Category: Formation

  • We Are Called to Serve One Another

    We Are Called to Serve One Another

    (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2024  Issue #113)

    by Layna Maher, OFS National Formation Commission Chair

    Serving is a prominent characteristic of Franciscan leadership philosophy. St. Francis sees himself as a servant to God and those in his community.

    When we look at the intentions and promises we make at the Rite of Admission and the Rite of Profession, two special, grace filled times, we see the word service. In the Rite of Admission we promise: to be of service to all through my secular state of life for the glory of God and to fulfill His plan of love on behalf of all people. In the Rite of Profession we see renew my baptismal promises and consecrate myself to the service of His kingdom. In both of these rites, the words clearly recognize our call to care for the needs of others.

    Our founder, St. Francis, has left us the great treasure of his writings that reinforce the call for serving others. He tells us in his testament:

    After the Lord gave me brothers, no one showed me what I should do; but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the Holy Gospel. FA:ED, vol. 1, 125

    In the Later Admonition and Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance (Second Version of the Letter to the Faithful) St. Francis says:

    We must never desire to be above others, but, instead, we must be servants and subject to every human creature for God’s sake. FA:ED, vol. 1, 48.

    St. Francis was a true servant leader choosing to work for the good of others. He demonstrated how to give priority to the needs of the community and show love and compassion for others. When Francis embraced the leper, one of the poorest and most marginalized members of society, he did so with loving service. Francis wasn’t simply looking for a project to complete. His loving service was leading him to the Father following in the footsteps of Christ.

    St. Clare also models servant leadership for us. We can read in the Legend of St. Clare, Her Holy Humility [Chapter VIII] that:

    Rarely would she give an order, instead she would do things spontaneously, preferring rather to do things herself than to order her sisters. She herself washed the commodes of the sick; she herself, with that noble spirit of hers, cleansed them not running away from their filth nor shrinking from their stench. She frequently and reverently washed the feet of the serving sisters who returned from outside and, after washing them kissed them. CA:ED 292.

    hands drawn in a heart

    We are also fortunate to have our Handbook for Secular Franciscan Servant Leadership. This is an excellent source and guidance document for all Secular Franciscans at every level of fraternity. This wonderful document can be found online at  https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Servant_Leadership_Handbook_Aug_21_2024.pdf

    Highlights from the Handbook include foundational ideas, guides for leaders, and practical aids on communicating, listening, engaging in dialogue, and reconciling differences. The handbook also features tips on collaboration problem solving and an attributes inventory to help fraternity members recognize strengths and areas to grow in.

    But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26–28

  • Celebrating the Gift of the Stigmata – August 20-23, 2024

    Celebrating the Gift of the Stigmata – August 20-23, 2024

    To celebrate and reflect on the Centenary of the Stigmata of St. Francis, the CNSA and the National Formation Commission collaborated on a two-day conference/day of reflection at the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center in Villa Maria PA.

    Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, and Father Marek Stybor, OFM Conv., provided two full days of insight and inspiration to 45 Regional Spiritual Assistants, Regional Formation Directors and members of the CNSA and National Formation Commission from across the nation, including Guam. It was a beautiful time of fraternal joy and relationship building among Seculars, Friars and Sisters, many of whom were meeting for the first time.

    The first day, Sr. Margaret gifted the participants with a wealth of insights and perspectives from the Franciscan sources. To help her get to know us, Sr. Margaret invited the participants to stand and tell the group who they were, what their ministry was and where they were from.  The round of introductions concluded with a spontaneous singing of “This Land is My Land”.

    The second day, Fr. Marek helped the participants delve into the spirituality of the Stigmata.    Father’s themes were “From Complaining to Gratitude”, “From Wounded to Healed” and “From Rejection to Acceptance”. The day included Eucharistic adoration and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

    See the agenda and materials below for details.

    Pictured below:

    Group picture of event participants,

    Our Presenters:  Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF and Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv.,

    The Mass of the Exaltation of the Cross – from left, Deacon Will Tribbey, OFS, Sr. John DeLaRiva, OFM Cap., Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. and Fr. Cid Joseph, OFM.,

    The beautiful chapel bathed in light.

  • Reflecting on Mary,  Our Mother and Model

    Reflecting on Mary, Our Mother and Model

    (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2024 Digital Issue #112)

    By Layna Maher, OFS

    National Formation Commission Chair

    Mary holding baby Jesus & St. Francis praying to HimThink back to your profession and recall the words that you said as the Minister held your hands and you made your profession promise.

    I, by the grace of God, renew my baptismal promises and consecrate myself to the service of his Kingdom. Therefore, in my secular state I promise to live all the days of my life the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Secular Franciscan Order by observing its rule of life. May the grace of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our holy father St. Francis, and the fraternal bonds of community always be my help, so that I may reach the goal of perfect Christian love.

    Our OFS Rule provides guidance for how we are to live each day and act in every situation. Article 9 tells us how we are to appreciate and respect Mary, our mother and model in life.

    The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to His every word and call. She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family. The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently. OFS Rule Article 9

    St. Francis’ love and devotion to the Blessed Mother is evident from the earliest days.

    Thomas of Celano, the first to write a life of Saint Francis, describes how St. Francis rebuilt the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula in Chapter IX of the First Book.

    “When the holy man of God saw it SO ruined, he was moved by piety because he had a warm devotion to the Mother of all good and he began to stay there continually.” (FA:ED vol.1, 201)

    Saint Bonaventure shares with us that Saint Francis “…embraced the mother of the Lord Jesus with an inexpressible love since she made the Lord of Majesty a brother to us and, through her, we have obtained mercy.” (FA:ED vol. 2, 598)

    We can turn to the early documents to read the words of St. Francis himself in his Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

    Hail, O Lady,

    Holy Queen,

    Mary, holy Mother of God,

    Who are the Virgin made Church,

    chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven

    whom he consecrated with His most holy

    beloved Son

    and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,

    in whom there was and is

    all fullness of grace and every good.

    Hail His Palace!

    Hail His Tabernacle!

