Minister's Message - Jubilee Year!

I recently asked a room full of Secular Franciscans to write three words to describe the OFS Rule.  Replies included, “conversion, prayer, humility” and “Gospel to Life”, but my favorite response was “who we are”.  What does the 40th Anniversary of the Rule mean for us, if not to live more fully who we are called to be?  How are we to do this?   We are blessed with many helps to live what we have professed, all within reach, and many right here on our website.

First, and most importantly, we have each other.  We have promised to take a long, unhurried journey together.  Something happens when we take time to share, heart to heart, about being Franciscan.  Our stubbornness and reluctance melt away, and we see more clearly.  We draw close in Christ.  We experience conversion.  I cannot imagine living the Rule without fraternity.  How critically important that we take “come away” time to be with our sisters and brothers.

The words of the Rule itself provide inspiration and guide us. “Celebrate the Rule” cards highlight some of these words and call us to ponder their application in our lives. The video entitled “Forty Years of the ‘New’ Rule: A Treasure for the OFS” helps us appreciate how the Holy Spirit guided the wording of the 1978 revision of our Rule, and the priorities therein.  Another wonderful help is the June 24, 2018 letter from our General Minister and brother Tibor Kauser (en español).  His beautiful reflection on the Rule is a great source for individual or group study.

Six of our own OFS-USA servant leaders have produced some amazing and creative resources.  These are listed below, along with a document entitled “Initiatives – OFS-USA” describing how fifteen different Regions plan to celebrate the Rule.  You can access these resources here:

• OFS Holy Half Hours on the Rule – Kathy Taormina OFS
• Formation on the Rule – Mary Bittner OFS at Franciscans of the Prairie Region
• Being Franciscan Today! Sharing Your Dream: Communal Visioning – LaVerna Region
• Ongoing Formation on the Rule – Lady Poverty Region
• The Words of Our OFS Rule – Kathy Taormina OFS
• The OFS Rule – We Hold a Treasure – Troubadours of Peace Region
• Initiatives – OFS-USA

Lastly, I would like to suggest a patron saint for our Jubilee year, one that perhaps may surprise you.  It has occurred to me only recently that the date of the approval of our 1978 Rule – June 24 – is the same date on which we celebrate the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.  This is so interesting!  We can easily see some connections.  St. John the Baptist called all to repentance, to conversion, and his life was one of poverty and humility.  When the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” He said, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” (See Luke 3:10-14).  Is this not a call to the Franciscan life?



Another interesting fact is that the feast of St. John’s birth occurs six months from the birth of Christ, and close to the summer solstice.  From June 24 forward, days grow shorter and light decreases.  This is a tribute to St. John who said, “I must decrease” (See John 3:28-30).  Six months from now at Christmas, Christ our Light appears, shattering the darkness.  Let us meditate on how John the Baptist models for us a true “kenosis” – a pouring out of self to make room for Christ – “He must increase.”  May St. John the Baptist continue to point us to Christ, the true Light of this world, as we celebrate our Rule, and our call to live the Gospel.
Peace and Jubilee Joy!
Jan

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1:76-79

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John 1:29

Pax et bonum

Profession - Pat Cammarata and Irene Perevich

 

 

Pat Cammarata and Irene Perevich officially professed June 15, 2018, as members of the Glory of the Most High Secular Franciscan Fraternity. 

 

 

Pax et bonum

Prayer for OFS Leadership

PRAYER FOR OFS LEADERSHIP

Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.

In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than our own enhancement —
though enhancement we hope for —
more than security for our own plans and vision
— though security we need —
more than satisfaction for our own selfish wants
— though many things we desire.

Give us the hearts to choose and follow the leader
who will work with other leaders
to bring Your will to the agenda
and help us to fulfill it.

Give us leaders who lead us to virtue
without seeking to impose
their own version of virtue on others.

Give us leaders who will provide
for the advancement of our Order
without dictating to others to achieve it.

Give us insight enough ourselves
to choose as leaders those who can tell
strength from power,
growth from greed,
leadership from dominance,
and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.

We trust you, Great God,
to open our hearts to learn
from those to whom you speak in different tongues
and to respect the life and words
of those to whom you entrusted
the good of other parts of this globe.

We beg you, Great God,
give us the vision as Secular Franciscans
to know where holy leadership truly lies,
to pursue it diligently,
to ask it to respect the integrity of every person
in the entire Order.

We ask these things, Great God,
with minds open to your word
and hearts that trust in your eternal care.

Amen

 

The above “Prayer for OFS Leadership” was adapted and updated September 1, 2012 by:Kevin Queally, TOR and Anne Mulqueen, OFS

Pax et bonum