Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, surely those who do so will never be lost. – 2 Peter 1:10
Sisters and Brothers in Francis and Clare,
Our celebration of the birth of Christ has come and gone and another year has begun. At the celebration of the Epiphany we heard the story of the Magi on their journey, bearing gifts, searching for the Christ child. The journey of the Magi recalls our Franciscan journey and the gifts we bear throughout the year.
As we continue to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of our Pauline Rule, the Rule is that gift that keeps on giving, our way of life is that gift. Our profession tells us, and the world, that we have made a commitment to live the gospel life and to share this beautiful gift with others by our words and actions.
Our Rule is our daily guidepost and I would like to bring your attention to Rule #4, #5 and #7:
#4. The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. 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 gospel.
#5. 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 St. 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.
#7. 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 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 grace.
Sisters and brothers, our world needs us now more than ever before. Our cities are crying out for peace, for justice, for love, but most of all for the loss of faith. We Franciscans can bring that peace, justice, love and faith to all those we meet daily. You may say, I live the gospel life. But do we live it daily? I am reminded of the reading from the book of Micah: 8 “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God”. I would like to leave you with these thoughts:
If you see someone looking sad and alone, give them a smile, or even better, strike up a conversation.
If you see someone in need of help, give them a helping hand.
When you receive something from someone, say thank you with a smile and even say “Bless you”. You never know whose life you may change or even make for a better day.
Talk to others as if you were talking to Jesus.
These small gestures can brighten a person’s day.
Our gospel way of life could not be any easier to live than this.
Your Franciscan brother in Christ,
Bob Longo, OFS
Regional Minister of St. Margaret of Cortona Region
St. Margaret of Cortona Regional Website
http://saintmargaretofcortona.org/
Remember brothers and sisters, we are all called to evangelize both verbally and by our actions.
Message from our Regional Minister: Bob Longo, OFS
November 9, 2018
Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, surely those who do so will never be lost. – 2 Peter 1:10
Be not Afraid of Who We Are
Sisters and Brothers in Francis and Clare, may the Lord give you His peace!
I attended our National Chapter in St. Louis Missouri last month and much discussion focused on the current crisis in our Church. Once again, as was in the year 2000, our Church is shaken to its very core with new accusations of sexual abuse by priest and bishops, not only in our country but around the world. We are not unique in what is happening in our Church; other confessions of faith are experiencing the same problems, we can even find this crisis in our public institutions and in families.
Those priests who engaged in abusive acts need our prayers. We have many, many good priests who, through no fault of their own, are caught up in this crisis and need our encouragement, support and prayers as this is the beginning of difficult times for them.
Just as important, we need to pray for the victims of all kinds of abuse. We need to be a voice for them, to be present for them by listening, being available to support them whenever and wherever possible, and if possible, to help them in their struggles. Let us also not forget the vulnerable and hurting young people who need healing and direction in their lives.
We can be a light in the world for those who continue to hide in darkness because some have no one to turn to for consolation.
Our Rule and General Constitutions tell us exactly what we need to do:
Rule 15
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.
Rule 19
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…..
Article 22 of our General Constitutions
- Secular Franciscans should “be in the forefront … in the field of public life.” They should collaborate as much as possible for the passage of just laws and ordinances.
- The fraternities should engage themselves through courageous initiatives, consistent with their Franciscan vocation and with the directives of the Church, in the field of human development and justice. They should take clear positions whenever human dignity is attacked by any form of oppression or indifference. They should offer their fraternal service to the victims of injustice.
We Franciscans are also hurting, but, we need to be supportive of all our sisters and brothers who are feeling the pain of this crisis. We all need to stay focused on the real meaning of our faith, that is Jesus our Lord and the Holy Eucharist. He is our hope, and He will help us through the trials and tribulations yet to come.
HOPE
“Let us not allow painful memories to take possession of our heart, even in the face of evil’s repeated assaults; let us not surrender. Let us do, rather, as Noah did, who after the flood did not tire of looking at the sky and of releasing the dove many times, until once it returned to him carrying a tender olive leaf (Genesis 8:11): it was the sign that life could be taken up again and hope could rise again.” 
Yes, we are living in troubled times and our visibility as Secular Franciscans is needed more than ever. I say “DO NOT DESPAIR” and as St. John Paul II often said, “BE NOT AFRAID”.
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