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SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER
FIVE
FRANCISCAN MARTYRS REGION
THE NEWSLETTER
MARCH,
2006 |
Christopher Columbus and the Franciscan Family -
Fr. Tom Murphy, OFM
This coming 20 May 2006 marks the
500th' anniversary of the death in central Spain of
Christopher Columbus, one of the most famous members of the Third
Order of St Francis of Assisi. In 1942, the 450th
anniversary of Columbus' spectacular Voyage of Discovery, Samuel
Eliot Morison closed his classic book about Columbus, Admiral of
the Ocean Sea, with words that rang very true fifty years ago
and sum up Columbus' contribution to the Catholic faith and world
history: 'The whole history of the Americas stems from the Four
Voyages of Columbus; ... Today a score of independent nations and
dominions unite in homage to Christopher, the stouthearted son of
Genoa, who carried Christian civilization across the ocean Sea."'
In early November 1504 Columbus
returned to Spain from his fourth voyage to the new world. He was
only 53 years of age, but he suffered from extremely poor health due
to the many storms he had encountered at the open helm of his ships
for at least 30 years. About two weeks after he landed, he was
compelled to forego his great desire to be present at the deathbed
of his foremost patron, Queen Isabella. In the summer of the
following year he was barely able to pay a brief visit to the court
of King Ferdinand. In 1506 he followed the royal court to
Valladolid. There, on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension, he died
in the presence of his two sons, Diego and Ferdinand, his two
brothers, Bartholomew and Diego, two of his most loyal fellow
mariners, and a few Franciscan friars from the nearby monastery of
St Francis who had cared for Columbus in his last weeks. The Italian
biographer, Gianni Granzotto, describes Columbus' quiet and simple
funeral:
Composed of only a handful of
relatives, friends and monks [sic], the Admiral of the Ocean
Seas' funeral procession passed, amid general indifference,
through the narrow streets that led to the monastery. Perhaps a
few passersby and women at their windows made the sign of the
cross. The Mass was celebrated at the monastery itself, after
which the body was laid to rest in the crypt beneath the
Franciscan abbey [sic]. I personally retraced the route of that
final procession. From Columbus' house I turned left, passed in
front of the lovely church of Santa Maria Antigua, then
behind the Plaza Major, once the center of the city. The
Franciscan monastery no longer exists. In its place, below the
square's colonnades, is the Cafe de Norte which has a series of
billiard rooms that extend back into the shadows as far as the
spot where Columbus was buried nearly half a millennium ago?
It is not known when Columbus made
his first contact with the Franciscan Order. He could have and
friars in Genoa or other ports in the Mediterranean Sea, in
Portugal, England, Ireland, Iceland, in the Madeira Islands, all
places he had visited. Portugal was the leading nation in Europe in
ocean navigation, but King John of Portugal turned down Columbus'
proposal to sail west across the Atlantic to the Indies under the
Portuguese flag. So, in the year 1485 Columbus set out for Spain
with his five-year old son, Diego. His wife, Dona Felipa Perestrello,
whose father had been governor of Porto Santo in the Madeira Islands
off the coast of Africa, had died while they were in Portugal.
1 Morison, Samuel Eliot; Admiral of
the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus;
Little, Brown and Co.;
Boston; 1970; page 671
2 Granzotto, Gianni;
Christopher
Columbus; Doubleday and Co., Inc.; Garden City, NY, 1985, page 272
His first
stop in Spain was the famous Franciscan monastery of La Rabida in
Pubs de la Frontera on the Atlantic coast just east of the
Portuguese border. During the Moslem occupation of Spain, La Rabida
had been a Moslem stronghold His first stop in Spain was the famous
Franciscan monastery of La Rabida in Palos de la Frontera on the
Atlantic coast just east of the Portuguese border. During the Moslem
occupation of Spain, La Rabida had been a Moslem stronghold and holy
place. When King St Fernando reconquered this area from the Moslems
in the 13th century, La Rabida was fumed into a Franciscan
monastery. The friars were known for their hospitality and often
conducted schools for young lads. They offered a safe haven for
young Diego. Here Christopher Columbus met among many friars Fr.