    Hail His Dwelling!

    Hail His Robe!

    Hail His Servant!

    Hail His Mother!

    And hail all You holy virtues

    which are poured into the hearts of the faithful

    through the grace and enlightenment of the

    Holy Spirit,

    that from being unbelievers,

    You may make them faithful to God.

    (FA:ED, vol. 1, 163)

    Take time to ponder the words of this beautiful salutation and pray with gratitude for Mary, our mother and model, that gave us Jesus as our brother.

    What qualities or attributes of Mary most move you? How do you imitate those qualities and attributes in your daily life? How are you saying yes?

  • We Are Called To Renewal

    (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111)

    by Francine Gikow, OFS

    “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom12:2)*

    This passage from St. Paul, notes three levels of adherence to God’s will: good, acceptable and perfect. Initially there is a minimum of following Christ which is solely good (not evil). Next we have acceptability which reflects a little higher adherence but still withholds total commitment and finally, there is perfection; for those who are fully committed to follow Christ and to become transformed by Him. It is a renunciation of self and desires, with a total intention of living for Christ in this world.

    Secular Franciscans are called to the highest level of following Christ- of being as perfect as humanly possible. In our Rite of Profession, we acknowledge that Christ’s grace has “led these your servants to live their faith more fully in the context of the world,” and has a goal “of perfect Christian love so that the Church may be rebuilt and her mission to be fulfilled….” (Ritual, 23-24) Finally, we are called to “conform our thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel itself calls conversion.” (Rule, 7)

    How can we do this? We know we are not able to do all of this on our own but rather it is through God’s grace which gives us the ability to persevere in our vocational journey toward perfection. God initiates the call and we respond. Like the disciples, Jesus calls each of us by name, personally and individually, to come and see, and to stay awhile with Him in prayer. We begin by answering His call of invitation, to dwell in prayer and encounter Him in a deepening, intimate relationship.

    Jesus routinely went to the desert to stay with His Father. So too is our need for “desert time” to connect with Jesus. Our time cannot be rushed nor become routine. God wants us to encounter Him and make ourselves available to Him without the clutter of our own agenda or wishes. Do not worry about how you pray, or using a specific style of prayer. What matters most is your relationship with God:

    …the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray

    as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

    And he who searches the hearts of men, know what is the mind of the Spirit,

    because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom 8:26-27)

    Our time with God is the first step toward renewal – for without God, there is nothing. The disciples were attracted to Jesus after their first encounter with Him, stayed with Him to hear His message and then, when filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, were sent to proclaim Christ to the world.

    Likewise, we must first listen, then discern, and ultimately go forth on a mission to spread the good news of Jesus -who is the same Jesus we personally encounter in the fire of our prayer.

    …ask for grace not instruction, desire not understanding, the groaning of prayer not diligent reading…not light but the fire that totally inflames us and carries us into God by ecstatic unctions and burning affections. This fire is God. (St. Bonaventure, The Soul’s Journey Into God. 7:6)

    *All Scripture citations taken from RSV-2CE.“

  • And after the Lord gave me some brothers

    And after the Lord gave me some brothers

    (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111)

    by Justin Carisio, OFS National Formation Commission

    In the days before his death in 1226, St. Francis created a document that the Franciscan tradition calls “The Testament.”[1] He described this text as “a remembrance, admonition, exhortation, and my testament, which I, little brother Francis, make for you my blessed brothers….”[2] Among other things, Francis recounts how he formed his order: “And after the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what I had to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel.” [3]

    For St. Francis, living “according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel” was physical and sacramental. One of its signal characteristics would be its communal nature. Modeled on the example of Jesus and the apostles, it would be a community of brothers who would “give themselves to honest work,” living a life of poverty in the world “as pilgrims and strangers.” [4] In this and the other ways in which the Franciscan movement would take shape—St. Clare’s cloistered Poor Ladies or the secular Brothers and Sisters of Penance—the paradigm of Franciscan life would be fraternity.

    Moreover, Franciscan fraternity would not be an abstract idea, not a collection of names on paper. For Secular Franciscans, fraternity then, as now, means brothers and sisters who are physically present to one another. That is why attendance at fraternity meetings is vital to our Franciscan way of life.

    Our Rule states, “The local fraternity is to be established canonically. It becomes the basic unit of the whole Order and a visible sign of the Church, the community of love.” (Rule, Article 22) The commentary on the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order states, “The local fraternity is the basic living organism of the whole Secular Franciscan Order and a visible sign of the whole Church in miniature.”[5] The Constitutions emphasize that “The fraternity must offer to its members opportunities for coming together and collaborating through meetings to be held with as great a frequency as allowed by the situation and with the involvement of all its members.” (Constitutions, 53:1)

    During the pandemic, many fraternities resourcefully turned to conference calls and internet services to meet these obligations at a time when physical gatherings were not possible. Some local fraternities continue to offer these options. However, they should only be employed in extraordinary circumstances or when necessary to engage members truly unable to attend a regular gathering.

    In a homily he gave in April 2020, during the height of the Covid crisis, Pope Francis reminded us of the necessity of physically coming together. Acknowledging the utility of television and the internet under those circumstances, he nevertheless emphasized that Christians should seek a “daily familiarity with the Lord” that is intimate and personal but always in community: “The ideal of the Church is always with the people and with the sacraments. Always.” In a sentence that should ring true in the ears of every Franciscan, he stated, “The Church, the sacraments, the People of God are concrete.”[6] Believing that our local fraternities are indeed a living organism, a visible sign of the church in miniature, Secular Franciscans should take the Holy Father’s words to heart, reminding ourselves that fraternity is concrete. Fraternity is not virtual. The Lord has given us brothers and sisters as a gift. We should rejoice in our opportunities to come together and do so with eager anticipation.

    [1] St. Francis of Assisi, “The Testament” in Francis of Assisi: Early Documents (FA:ED I), edited by Regis J. Armstrong, J. A. Wayne Hellmann, William J. Short (New York, London, and Manila: New City Press, 1999), 124.

