Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. I welcome you all with joy and I extend my warmest welcome to everyone: members of the Presidency of the International Council SFO, both new and previous, to all participants in the Tenth General Chapter, and through you to all the Franciscans Secular and members of the Franciscan Youth in the world. In this chapter general
you've completed the upgrade of your basic legislation. You now have in your hands the Rule approved by Pope Paul VI of blessed memory, June 24, 1978, the Ritual, approved March 9, 1984, the General Constitutions, definitively approved on December 8, 2000, and the International Statute approved in this Chapter. You must now look to the future and into the deep: Duc in altum!
The Church expects from the Secular Franciscan Order, and only a , a great service to the cause of the Kingdom of God in the world today. She wishes that your Order is a model of organic, structural and charismatic at all levels, so as to present to the world as a "community of love" (Rule 26). The Church expects from you, Secular Franciscans, a courageous and consistent witness of Christian life and Franciscan at building a more fraternal and evangelical world for the realization of the Kingdom of God
2. The discussion made in this Chapter, on "life-giving communion in the Franciscan family," urges you to be more dedicated to promoting meeting and first of all within your order, then against the other Franciscan brothers and sisters, and finally, with great care, as he wanted San Francisco, in relation to the hierarchical authority of the Church. Your
renewed legislation gives you excellent tools to fully realize and express the unity of your order and communion with the Franciscan Family by precise coordinates. There is first provided the service of leadership and guidance of the Fraternity, "coordinated and united under the Rule and Constitutions" This service is indispensable for communion among the fraternities, the smooth cooperation between them and the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO General Constitutions cf. 29.1). It is important then "spiritual assistance as a fundamental element of communion" to be conducted jointly at the regional, national and international levels (General Constitutions of the SFO 90.3). Of crucial importance is finally the collegial service of moderamen, "entrusted by the Church to the First and Third Franciscan Order 'Order Regular," which for centuries has been the Secular Fraternity (cf. General Constitutions SFO 85.2, 87.1).
I sincerely hope that the new President of the International Council SFO (SFO) to continue the path taken by the old to the goal of a true body, for fidelity to the charism received from San Francisco and the basic lines of the renewed legislation of your order.
3. In the meeting I had over twenty years ago, September 27, 1982, with the General Assembly of your International Council, I urged, "Study, love, live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, approved for you by my predecessor Paul VI. It is a treasure in your hands, agrees with the spirit of Vatican II and responds to what the Church expects from you "(Teachings, V / 3, 1982, p.. 613). I am pleased to extend similar words Today: study, love, live your general constitution! They urge you to accept the help, to do the will of the Father, you are offered the mediation of the Church by those in it who were in authority and Brothers.
You are called to make their own contribution, inspired by the person and message of St. Francis of Assisi, to hasten the advent of a civilization in which the dignity of the human person, shared responsibility, and love may be living realities (see Gaudium et Spes 31 ff). You must investigate the true foundations of universal brotherhood and create everywhere a spirit of hospitality and of brotherhood. Firmly oppose all forms of exploitation, of discrimination and exclusion and against every attitude of indifference towards others.
4. You Secular Franciscans, live the vocation for membership in the Church and society as a reality inseparable. Therefore, you are asked first of all the personal testimony in the environment in which you live, "against men in family life and in work, in their joys and sufferings in the encounter with the men, all brothers of the same Father, in the presence and participation in society and in fraternal relationship with all creatures "(General Constitutions SFO 12.1). Perhaps there will not be asked the martyrdom of blood, but certainly there is sought the testimony of consistency and firmness in fulfilling the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, renewed and confirmed by their profession in the SFO. By virtue of his profession, the Rule and General Constitutions represent for each of you, the point of reference for daily, starting from a specific vocation and identity (cf. Promulgation of the General Constitutions of the SFO) . If you are truly moved by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state "would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity" (Novo Millennium ineunte 31). Efforts must be made with conviction in the "high standard of ordinary Christian living" to which I invited the faithful to the end of the Great Jubilee of 2000 (ibid.).
5. I do not want to conclude this message without recommending that you consider your family as the primary setting in which to live your Christian commitment and the Franciscan vocation, finding time for prayer, the Word of God and for Christian catechesis and by working towards compliance of all life from conception and in every situation, even death. We must make sure that your families' convincingly that the ability to live marriage fully in keeping with God's plan and with the true needs of the human person: that of spouses, and of the most fragile children "(Novo Millennium ineunte 47).
In this context, I urge you to take back the Holy Rosary, which, by ancient tradition," is particularly effective as a prayer which brings the family together. Individual family members, in turning their eyes towards Jesus, also regain the ability to look one another in the eye, to communicate, to show solidarity, to forgive, to share with a covenant of love renewed in the Spirit of God "(Rosarium Virginis Mariae 41). Do it with eyes to the Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his word and all his appeals, which was surrounded by Francis with indescribable love and was appointed Protector and advocate of the Franciscan family. Witness to her your burning love by imitating her complete and pouring out a confident and conscious prayer (cf. SFO Rule 9).
With these wishes, I cordially impart to you, Secular Franciscans and to you, members of the Franciscan Youth, a special Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, November 22, 2002
Source: www.vatican.va
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