The entire world has become a large house for the Franciscan family. For this reason we must reside together and work together in this house, (the root meaning of ecumenism). The conviction that Franciscan renewal can succeed only when the various Franciscan communities collaborate, is a basic expression of the post-conciliar documents issued by all the Franciscan orders.
Fraternity is the basic form of our life. The General Chapter of the Franciscans held at Medellín in 1971 identified fraternity as the sign of our Franciscan identity and credibility.
We are convinced that this form of life of fraternity in the imitation of Christ and St. Francis can provide the humanity of today a great service. We wish to relieve the needs of our time with our fraternity (Medellín OFM 1971).
The same document also gives detailed ways to maintain this fraternity:
- the use of one’s own talents to promote the well-being and joy of the brothers (no. 11);
- in service to others, helping them “to realize the gospel values of human dignity, total development and true freedom” (no. 12);
- in pledging to “make ourselves the neighbour of absolutely every human being and to help actively those whom we meet” (no. 13);
- “We, the sons of St. Francis, live in local fraternal communities and wish to serve the basic Christian communities... The grace of renewal cannot grow in communities unless each one of them extends the range of its charity to the ends of the earth” (no. 16).
The Mission Document of the Capuchins issued at Mattli in 1978, has similar emphasis on the witness of brotherly love:
- The work, the missionary engagement, must never so involve the missionary that fraternal community living becomes impossible (no. 38).
- Cooperation between the Provinces and the Regions would promote the convincing power of community life (no. 39).
- We should esteem and value the spiritual gifts of so many brothers and sisters, sharing our spirit and service. In this way we will bring to maturity a community of faith and love, gifted with particular effectiveness in the preaching of the Gospel such as St. Francis desired and people of our time expect (no. 40).
The Missionary Document of “
“When people saw the friars, they described them as men of God, people who showed an honest concern, a smiling face, mutual respect, gentleness and love (cf. 1 Cel 38; AP 25). Their very lives gave witness to the Good News. They not only believed and proclaimed, but more importantly in their lives together and with the people, they experienced the Gospel values of Jesus Christ. If we really desire to evangelize today, people must first see in us those same values that were conspicuous in the lives of the early friars“(
The new Constitutions of the Secular Franciscans, article 89, speak of “the power of living, mutual relations between religious and laity in the Franciscan family and of the responsibility of the superior.” The spiritual assistant of the First Order is to guarantee that mutuality is an essential element of the commonality between all Secular Franciscan communities. The Constitutions also envision that all members of the Secular Franciscan Order promise to fulfil their mission together with other groups within the Franciscan family.
The Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular (TOR/OSF) calls for loyalty to those who hold office in the Church and for a deeper unity of the world-wide Church and the local church. The Rule especially notes, “Wherever and whenever they meet, they must meet each other spiritually and attentively and must honour each other. They should also foster unity and community with all members of the Franciscan family.” (
A document of the 5th Plenary Council of the Capuchins, held in Garibaldi in 1983, emphasizes the pre-eminent place of fraternity and community spirit.
Let us strengthen fraternal co-responsibility and solidarity so that we can overcome the mentality of isolation and provincialism. To this end, let us make use of those agencies that stimulate and support collaboration in formation, in the apostolate, publications, etc. And let us do so both at the level of the Order as a whole and at the continental, national and regional level. We devote particular attention to the conferences.
We encourage you to keep fraternal sentiment vital outside of and within provinces by sharing goods and by other signs. The living spirit of poverty and being on-the-road should keep local fraternities from constricting their development by allowing certain brothers to remain in the same place for too long. (no 27).
The examples noted above make it abundantly clear that the tendency toward a pledge of unity has grown within the Franciscan family. We know, of course, that wounds and scars from the past are still present. Nonetheless, we must increasingly recognize that there is no longer room for individual members or communities to seek individuality and higher profiles at the cost of others. In the spirit of our founders Francis and Clare, we must realize our imitation of Christ in common. Obviously, there is no magic formula for Franciscan ecumenism. We are still at the starting line. Yet it is clear and therefore an obligation, that together, we can accomplish many tasks with each far better, than parallel to each other or even against each other. Such efforts can take place without the loss of individual traditions and charismas: unity in diversity! Only then will the richness of the Franciscan spirit become visible and bear fruit for the People of God.
CCFMC, Lesson Unit 3, Information
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