THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

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THESECULARFRANCISCANORDER

• .

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SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

• NATURE (IDENTITY)
• STRUCTURE
• ORGANIZATION

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NATURE (IDENTITY)

• SECULAR
• FRANCISCAN
• ORDER

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SECULAR

• Secular character
• In the family
• In work and social life
• Fraternity with creatures

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SECULAR CHARACTER

• After Vatican II
• SFO General Chapter 1993
• witness
• to the sacred in the world,
• to the Incarnation in selves,
• to fraternity.

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SECULAR CHARACTER

• action
• overcome injustices,
• eliminate illiteracy,
• restore environment.

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IN THE FAMILY

• reflect divine love
• promote Gods life-project
• start groups of married couples

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IN THE FAMILY

• give specific formation
• help families in difficulty
• support political and legal initiatives

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IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE

• redeem human activities
• spread Christian values
• defend the gift of work

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IN WORK AND SOCIAL LIFE

• create places of welcome
• support poor workers

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FRATERNITYWITH CREATURES

• love all creatures
• point out inconsistencies
• promote ecological debate

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FRATERNITYWITH CREATURES

• reduce consumption
• avoid waste
• join Franciscan organizations

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FRANCISCAN

• Franciscan Spirituality
• SFO Rule of life
• SFO General Constitutions

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FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

• Called to follow Christ,
• in the footsteps of St Francis
• ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
• Trinitarian
• Incarnational

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TRINITARIAN

• Experience God
• as transcendent Trinity
• relate to the three Persons
• Go to God the Father,
• by means of the Son,
• in the light of the Spirit

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INCARNATIONAL

• experience God as immanent in creation
• Christ-centred transcendent Son, incarnated
• mad love for Jesus Christ
• rediscover his gospel

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SFO RULE OF LIFE1978

• TREATS OF LIFE SITUATIONS
• family
• work
• society
• justice
• peace

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTSOF RULE

• Trinitarian life
• Gospel of love
• Penance
• Conversion

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DERIVED ATTITUDES

• Trust in Providence
• Serve Jesus in others
• Be aware of the Holy Spirit

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SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS2000

• everything is a creature of God
• every person
• has equal rights,
• is called to holiness

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SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS2000

• every baptized person
• is prophet, king, priest
• takes part in public worship

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SFO GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS (cont.)

• dialogue at all levels
• representative authority
• laity are called into mission
• all to work for a better world

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ORDERNot religious but secular.Canon 303
third order

• The members ... lead an apostolic life
• life according to the Gospel
• includes active apostolic works
• as an individual
• as a Fraternity

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They strive for Christian perfection

• Sharing with religious
• life
• spirituality
• apostolate

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in the world

• Developing
• secular state in life
• talents
• professional skills

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they share in the spiritof some religious
instituteNot religious or semi religious

• Adopting
• Franciscan spiritual tradition
• experience of God
• secular expression of charism
• Rule, Constitutions, Ritual

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under the overall directionof the same
institute

• Spiritual assistance
• promotes gospel life
• fidelity to the charism
• cooperates in mission

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under the overall directionof the same
institute

• Spiritual assistance
• in society and in the Church
• promotes unity of the Family
• communion with the Church

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Spiritual assistance (cont.)

• A double service
• overall direction
• (higher management)
• spiritual animation

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STRUCTURE

• Fraternities
• Local
• Regional
• National
• International, General

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LOCAL FRATERNITY

• primary cell
• canonically established
• written consent of bishop

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LOCAL FRATERNITY

• at least five professed
• members
• spiritually assisted by one
• Order

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

• union of local Fraternities
• in a territory
• constituted by National
• Council

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

• link between local
• and national
• Spiritual Assistants cooperate
• Conference of Regional Assistants

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NATIONAL FRATERNITY(e.g., Oceania)

• union of regional Fraternities
• in a nation (or more)
• constituted by International Council
• Spiritual Assistants cooperate
• Conference of National Assistants

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INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY(The SFO)

• union of national Fraternities
• constituted by Rule
• and General Constitutions
• Spiritual Assistants cooperate
• Conference of General Assistants

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ORGANIZATION

• Fraternities and Councils
• Assistants and Conferences
• Friar Ministers
• and Conferences
• Roman Congregations
• and Pope