Spiritual Assistance: Serving a Specific Vocation

The Responsibility of Major Superiors

Regarding the Formation Team

Conclusion

Fr. Samy Irudaya, OFM Cap.

(Part II)

The responsibility of Major Superiors

c. The Local Superior and the Local Community:

The local superior should find it a pleasing task to promote a genuine and living reciprocity between his religious community and the local or regional SFO fraternities so that the spirit of the Gospel may be spread and lived daily. He also must give the time and means to a local Spiritual Assistant to do his work. The assistant is chosen by the religious community, taking into account the views of the council of the SFO. This means that the assistant must keep in mind that he or she is carrying out a service which is an expression of the affection and interest of all the religious with regard to the SFO. The most important thing is to create a climate of brotherhood and mutual service between the laity and religious. This is what we aim to accomplish more through example and presence than any amount of eloquent sermons

d. The Spiritual Assistant:

From article 13 of the Statutes for Spiritual and Pastoral Assistance to the SFO we come to know clearly the role of the Spiritual Assistant:

1. The principal task of the assistant is to foster a deeper insight into Franciscan spirituality and to cooperate in the initial and continuing formation of the secular Franciscans.

2. In the Council of the fraternity and in elective and ordinary Chapters the assistant will be respectful of the responsibilities and role of the secular Franciscans, giving them priority with regard to the guidance, coordination, and animation of the fraternity.

3. The assistant participates actively and votes in the discussions and decisions taken by the Council or by the Chapter. He or she is specifically responsible for the animation of liturgical celebrations and spiritual reflections during the meetings of the council or of the chapter.

The Spiritual Assistant should have the ability to develop in the SFO an authentic Franciscan Spirit, so that all SFO brothers and sisters can carry that spirit into the world. Hence, it is necessary to help the laity grow in dialogue with the world, to offer secular Franciscans a way to view the world differently, and to inculturate the faith truly in a Franciscan way. The assistant plays a pivotal role in the pastoral care entrusted by the Church to the First Order and the TOR in relation to the SFO. It is a special responsibility.

It is the responsibility of spiritual assistance to express and foster the common bond of unity within the Franciscan Family. The whole Franciscan Family is one in its origins, charism, basic spirituality, life-style, and ministry. Each entity within the family complements the other in living our Franciscan evangelical life and hence is necessary for the fullness of the Franciscan vocation to “make present the charism of their common Seraphic Father in the life and mission of the Church.” [1]

The Spiritual Assistant is a symbol of the unity and collaboration of the Franciscan Family because by his mere presence with the Secular Franciscans he expresses and expresses that we are one and complementary, that we are together striving for the same goals, come from the same roots, are motivated by the same charism, and are shaped by the same legacies and traditions.

All of us who are willing to take up this service of spiritual assistance will find an exceptional opportunity to live and proclaim the Gospel, to bear witness in favor of our life as friars, and to promote vocations to the Franciscan way of life. Let us remember the example of St. Francis and his brothers - how they went straight to the heart of the Gospel, bypassing our often petty problems. Our mission consists in bringing to life again, in our day, the deeds and the mind of Francis for those who, as lay brothers and sisters, are looking to us for the road to follow to reach Christ.

The Spiritual Assistant is pastor, guide and teacher. He must get to know the members of the Fraternity, one by one, and form them by harmonizing the education and abilities of each so that no one remains isolated or on the periphery. The assistant often has to make people feel that they belong to a fraternity and that above all their own talents are recognized and appreciated. Many of our brothers and sisters have special gift and capacities which often they do not see and realize; at times it is enough to encourage them and give them a chance.