    [2] Ibid., 127.

    [3] Ibid., 125.

    [4] Ibid., 125-126.

    [5] Conference of National Spiritual Assistants of the USA, From Gospel to

    Life, The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order With Commentary (National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, 2023), 25

    [6] www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-churchs-ideal-is-to-be-with-the-people-pope-says-15505

  • CHRIST, ST. FRANCIS, and FRANCISCAN THEOLOGICAL TERMS

    CHRIST, ST. FRANCIS, and FRANCISCAN THEOLOGICAL TERMS

    by Anne Mulqueen, OFS

    National Formation Commission

    (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2023 Issue #110)

    Today, in Franciscan circles, specific words or phrases are used to describe the Franciscan understanding of Christ and Christ’s relationship to humanity and creation. Too often, no clear definition is given, and many Franciscan teachings are skipped over without understanding what is meant.

    This should not discourage us because St. Francis’ understanding of the Almighty deepened throughout his life. The man who began by repairing churches was not the same man who wrote the Canticle of the Creatures and gave himself back to God in the arms of Sister Death. So, Let us begin…

    Franciscan Emphasis on the Blessed Trinity

    The Trinity appears nowhere in the title of this article, but we must understand Franciscan Trinitarian spirituality to understand how our founder experienced God through each person of the Blessed Trinity. Also, he understood each person of the Trinity as relating to each other. In The Praises of God, written by Francis to Brother Leo, he writes:

    You are three and one, the Lord God of gods;  You are good, all good, the highest good,  Lord God living and true.[1]

    Further, he writes in his Earlier Rule, Chapter XXIII:

    Let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love, honor, adore, serve, praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God Trinity and Unity Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Creator of all. Savior of all who believe and hope in Him, and love Him.

    Now that we have established that St. Francis’ approach to the Godhead was Trinitarian let us turn to his love and devotion to the humanity of Christ.

    Christ as Center (Christocentric)

    Before theologians began to develop the concept of Christ as the center of all creation, St. Francis understood that all things spiritual and corporal were created through the Son[2].

    The late Fr. Eric Doyle, OFM, an English theologian, wrote on why Christocentrism is important for us to understand. Fr. Eric wrote:

    Francis reminds us all to realize the dignity God has bestowed on us: our body he formed and created in the image of his Son, our soul he made in his own likeness (Admonition V). The body of the Incarnate Word, Jesus of Nazareth, was the blueprint for the bodies of the first human beings…

    For all their simplicity and clarity, [the sentence] of Francis just quoted, has a rich theological content.

    Contained in embryo is the Christocentric vision of the Franciscan school and even the doctrine of Christ’s absolute primacy as formulated and expounded by John Duns Scotus[3].

    Christocentrism naturally leads us to an understanding of the Primacy of Christ.

    Primacy of Christ

    The best way to understand the Primacy of Christ is through Scripture, particularly the Gospel of John and Colossians 1:15-20.

    John’s Gospel begins by telling us that the Word, Jesus, was with God from the very beginning, and the Word was, in fact. God. Everything that exists came through Jesus; without Him, nothing would exist.

    Through Jesus, we have life and a light that overcomes and dispels darkness. (Paraphrase of John’s Prologue). In Colossians, St. Paul and Timothy address the church in Colossae. To emphasize that Jesus is the fullness of God. Paul emphasizes the primacy of Christ in these key verses. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… the head of the body, the church… the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15, 18).

    Christ as Exemplar

    Often, in Franciscan sources, you will see Christ defined by the word Exemplar. St. Bonaventure 13.5. Consider Admonition V, wherein Francis writes, … how excellent the Lord made you, for he created and formed you in the image of his beloved son according to the body and to his likeness according to the spirit. Christ is the original, the exemplar, and we are the expression of the original artwork of God.

    HAECCEIATAS

    Haecceitas is a Latin word that translates into English as thisness. In Franciscan theology, the term was used by Blessed John Duns Scotus to express the unique and never-to-be-repeated quality of all creation. In the words of the song, There’ll Never Be Another You, nor will anything created be replicated. Haecceitas relates to the sacredness of each person and each thing. This concept is essential for all to understand because from it comes our belief in the dignity of each human person and the value of all God’s creation.

    Franciscan Lectio Divina

    When most prayerful people think of Lectio Divina, they imagine the traditional contemplative way of praying that involves four movements: reading Scripture, meditating on Scripture, entering into prayer, and then contemplatively resting in God’s presence.

    Franciscans have another method that goes beyond contemplation into conversion and action. In her letter to Agnes of Prague, St. Clare of Assisi designed a new approach to prayer. Instead of divine reading, Clare offered sacred seeing. Using the crucifix as her image, Clare asked Agnes to gaze upon Christ with the eyes of the heart. Using her mind and imagination, Clare instructed Agnes to consider her thoughts while gazing. The next step Clare suggested was to contemplate Christ by being present to him in silence and allowing the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to emerge. The final step, imitation, is the one that transforms us into the one we love and empowers us to continue Christ’s mission.

    Conclusion

    The words and phrases used in this article are skeletal; covering them in depth would require writing a book. Also, many more terms need to be defined. The bad news is I had to pick and choose. Fortunately, there is good news. We have many Franciscan books in circulation that go deeply into these topics. I exhort you (using one of St. Francis’ favorite terms) to further research our rich Franciscan history and theology.

    One book I highly recommend is The Franciscan Moral Vision: Responding to God’s Love, edited by Thomas A. Nairn. It can be purchased from the Franciscan Institute or Amazon.

    Questions:

    • How have you experienced Christ as being central in your life?
    • If Christ is the blueprint for the image of God and the one through whom all that exists is created, what is your relationship with all of creation?
    • How do you enhance the survival and thriving of humanity and the rest of God’s creation?

     [1] Francis of Assisi: The Saint, p. 109

    [2] Rule of 1221

    [3] St. Francis of Assisi and the Christocentric Character of Franciscan Life and Doctrine, Franciscan Christology p 7.

