THETHESECULARSECULAR

FRANCISCAFRANCISCANN

ORDERORDER.

SECULAR FRANCISCAN SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDERORDER

• NATURE NATURE (IDENTITY)(IDENTITY)

• STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

• ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

NATURE (IDENTITY)NATURE (IDENTITY)

• SECULARSECULAR

• FRANCISCANFRANCISCAN

• ORDERORDER

SECULARSECULAR

• Secular characterSecular character

• In the familyIn the family

• In work and social lifeIn work and social life

• Fraternity with creaturesFraternity with creatures

SECULAR CHARACTERSECULAR CHARACTER• After Vatican IIAfter Vatican II

• SFO General Chapter 1993:SFO General Chapter 1993:

• witness:witness: to the sacred in the world,to the sacred in the world,

to the Incarnation in selves,to the Incarnation in selves,

to fraternity.to fraternity.

SECULAR CHARACTERSECULAR CHARACTER

• action:action: overcome injustices,overcome injustices,

eliminate illiteracy,eliminate illiteracy,

restore environment.restore environment.

IN THE FAMILYIN THE FAMILY

• reflect divine lovereflect divine love

• promote God’s life-projectpromote God’s life-project

• start groups of married start groups of married couplescouples

IN THE FAMILYIN THE FAMILY

• give specific formationgive specific formation

• help families in difficultyhelp families in difficulty

• support political and legal support political and legal initiativesinitiatives

IN WORK AND SOCIAL IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFELIFE

• redeem human redeem human activitiesactivities

• spread Christian valuesspread Christian values

• defend the gift of workdefend the gift of work

IN WORK AND SOCIAL IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFELIFE

• create places of create places of welcomewelcome

• support poor workerssupport poor workers

FRATERNITYFRATERNITYWITH CREATURESWITH CREATURES

• love all creatureslove all creatures• point out point out inconsistenciesinconsistencies

• promote ecological promote ecological debatedebate

FRATERNITYFRATERNITYWITH CREATURESWITH CREATURES

• reduce consumptionreduce consumption• avoid wasteavoid waste• join Franciscan join Franciscan organizationsorganizations

FRANCISCANFRANCISCAN

• Franciscan SpiritualityFranciscan Spirituality

• SFO Rule of lifeSFO Rule of life

• SFO General ConstitutionsSFO General Constitutions

FRANCISCAN FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITYCalled to follow Christ,Called to follow Christ,

in the footsteps of St Francisin the footsteps of St Francis

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTSESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

• TrinitarianTrinitarian

• IncarnationalIncarnational

TRINITARIANTRINITARIAN

• Experience GodExperience God as transcendent Trinity;as transcendent Trinity; relate to the three Personsrelate to the three Persons

• Go to God the Father,Go to God the Father, by means of the Son,by means of the Son, in the light of the Spiritin the light of the Spirit

INCARNATIONALINCARNATIONAL

• experience God as experience God as immanent in creationimmanent in creation

• Christ-centred: Christ-centred: transcendent Son, transcendent Son, incarnatedincarnated

• ““mad” love for Jesus Christ;mad” love for Jesus Christ; rediscover his gospelrediscover his gospel

SFO RULE OF LIFESFO RULE OF LIFE19781978

TREATS OF LIFE SITUATIONS:TREATS OF LIFE SITUATIONS:• familyfamily• workwork• societysociety• justicejustice• peacepeace

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTSESSENTIAL ELEMENTSOF RULEOF RULE

• Trinitarian lifeTrinitarian life

• Gospel of loveGospel of love

• PenancePenance

• ConversionConversion

DERIVED ATTITUDESDERIVED ATTITUDES

• Trust Trust in Providencein Providence

• Serve Jesus in othersServe Jesus in others

• Be aware of the Holy SpiritBe aware of the Holy Spirit

SFO GENERAL SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONSCONSTITUTIONS

20002000

• everything is a everything is a creature of Godcreature of God

• every person:every person:

has equal rights, has equal rights,

is called to holinessis called to holiness

SFO GENERAL SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONSCONSTITUTIONS

