1 - Who are Franciscans?

                                   Who Are Franciscans?

During the time of Francis, his movement was the third penitential movement to arise in Italy. Penitential movements contained Christians who chose to live in poverty and simplicity as a grateful expression of God’s forgiveness of their sins. They were told not to preach in churches unless they were invited. The first two movement preaches (without invitation) anyhow. They were denounced. Francis, however, did not preach unless invited. He told his followers to spread the Gospel and only when necessary use words. Instead of preaching, they lived the gospel by example.

Franciscans are not a “Gloom & Doom” people for we feel the joy of the Lord is with us and we want to express that to others (since life can be exciting, enjoyable and delightful). We do not punish ourselves for our (God forgiven) sins that we feel sorrow for, we just limit the excessive and compulsive behavior that leads people into sin. Laity Franciscans (like us) do not deliberately place ourselves into poverty, we just identify with the poverty that exists within us and around us (to love what Francis called, “Lady Poverty”). This is the root behind the Franciscan belief of simplicity (to live simply without wasteful or extravagant lifestyles and we share our time and fortunes with those in need). Because of our sensitivity to the poor, we give our acts of love to help those in need as expressions of God’s love moving through us to others.

Francis wanted to change Christianity from within (without dividing it a part). Through his simple approach he became the first gentle Church reformer (producing a Christ-like attitude) during a time when most of the social institutions within western culture were corrupt and exploitative towards the weak, the powerless and the defenseless.

Throughout all of Christianity today, Franciscans represent: peace, Gospel living, ecology, humility, simplicity, loving animals and serving those in need. Poverty is especially dear to the Franciscan heart. Franciscans are generous, kind and loving Christians that place God’s will above the will of the world.

For Catholics, the Franciscans have three orders. The First Order would be only men who take religious vows (like Monks & Friars). The Second Order would be only women who take religious vows. They are the Poor Clare Nuns. The Third Order would be both men and women. They are Secular Franciscans and Third Order regulars (TOR). The TOR Franciscans take religious vows and the Secular Franciscan take a profession of faith as lay persons. 

There are also Franciscan secular fraternities within the Episcopal and Lutheran denominations. We would like to see some Methodist, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ,independent churches and mainline Baptist with Franciscan Fraternities arising because of our efforts. Also, we would like to see new Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran fraternities where Secular Franciscan Fraternities are unable to be created (like in some difficult situations but there still is a need). Hopefully our fraternities and Secular fraternities can work together. Secular Franciscan members (like our fraternity members) are not required to be poor but instead they balance their lives between their personal needs and wants while helping those who are poor.

We are a new Franciscan movement that opens the doors much wider for all people to enter. The purpose of the Franciscan Christian Fraternity movement is to rebuild Christianity through our local churches (and at home - work – etc.) with our personal love for Christ like St. Francis had. We serve the local church by being an evangelizing movement through Christian service only. We should be known for our actions not our words. Most local churches have service projects, social ministries or Peace & Justice committees. We exist to enhance their efforts and to support these ministries. The local church is our foundation of operations and we serve their needs. We are Christians that express our Christianity through Franciscan Spirituality.

The Franciscan Spiritual way of life is to simplify our personal beliefs & lifestyles (and lessen the gap between what we want & need in life). We do this without any conflict with our local church’s beliefs or worship customs. Each fraternity will have a spiritual adviser to help them with their spiritual focus.

Hopefully different fraternities from different Christian denominations can come together to aide one another or to have joint service projects. These gatherings will be city wide conferences where Franciscan (Christian) love can be shared.

We are brothers & sisters to all of God’s creatures and all of creation. We are peacemakers (for we sacrifice, forgive, compromise, heal broken hearts & love people where they are and on their level). We empty ourselves of our egos (as much as possible - like Christ humbled himself on the cross). We see self-esteem as good but not self-pride. We take our personal energy and allow it to build up love around us – not destroy relationships instead. We separate behavior (or a person’s sins) from a person’s self-worth in God’s eyes as lovable. We acknowledge that everyone is searching for God’s love, but some people are doing so in the wrong places.  For we believe feelings are not right or wrong in the peacemaking process; even though, our response to feelings can be socially right or wrong. As much as possible, we try not to judge people based on their feelings and allow God to judge the sins of others instead of us. We know what is right and what is wrong but we do not create right and wrong people (for God does not create junk people - only humans can). There are three knots on the Franciscan symbolic cord. They are: poverty, chastity and obedience. Our poverty is to be in great need of God; it is our real freedom and liberty when we humble ourselves. Chastity (or charity) is our pure heartedness; when we are giving God’s love to others. Obedience is listening to God’s will in our lives and respecting the authority around us.  

If you like Franciscan Spirituality then then come with us to exercise your soul (like you do your body) and let your soul grow and mature with us. We will not judge what level of soul development you are at and we only wish you peace, love and joy through Christ.                                                                       
 D. Crone

                                        Franciscan Symbols

                          (What Are Some Personal Franciscan Symbols?)

1: The Tau is a “T” shaped symbol (similar to the cross of Christ) and chosen by St. Francis to be the symbol of his movement. For us it represents our spiritual poverty (to be in great need of God). It also represents our freedom & liberty from things that might want to take ownership of us like too many unnecessary possessions or excessive usage of high tech devices (to the point of separating us from our loved ones too much).

2: The Franciscan Coat of Arms (sometimes called The Conformity) is two arms crossing one another (one arm is the arm of St. Francis and the other Jesus). With this symbol we see the reshaping of our lives to conform to Jesus as Francis did.

3: The phase “Pax et Bonum”is used by Franciscan often. It means “peace and all good” (or peace and goodwill). We use this as a greeting between Franciscans.

4: San Damiano Cross is an icon of the crucifixion that was located in a nearby church during St. Francis’ lifetime. St. Francis had a vision of Jesus telling him to rebuild his church while viewing this art. We look upon this art to discover within our quiet moments the soft voice of God inspiring us and encouraging us into action.

5: The Franciscan Peace Rope is something born of my personal creative. It has a metal portraying the face of the crucified Jesus to represent the sacrifice that we too must do for love in our world. There is a metal tau with the Latin words for “Peace and All Good” representing our desire to produce goodwill in the peace process. Then it has another metal with the first line of the prayer of St. Francis on it. This represents our intentions to become an instrument for peace. Then there is a regular image of Jesus that represents the “Spirit of Christ” or God’s spirit (the spirit that bonds us together with those we are in dispute with).

6: Canticle of the Sun represents the fact that we are siblings with all of nature’s creations through God’s love.                                                                D. Crone

QUESTIONS:

1 What is the difference between Franciscan Spirituality and regular Christianity?

2 Is Franciscan Spirituality more compassionate?

3 Is Franciscan Spirituality simpler?

4 Why do Franciscans place so much emphasis on poverty or on people in need? If someone is not that way, can they still be Christian? I believe if you place emphasis on other Christian ideals (not Franciscan) - you can still be a good Christian if you show the love for God & others with what you do, do you agree?

5 Can you truly be Franciscan but not have humility? I believe it would be extremely difficult, why?

6 Can you truly be Franciscan and not love nature, animal and humanity? Can you be Christian if you do not love humanity?

7 Can you be Franciscan but not wish for peace between people and nations?