  • Return to the Canticle

    Return to the Canticle

    Justin Carisio, OFS National Formation Commission

    Quilt depicting St. Francis with arms raised, mountains with sunlight behind in the backgroundSt. Francis of Assisi was inclined to express himself in words, and we are fortunate that a number of his prayers, letters, and other writings have been preserved and passed down to us. They give us insight into his vision of the gospel life, and they help us understand what he thought and believed.[1]

    Among Francis’s writings is his magnificent outpouring of praise, “The Canticle of the Creatures.” Perhaps nothing that Francis wrote resounds in our world today as much as this great poem.[2]  It echoes through the centuries as both a religious and literary text. We encounter it in many ways. As a written work certainly, but also adapted for hymns and songs and interpreted creatively in the visual arts. It underlies our association of Francis with nature, affirming for us his love of the created world and his understanding of how all of creation, by its very existence, praises the Creator. The Canticle also supports his designation as patron of ecology. More recently, Pope Francis’s encyclical subtitled “On Care for Our Common Home” takes its title from the anaphora of the Canticle, “Laudato si’, mi’ Signore” – “Praised be you, my Lord.”

    It is further testament to the authenticity and originality of St. Francis that even though we encounter the Canticle often and in different ways, his song retains its power to inspire us. Even so, we should not take the Canticle for granted. Using our imaginations, we can bring fresh insights to the poem. We can find ways to keep his voice resonating anew for us. Consider a few thoughts along these lines:

    • The Canticle captures Francis’s spirit and presents his worldview in a way unmistakably his own. G.K. Chesterton famously said that the Canticle “is a supremely characteristic work, and much of St. Francis could be reconstructed from that work alone.”[3] In other words, if you would know the heart and mind of Francis, begin with the Canticle.
    • Francis was a medieval man. His understanding of the cosmos and God’s creation was very different from our We are amazed by striking photos from the Webb telescope of innumerable galaxies billions of light years away. But in the world of the 13th century, there was no such comprehension of space and time. Francis would have believed the earth to be the center of the universe. He did not know the sun’s immensity or how it generated heat and light. He would not have known the physical nature of the moon, or that the stars were other suns. Because of this, Francis’s view of creation may have been more mystical and intimate than ours, which has been formed in part by the science of our time. As we enter the spirit of the Canticle, we can rejoice in our modern awareness even as we try to see the world through his medieval eyes.
    • The creatures named in the first section of the Canticle (verses 1-9) are inanimate. Francis does not include any animals; he mentions plants (flowers and herbs) only in passing. We can speculate as to why he chose the creatures he did. There was nothing in his experience of creation grander than Sir Brother Sun or more strikingly beautiful than Sister Moon and the stars. None more useful than Sister Water or more essential to life than Sister Mother Earth. Few were more mysterious than Brother Wind and Brother Fire.
    • Each of the creatures he names exists in obedience to God. In “The Admonitions,” he reminds the friars (and us) that “all creatures under heaven serve, know, and obey their Creator, each according to its own nature, better than you.”[4]
    • Although Francis is very focused on the literal attributes and physical reality of the creatures he names, keep in mind that as with any great poem, there are other meanings implied or symbolic. Regis Armstrong, OFM Cap, offers one such insight, “Brother Wind, Sister Water, and Brother Fire can obviously be seen as references to the Spirit… Each one presents a reflection in itself of the triune presence, thus pointing beyond itself to the power, wisdom, and goodness of God.”[5]
    • If there is a single adjective that describes Francis’s view of creation more than any other, it may well be “beautiful.” Francis uses that word three times in the Canticle.
    • Francis does not appear to be concerned with the idea of creation as much as with his experience of and relationship to other creatures. In this the poem prepares us for the awe that Francis reserved for the Incarnation – the Son of God assuming human nature in Jesus Christ, true God and true man.[6]
    • Francis introduces people into verses 10 and 11, which he added during a time of unrest in Assisi.[7] These verses speak to us in our own We should take to heart his hope that God will be praised by those “who give pardon for Your love,” “bear infirmity and tribulation,” and “endure in peace.”
    • Verses 12 and 13 were composed as Francis lay dying.[8] To see death as sister, “an instrument of God’s presence,”[9] was one of Francis’s profound insights, and verse 12 is well worth contemplating again and again.
    • Francis wrote the Canticle in the vernacular – his native Umbrian – and it is considered one of the earliest works of literature in Murray Bodo, OFM, tells us the Canticle “can only be fully appreciated in its original form, because the nuances, rhythms, and sounds of a great poem are the most exquisite articulation of its native language.”[10] The Internet offers examples of the Canticle recited in the original form. Search for one and listen. Even those of us unfamiliar with Italian can benefit from its beauty spoken or sung as originally composed.

    We do well to return to the Canticle repeatedly to share Francis’s joy, to join in his wonder, and to rediscover with him our universal kinship with creation. Let us continue to celebrate his beautiful “poetic praise of God.”[11]

     

    These images are of a series of quilt hangings, by Cindy Wesley OFS, depicting The Canticle of the Creatures, located at the San Damiano Retreat Center, CA.

     

    [1] Thaddée Matura, OFM. Francis of Assisi Writer and Spiritual Master, (Cincinnati: Franciscan Media, 2005), 8

    [2] The English text can be found in Francis of Assisi: Early Documents (FA:ED), edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., Wayne Hellmann, and William J. Short (New York, London, and Manila: New City Press, 1999), Vol 1, 113

             [3] Chesterton, G. K., Saint Francis of Assisi, (New York: Image Books, 1957) 90

    [4] See Admonition V, FA:ED, Vol 1., 131. Also, Robert J. Karris, OFM, The Admonitions of St. Francis: Sources and Meanings, (St. Bonaventure, New York: The Franciscan Institute, S. Bonaventure University, 1999), 81

    [5] Regis J. Armstrong, St. Francis of Assisi, Writings for a Gospel Life, (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1994) 211

    [6] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2019) 116-117

    [7] FA:ED, Vol 1, 113-114

    [8] FA:ED, Vol 1, 113

    [9] Armstrong, 238 Which one?

