All sessions begin at 1 p.m. in Founders Room
at St. Francisof Assisi Catholic Church
unless otherwise notified.
Nov. 20, 2022
Theme is St. Clare of Assisi
Franciscan Journey, Review C3FUN Manual C. 14, part 2, pg 18-24Sept. 25, 2022
Franciscan JourneyC. 19 A Simple Way to Live (review)C. 20 Freedom to LoveThere are 7 questions at the end of C.20. Please answer these in whatever fashion helps you learn best.Other:SFO Rule: Art.12Constitution, Art. 15.4*What Is the Kingdom of God (Catholic Update Article)FUN ManualThe Rule of the SFO by Teresa Baker, OFS, pg 12-18. (Review)Aug. 28, 2022
Session 10: Following Christ in a Spirit of Poverty, Detachment and Freedom
Themes: Obedience, Building the Kingdom, Way of the Cross, Poverty, Simplicity, Detachment, Beatitudes
READ: The Franciscan Journey
Ch. 18 Being Faithful
Ch. 19 A Simple Way to Live
Reflect on the Question at the end of each of these two chapters.
READ: FUN Manual The Rule of the SFO by Teresa Baker, OFS, p. 12-18
READ BELOW:
RULE of OFS:
10. 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.
11. Trusting 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.
OFS Constitution
Article 12
1. Gaining inspiration from the example and the writings of Francis and, above all, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, each day the brothers and sisters faithfully live the great gift which Christ has given: the revelation of the Father. They should bear witness to this faith before all: – in their family life; – in their work; – in their joys and sufferings; – in their associations with all men and women, brothers and sisters of the same Father; – in their presence and participation in the life of society; – in their fraternal relationships with all creatures.
2. Rule 10. With Jesus, obedient even to death, they should seek to know and do the will of the Father. They should give thanks to God for the gift of freedom and for the revelation of the law of love. In order to carry out the will of the Father, they should accept the help which is offered to them through the mediation of the Church by those who are given authority in her and by their confreres. They should take on the risk of courageous choices in their life in society with decisiveness and serenity.
Article 15
1. Rule 11. Secular Franciscans are committed to live the spirit of the Beatitudes and, in a special way, the spirit of poverty. Evangelical poverty demonstrates confidence in the Father, creates interior freedom, and disposes them to promote a more just distribution of wealth.
2. Secular Franciscans, who must provide for their own families and serve society by means of their work and material goods, have a particular manner of living evangelical poverty. To understand and achieve it requires a strong personal commitment and the encouragement of the Fraternity in prayer and dialogue, communal review of life, and attentiveness to the instructions of the Church, and the demands of society.
3. Secular Franciscans should commit themselves to reduce their own personal needs so as to be better able to share spiritual and material goods with their brothers and sisters, especially those most in need. They should give thanks to God for the goods they have received, using them as good stewards and not as owners. They should take a firm position against consumerism and against ideologies and practices which prefer riches over human and religious values, and which permit the exploitation of the human person.
4. They should love and practice purity of heart, the source of true fraternity.
June 26, 2022
Formation Reflection
Questions
1. In one of his prayers, Francis writes: “…inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit.”
A: What do these words mean to you, and what practical implications do they have?B: How does your life of prayer and good works make you “…inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit.” Give specific examples based on your experience.
2. After reading the article Franciscan Spirituality (from OFS-Australia ):A: Describe some of the unique aspects of Franciscan spirituality that you spoke to you. B: How do you feel about living the Franciscan spirituality? C: What do you find challenging? What may come easier?
3. Daniel Horan, OFM in his article on Relationships, discusses the word “fraternitas”. A: In your own words, describe what that term means to you. B: How have you experienced this in our Formation, Gatherings, and Retreats?
4. Our Rule 12 states: “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.” A: How do you think living this rule will help you as a Secular Franciscan?
5. As a professed, you may be called to serve in various positions within the Order. This is why Formation, and a thorough understanding Franciscan spirituality, Rule, The Gospel, and life in the Order, is so important. For example, concerning the Council, Rule 21 states: “Their service … is marked by a ready and willing spirit and is a duty of responsibility to each member and to the community.” A: As a Secular Franciscan, what does it mean to have a “ready and willing spirit” as a member of the Fraternity, in the Church, in family life and community life?
6. From Fr. Gallagher’s article on Liturgy of the Hours:
A: List 4 things that you found new, or interesting, about the liturgy of the hours.
B:What do you use to pray the Liturgy of the Hours? Name some of your favorite websites, apps, or books that facilitate your prayer.
C: What do you like about praying the Liturgy of the Hours?
D: What is challenging?
E: What do you need to do to make more time, if necessary, to incorporate prayer and contemplation in your life?
Sunday, May 22, 2022
13: St. Francis and His Approach to Divinity by Bob Fitzsimmons. SFO; the article, Francis of
Assisi “Theologian?” by Thadee Matura, OFM; the article, Francis as Vernacular Theologian: Alink to the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition? by Dominic Monti, OFM; and the article on The
Four Pillars of BSSF Region: Spirituality, Formation, Fraternity, Apostolate, A Franciscan Prayer LifeREAD: The Franciscan Journey Ch. 16 When You Pray
Sunday, March 27, 2022
THEME:
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022
The Theme (Contained in Rule Art. 6)
Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022
Session 3: Focus on Christ, the Gospel and Encountering Christ (Rule Arts. 4 and 5) The Franciscan Journey
- Ch. 12 A Focus on Christ and Ch. 13 Encountering Christ
Other:
- SFO Rule Arts. 4, 5
- Constitution Arts. 8, 9, 10, 11
- The Incarnation (Catholic Update Article)
FUN Manual
- The Rule of the SFO-Teresa Baker, OFS, pgs. 7-17
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 Assignment
1. Ch 10 and 11 in Franciscan Journey. In journal, respond to all reflection questions at the end of Ch. 10 and 11.
Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 Assignment
Main Text: The Franciscan Journey Ch. 9- plus articles from the For Up to Now (FUN) manual
Session #1: The History of the Secular Franciscan Order and Its Rules
Themes: Development of the Order, Rules of 1223, 1289, 1883, 1978
The Franciscan Journey
Ch. 9: Vatican II and SFO Rule and Constitutions. Complete questions at end of chapter.
FUN Manual
A Brief History of the Secular Franciscan Order and Its Rules by William Wicks, OFS
(This article can also be found in the last section of the FUN manual.)
Padre Pio Fraternity 