Propositum Vitae Life Project the primitive inspiration Where it all begins Summer seminar June 2009

How you journey = How you arrive Why after you? Bob Fitzsimmons SFO 2009 SFO Summer Seminar Secular Franciscan Order - USA

Propositum Vitae 1209 – approval of a new way of Life The “ oral rule” basically a few lines of Scripture: Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mt 19:21) Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mt 16:24) And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. (Lk 9:3) This is what I want!

A major shift in the model of Church – Church based on Acts, “The Apostolic Life” Monastic [communal] -- vs Canons Regular [communal & pastoral] – Church based on Jesus - Gospel Adventure Evangelical, poverty, humility, vernacular Life based on an Image of God, relationship, and a way of life A way of life based on Francis’ understanding of the Divine Economy.

Divine Economy to Human Economy Michael Crosby OFM Cap 1.All are equal, created in the divine image (Jesus) - The Blueprint 2.God has entered into mutual relationship with each one (as well as all creation) - God’s Poverty (Incarnation) & Humility (mutuality – desiring us) 3.Resources are to meet the needs of all so that all realize their dignity and have the fullest potential mutuality, & participation

Fraternity – Order ? Francis vision -- classless structure, a fraternity (brotherhood) of equals centered on Gospel/Christ, charged to meet the needs of each other without exercising authority over anyone. Poverty = doorway to peace and freedom (living w/o grasping –”sine proprio”) Gospel to Life, Life to Gospel “sine glossa” (without gloss) Reality --Order (clericalization - governance),

Brothers and Sisters of Penance Letter to the Faithful inspirational form (prologue or proto-rule) – 2 nd version 1220 (RnB) Memoriale Propositi 1221 juridical form (RnB) Surpa Montem August 1289 (RB) two Secular Franciscans: a judge Ugolino de’Medici di Ferrara and his brother Elias.

Supra Montem The Approbation of the Third Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order instituted by Bl. Francis, for seculars living in their own homes, called Tertiaries, Pope Nicholas IV, Rieti, August 17, 1289 A.D.... This is that, which prepares the path of salvation, and which promises the rewards and joys of eternal felicity. And for that reason the glorious confessor of Christ, Bl. Francis, the institutor of this order....

11 Francis of Assisi vernacular theologian Humility & Poverty of God God as Trinity predominates his writings God organically connected to all creation, Francis expresses this in the Canticle of the Creatures Most high & supreme Good, You alone are good aside – God alone is worthy, we are not, but are by pure giftedness. Reason not to get caught up in the worthiness/performance game

Francis approach to God is fully Trinitarian “You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth. You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good” –G–God is the Most Holy Father and Supreme Good – the Father is source and goal –B–Beloved Son is the expression of the totality of God’s goodness, humility and poverty – is God and points us to the Father –S–Spirit is the foundation of Christian Life, “to have the Spirit of the Lord and his holy way of working” it is the Spirit who enables us to live the Gospel with great JOY – imitate Jesus

13 Poverty of God – Perfect love requires the lover to hold nothing back from the beloved! God freely, by choice empties Himself for the good of the other (self-communication -- kenosis) 3- fold kenotic expression – I-P-E Humility of God – God turns toward Jesus completely (God's full self-expression in one other then Himself) and through Jesus The Father turns toward us (finite self-expression of Jesus) and all creation. Two Key beliefs as foundation of Franciscan Life

14 “ 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross”. Philippians 2:5-8 The Revised Standard Version (Php 2:5). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. Poverty and humility of God

15 Poverty and humility of God Is expressed in God’s Chosen actions: I P E Incarnation – not because of sin, but because of Love. The Incarnation is the unrepeatable, unique and single defining act of God’s love Passion/crucifixion – not for the death or horror, but to show the depth of love’s sacrifice and what The Father was willing to hold back just for Himself Eucharist – abiding physical presence in the most insignificant form

The Divine Migration GOD Us – Creation – Material world, sin Our movement toward God Ascending to spiritual union By fleeing the world Us - Creation God’s movement toward all creation, esp us -- Descent The Incarnation Transforms and unites material & Spiritual All is good All is holy

Francis’ Spirituality Spirituality is relational, a belief and the active or lived expression of that belief – a spirituality that follows God’s action of descent God is experienced as Trinitarian communion entered through relationship and imitation of Jesus through the power of the Spirit. (Dance of Life/Trinity) Jesus reveals to us God’s name = ABBA Francis’ movement 1.Hear the Gospel (finite words of the Eternal Word) 2.Do it – embrace it – live it

Admonition VII: Let good action follow knowledge The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life [2 Cor 3:6]. To imitate Christ we have to know Christ and we learn of Christ from the Gospels... For example, we can read the Gospels out of curiosity, out of a sense of duty, or simply to be able to tell others what the following of Jesus entails. This gives us knowledge but knowledge of itself is of little value. Knowledge must flow over into what we do.

Good – Only God is Good –S–Sin then: Appropriating for ourselves our own goodness Gratitude – Love is not loved! – remember IPE How you journey = how you arrive! Joy is taken seriously [ADM 22, RnB C7, AsC 120] Spirituality is based in Joy, & joy is the source of the Spirit’s energy to practice the Gospel Life! Experience {sensory} not a purely intellectual exercise –F–Fragrant, Delectable, Desirable Sweet

The spirituality of Francis emphasizes – Emptiness and receptivity – becoming little and free so to have room for the in-dwelling of the Trinity. – Primacy of the Father – generatively – in his writings Francis speaks of the Father almost exclusively, or Trinity & Unity – Imitation of the Beloved Son who Francis sees as our elder brother – God in human-being-ness – Guided by the Holy Spirit as was Mary [hospitality], spouses, brothers/sisters, mothers

3 P’s of Francis 1.Preaching – Penitential movement stresses observing/doing the Gospel - transformation 2.Prayer – As a lay community this was more charismatic – Spirit filled spontaneous prayer – Paramount is the Eucharist [ADM 1] 3.Poverty – to place one self on an equal footing with the little people of the world – to go and preach/live the Gospel where the Church cannot -- live without grasping

22 St. Augustine Original Sin St. Anselm Doctrine of Atonement – Cur Deus Homo 1.If Adam & Eve had not sinned [original sin] would Jesus still have become human? Why or why not? 2.What is our most important Holy-day/feast day? Quiz

23 St. Augustine -- Original Sin St. Anselm -- Doctrine of Atonement – Cur Deus Homo Dominican Tradition Dominic Thomas Aquinas Essence Intellect Sin & atonement centered Knowledge Jesus as expiation for sin work at worthiness Earn salvation – rules & laws Flee the world Jesus – no Pope Leo XIII 1879 Aterni Patris Primary view – Juridical Path of ascent

24 St. Augustine Original Sin St. Anselm Doctrine of Atonement Dominican Tradition Dominic Thomas Aquinas Essence Intellect Sin & atonement centered knowledge Jesus as expiation for sin work at worthiness Earn salvation – rules & laws Flee the world Jesus – no Easter Pope Leo XIII 1879 “Aterni Patris” Primary view –Juridical Path of ascent Franciscan Tradition Francis & Clare Bonaventure & Scotus Person Volition - WILL Love-centered - sensory Affective - relationships Jesus - blueprint of creation Only God is Good Incarnation unites and transforms Love the world – vestige Jesus – Yes Christmas Eph 1:3-14 & Col 1:15-20 Alternate view – relational Path of Descent The Cappodocians Athanasius & Basil the Great Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzus pseudo-Dionysis Victorines