    [10] Murray Bodo, OFM, Poetry as Prayer: St. Francis of Assisi, (Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2003) 58.

    [11] FA:ED, Vol 1, 113. See also http://franciscanseculars.com/a-visual-meditation-st-francis-in-art/.

  • Free Gospel-to-life series offers faithful, contemporary look at Jesus

    Free Gospel-to-life series offers faithful, contemporary look at Jesus

    Fr. David B. Couturier, O.F.M. Cap.

    Fr. David B. Couturier, O.F.M. Cap., will present a free online study of “From Gospel to Life:  Jesus in the New Testament.”  This mini-course, offered over three Saturdays in June, will provide Secular Franciscans with a faithful and contemporary view of Jesus, as He is presented in the Letters of Paul and the Synoptic Gospels.

    Fr. Couturier will discuss Jesus in His Jewish historical context, providing a fresh look at the stories we know so well. In understanding how Jesus spoke in Jewish terms, we can more deeply appreciate His words, thoughts, and commands. His parables will come alive.  The course will run from 12-1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on June 3, 10, and 17.

    Click Here to Register  https://sbu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5otr1lQCVYP94eq

    The Zoom link will be sent to registrants.

    Fr. Couturier is the executive director of Franciscan Institute & Franciscan Institute Publications at St. Bonaventure University.  He gave a popular Quinquennial keynote address last August in Phoenix.

    Fr. Couturier also edited the “Gospel of St. Francis” videos and handout for Secular Franciscans that are available on the St. Bonaventure Univerisity website.

    For additional information and other summer course offerings, go to:
  • OFS-USA National Theme 2022-2025, Listen-Discern-Go Forth

    OFS-USA National Theme 2022-2025, Listen-Discern-Go Forth

    Formation Friday 

    November 11 – Part 1 (En español abajo) LISTEN

    November 18 – Part 2 (En español abajo) DISCERN

    November 25, 2022 – Part 3 (En español abajo) GO FORTH

    Listen, discern, go forth is the OFS-USA theme for 2022 through 2025.

     The OFS USA National Theme for 2022 to 2025 is, “Listen, Discern, Go forth.

    We were inspired by a lecture given by Fr. Thomas Nairn who paraphrased Pope John XXIII. Hear his talk in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6t90WrmIA&t=605s

    These three Formation Friday will look at each of these words from our perspective as Catholics and Secular Franciscans.

    Formation Friday November 11, 2022 (En español abajo)

    PART 1 – The OFS USA National Theme for 2022 to 2025 is, “Listen, Discern, Go forth.

    LISTENPDF

    What does it mean to listen? It is the time to “see” and “understand.”

    When we listen, we not only hear what someone is saying, but we gain an understanding of why they are saying it.

    When we think of listening, we often jump immediately to the idea of listening to someone talking.  Stop for a minute. In order to be good Franciscan listeners, we need to prepare ourselves.

    • Silence comes first.
    • Listen to the Holy Spirit by keeping an open mind and heart in order to hear the whisper of the Spirit.
    • Listen to Jesus in Sacred Scripture and to the voices of the Prophets and the chroniclers of his life
    • Gaze on the cross of our Lord Jesus. (St. Clare shows us the way, “Gaze, Consider, Contemplate, Imitate.”)
    • Listen to the voices of St. Francis and St. Clare as they speak to us through their writings and example.
    • Secular Franciscans, Listen to the wisdom of our Rule and Constitutions.

    NOW we are ready to listen:

    • to our brothers and sisters without thinking of our own agendas
    • to the signs of the times
    • in order to hear cry of the poor and the vulnerable at every stage of life

    How do we do this?

    • Find times to be alone in prayer—adoration, silent prayer in any quiet spot
    • Read Scripture every day.
      • Take note of how Jesus listened to his mother at Cana; to the men walking on the road to Emmaus; to the woman at the well; to Martha and Mary; to the Gerasene demoniac; to the Centurion whose servant had died; to Pontius Pilate.
    • Make ongoing formation—personally and with the fraternity— a priority by using the writings of Francis and Clare and other Franciscan sources.
      • Francis listened to Jesus from the Cross, to the plight of the lepers and the poor, to his brothers, to the Church
      • Clare listened to the promptings of the Spirit; to Francis; to her sisters; to the Church.
    • Cherish your fraternity as a place to practice listening:
      • to one another –at gatherings, on the phone, in written emails or notes.
    • Recognize the importance of listening sessions on all levels of Fraternity.

    Recognize the Impediments to Listening:

    • Interrupting during a group discussion (a good suggestion—use mutual invitation)
    • Thinking about my response while the other person is talking
    • Being distracted (put down the electronics)
    • Not being truly present to the other (perhaps I have already made my decision, and I stop listening. Perhaps I want to solve the other person’s problem, and when they don’t follow my advice, I lose interest. Perhaps there’s “nothing in it” for me.

    Just getting ready to listen takes time, but it’s well worth it because it recharges our spiritual life and our relationships.

    Questions for discussion or to answer in your journal:

    +What improvements can you make to how you listen to others? Individually? In a group?

    +How can your fraternity be a good place to learn how to listen?

    +In reading Scripture or the writings of Francis and Clare, share how their way of listening to others can be applied to us.

    Thank you, Chris Leone and the Our Lady of the Angels Regional Executive Council for an excellent discussion on this topic.

    Next week we will take a look at discernment.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    El tema nacional de la OFS de EE. UU. para 2022 a 2025 es “Escuchar, discernir, seguir adelante .

    Nos inspiró una conferencia dada por el p. Thomas Nairn, quien parafraseó al Papa Juan XXIII. Escuche su charla en inglés aquí: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6t90WrmIA&t=605s

    Durante las próximas tres semanas, Formation Friday analizará cada una de estas palabras desde nuestra perspectiva como católicos y franciscanos seglares.

    ESCUCHAR : PDF

    ¿Qué significa escuchar? Es el momento de “ver” y “comprender.”

    Cuando escuchamos, no solo escuchamos lo que alguien está diciendo, sino que comprendemos por qué lo está diciendo.

