Spiritual Assistance: Serving a Specific Vocation

Introduction

The Responsibility of Major Superiors

Fr. Samy Irudaya, OFM Cap.

(Part I)

Introduction

The bond that unites the lay Franciscans to the sisters and brothers of the First Order and the Third Order Regular is so strong that we cannot touch one without touching the others. “Moreover: we can well imagine that the Order itself would lose its inspiration and perhaps its very existence. If it refused to extend to these branches, whether clergy or laity, the nourishment of its sap, the sharing of it s treasures, the sanctifying demands of its spirit.” [1]

Francis and his brothers felt led by the Spirit to serve the penitents, who for their part looked more and more to the friars for guidance and spiritual animation.

“Moved by divine inspiration, many people, nobles and commoners alike, clergy and laity sought out Francis because they wished to serve unto death under his orders and direction.......Men and women followed his example, his rule, his teachings; so he became, and this is his claim to fame, the incomparable craftsman of the reform of Christ’s church and of the victory won by the threefold army of the elect. He gave to all a rule of life, and pointed out the sure means of salvation, according to the particular condition of each.” [2]

The Letter to All the Faithful is a remarkable witness to the teaching and spiritual direction that St. Francis provided for the laity. Kajetan Esser writes: “Without claiming that this letter is a kind of primitive Third Order Rule, we find in it the ideas which Francis preached to the Christians living in the world who were personally associated with him.” [3]

The evidence of Celano, the Anonymous of Perugia, St. Bonaventure, the Legend of Three Companions, Pope Gregory IX, and others proves that from the beginning “the lay people desired to associate themselves with the Franciscan movement, to share in the charism of the Poverello while leading their own life as laity in the world.” [4] Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Francis responded to the appeal of the crucifix of St. Damian by bringing forth an evangelical way of life which, lived by his friars, sisters and the laity “rebuilt” the Church and must still carry on with its restoration.

The Rule of the SFO speaks of the “life giving union” with one another that must exist between the seculars and all the branches of the Franciscan Family, in order to make present, in various ways and forms, the charism of their common seraphic Father in the life and mission of the Church. [5]

In virtue of this “communion” according to an age-long tradition it is the competency of the major superiors of the First Order and TOR to assure assistance through suitable and well prepared religious and through pastoral visits to the fraternities of the SFO. [6]

The religious Franciscan Orders, to which belongs the “altius moderamen,” have not only made their own principle of “life-giving union with each other” and made it evident in their legislation, but also the Ministers General and provincials, in letters and through other various interventions, continually exhort the friars to know the SFO more and better, and request that spiritual assistants be adequately prepared for their roles.

The present directions aim to be a contribution to all the Orders, and possibly need to be inserted in the “Formation Programs” to increase a knowledge and love of the SFO within the Franciscan Family, in its mission in the Church and in the world, and be a preparation of those who are called to serve as spiritual assistants.

The responsibility of Major Superiors

a. The Minister General:

Article 85 of the Constitutions of the SFO clearly reads that: “As an integral part of the Franciscan family and called to live the charism of Francis within the secular dimension, the SFO has particular and close relations to the First Order and the TOR.

The spiritual and pastoral care of the SFO entrusted by the Church to the Franciscan First Order and the TOR, is the duty above all of their Ministers General and Provincials.” [7]

The purpose of this assistance is to guarantee that the SFO is faithful to the Franciscan charism, remains united with the Church, and is in union with the whole Franciscan family. These are common values that must be supported within our Franciscan family. There is a mutuality in our relationship that makes this a loving service rather than an imposed duty.

The Ministers General and provincials of the First Order and TOR exercise their ministry to the SFO through:

A) the establishment of fraternities,

B) the pastoral visitation of fraternities at various levels, and

C) the spiritual assistance to the fraternities at various levels.

They exercise this ministry personally or through a delegate.

The ministry to the SFO is truly “assistance” and not control of the SFO. This responsibility, which is clearly accentuated in the Statues for Spiritual and Pastoral Assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order, is already referred to by Pope Benedict XIII. In his Bull Paternae Sedis Apostolicae he reminds the Minister General that “as successor of St. Francis he has the duty of rendering spiritual assistance to the Third Order.” [8]

b. The Minister Provincial:

The Statutes for Assistance enumerates the duties of a Minister Provincial:

10:1. The provincial Ministers and the other major Superiors exercise their responsibilities towards the SFO in the territory of their own jurisdiction.

10:2. Where more than one major Superior have jurisdiction in the same territory, they are to establish together the most adequate means for carrying out collegially their mission with respect to the regional and national fraternities of the SFO.

10:3. They are likewise to jointly draw up procedures for the appointment of the national and regional Assistants and also to establish from which Superiors the national and regional Councils of the SFO should request an Assistant .

11:1. The provincial Ministers and the other major superiors assure spiritual assistance to the local fraternities entrusted to their own jurisdiction.

Many of the provinces have already started promising programs such as celebrations and fraternal encounters with various groups of the Franciscan Family, and dialogue at the level of the Provincial administration with those who have responsibility with the SFO. Many provincial chapters have had positive results from listening to the voice of its SFO brothers and sisters. It is not possible to assign as many religious to this ministry as in the past. However, provincials must look after the formation and interest of the friars regarding the SFO, and should provide specific training for the assistants so that they are suitable and well prepared. To give good service to the secular Fraternity it is absolutely necessary to make the spiritual assistants aware of the lay dimension of the Franciscan charism. These objectives should be effectively coordinated and integrated in the life and activities of each province. Thus the Minister Provincial, even in the midst his many other responsibilities, should always keep in mind the pastoral care of the SFO. Franciscan centers which have been established as places of prayer, of encounters, and of training need to be utilized for the benefit and unity of the entire Franciscan family.