Antonio Marchena, OFM, the major Superior of the friars in the
Seville area, and in his own right a well-known authority on
astronomy and geography.
In the
Chapter room of La Rabida over a period of several weeks, Columbus
spent many long hours explaining to Fr. Antonio and interested
friars his ideas on the geographical make-up of the world and his
fervent desire to bring the Gospel to the people of distant
lands who had not yet heard of Jesus Christ. He laid out before the
friars his carefully formed plans to reach the Indies by crossing
the vast ocean to the west. Morison writes of these
discussions:
Columbus later gave him [Fr. Marchena] credit for being one of
the few Spaniards who believed he was right and furthered his
enterprise. A man of imagination and human sympathy, he decided
that Columbus had something and became his advocate ... 3
Through Fr.
Marchena's local connections with people of influence, Columbus'
enterprise came to the attention of Queen Isabella, who agreed to
establish an advisory commission to look into Columbus' proposal.
Columbus
spent the next five years awaiting a response from the Crown. When
finally he
received word that the commission had turned down his venture, he
returned in total frustration during the summer of 1491 to La Rabida
to pick up his son and then go to France. At La Rabida Fr. Juan
Perez, OFM, the local Superior and former Confessor to Queen
Isabella at court, would not hear of Columbus abandoning Spain. He
wrote to the queen at the headquarters of the Spanish armies
besieging Granada, the last Moslem enclave in Spain. She agreed to
see Columbus once more. At Granada Columbus witnessed the
surrender of the last Moslem king on 2 January 1492. Shortly after
this great victory for Spain, a royal council again rejected
Columbus' terms. However, a wealthy and influential friend of
Columbus assured the queen that he himself would finance Columbus'
venture. In April 1492 the Crown drew up an agreement with Columbus
to sponsor his venture to the west.
Four months
later, Columbus attended Mass with the friars at la Rabida on the
Feast of the Portiuncula. Early in the morning of 3 August 1492,
Columbus and his brave crewmen set sail from the Palos area on the
Santa Maria, the Pints, and the Nina. Fr. Juan Perez, OFM blessed
the tiny fleet as it headed down the Rivo Tinto past La Rabida on
its voyage of destiny to the New World, a scene since depicted in
many famous paintings.
These few
incidents demonstrate Columbus' close relationship with the Order of
St Francis. Perhaps the best proof that Columbus was indeed a member
of the Franciscan family is the account Admiral Morison offers upon
Columbus' arrival in Spain in June of 1496 after completing his
second voyage:
As soon
as Columbus went ashore at Cadiz, he adopted the course brown
habit of a Minorite friar, which remained his usual costume when
in Spain... [He] assumed the humble garb of his Franciscan
friends as evidence of repentance and humility. Columbus found
his most loyal friends ashore among ecclesiastics, especially
those in
the monastic
orders. He liked their piety, their conversation and simple way
of living; and in his travels about Spain he preferred the hospitality of a monastery to that caballero or grandee.4
3 Morison, Op. cit., pages 81-82 a
Morison. Op. cit., pane 505
Andy
Buchleitner,
SFO,
work
Commissioner
I visit a lady in the nursing home
after Mass each Sunday. She always greets me with, "My name is Liz
and I'm 94. Somebody ought to take me out and shoot me." I always
counter with, "Don't you want to hang around six more years and have
one heck of a big celebration?" Many times she counters
with, "I'm of no
use already. I
certainly don't want to live that long."
Fortunately, I don't believe Liz
is serious. But some people are when they speak of their despair and
sense of uselessness. Before you miss an opportunity to bring hope to someone
who might be feeling truly hopeless take a moment to reflect so you
might avoid:
WISHING I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE
A friend
of
mine died recently. I
don't think he would have died if I had been there. He probably
wouldn't have died if anyone had been there. People don't usually
commit suicide when someone else is around.
My first question upon hearing of
my friend's death was,
"what could have caused him to
commit such an act of total despair? I would like to think it was
due to circumstances beyond his or my control. Perhaps a chemical
imbalance rendered him temporarily insane. Maybe a brain tumor
clouded his judgment But what if there was something I could have
done to stop
him? What if a simple show of my love and concern
could have prevented this tragedy?