20002000

every baptized person:every baptized person:

• is prophet, king, priestis prophet, king, priest

• takes part in public takes part in public worshipworship

SFO GENERAL SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONSCONSTITUTIONS

(cont.)(cont.)• dialogue at all levelsdialogue at all levels• representative authorityrepresentative authority

• laity are called into laity are called into missionmission

• all to work for a better all to work for a better worldworld

ORDERORDERNot religious but secular.Not religious but secular.Canon 303: “third order”:Canon 303: “third order”:

““The members ... lead an apostolic life”The members ... lead an apostolic life”

• life according to the life according to the GospelGospel

• includes active apostolic includes active apostolic works:works:

as an individualas an individual as a Fraternityas a Fraternity

““They strive for Christian They strive for Christian perfection”perfection”

Sharing with religious:Sharing with religious:

• lifelife

• spiritualityspirituality

• apostolateapostolate

““in the world”in the world”

Developing:Developing:

• secular state in lifesecular state in life• talentstalents• professional skillsprofessional skills

““they share in the spiritthey share in the spiritof some religious institute”of some religious institute”Not religious or semi religiousNot religious or semi religious

Adopting:Adopting:

• Franciscan spiritual tradition:Franciscan spiritual tradition: experience of Godexperience of God• secular expression of charismsecular expression of charism• Rule, Constitutions, RitualRule, Constitutions, Ritual

““under the overall under the overall directiondirection

of the same institute”of the same institute”Spiritual assistance:Spiritual assistance:

• promotes gospel lifepromotes gospel life

• fidelity to the charismfidelity to the charism

• cooperates in missioncooperates in mission

““under the overall under the overall directiondirection

of the same institute”of the same institute”Spiritual assistance:Spiritual assistance:

• in society and in the Churchin society and in the Church

• promotes unity of the Familypromotes unity of the Family

• communion with the Churchcommunion with the Church

Spiritual Spiritual assistanceassistance (cont.):(cont.):

A double service:A double service:

• overall directionoverall direction (higher management)(higher management)

• spiritual animationspiritual animation

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

Fraternities:Fraternities:

• LocalLocal

• RegionalRegional

• NationalNational

• International, GeneralInternational, General

LOCAL FRATERNITYLOCAL FRATERNITY

• primary cellprimary cell

• canonically establishedcanonically established

• written consent of written consent of bishopbishop

LOCAL FRATERNITYLOCAL FRATERNITY

• at least five professedat least five professed

membersmembers

• spiritually assisted by onespiritually assisted by one

OrderOrder

REGIONAL FRATERNITYREGIONAL FRATERNITY(e.g., Singapore-Sabah)(e.g., Singapore-Sabah)

• union of local union of local FraternitiesFraternities

in a territoryin a territory

• constituted by Nationalconstituted by National CouncilCouncil

REGIONAL FRATERNITYREGIONAL FRATERNITY(e.g., Singapore-Sabah)(e.g., Singapore-Sabah)

• link between locallink between local and nationaland national

• Spiritual Assistants Spiritual Assistants cooperatecooperate

Conference of Regional Conference of Regional AssistantsAssistants

NATIONAL FRATERNITYNATIONAL FRATERNITY(e.g., Oceania)(e.g., Oceania)

• union of regional Fraternitiesunion of regional Fraternities in a nation (or more)in a nation (or more)

• constituted by International constituted by International CouncilCouncil

• Spiritual Assistants cooperateSpiritual Assistants cooperate Conference of National AssistantsConference of National Assistants

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITYFRATERNITY

(The SFO)(The SFO)

• union of national Fraternitiesunion of national Fraternities• constituted by Ruleconstituted by Rule and General Constitutionsand General Constitutions

• Spiritual Assistants Spiritual Assistants cooperatecooperate

Conference of General AssistantsConference of General Assistants

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

• Fraternities and CouncilsFraternities and Councils• Assistants and Assistants and ConferencesConferences

• Friar MinistersFriar Ministersand Conferencesand Conferences

• Roman CongregationsRoman Congregationsand Popeand Pope