THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER.

SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER NATURE (IDENTITY) NATURE (IDENTITY) STRUCTURE STRUCTURE ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION

NATURE (IDENTITY) SECULAR SECULAR FRANCISCAN FRANCISCAN ORDER ORDER

SECULAR Secular character Secular character In the family In the family In work and social life In work and social life Fraternity with creatures Fraternity with creatures

SECULAR CHARACTER After Vatican II After Vatican II SFO General Chapter 1993: SFO General Chapter 1993: witness: witness: to the sacred in the world, to the sacred in the world, to the Incarnation in selves, to fraternity.

SECULAR CHARACTER action: action: overcome injustices, overcome injustices, eliminate illiteracy, restore environment.

IN THE FAMILY reflect divine love reflect divine love promote God’s life-project promote God’s life-project start groups of married couples start groups of married couples

IN THE FAMILY give specific formation give specific formation help families in difficulty help families in difficulty support political and legal initiatives support political and legal initiatives

IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE redeem human activities redeem human activities spread Christian values spread Christian values defend the gift of work defend the gift of work

IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE create places of welcome create places of welcome support poor workers support poor workers

l love all creatures p point out inconsistencies romote ecological debate

r reduce consumption a avoid waste j join Franciscan organizations

FRANCISCAN Franciscan Spirituality Franciscan Spirituality SFO Rule of life SFO Rule of life SFO General Constitutions SFO General Constitutions

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY Called to follow Christ, in the footsteps of St Francis ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS T Trinitarian I Incarnational

TRINITARIAN E Experience God as transcendent Trinity; relate to the three Persons G Go to God the Father, by means of the Son, in the light of the Spirit

e experience God as immanent in creation C Christ-centred: transcendent Son, incarnated “ “mad” love for Jesus Christ; rediscover his gospel

SFO RULE OF LIFE 1978 TREATS OF LIFE SITUATIONS: family family work work society society justice justice peace peace

Trinitarian life Trinitarian life Gospel of love Gospel of love Penance Penance Conversion Conversion

DERIVED ATTITUDES Trust in Providence Trust in Providence Serve Jesus in others Serve Jesus in others Be aware of the Holy Spirit Be aware of the Holy Spirit

SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS 2000 e everything is a creature of God very person: has equal rights, is called to holiness

every baptized person: i is prophet, king, priest t takes part in public worship

SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS (cont.) d dialogue at all levels r representative authority l laity are called into mission a all to work for a better world

ORDER Not religious but secular. Canon 303: “third order”: “The members... lead an apostolic life” life according to the Gospel life according to the Gospel includes active apostolic works: includes active apostolic works: as an individual as an individual as a Fraternity as a Fraternity

“They strive for Christian perfection” Sharing with religious: life life spirituality spirituality apostolate apostolate

“in the world” Developing: secular state in life secular state in life talents talents professional skills professional skills

“they share in the spirit of some religious institute” Not religious or semi religious Adopting: Franciscan spiritual tradition: Franciscan spiritual tradition: experience of God experience of God secular expression of charism secular expression of charism Rule, Constitutions, Ritual Rule, Constitutions, Ritual

“under the overall direction of the same institute” Spiritual assistance: promotes gospel life promotes gospel life fidelity to the charism fidelity to the charism cooperates in mission cooperates in mission

“under the overall direction of the same institute” Spiritual assistance: in society and in the Church in society and in the Church promotes unity of the Family promotes unity of the Family communion with the Church communion with the Church

Spiritual assistance (cont.): A double service: overall direction overall direction (higher management) (higher management) spiritual animation spiritual animation

STRUCTURE Fraternities: Local Local Regional Regional National National International, General International, General

LOCAL FRATERNITY primary cell primary cell canonically established canonically established written consent of bishop written consent of bishop

LOCAL FRATERNITY at least five professed at least five professed members members spiritually assisted by one spiritually assisted by one Order Order

REGIONAL FRATERNITY (e.g., Singapore-Sabah) u union of local Fraternities in a territory c constituted by National Council

REGIONAL FRATERNITY (e.g., Singapore-Sabah) l link between local and national S Spiritual Assistants cooperate Conference of Regional Assistants

NATIONAL FRATERNITY (e.g., Oceania) union of regional Fraternities union of regional Fraternities in a nation (or more) in a nation (or more) constituted by International Council constituted by International Council Spiritual Assistants cooperate Spiritual Assistants cooperate Conference of National Assistants Conference of National Assistants

INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY (The SFO) union of national Fraternities union of national Fraternities constituted by Rule constituted by Rule and General Constitutions and General Constitutions Spiritual Assistants cooperate Spiritual Assistants cooperate Conference of General Assistants Conference of General Assistants

ORGANIZATION Fraternities and Councils Fraternities and Councils Assistants and Conferences Assistants and Conferences Friar Ministers Friar Ministers and Conferences Roman Congregations Roman Congregations and Pope