Secular Franciscans isolated from their local Fraternities

Rome, February 22, 2004

Circ. 11/02-08

To SFO National Councils
and International Councillors

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our sincerest wishes of Peace and Good to you all.

The Conclusions of the 2002 General Chapter on Formation, state:

The Presidency will have to urge the National Fraternities to support and assist, with all the adequate means, and according to the circumstances, those Secular Franciscans who, for serious and justified reasons, are isolated from their local fraternities.

The problem of the brothers and sisters who are, in effect, isolated from their local Fraternities is important because one of the fundamental values of being Franciscan-Christians is, in fact, living in fraternity.

This value, although primarily an evangelic value (and therefore essential for all those who follow Christ), is imperative for us Franciscans. Cardinal Roger Etchegarray explained it well on the occasion of the Franciscan Jubilee. An excerpt of some of the most significant passages of his speech are outlined below:

“Tonight, I wish to linger on the one sign about your family that better than any other one characterizes you and recapitulates the aim the Church is striving for in this Jubilee: fraternity. ... in the fraternity, Saint Francis introduces the sense of responsibility for the need of what he calls a “reciprocal service” and also a “mutual obedience” even within a religious community. ....

The franciscan fraternity appeared as the prophetic image of a humankind in which everyone fully recognizes one another as brother or sister .... Never has the true fraternity been at the same time so longed for and so little lived. ...

... we choose friends but not brothers and sisters, and this is what renders, due to its indelible character, the fraternity so burdensome.”

Therefore, it’s clear that, when it is impossible, for a variety of reasons, to live in fraternity in the full and traditional sense, it is necessary to resort to that creativity, which can only stem from a mature and intense fraternal love towards our brothers.

The General Chapter has drawn our attention to the situation of many of our brothers and sisters who live practically isolated from their Fraternities.

The brothers and sisters of these isolated secular Franciscans, especially those holding positions of responsibility, instead of resigning themselves to this situation, have an obligation to ensure that the bond which unites them to one another remains intact, and to provide for their growth and spiritual realization. They have, in fact, a commitment to hold themselves available and responsible in relation to each brother and sister and to the fraternity, so that each one will realize his or her own vocation ... (GG.CC. art. 31.2)

This obligation of love is, first of all, incumbent on the Minister and the Council of the local fraternity to which the isolated Secular Franciscans belong. If they do not comply, then the Fraternity of the higher level is called to intervene, in the spirit of subsidiarity (CC.GG. art 33).

Of course, the first obvious step is to analyze case by case the reasons for isolation.

1. disease
2. work
3. family
4. great distances
5. reclusion
6. specific local situations
7. others

Each of these reasons is a case by itself and requires specific and profound reflection. This can best be done by those who live in close contact with the local Fraternity and have a personal relationship with the isolated subjects, who share their cultural schemes, language and problems, in addition, of course, to the common vocation and the Franciscans ideals.

The so-called standard remedies are within the intellectual and practical reach of everyone. We will list them just for completeness sake.

• See that the isolated members who cannot move are visited on a regular basis (we think of the chronically ill persons or the very old ones who live alone or in retirement or nursing homes), and provided with the spiritual and material support that they subjectively and objectively require. We should all remember, dear brothers and sisters, that our Constitutions of 1688 (Innocentian Constitutions), listed among the essential offices of our Order a Major Nurse and a Minor Nurse! Many brothers and sisters do generously assist their sick and elderly brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, there are many (too many) cases of brothers and sisters who are practically abandoned. St. Francis exhorted his brothers to love each other more than a mother loves her children!
• Organize events, once or twice yearly, which involve the isolated brothers, preferably in their own homes or wherever they live.
• Keep constantly in contact by telephone.
• Exchange correspondence, either by electronic or traditional mail, on a regular basis.
• Send out regularly, where and when available:
  • journals or information bulletins on the life of the respective local Fraternities
  • magazines
  • films
  • books
  • publications or
  • whatever else is being used by the brothers and sisters of the respective Fraternities and which constitutes a basis for sharing, both spiritual and fraternal, even at a distance.

It is therefore, clear that

• the problem of isolated brothers and sisters does exist and must be seriously confronted by the national Fraternities which have the duty to sensitize the respective Fraternities at lower levels.
• fraternity is a fundamental value for all Christians and it particularly characterizes Franciscans. Fraternity must be understood, lived, and concretely constructed day by day with the brothers and sisters that God has donated to us, and must be defended and repaired when it does not function properly.
• We all but most of all the Ministers and Councillors of the Local Fraternities and Fraternities at higher levels in each Nation, must understand the responsibility resting on each one of us for the human and spiritual realization of our brothers and sisters. Let us never forget the words that we Professed: ... may the fraternal bonds of community always be my help, so that I may reach the goal of perfect Christian love. (Formula of the Profession, Rit.).
• We must do everything within our power to assist the needs of the isolated brothers and sisters, making use of all the individual creativity that can be expressed by authentic fraternal love.

We kindly solicit all the National Fraternities to diligently investigate to establish, in their respective countries:

• How many brothers/sisters actually live in a state of isolation;
• What are the reasons for this isolation;
• If activities are undertaken to assist these brothers/sisters and if so, to indicate what they concretely are; and
• If there are no such activities, provide proposals that can be implemented to assist these brothers and sisters.

The result of this work and, in particular, the practical solutions adopted should be sent to the Secretariat as soon as possible, to the attention of the International Presidency, Commission on Formation. After having examined all the information received, the Commission will distribute it to all the national Fraternities so as to provide them with suggestions, examples and models that may eventually be adopted by each respective country.

Looking forward to hearing from you very soon, on behalf of all the members of the Commission, I would like to send you my sincerest wishes for peace and good.

Benedetto Lino
Coordinator Formation Commission