Introduction
Last year the Presidency of the SFO International Council published a document for leaders, Animators and Assistants of the Franciscan Youth under the title The Franciscan Youth: A Franciscan Vocational Journey. The document was sent to all the National Councils and International Councillors, published on INTERNET, also in Tertius Ordo, 1995, no. 2-3, and in the Letter to the Assistants.

The document, The Franciscan Youth: A Franciscan Vocational Journey, came into being following a mandate, given by the Presidency to its Commission for the Franciscan Youth (YOUFRA), to prepare some guidelines for animators and leaders of the YOUFRA. The first step was a comparative investigation carried out among all the National Councils of the YOUFRA and of the SFO, in order to get a better grasp of the present situation of the YOUFRA in the world. The results were studied jointly by the four National Presidents of the Franciscan Youth of Italy, who added their own proposals. This whole examination served to prepare the material for discussion at the SFO General Chapter on the Youth Work and Franciscan Youth. The conclusions reached by the Chapter as well as articles 96 and 97 of the SFO General Constitutions provided the foundation for the Commission's work (26 December 1994 - 6 January 1995) at Madrid, where Inmaculada Sainz and Ben Brevoort OFMCap drew up the basic text, which was to be presented for assessment by the Presidency. The draft was discussed within the National Council of the Italian Franciscan Youth, in February 1995. The National Council made various proposals, practically all of which were incorporated into the definitive text drawn up during the meeting of the Presidency (28 April to 4 May 1995), who studied the document, added some finishing touches and gave their approval. After translations were provided, the document was promulgated on 20 September 1995 with a letter of the SFO Minister General.

In the Introduction, it is stated that the document sets out to develop and deepen the directions furnished by the SFO General Chapter of Mexico City , but leaving room for adaptations required by the multiplicity and variety of the environments. In other words, the document functions as a source of inspiration, a basis for discussion, as guidelines to be adapted to the socio-cultural, ecclesial and Franciscan situation of youth in the different countries.

What is the Franciscan Youth?
It will be very difficult to give a direction to the Franciscan Youth in a country without first reflecting on its very identity. Only on the basis of a common vision can one give a clear direction to the YOUFRA. As long as there is a great variety of views on the identity of the YOUFRA, what it is and what it should be or could be or ought to become, it will be impossible to lay a solid foundation required for the formulation of Statutes or of a programme of national formation.

What is said in Section 2 of the document can help us towards a better understanding of the YOUFRA. The document should evidently be read keeping in mind the specific socio-cultural situation of the country. Three aspects stand out: spirituality, organisation and SFO-YOUFRA relations.

The spiritual characteristics invite us to reflect on the meaning of "-youth-". We need to have some clear ideas about who is a young person in the specific national context, about how it can be defined in more concrete terms, by giving a definite numeric value to the word "-age-" by identifying other factors which indicate the beginning and end of youth. We need to reflect on what comprises the vocational journey of the YOUFRA, i.e., the call and the response, confirmed with the personal pledge taken before God and in the presence of one's brothers and sisters. How then does the experience of Christian life lived in the ecclesial community and in the Franciscan family find expression? What is the role of assistance, both fraternal and spiritual, in the concrete socio-cultural context?

The organisational characteristics call our attention to the concrete situation in the nation, the division of the national territory into Regional Fraternities, the role of the leaders, the organisation of fraternal assistance (given by the one SFO) and spiritual assistance (given collegially by the religious of the various obediences). One must bear in mind the socio-cultural situation in the nation, with the differences between the regions, possibly with different ethnic groups; this will have an impact on the type of formation which is proposed, on the methods to be selected and on the organisation and structure of formation.

The Relationship Franciscan Youth-SFO forms part of the life of the YOUFRA. It is impossible to imagine the YOUFRA separate from the SFO, just as it is difficult to think of a SFO indifferent towards the YOUFRA. It is necessary in the concrete situation to clarify how the SFO could better accompany the YOUFRA; how the SFO through its Rule and its lived experience can inspire the YOUFRA; and how the YOUFRA is inserted into the Franciscan Family in the country by way of the SFO. What is to be defined in the socio-cultural context is how the YOUFRA-SFO relations are to be permeated by the spirit of a living, reciprocal communion, whereby the SFO gives life to the YOUFRA while the YOUFRA offers the freshness and new inspiration to the SFO.

Form of life
The answer to the question: "-What is the Franciscan Youth?-" has quite an impact on the writing or revision of the "-Form of life-" of the YOUFRA. The basis for any redaction or revision of the "-Form of life-" is the inspirational document of the YOUFRA, that is, the SFO Rule. Mere copying however is not enough. What is needed is to read and re-read the Rule, to compare it with the living realities of the country's youth. In what way will the Rule inspire the youth of today?

The model of National Statutes, attached to the document, could be of help. An attentive reading of Chapter I of the model makes one aware that it is not a question of a simple transcription of the Rule. Even the title is different: it speaks of life and activity, as do the SFO General Constitutions and not just of life as does the Rule. Different phrases are taken from the SFO General Constitutions which are seen as an interpretation and practical application of the Rule to the situation of modern life. In the same way, we need to adapt the texts of the Rule, the Constitutions and the model of Statutes to the conditions and realities of the world of young people today. "-A simple transcription is not enough-".

Two examples: in number 19 of the model we read: "-They collaborate with the efforts they undertake in the Church and in society to affirm both the value of fidelity to and respect for all life in every situation, from conception till death-". Expressions taken from the Constitutions, correlated with different and many concrete situations: fidelity: AIDS, divorce; respect for all life: responsible love, abortion; in every situation until death: old people, euthanasia, the culture of death, the culture of life, Evangelium vitae. Number 20 says: "-They collaborate with those movements and institutions which promote peace while respecting its authentic foundations, renouncing the use of violence-". A whole series of initiatives springs up: Amnesty International, Peace Corps, UNO, Peace Marches , Youth for Peace, School for Peace, alternative service, volunteers' work.

A revision of the "-Form of life-" will benefit much from a re-reading of the second chapter of the SFO Rule and Constitutions, Gaudium et spes (entrusted by the Pope to youth), the messages of the Pope and of the nation's Episcopal Conference.



Introductory letter

Rome , 20 September 1995
National Councils and
International Councilors SFO

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

At its meeting of 28 April - 4 May 1995, the Presidency of the International Council of the SFO has approved a document for leaders and animators of the Franciscan Youth, which we are sending now, after its translation into the official languages of the SFO.

The document amplifies and deepens the indications given by the General Chapter of Mexico city (October 1993) on the topic "-Youth work and Franciscan Youth-". It hopes to meet the need, expressed by many persons, for some common guidelines to give its own specific character to the groups of Franciscan Youth which are developing (or being formed) in various countries all over the world.

As all the documents of the Presidency, this one too is not intended to be exhaustive, because we are constantly trying to leave space for the adaptations required by the multiplicity and variety of surrounding situations: socio-cultural, economic, religious, etc.

The text is completed by three enclosures:
-- a guideline for a formation program;
-- a suggestion for liturgy (rite for admission and for pledge);
-- a model for National Statutes.

We hope that this work, due to the love and commitment of the Commision for Franciscan Youth, may be usefull and above all encourage you to seek "-the most appropriate means to promote the vitality and the spreading of the Franciscan Youth-",

Wishing you Peace and all good!

Emanuela De Nunzio
General Minister SFO

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