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Liturgical
Texts
The following texts are meant to be only suggestions.
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Initiation
This celebration marks the start of the period of
formation for the pledge in the Franciscan Youth. It
should be used after the homily during a celebration of
the Word or of the Eucharist.
Franciscan Youth president: Sisters and brothers, what
do you want?
Candidates: Sister (brother): -- called by the Holy
Spirit -- and attracted by the Franciscan ideal -- we
want to set out on our journey -- of discovering our
vocation -- and share with you -- the experience of
Christian life in fraternity.
President: What do do ask from the Lord?
Candidates: We ask our Lord Jesus Christ -- to enlighten
the darkness of our mind -- and to give us upright
faith, -- certain hope -- and perfect love, -- that in
all things -- we may act according to his true and holy
will.
President (to all): In the name of my brothers and
sisters I admit you to our Franciscan Youth fraternity,
to follow together the way God will show us.
Candidates: Amen.
The Franciscan Youth Statutes are given.
President (to each): Dear... (Name), accept our form of
life to help you discover and deepen your own christian
and franciscan vocation.
Candidate: Amen.
A badge or another sign of belonging to the Franciscan
Youth is given.
President (to each): Receive this sign of your belonging
to the Franciscan Youth, that it may inspire you to give
witness to the Gospel in your life.
Candidate: Amen.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
God, bless these new sisters and brothers, and give them
your light that they always love to follow your plans.
Bless and strengthen their decision to serve you like
Francis, in joy, humility and simplicity, by sharing
their life in the Franciscan Youth fraternity. Through
Christ, our Lord.
All: Amen.
At the end of the celebration:
Celebrant: May the Lord bless you and protect you.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May His face shine upon you and show you His
mercy.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May He look upon you and give you His peace.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May the blessing of the almighty God, Father,
Son + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and stay with
you always.
All: Amen.
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Pledge in
the Franciscan Youth
(Feast of Yes)
This ceremony should be celebrated in the presence of
the Franciscan Youth brothers and sisters, by preference
in the course of a eucharistic celebration. The most
appropriate date for this "-Feast of Yes-" is March 25,
the day when Mary gave her Yes to God's call. The
brothers and sisters of the local SFO fraternity and
Franciscan religious of the place should also be
invited.
Call
After the homily, the celebrant greets the candidates
who want to make their pledge in the Franciscan Youth:
Celebrant: Sisters and brothers, the virgin Mary has
given her Yes to God's call. You too want to give your
Yes to the call of the Holy Spirit, which you feel in
your hearts. It is an appeal directed to each of you,
who want to deepen your vocation with the help of your
brothers and sisters. Therefore I invite your formation
leader to call each one of you by name. Come and place
yourself before God in the presence of your brothers and
sisters.
The formation leader calls by name each of those who
want to make the pledge in the Franciscan Youth. Each
one answers the call with a clear "-Yes-":
Candidate: Yes, here I am.
Franciscan Youth president: Sisters and brothers, what
do you want?
Candidates: Sister (brother) -- we want to say Yes --
Yes, to God's call -- Yes, to Gospel commitment -- Yes,
to faithful love -- Yes, to life together with you, our
brothers and sisters.
All: Yes, we will help you.
President: Every Yes, implies a No, No to sin, No to
desperation, No to death. Therefore, say also your No.
Candidates: We say No to Satan, -- No to violence -- No
to egoism.
All: Yes, we will help you.
Candidates: We say No to jealousy -- No to hate -- No to
injustice.
All: Yes, we will help you.
Candidates: We say No to apathy -- No to indifference --
No to eternal death.
All: Yes, we will help you.
President: And now, my sisters and brothers, say your
Yes.
Candidates: We say Yes to Jesus Christ -- Yes to peace
-- Yes to care for all creation.
All: Yes, we will help you.
Candidates: We say Yes to life -- Yes to unborn human
life -- Yes to life in the shadow of death.
All: Yes, we will help you.
Candidates: We say Yes to humanity -- Yes to the Church
-- Yes to a society of love.
All: Yes, we will help you.
President: Come my brother, come my sister, come one by
one, confirm personally your Yes, before God and before
us, your sisters and brothers.
The candidates one by one read the pledge, written in
their own handwriting, expressing their option for the
Gospel and their willingness to follow God's calling,
using the following text:
Candidate: Yes, Abba, Father, I pledge to follow your
will; -- Yes, Jesus Christ, I pledge to choose your
Gospel; -- Yes, Holy Spirit, I pledge to listen to your
call.
Yes, my brothers and sisters, I pledge to deepen my
vocation in the light of the message of Saint Francis.
All: Yes, we will help you.
The Gospel is given:
President (to each): Dear... (Name), accept the Gospel,
the word of the living God, the Yes of our Lord to you.
Answer this good news with your Yes, day by day.
Candidate: Amen.
Those who have made their pledge, bring the text with
their pledge to the altar or put it at the feet of Mary.
The celebrant extends his hands over those who made
their pledge.
Celebrant: May God confirm your Yes to keep it true in
the depths of your heart.
Candidates: Amen.
Celebrant: May God confirm your Yes to express it in
your words.
Candidates: Amen.
Celebrant: May God confirm your Yes to act upon it in
peace and joy.
Candidates: Amen.
Final benediction
Celebrant: May the Lord bless you and protect you.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May His face shine upon you and show you His
mercy.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May He look upon you and give you His peace.
All: Amen.
Celebrant: May the blessing of the almighty God, Father,
Son + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and stay with
you always.
All: Amen.
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