-
The rule and
life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example
of Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the
inspiration and the center of his life with God and
people.
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.
Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially
to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to
life and life to the gospel.
-
Secular
Franciscans, therefore, should seek to encounter the
living and active person of Christ in their brothers and
sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in
liturgical activity. The faith of Saint Francis, who
often said " I see nothing bodily of the Most High Son
of God in this world except his most holy body and
blood," should be the inspiration and pattern of their
eucharistic life.
-
They have
been made living members of the Church by being buried
and raised with Christ in baptism; they have been united
more intimately with the Church by profession.
Therefore, they should go forth as witnesses and
instruments of her mission among all people, proclaiming
Christ by their life and words.
Called like Saint Francis to rebuild the Church and
inspired by his example, 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.
-
United by
their vocation as brothers and sisters of penance, and
motivated by the dynamic power of the gospel, let them
conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by
means of that radical interior change which the gospel
itself calls conversion. Human frailty makes it
necessary that this conversion be carried out daily.
-
On this road
to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation is the
privileged sign of the Father's mercy and the source of
On this road to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation
is the privileged sign of the Father's mercy and the
source of grace.
-
As Jesus was
the true worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and
contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.
Let them participate in the sacramental life of the
Church, above all the Eucharist. Let them join in
liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by the
Church, reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ.
-
The Virgin
Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his every
word and call. She was embraced by Francis with
indescribable love and declared the protectress and
advocate of his family. The Secular Franciscans should
express their ardent love for her by imitating her
complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and
confidently.
-
United
themselves to the redemptive obedience of Jesus, who
placed his will into the Father's hands, let them
faithfully fulfill the duties proper to their various
circumstances of life. Let them also follow the poor and
crucified Christ, witness to him even in difficulties
and persecutions.
-
Trusting in
the Father, Christ chose for himself and his mother a
poor and humble life, even though he valued created
things attentively and lovingly. Let the Secular
Franciscans seek a proper spirit of detachment from
temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs.
Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they
are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of
God's children.
Thus, in the spirit of the Beatitudes, and as pilgrims
and strangers on their way to the home of the Father,
they should strive to purify their hearts from every
tendency and yearning for possession and power.
-
Witnessing
to the good yet to come and obliged to acquire purity of
heart because of the vocation they have embraced, they
should set themselves free to love God and their
brothers and sisters.
-
As the
Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the
firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular
Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept
all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ.
A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to
place themselves on an equal basis with all people,
especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to
create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by
Christ.
-
Secular
Franciscans, together with all people of good will, are
called to build a more fraternal and evangelical world
so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more
effectively. Mindful that anyone who follows Christ, the
perfect man, becomes more of a man himself, let them
exercise their responsibilities competently in Christian
spirit of service.
-
Let them
individually and collectively be in the forefront in
promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives
and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the
field of public life, they should make definite choices
in harmony with their faith.
-
Let them
esteem work both as a gift and as a sharing in the
creation, redemption, and service of the human
community.
-
In their
family they should cultivate the Franciscan spirit of
peace, fidelity, and respect for life, striving to make
of it a sign of a world already renewed in Christ.
By living the grace of matrimony, husbands and wives in
particular should bear witness in the world to the love
of Christ for his Church. They should joyfully accompany
their children on their human and spiritual journey by
providing a simple and open Christian education and
being attentive to the vocation of each child.
-
Moreover
they should respect all creatures, animate and
inanimate, which bear the imprint of the Most High, and
they should strive to move from the temptation of
exploiting creation to the Franciscan concept of
universal kinship.
-
Mindful that
they are bearers of peace which must be built up
unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and
fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the
presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the
transforming power of love and pardon.
Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they
should strive to bring joy and hope to others.
Since they are immersed in the resurrection of Christ,
which gives true meaning to Sister Death, let them
serenely tend toward the ultimate encounter with the
Father.