On the role of the assistant as educator we have two authoritative comments by Pope John Paul II: “For those who have specific responsibilities in the Secular Franciscan Order. I hope for unity of purpose and identity of determination so that they can be enlightened animators and guides, by leading the way for the brothers and sisters in the love of the Gospel and fidelity to the Church... I thank the assistants who are your teachers and guides.” [2]

“The mission of the ecclesiastical assistant is directed toward educating in the faith and promoting growth in the interior life... in such a way that the laity respond joyfully and generously to the call to holiness and to their specific mission according to the Gospel... The mission of the Assistant then achieves its goal in the promotion among the members of the Fraternity of their particular lay vocation in all its implications and specific nature... Your action your specific apostolate your mission as spiritual fathers and educators in the faith for individual people are fundamental elements for the formation of all members, including leaders and animators.” [3]

Regarding the formation team

The assistant’s task is to give witness to the authenticity of the charism and to be a safe and enlightened guide. Therefore he neither commands nor directs, neither administrates nor organizes. Rather he gives witness to the Word of God of which he is the representative and signpost.

The assistant has the principal duty of:

Councilor: he enters into personal dialogue and, if requested, sacramental dialogue with the aspirant. He helps the aspirants clarify their own vocation, purifying it and bringing it to greater clarity. He offers them service as a spiritual guide, in prayer and in the journey of conversion. He accompanies them along the way of living the Gospel.

Guide: together with the Council, he organizes the course of formation which he, together with the Formator, will help develop and make faithful to the Franciscan charism. Naturally he will enter into dialogue with the aspirants so as to introduce them progressively and methodically to a deepening of the truths of faith and the knowledge of Franciscan spirituality.

Spiritual Assistants assist the seculars in maintaining a healthy idea of Church, Gospel, the role of theology, the integration of gospel and life, and honesty in challenging people to new growth and life. Reasonable care and consistent reflection on Gospel ideals and values are more important than looking for “what’s wrong.” A Spiritual Assistant who fights with seculars will not be a blessing to the Franciscan family. There is no need to dominate and become dictatorial in serving the Franciscan family. The authority of a Spiritual Assistant is a servant authority. Jesus was clear on this when he washed the feet of the disciples at the last supper (Jn. 13:12-17). Franciscans are light bearers, engaged in life, and confront issues with a Gospel sense. Spiritual Assistants and councils must consistently develop fraternities with a positive outlook. To spend energy on negative attitudes can only diminish our energy for good. Spiritual Assistants are not policemen who become fear-inducers in the fraternity - they are amicable persons and are challenged to build up a positive fraternity atmosphere.

Conclusion

The Franciscan fraternity is one. Our pastoral service must not be an obstacle to unity. It should support and develop this unity. The diversity of obedience must be a source of richness and not a hindrance to our pastoral care of the secular Fraternity. We spiritual assistants must renew our understanding of the Secular Fraternity, with a serenity and confidence. The most outstanding positive sign is the perennial vitality of the message of St. Francis of Assisi. It is St. Francis who has brought to birth many secular fraternities where the Franciscan life is lived intensely. I would like to repeat again and again that our dynamic interaction and vital reciprocity with the seculars is one of the priorities at this present time.

The former Minister General, John Vaughn, OFM, says: “I am more convinced of this than ever because, since the SFO is joined to the First Order by common origin and charism and has been committed to our care by the Holy see and is to be considered necessary for the fullness of the Franciscan Charism since it has its own proper mission in the church and the world, we as Friars Minor cannot properly or authentically or effectively survive without our honest and enthused and involved relating to the Secular Franciscans as co-bearers of the charism, co-builders of the Church, and co-evangelizers for the Kingdom.” [4]

Spiritual assistance is a special vocation and the Spiritual Assistant is a sign of the charism lived in the First Order and TOR and passed on as a stimulus to the laity of the SFO. Therefore, I would like to make a direct plea to the Ministers Provincial that they may encourage their own religious to “specialize in Franciscanism” and that they facilitate the sending of local assistants for courses in Franciscanism. Above all, in our theological seminaries there must be courses on the history and spirituality of the SFO that are lively and formative. It is time for giving a new thrust that will unite the strength of the First Order and TOR to the prayers of the Second Order and to the help the SFO in order to review and reestablish our own Franciscan apostolates. This is the special service for the SFO and a special vocation for Spiritual Assistants. The degree of vitality of the secular fraternities will be a reflection of our own vitality. We progress or grow TOGETHER.