    Cuando pensamos en escuchar, a menudo saltamos inmediatamente a la idea de escuchar a alguien que habla. Deténgase por un minuto. Para ser buenos oyentes franciscanos, necesitamos prepararnos.

    • El silencio es lo primero.
    • Escuchar al Espíritu Santo manteniendo una mente y un corazón abiertos para escuchar el susurro del Espíritu.
    • Escuchar a Jesús en la Sagrada Escritura y las voces de los Profetas y los cronistas de su vida
    • Contemplar la cruz de nuestro Señor Jesús. (Sta. Clara nos muestra el camino, “Mirar, Considerar, Contemplar, Imitar”).
    • Escuchar las voces de San Francisco y Santa Clara mientras nos hablan a través de sus escritos y su ejemplo.
    • Franciscanos Seglares, escuchen la sabiduría de nuestra Regla y Constituciones.

    AHORA estamos listos para escuchar:

    • a nuestros hermanos y hermanas sin pensar en nuestras propias agendas
    • a los signos de los tiempos
    •  el clamor de los pobres y vulnerables en cada etapa de la vida

    Cómo hacemos esto?

    • Encuentre momentos para estar solo en oración: adoración, la oración en silencio en cualquier lugar tranquilo
    • Lea las Escrituras todos los días.
      • Tome nota de cómo Jesús escuchó a su madre en Caná; a los hombres que iban por el camino de Emaús; a la mujer junto al pozo; a Marta y a María; al endemoniado gadareno; al centurión cuyo criado había muerto; a Poncio Pilato.
    • Haga de la formación permanente, personal y con la fraternidad, una prioridad utilizando los escritos de Francisco y Clara y otras fuentes franciscanas.
      • Francisco escuchó a Jesús desde la Cruz, a la situación de los leprosos y de los pobres, a sus hermanos, a la Iglesia
      • Clara escuchó los impulsos del Espíritu; a Francisco; a sus hermanas; a la Iglesia.
    • Aprecia tu fraternidad como un lugar para practicar la escucha:
      • entre sí, en reuniones, por teléfono, en correos electrónicos o notas escritas.
    • Reconocer la importancia de las sesiones de escucha en todos los niveles.

    Reconocer los impedimentos para escuchar:

    • Interrumpir durante una discusión grupal (una buena sugerencia: use una invitación mutua)
    • Pensar en mi respuesta mientras la otra persona está hablando
    • Estar distraído (suelten los aparatos electrónicos)
    • No estar realmente presente para el otro (quizás ya tomé mi decisión y dejo de escuchar. Quizás quiero solucionar el problema de la otra persona, y cuando no sigue mi consejo, pierdo el interés. Quizás no gano nada en este encuentro.

    Simplemente prepararse para escuchar toma tiempo, pero vale la pena porque recarga nuestra vida espiritual y las relaciones interpersonales.

    Preguntas para discutir o responder en tu diario:

    +¿Qué mejoras puede hacer en la forma en que escucha a los demás? ¿Individualmente? ¿En un grupo?

    +¿Cómo su fraternidad puede ser un buen lugar para aprender a escuchar?

    +Al leer las Escrituras o los escritos de Francisco y Clara, comparta cómo su forma de escuchar a los demás se puede aplicar a nosotros.

    Gracias, Chris Leone y el Consejo Ejecutivo Regional de Our Lady of the Angels por una excelente discusión sobre este tema.

    La próxima semana echaremos un vistazo al discernimiento.

    Formation Friday November 18, 2022 (En español abajo)

    PART 2 – The OFS USA National Theme for 2022 to 2025 is, “Listen, Discern, Go forth.

    For our second installment, “Discern,” we have invited Anne Mulqueen, OFS, Spiritual Assistant to the National Formation Commission, to reflect on Discernment. Thank you, Anne!

    Discernment: PDF

    Seeking God’s Guidance

    The purpose of spiritual discernment is that … you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding…  Colossians 1:9

    The word discernment comes from the Latin discernere, which means to distinguish or to discriminate among various options. Spiritual discernment is not the same as decision-making. We come to decision-making intellectually by weighing options, but to discern spiritually, we must listen and align our responses and decisions in accord with God’s desire and will for our lives.

    God wants to speak to us.  In fact, God is speaking all the time. We need to discover how to hear God’s voice.  God speaks through Scripture, other people, nature, experiences, our intellect, events and endless other ways.  To discern the true voice of the Almighty, we must enter into communion with Him through prayer, solitude and the desire for God’s will alone.  When we read a portion of Scripture that speaks to us in a special way, it may well be His voice. In John 10:27, Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

    Discernment is both a gift and a skill. The desire to seek God’s counsel comes first from God.  Discernment is one of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit available to all Christians. It works best in conjunction with her sisters, Wisdom and Knowledge. Discernment is not only a gift, but also a skill that can be developed by prayer and practice. Over time we can learn to identify the “voices” we hear. Some come from our egos, some come from culture, and some simply from what we want to hear. And because God has given us the great gift of free will, sometimes we listen to the other voices and are deaf to the voice of God.

    So, as we sift through all the thoughts and information with which the world and our own self-interest bombard us, we realize that discernment is not easy. It takes faith, prayer and determination to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit from distractions. Remember, God’s leading will never contradict Scripture.

    Discernment from on high is confirmed in many ways. Sometimes we receive a similar message from other sources or persons. And sometimes, if we missed it the first time, we will hear the same message again. We may feel a sense of joy, clarity, and peace when our insights are in line with the will of God. We might have an “aha” moment, a mystical moment, when what we “hear” can only be described as supernatural.

    We can never be absolutely certain of our discernment, but we can move forward, asking God to continue to guide us and to correct any missteps along the way. It takes trust to step out in faith and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as we journey into the heart of God.

    For discussion or to comment on in your journal:

    The word question is related to the word quest. Please consider these questions as a quest to hear God’s voice.

