SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 4 - N. 7 - 1998 - February - II
From: Koinonia, 1998, N. 1
Carl Schafer OFM
Throughout 1998, the universal Church is celebrating the second phase of its preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, in the second year, dedicated to the Holy Spirit.
On 24 June this year, the Secular Franciscan Order will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the approval of the Pauline Rule.
The two celebrations are a happy and appropriate coincidence. What Pope John Paul II has written about "Year Two: The Holy Spirit", in his Apostolic Letter, Tertio millennio adveniente, reads like a commentary on the SFO Rule, which is revealed all the more strikingly as a gift of the Holy Spirit that leads to God the Father.
Gift
The Pope describes the Holy Spirit as "the uncreated gift, who is the eternal source of every gift that comes from God in the order of creation... The mystery of the Incarnation constitutes the climax of this giving" ( TMA 44). Article 4 of the SFO Rule says: "Christ, the gift of the Father's love, is the way to him, the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us, and the life which he has come to give abundantly."
"The primary tasks of the preparation for the Jubilee include a renewed appreciation of the presence and activity of the Spirit, who acts within the Church both in the Sacraments, especially in Confirmation, and in the variety of charisms, roles and ministries which he inspires for the good of the Church" ( TMA 45). The Rule, in its first article, presents the Franciscan Family, "one among many spiritual families raised up by the Holy Spirit in the Church", whose members "intend to make present the charism of their common Seraphic Father in the life and mission of the Church."
Hope
The Pope calls all believers "to a renewed appreciation of the theological virtue of hope, which they have already heard proclaimed 'in the word of the truth, the Gospel' ( Col 1:5)". The Secular Franciscans "pledge themselves to live the Gospel" by means of their Rule approved by the Church (Art. 2). "They should strive to bring joy and hope to others" (Art. 19).
The Pope calls Christians to prepare for the Great Jubilee "by renewing their hope in the definitive coming of the Kingdom of God, preparing for it daily in their hearts, in the Christian community to which they belong, in their particular social context, and in world history itself" ( TMA 46).
The Secular Franciscans, "witnessing to the good yet to come and obliged to acquire purity of heart... should set themselves free to love God and their brothers and sisters" (Art. 12). They "are called to build a more evangelical world so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively" (Art. 14).
The Pope finds signs of hope in society in general and in the Church. His enumeration of these signs is a summary of the SFO Rule. I will include in the quoted text the appropriate references to the Rule in italics.
In society in general, "such signs of hope include: scientific, technological and especially medical progress in the service of human life (Art. 14: let them exercise their responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service ); a greater awareness of our responsibility for the environment (Art. 18: they should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate ); efforts to restore peace and justice wherever they have been violated (Art. 17: in their family they should cultivate the Franciscan spirit of peace ; mindful that they are bearers of peace (Art. 19); Art 15: let them individually and collectively be in the forefront of promoting justice ); a desire for reconciliation (cf. Art. 7) and solidarity among different peoples (Art. 13: accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ )" ( TMA 46).
In the Church, the signs of hope "include a greater attention to the voice of the Spirit through the acceptance of charisms (Art. 26: to promote fidelity to the charism ) and the promotion of the laity (Art. 2: the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state ), a deeper commitment to the cause of Christian unity and the increased interest in dialogue (Art. 19: they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue ) with other religions and with contemporary culture (Art. 19: trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon )" ( TMA 46).
Unity
The Pope focusses the reflection of the faithful in 1998 "particularly on the value of unity within the Church, to which the various gifts and charisms bestowed upon her by the Spirit are directed" ( TMA 47).
The Rule reminds the Secular Franciscans that they are "bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly. They should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue" (Art. 19).
The Pope recalls Lumen gentium, 37, which emphasized that "the unity of the Body of Christ is founded on the activity of the Spirit, guaranteed by the Apostolic Ministry and sustained by mutual love" (TMA 47).