It's hard for me to appreciate a
spiritual loneliness so profound that death would seem the only
solution. Someone has always been there for me in my time of need.
But what about those who suffer from feelings of failure, of not
measuring up to the world's standard of success? Am I able to see
them from the
height of my position on the social or corporate ladder? And do
I show mercy to those unable to forgive themselves, who are burdened
with the guilt of some past sin? Do I reassure them that they are
precious to God, family and friends, and can be forgiven through the
blood of a
loving Savior?
Our Divinely appointed mission is
to bring God's love to the mentally, emotionally, spiritually and
physically broken, in other words, the poor Many of these suffering
souls are thought of as outcasts, the lepers of society. In the time
of Jesus it was the custom to separate a leper from the community.
These outcasts had to shout "unclean" whenever anyone approached.
Considered by society to be guilty of some
unforgivable sin, they were left
abandoned and unsupported as they suffered the supposed consequences
of their mistakes_ Isn't it strange how some things never change?
what we judge as
the ignorance of the past, we continue to perpetuate: by the
treatment we give many of our less fortunate brothers and sisters
today.
Take for instance those in society
considered the modern day leper: the homeless, the cripple, the
imprisoned, victims of abuse, those with AIDS. What do we feel
toward them? Do we welcome them, care for
them, demonstrate our
Christ'slove for them? Or do we label them "unclean," rejecting them
out of fear, contempt or apathy? Do we ignore their plight, or do we
reach out with the healing power of Jesus? Are
we ready to sacrifice ourselves as Jesus asks us, even if it means going
to
the Cross?
I'm sorry that I wasn't there for
my friend. Lord,
please do not allow me to let this ever
happen again. Forgive me for my self-centeredness and lack of
compassion. I pray that my heart will always be open to listen and respond
to the cry of your poor.
From the
2002 Statutes
of
the National Fraternity of the Secular
Franciscan Order, USA
(officially approved and in
effect as of July 4, 2003)
Article 19. Formation
1. Orientation
a.
Orientation is a time for determining a person's interest,
eligibility and disposition to enter into the initial
formation process [cf.
Guidelines for
Initial Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order in the
United Sates (hereafter
Guidelines for Initial Formation),
page 25].
b. The period of
orientation shall consist of not less than three (3) months.
2. Initial Formation
a. Inquiry -
the period of Inquiry, which begins with the Ceremony of
Introduction and Welcoming [cf. RAW, page 9], shall consist
of not less than six (6) months.
b.
Candidacy - the period of Candidacy, which begins
with the Rite of Admission [cf.
Ritual,
page 11], shall
consist of not less than eighteen (18) months
and not more than thirty-six (36) months.
c. All
persons in initial formation, in addition to
attending their formation sessions, must participate
in the meetings of the local fraternity as
this is an indispensable presupposition for initiation into
community prayer and into fraternity life [cf. General
Constitutions, article #40.3].
d. To be
admitted to the Secular Franciscan Order in the United
States, a person must be a fully initiated member of the
Catholic Church (i.e., having received the Sacraments of
Baptism, Chrismation/Confirmation and Holy Eucharist) in
addition to being an actively practicing Catholic.
3. Profession
a. The minimum age
for perpetual profession as a Secular Franciscan in the United
States is twenty-one (21) years. b. The minimum age for
temporary profession as a Secular Franciscan in the United
States is eighteen (18) years.
4. Ongoing Formation
Ongoing formation
is the responsibility of all professed members consonant with
article #44 of the General
Constitutions.
5. Form and Methodology
a. The form
(i.e.., content and process; cf.
General
Constitutions, #382)
to be employed in both initial and ongoing formation is that
found in the
Guidelines for Initial Formation.
b. The methodology employed in formation
should be both interactive and experiential in nature
[cf.
General
Constitutions, #40.4].
c.
Opportunities for fraternities to meet together for the
purposes of common on-going and initial formation shall
occur whenever possible at all levels of fraternity
[cf. General
Constitutions, #40.1].
6. Provisions for
Remote Initial Formation
In those rare
instances in which a person is legitimately impeded from
participating in the normal formation process of a local
fraternity, recourse may be had to the Guidelines
for Remote Initial
Formation in the United States
as adopted by the
National Executive Council in June 2000.