    1. Have you ever made an intentional attempt to discern God’s guidance and direction before making a crucial, life-altering decision? Did you receive the direction you sought? If you did, how did God speak to your heart?
    2. God often uses other people to confirm His voice. Think of the people you would most likely turn to when you need to make a difficult personal decision.  What is it about them that makes you turn to them?
    1. Take a pen and paper; recall and write down an event in your life when you felt the hand of God guiding you to something new and perhaps frightening. Were you willing to go forward without fully knowing where the path would lead?  Journal about the experience.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Formation Friday 18 de noviembre de 2022 (In English abajo)

    El tema nacional de la OFS USA para 2022 a 2025 es “Escuchar, discernir, seguir adelante .

    Para nuestra segunda entrega, “Discernir,” hemos invitado a Anne Mulqueen, OFS, Asistente Espiritual de la Comisión Nacional de Formación, a reflexionar sobre el Discernimiento. ¡Gracias, Anne!

    Discernimiento: PDF 

    Buscando la guía de Dios

    El propósito del discernimiento espiritual es que … sean llenos del conocimiento de la voluntad de Dios mediante toda sabiduría e inteligencia espiritual …  Colosenses 1:9

    La palabra discernimiento proviene del latín discernere, que significa distinguir o discriminar entre varias opciones. El discernimiento espiritual no es lo mismo que la toma de decisiones. Llegamos a la toma de decisiones intelectualmente sopesando las opciones, pero para discernir espiritualmente, debemos escuchar y alinear nuestras respuestas y decisiones de acuerdo con el deseo y la voluntad de Dios para nuestras vidas.

    Dios quiere hablarnos. De hecho, Dios está hablando todo el tiempo. Necesitamos descubrir cómo escuchar la voz de Dios. Dios habla a través de la Sagrada Escritura, otras personas, la naturaleza, las experiencias, nuestro intelecto, eventos y un sinfín de otras formas. Para discernir la verdadera voz del Todopoderoso, debemos entrar en comunión con Él a través de la oración, la soledad y el deseo de la sola voluntad de Dios. Cuando leemos una porción de las Escrituras que nos habla de una manera especial, bien puede ser Su voz. En Juan 10:27, Jesús dice: “Mis ovejas oyen mi voz; Yo las conozco y ellas me siguen.”

    El discernimiento es tanto un don como una habilidad. El deseo de buscar el consejo de Dios viene primero de Dios. El discernimiento es uno de los dones sobrenaturales del Espíritu Santo al alcance de todo cristiano. Funciona mejor en conjunto con sus hermanas, Sabiduría y Conocimiento. El discernimiento no es solo un don, sino también una habilidad que puede desarrollarse mediante la oración y la práctica. Con el tiempo podemos aprender a identificar las “voces” que escuchamos. Algunos provienen de nuestros egos, algunos provienen de la cultura y otros simplemente de lo que deseamos escuchar. Y debido a que Dios nos ha dado el gran don del libre albedrío, a veces escuchamos las otras voces y somos sordos a la voz de Dios.

    Así que, a medida que revisamos todos los pensamientos e información con los que el mundo y nuestro propio interés nos bombardean, nos damos cuenta de que el discernimiento no es fácil. Se necesita fe, oración y determinación para distinguir la voz del Espíritu Santo de las distracciones. Recuerden, la dirección de Dios nunca contradirá las Escrituras.

    El discernimiento de lo alto se confirma de muchas maneras. A veces recibimos un mensaje similar de otras fuentes o personas. Y a veces, si nos lo perdimos la primera vez, volveremos a oír el mismo mensaje. Podemos sentir una sensación de alegría, claridad y paz cuando nuestras percepciones están en línea con la voluntad de Dios. Podríamos tener un momento “ajá,” un momento místico, cuando lo que “escuchamos” solo puede describirse como sobrenatural.

    Nunca podemos estar absolutamente seguros de nuestro discernimiento, pero podemos seguir adelante, pidiéndole a Dios que nos siga guiando y corrigiendo cualquier error en el camino. Se necesita confianza para dar un paso de fe y seguir la dirección del Espíritu Santo mientras caminamos hacia el corazón de Dios.

    Para discusión o para comentar en su diario:

     Por favor considere estas preguntas como una búsqueda para escuchar la voz de Dios.

    1. ¿Alguna vez ha hecho Ud. un intento intencional de discernir la guía y dirección de Dios antes de tomar una decisión crucial que le cambiara la vida? ¿Recibió la dirección que buscaba? Si así pasó, ¿cómo habló Dios a su corazón?
    2. Dios a menudo usa a otras personas para confirmar Su voz. Piense en las personas a las que probablemente acudiría cuando necesite tomar una decisión personal difícil. ¿Qué ofrecen ellos que le hace volverse hacia ellos?3.
    3. Coja un lápiz y papel; Recuerde y escribe un evento en su vida cuando sintió la mano de Dios guiándole hacia algo nuevo y quizás aterrador. ¿Estaba dispuesto a seguir adelante sin saber completamente a dónde le llevaría el camino? Describa la experiencia en su diario.

    Formation Friday November 25, 2022 (En español abajo)

    PART 3 – The OFS USA National Theme for 2022 to 2025 is, “Listen, Discern, Go forth.

    We were inspired by a lecture given by Fr. Thomas Nairn who paraphrased Pope John XXIII. Hear his talk in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6t90WrmIA&t=605s

    Formation Friday is taking a look at each of these words from our perspective as Catholics and Secular Franciscans.

    GO FORTH: PDF

    What does it mean to go forth? (Time to act)

    According to Friar Thomas on the video above, “Going Forth” is outwardly focused; engaged: it is a missionary and prophetic calling requiring humility. The following articles from Chapter II of our Rule point us in the right direction.

