More Information Please

Summer School is coming to an end and what a time it has been. Besides intense learning about our history as Friars and of course about our beloved Saint Francis. We have built a brotherhood that will continue into our Novitiate Year, we have entered into prayer, have celebrated together, have learned to listen and have come to appreciate each other’s gifts, insights and cultures a bit more.

As my Postulancy Year comes to a close with the finishing of classes this week, I look ahead to the Novitiate. Which will be like a Retreat Year, an intense year of formation, growth, and Franciscan discovery.

I often get asked a lot of questions about the Friars and who we are and what we do. I believe early on in this blog I tried to answer some of those questions. It's hard to summarize Franciscans but recently I came across an article from the Friars in Quebec that may help explain a few things about being a Franciscan. I appreciated the information as it again provided for me affirmation and highlighted some of the learning of over this summer. I thought that others may appreciate it as well as my journey continues on to new stage.

 

 

 

Franciscans are not monks, like the Benedictines. We are a mendicant (begging, poor) order, like the Dominicans, for example. This type of religious life developed near the end of the Middle Ages. Franciscans are not pure contemplatives, cloistered as monks are, although communal prayer, life with God and spending time in hermitages are important aspects of our lives. Nor are we a completely active order, even though we have many ministries outside our friaries. We are both contemplative and active.

Based on a tradition that goes back to Saint Francis himself, we call each other “Brother,” even though many of us are also priests. Francis wanted all his friars to have the same rights and duties, no matter what their educational background, occupation or responsibilities. Franciscan communities are each part of a Province, which is led by a Provincial. He is known as “Brother Minister,” which means “Brother Servant.” Francis did not want the friars to use titles of rank such as reverend, superior or father.

Because our founder is St. Francis of Assisi, for the past hundred years we have been affectionately known as “Franciscans” – followers of Francis. The name our founder actually gave us, however, is “minor friars,” which makes us the Order of Friars Minor. That is why the initials O.F.M. appear after every Franciscan’s name. The word “friar” comes from a Latin word meaning “brother.” Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the word “minor” referred to the majority of the population, which was made up of humble craftsmen, day labourers and beggars – people of modest means. The “majors,” on the other hand, were the noblemen and women, merchants and all those who occupied positions of power and influence. The name “Friars Minor,” then, means brothers who are humble, poor, simple, and live modest lives. Our very name defines the essence of our way of life!

Throughout the ages and in many countries, for the past 800 years the Franciscan Order has lived and continues to live the values of poverty, simplicity, humility, justice, peace, joy in God and universal brotherhood.

Areas of ministry vary from one friar to another. Some Franciscan friars are priests, while others are not. That is because the call to Franciscan religious life and the call to the priesthood are different. The two calls may coexist, but one can easily live without the other. So some Franciscans work in parishes or preside at the Eucharist, administer the sacraments and serve the local Church as ordained ministers. Franciscans from Canada and elsewhere in the world are even occasionally named bishops.

Other Franciscan friars do not feel called to the priesthood. They can therefore offer their services to the local Church in other ways. They may work in counselling, spiritual direction, teaching, nursing, social work, cultural or social animation, and so on. There is no limit to the kinds of ministry open to Franciscans, as long as the work does not go against Gospel values.

After completing the steps of the formation set out by the community, the new friars are accompanied as they progress spiritually, personally and academically. The community offers friars the opportunity to build a solid base in theology and pastoral approaches. Then – in consultation with the spiritual directors of the community – a friar can work directly in a pastoral setting, or can take academic and practical courses that will prepare him for an area of ministry that suits his aptitudes and the needs of the community and the Church.

 

Again I am reminded of my call and look forward to the road ahead. The Postulancy Year was a year of introduction to the Friars and confirming the call. The Novitiate Year as I mentioned is like a retreat year but a deepening discernment and opening up of what and where God is calling me to. (Not all my brothers I enter the Novitiate Year with will discern to continue on and others may leave for personal reasons.) At the end of the Novitiate Year we will make our first vows, known as simple vows. We will renew these simple vows for a minimum of three years before we make our solemn vows.

The road ahead still has plenty to travel, but I trust more and more in our awesome God, I am thankful for the support and prayers of family and friends and rely on the inspiration of St. Francis to guide me closer to Jesus.

 

Most High, almighty, good Lord God,

To you belong all praise, glory, honor and blessing!