginning of each year, and offer brief reflections on other themes and relative practical suggestions.

Bringing the Gift of Reconciliation to a broken world

4. To the eyes of all, even at a superficial glance, today's world is wounded, divided, broken, unfaithful to the Lord and his law of love. The church itself is divided as is, to a certain degree, our Franciscan family.

We want to begin with ourselves and within our own family. Indeed, there is no denying the fact that throughout the centuries the Franciscan family has not always been a witness and image of unity or even of a harmonious, reconciled diversity. We have not always rendered one another the service of communion, of building each other up in charity. Our history is not without tensions among the various families and at various levels; prejudices have diminished the power of our witness. We must also admit that the Franciscan family has not always been faithful in following the poor Christ, and in its love for the underprivileged and the poorest of the poor.

5. Looking into our depths, however, we believe that we can perceive within ourselves and in many others a great desire to heal the divisions, bind up the wounds, and strive again for unity.

We believe that this desire comes from the Father "who has reconciled us to himself through Christ" (2 Cor 5:18); it comes from the Son who, through the paschal mystery, immolated himself and "by his blood ransomed for God people of every tribe, tongue, people and nation" (Rv 5:10); it comes from the Holy Spirit who, "poured out for the remission of sin," gathers together in unity all the scattered children of God and urges them "to love God the Father and in him the world and all people" ( Apostolicam Actuositatem , 29).

6. If wounds and division are the fruit of sin, peace and reconciliation are the result of the incarnation of the coming of Jesus Christ on earth, from his birth to his death, from his resurrection to his exaltation at the right hand of the Father. The mystery of the incarnation continues, in a certain way, in us who are the extension of Christ the head, and it makes us share in God's life as children in the Son.Reconciliation is a gift. We are to ask for it from the Father through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, recognizing and confessing our own sin (see 1 Jn 1:9). Therefore, let us pray "that the Lord may enlighten [our hearts to penance" (RegCl 9, 2) in our daily encounters and our celebrations.

(to be continued)