    We are called to act by our Rule

    • Article 6 of the Rule—”they should go forth as witnesses and instruments of her mission among all people, proclaiming Christ by their life and words.”
    • Article 11—”Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God’s children.”
    • Article 13—”A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.
    • Article 14—”We are called to build a more fraternal and evangelical world so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively. …Let them exercise their responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service.”
    • Article 15—”Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith.”
    • Article 16—”Let them esteem work both as a gift and as a sharing in the creation, redemption, and service of the human community.”
    • Article 17—”In their family they should cultivate the Franciscan spirit of peace, fidelity, and respect for life, striving to make of it a sign of a world already renewed in Christ.”
    • Article 18-“Moreover they should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which ‘bear the imprint of the Most High’, and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship.”
    • Article 19—”Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon. Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they should strive to bring joy and hope to others.”

    Discuss with your fraternity or a prayer partner or comment in your journal.

    +In looking at the articles of the Rule above, how do they inspire you to reach out to others both actively and through example?

    +Ask the older members how they “went forth” in their more active days. How do they continue to serve?

    +What stops us from going forth to reach out to others? Personally? As a fraternity? How can we overcome these impediments?

    +With your fraternity council, research the needs in your community or area. How can your group serve?

    +Discuss a completed fraternity project or ongoing personal ministry with the fraternity. How did it change those involved? How were they (you) brought closer to God by working on the project or being involved in the ministry?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++

    El tema nacional de la OFS USA para 2022 a 2025 es “Escuchar, discernir, salir adelante.”

    Nos inspiró una conferencia dada por Fray Thomas Nairn, quien parafraseó al Papa Juan XXIII. Escuche su charla en inglés aquí: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6t90WrmIA&t=605s

    Formation Friday está echando un vistazo a cada una de estas palabras desde nuestra perspectiva como católicos y franciscanos seglares.

    SALIR ADELANTE: PDF

    ¿Qué significa Salir Adelante? (Hora de actuar)

    Según Fray Thomas en el video mencionado arriba, “Going Forth” (Salir Adelante) está enfocado hacia el exterior; concentrado: es una vocación misionera y profética que exige la humildad. Los siguientes artículos del Capítulo II de nuestra Regla nos señalan la dirección correcta.

    Estamos llamados a actuar por nuestra Regla

    Artículo 6: “…háganse testigos e instrumentos de su misión entre los hombres, anunciando a Cristo con la vida y con la palabra.”

    Artículo 11: “…sean conscientes, en conformidad con el Evangelio, de ser administradores de los bienes recibidos, en favor de los hijos de Dios.”

    Artículo 13: ” El sentido de fraternidad les hará felices de colocarse a la par de todos los hombres, especialmente con los más humildes, para los cuales se esforzarán en crear condiciones de vida dignas de criaturas redimidas por Cristo.”

    Artículo 14: “Llamados, juntamente con todos los hombres de buena voluntad, a construir un mundo más fraterno y evangélico para la edificación del reino de Dios,… cumplan con competencia las propias responsabilidades con espíritu cristiano de servicio.”

    Artículo 15: “Estén presentes con el testimonio de su vida y también con iniciativas eficaces, tanto individuales como comunitarias, en la promoción de la justicia, particularmente en el ámbito de la vida pública, empeñándose en opciones concretas y coherentes con su fe.”

    Artículo 16: “Consideren el trabajo como don de Dios y como participación en la creación, redención y servicio de la comunidad humana.”

    Artículo 17: “Vivan en la propia familia el espíritu franciscano de paz, fidelidad y respeto a la vida, esforzándose en convertirlo en el signo de un mundo ya renovado en Cristo.”

    Artículo 18: “Sientan, además, respeto por las otras criaturas, animadas e inanimadas, que ‘de ti, Altísimo, llevan significación’ y procuren con ahínco pasar de la tentación de la explotación al concepto franciscano de la fraternidad universal.”

    Artículo 19: “Como portadores de paz y conscientes de que ésta ha de construirse incesantemente, indaguen los caminos de la unidad y del entendimiento fraterno, mediante el diálogo, confiando en la presencia del germen divino que hay en el hombre y en la fuerza transformadora del amor y del perdón. Mensajeros de la perfecta alegría, esfuércense permanentemente en llevar a los demás el gozo y la esperanza.”

    Para platicar con su fraternidad o con un compañero de oración o comente en su diario.

    +Al leer los artículos de la Regla ya mencionados, ¿cómo le inspiran a acercarse a los demás de forma activa y a través del ejemplo?

    +Pregunte a los miembros mayores cómo “salieron adelante” en sus días más activos. ¿Cómo siguen sirviendo?

    +¿Qué nos impide tender la mano a los demás? ¿Personalmente? ¿Como una fraternidad? ¿Cómo podemos superar estos impedimentos?

    +Con el consejo de su fraternidad, investigue las necesidades en su comunidad o área. ¿Cómo puede servir su grupo?

    +Discutir un proyecto de fraternidad completado o un ministerio personal en curso con la fraternidad. ¿Cómo cambió a los involucrados? ¿Cómo ellos (usted) se acercaron más a Dios trabajando en el proyecto o participando en el ministerio?

    Diane F. Menditto, OFS

    Vice Minister, National Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order USA

    Listen – Discern – Go Forth  National Theme 2022-2025

  • Sharing A Formation Idea

    Sharing A Formation Idea

    (This Article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer Issue #106)

    Fraternity Life Can Be Puzzling

    Puzzles of Ideas or a Picture of your Fraternity

    Putting together a puzzle is a fun fraternity project―and if the puzzle is one that reflects your fraternity or your council, it can provide important insights.

    Did you know you can purchase a blank jigsaw puzzle with all white pieces that you can write or draw on? You can also order a jigsaw puzzle that has a custom image. Both types come in various sizes with various number of pieces. You can easily search for these on the internet.

    As your fraternity or council gathers, give each member a piece of the puzzle, or several pieces, depending on the size of the puzzle and the group. If it’s a blank puzzle, each one can decorate their piece with words or images that say something about themselves, or what gift they receive from the fraternity. If you choose to order a puzzle with an image, you might choose a group photo of your fraternity or an image that reflects the gift of diversity.

    Combine this activity with a reflection on how we are all one in Christ, or how we should celebrate our diversity and what gifts we each bring, and you’ll be providing your fraternity with a fun―and meaningful―formation session.