We can all imagine the young Francis kneeling in the dilapidated San Damiano, praying before the crucifix, “enlighten the darkness of my mind…” We know the struggles he went through as God revealed to him: He wanted me to be a new fool in the world. God did not wish to lead us by any way other than this knowledge… Assisi Compilation, 18
Evelyn Underhill describes mysticism as a process by which we consciously connect with the Divine, that sacred connection is the natural result of the “embrace of God’s unitive love.” This description is important as we ponder these verses of Francis’ letter. Francis experienced God’s unconditional and extravagant love, he surrendered to the embrace of God’s unitive love and became increasingly sensitive to the Divine Presence everywhere, in every person and in everything.
In becoming God’s dwelling place, therefore, this is not an intimate solitary experience but it expresses itself and opens up to vivify all the most beautiful expressions of the relationship with God and in Him of the relationships with brothers and sisters.
We remember our own brokenness, limitation, and inclination to sin, and we feel anew the need for mercy and healing. We may perceive within us hidden anger of experienced powerlessness, but anger and confusion prevent love. Thus, we do not allow ourselves to be determined by it. From within we swing in to welcome each one like God again without reservation.
The charism does not die with the founder or the foundress but is kept alive in the lives of the followers. The Franciscan charism is the Gospel message which Francis lived and which guided him up to the end of his life. In this century we experience cultural, racial, color, religion and political differences which prevent us from being the family of God. But to the wicked God says, “Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your lips. You hate discipline, you cast my words behind you.” (Ps 50:16-17)
How am I a true adorer of the Father? What are the ways that the Word of God grounds my call to the Franciscan way of life? What would Francis say to me today about love and about devotion expressed in my personal prayer in “the solitary places I choose to focus my heart entirely on God”? Francis chose caves, clefts of rock and abandoned churches to be alone, where is my heart most attuned to the soft, gentle words of God?
As we commemorate this 800th Anniversary of Francis’ letter to us, may we desire the one thing alone, the working of God at work within us. (TORule 32) The IFC-TOR Council proposes that we celebrate and remember together, and has prepared ways to keep the celebration before us, individually and in our communities.
We would like the sisters or brothers of your congregation to tell how they are giving witness to the aspects of the Second Letter of St. Francis to the Faithful in light of living the Third Order Charism. We will include a copy of this letter with this letter, as there are many ways the letter has been documented over the years. Copies in all our languages will also be posted on our website. It will be helpful if we all refer to the same version of the Second Letter to the Faithful.
Propositum March 2021 / Responses to the COVID-19 and Reflections on FRATELLI TUTTI
Hope is bold! – The language of Christmas is full of music and light
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