A Complicated World
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

“As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ.” (OFS Rule #13)* That is a powerful statement and a tenet every Franciscan must keep in mind in his or her dealings with others. It also implies that we must see each other as equals. One person isn’t better than me nor am I better than anyone else no matter what. 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. And in Rule 14, Secular Franciscans, together with all people of good will, are called to build a more fraternal and evangelical world so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively. Mindful that anyone “who follows Christ, the perfect man, becomes more of a man himself,” let them exercise their responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service.

Some people, particularly those who are not Secular Franciscans, might say, so what? All these rules! Well, rules have a purpose, to define a mission, an ideal, and St. Francis of Assisi wrote his Rules (one for the First Order (OFMs, Capuchins, Conventuals, TOR, etc.), Second Order (Poor Clares, and many other Franciscan sisters), and Third Order of which the Secular Franciscan Order is one) to set up a healthy framework defining the Spirituality of each Vocation.

Today, there are many who eschew the organizational church. I don’t know what they want but they do not want structure. They do not want to hear of monasteries, convents, etc. I often tell stories in my reflections and essays of my monastic experiences, and perhaps that turns people off, particularly the young. It is this structure, so looked down upon, that built up in me a solid Faith: A Faith that does not crumble every time it meets a challenge. I will continue to listen to the Word of God spoken from the pulpit of the Church and defined in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” issued by the Vatican, and not to interpretations uttered by government leaders who have no business redefining Catholic Doctrine through their proclamations and actions.

The Catholic Church, from time to time, makes available special programs in Bible study, or in Liturgy, and we are evangelized in the hope its members will evangelize others. "The term evangelization has a very rich meaning. In the broad sense, it sums up the Church’s entire mission: her whole life consists in accomplishing the traditio Evangelii, the proclamation and handing on of the Gospel, which is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16) and which, in the final essence, is identified with Jesus Christ himself (cf. 1 Cor 1:24). Understood in this way, evangelization is aimed at all of humanity. In any case, to evangelize does not mean simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one’s words and actions, that is, to make oneself an instrument of his presence and action in the world. (Congr. for the Doctrine of the Faith "Some Aspects of Evangelization," 2007)

“Every person has the right to hear the ‘Good News’ of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ, so that each one can live out in its fullness his or her proper calling.” It a right which the Lord himself confers on every person, so that every man and woman is able truly to say with Saint Paul: Jesus Christ “loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). This right implies the corresponding duty to evangelize: “If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast; it is a duty for me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16; cf. Rom 10:14). Thus, it is evident how every activity of the Church has an essential evangelizing dimension and must never be separated from the commitment to help all persons to meet Christ in faith, which is the primary objective of evangelization: “Social issues and the Gospel are inseparable. When we bring people only knowledge, ability, technical competence, and tools, we bring them too little”. (Ibid)

Since then, and even earlier, there has been emphasis on evangelization by ordinary Catholics who are not associated with clergy or religious orders. We cannot, however, rely on evangelization by ordinary Catholics unless we practice discernment: prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
September 24, 2021

Footnotes

* Rule 13 of the Secular Franciscan Rule, states in it's entirely: "As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ. 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." For those who have a copy of "The Franciscan Journey: Updated Version" by Lester Bach, OFM Cap., please read Chapter 21, page 226-234. Many Secular Franciscans use this book as a standard formation text for new Candidates but also as a source of ongoing formation. It is an excellent book.

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