Other Formation Recommendations by the Five
Franciscan Martyrs Regional Executive Council
-
A retreat or a day
of recollection is recommended prior to celebration of the Rite of
Admission (Candidacy).
-
A retreat r a
day of recollection is recommended prior to celebration of the
Rite of Profession, both temporary and Perpetual.
-
Special
consideration for on-going formation should be given to several
groups: the newly professed (1 -3 years) and the
temporarily
professed
[cf.
General Constitutions,
article #442], fraternity Councilors, and formation personnel.
-
Initial formation sessions for both Inquirers and
Candidates should be scheduled so that a minimum of one boar each mouth may be
devoted to formal instruction/discussion and interaction with
those in formation.
-
Fraternities should encourage the professed
members to serve as sponsors for the Inquirers and Candidates so
that the initial formation
process may be experienced by the larger community, as well as
those on the formation team.
Carlos Calderon, SFO, Regional Minister
Good People, These last few months have been
quite difficult for me I have witnessed great love in our order, but
also some bitterness, but I believe that with prayer and patience
that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts and all will turn out as
it should be. I have of late been studying the writings not only of
Francis but of Bonaventure and it has given me hope for our order
for we are in the same cycle that our Brother Saints of the past
went through. Like Francis and Bonaventure we need prayer to
rekindle our Franciscan spirit and know that God will never abandon
us.
I recently attended The Young adult Retreat in
Camp Wingmann at Avon Park Florida. I witnessed so much spirituality
in those young adults that it made me realize we short change
ourselves by not reaching out more to them. We really did not have
to preach Francis to them as all of them lived the gospel already.
No, we needed to just listen to their kindred spirits shouting out
in silence. You had to be there to understand. Much credit must go
to our National Commissioner Kathy Taormina for her guidance and
enthusiasm, and to our Youth and Young Adult Commissioner Rosalee
Prewett and all the others that served on the committee to make this
a joyful event.
This is where our future lies with the young
people whose spirituality makes you wonder about our own. I really
believe we have underestimated the youth and young adults. The young
people that attended wanted more prayer time, adoration, and Masses.
They loved the things that others stated they would not like, such
as music, a night which they were able to follow their spirit where
ever it took them.
I was blessed to be among them, it gave me new
hope for the future of our order. I would ask you to pray for The
National Youth efforts as well as the efforts of our committee here
in Florida that the Holy Spirit Bless the seeds they have planted
and that their work continue to be fruitful and I ask you all to
pray for me as well, that I may be guided by the spirit and that it
will always be His will and not mine. Bonaventure Prayed as such so
I pray as taken from his prologue
I call upon that First Beginning
from whom all Illumination flows as from the God of lights,
and from whom comes every good and perfect gift.
I call upon God through the divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
that through the intercession of the most holy virgin Mary,
the mother of the same Lord Jesus Christ,
and through that of the blessed Francis, our leader and father,
God might grant enlightenment to the eyes of our mind
and guidance to our feet on the path of peace,
that peace which surpasses all understanding,
that our order here in Florida continue
to be fruitful.
God Bless you all.
Your Servant In Christ and Francis,
Carlos
Kathy Taormina, SFO, National Y/YA Chair
My God and My All,
The retreat weekend was not only filled with the
Franciscan Charism, but with 3 Masses, Prayers, Crown Rosary,
Adoration {the young adults request}, music/song, Ice breakers,
talks/small group discussions, Reconciliation, Meditation, a
campfire and even kayaking/canoeing! How we fit it all in, in 46
hours was unbelievable.
With talks by Carlos, Fr. Gurdak, OFM Cap, and
other spirit filled SFO's it was a blessing to behold. The young
adults taught us, enlightened us and gave us much hope for the
Church and for our order. The photos will soon be on the Y/YA
Commission web page, check them out and reflect if we cannot assist
you in presenting a similar model of the retreat in your region. We
thank all of you that kept us in prayer over the weekend.
{A special thanks to Rosalee Prewett, SFO, Five
Franciscan Martyrs Region Y/YA Commission Chair, and her vision that
this retreat could be done. Thanks to the team also} May the Holy
Spirit keep these young adults and all concerned moving in the right
direction.
Kathy |