The importance of ecclesial obedience is thereby introduced into the subject of the unity of the Body of Christ. Obedience and dialogue are both stressed in Article 6 of the Rule: "Let them devote themselves energetically to living in full communion with the pope, bishops and priests, fostering an open and trusting dialogue of apostolic effectiveness and creativity", "uniting themselves to the redemptive obedience of Jesus" (Art. 10).
Mary, woman of hope
It is the hallmark of the Pope's Polish piety to conclude each section with a reference to the Blessed Virgin: "Mary, who conceived the Incarnate Word by the power of the Holy Spirit and then in the whole of her life allowed herself to be guided by his interior activity,... the woman who was docile to the voice of the Spirit, a woman of silence and attentiveness, a woman of hope" ( TMA 48).
The Rule says likewise, "The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his every word and call... The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently" (Art. 9).
Leading to the Father
This year, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, leads to 1999, the third and last year of immediate preparation, dedicated to God the Father.
This year is also dedicated to the SFO Rule, gratefully received twenty years ago as a gift of the Holy Spirit that leads to the Father.
The Rule itself addresses the Secular Franciscans in these terms: "Since they are immersed in the resurrection of Christ... let them serenely tend toward the ultimate encounter with the Father" (Art. 19).
Presidency of International Council
29 May - 4 June: All the members were present at Monte Cucco, Rome, where they examined the work done by the Commission for the revision of the General Constitutions, represented by Francisco Cortéz. They also reviewed the progress of eight projects for which a member of the Presidency is responsible. Claudio Cerfoglia addressed the meeting on communications. Guzmán Carriquiry, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, spoke about what the Church expects from the secular Orders. The National Statutes of Hungary were approved. Other points discussed were: the Bulletin CIOFS, a permanent seat for the Secretariat, the financial situation, the unity of national fraternities, and relations with other Third Orders.
Conference of General Assistants
13 June 1997: The four Assistants met at the General Curia OFMConv. They reviewed the recent meeting of the Presidency and continued to plan for next year's Seminar in the Ukraine and for the Seminars for Provincial Assistants. They delegated one among themselves or another Assistant to attend elective Chapters and to make pastoral visits during the rest of the year and in 1998. Fr Carl reported on his visit to Canada. The Conference celebrated St Anthony's feast day with the curial community.
11 September 1997: At the OFM General Curia, the four Assistants chose the themes to be treated in Koinonia in 1998, planned the Seminar in 1998 for Assistants in the Slav countries requested by the Capuchin Minister General, reported on the World Day of Youth which Frs Ben and Zvonimir attended in Paris, and on visits made in summer to Brazil (Fr Ben) and to Ireland and Great Britain (Fr Valentín). They made remote preparations for the World Day of Youth in Rome in the year 2000.
7 October 1997: While Fr Ben was in Africa, the other three Assistants met at the OFM General Curia. Fr Ben had communicated a report on his visit to the Ukraine and also details about the Seminar for Slav Assistants, at Frascati in 1998. Fr Carl submitted the translation into English of the Indications for the Formation of the Friars for Understanding and Assisting the SFO. He informed the Conference of the appointment of Fr Nils Thompson OFM as General Assistant. The list of presence at national elective Chapters and pastoral visits was updated.
International Franciscan Youth Meeting19-22 August 1997: On the occasion of the World Day of Youth 1997, an international meeting of Franciscan Youth was held in Paris, in two distinct moments. First, there was the meeting of the national delegates, then the open meeting for Franciscan Youth. Theme of the meeting was the same as that of the World Day but with a Franciscan emphasis, namely, "What are you looking for?", "Master, where do you live?", "Come and See". The meeting was a project of the Presidency of the SFO International Council, coordinated by Fr Ben and by Pedro Nuno Coelho, representative of Franciscan Youth in the Presidency, and helped by Fr Zvonimir Brusac TOR. The SFO National Council of France made a team of young SFO members responsible for the preparations, coordinated by Jocelyne Collin, Filippe Pelet e Pascal Correc. At the meeting of delegates, 67 were present from 17 nations (eight from Europe, seven from the Americas and two from Asia). At the open meetings more than a thousand participated, from the dioceses of France and from overseas. About half were members of Franciscan Youth. The rest were interested in St Francis and St Clare.