vita evangelica

1
vita evangelica

• The Gospel as the Franciscan form of life

2
Francis, Testament

• No one showed me how we were to live, but the
  Most High himself revealed to me that we should
  live according to the form of the Holy Gospel.

3
vita monastica

• Francis said, Do not speak to me of the Rule of
  Benedict, or the Rule of Augustine or the Rule of
  Bernard, for the Lord has called me to be a new
  fool in this world.

4
Monastic Life

• Example of Jerusalem Church, Acts 2)
• Property in common Stability of place (movement
  discouraged)
• Abbot as father (abba)
• Sharp separation of sacred sphere from secular
  sphere

5
vita apostolica

• This was applied earlier to life of monks (based
  on Acts of the Apostles)
• In 11th c. more identified with clerics regular
  (Rule of St. Augustine)
• Urban community of clerics
• Property in common
• Preaching ministry
• Sacred in the midst of secular sphere

6
vita evangelica

• Example of Jesus, Mary disciples (esp. in
  Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Movement is encouraged (itinerancy)
• No property in common
• sell what you have and give to the poor
• take nothing with you on the journey
• Sphere of the sacred is the secular
• The whole world is our cloister (Sac. Comm.)