FRANCISCAN RULE

*The Simple Rule

What should be the life style of a Secular Franciscan?

    The answer is simple; simple for each person in accordance with his particular circumstance in life. But, regardless of the circumstances, we are "little" people, who should wish for nothing better than to be childlike imitators of Christ's humility, meekness, gentleness, kindness, and tolerance. Each one of us should be determined to serve rather than be served. We should slip quietly into the least desirable place, leaving the best for someone else.
    Childlike and humble, a Secular Franciscan should be open to God's word. He should be obedient to His commands; all of them without exception; receptive to His Sacraments; loyal to His Church, holding in respect all forms of life and all created things.
    In a spirit of penance, a Secular Franciscan, who is a member of the Order of Penitents, should be willingly cheerful to adapt to any and all kinds of circumstances. For Example: to our living quarters, the weather, and to temperature conditions beyond our control. We can accomplish it in a spirit like that of our Seraphic Father Francis who sweated and shivered with a song of joy on his lips.
    In a spirit of penance there can be joy and a freedom that allows us to relate ourselves closely to our Suffering Servant, Jesus. The cornerstone on which we build our simple life style "is Jesus." His sense of values should be ours.
    Our life style embraces obedience; our wills united to His will; an optimistic outlook; patience in sufferings, hurts, trials, frustrations that cannot be avoided and which can be redemptively united to His sufferings. It is a great way to draw closer to Him and this should be our chief purpose in life. Are not our crosses feather-light compared to His? Touching our hand to His could stab one's heart with a thrill of joy that could desensitize pain better than any man-made painkiller.
    These are some thoughts on which a Secular Franciscan can build his life style. There can be much more to it depending on each individual's outlook and dedication. And, it can be so deep down satisfyingly worthwhile!

"Being Polite"

To be a Franciscan is nothing more than being polite and considerate to God and to man. It is practicing what we preach. It is living the Peace Prayer, not just saying the words. To be a good Franciscan one doesn't have to go about telling how much one loves Jesus. Our actions, quietly and in a neighborly way, will let other people know that Christ lives in our hearts.

St. Francis was a very polite little man -- little in stature, that is. How polite are we? How many of us listen to the other person? It is very impolite not to listen. It is impolite to be unnecessarily insistent. Too often our attitude is, "this is the way it is. I am right. You are wrong," and even as we recite the words, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace," we are insisting on our own point of view.

How does it come out? Do we change the minds of our, shall we say, opponent, to our way of thinking? Rarely. The other fellow goes on thinking his way and we do the same and amid the crackling and popping of words, peace is short circuited. Franciscanism is Christ-in-action, through us. It isn't glibly saying the Peace Prayer; it is doing what the prayer says. It is basically, being polite (pardon me if I repeat.) It is being tactful. If someone says, "It happened Monday," we do not have to cut in with, "It wasn't Monday, It was a Tuesday." What difference does it make whether it was Monday or Tuesday. Sometimes by not arguing a point, where we think we are right, we save ourselves from having to eat crow later when we find out that we were wrong all the time.

Too often we are not exactly polite with Christ. There are a lot of things that Christ said that we don't listen to." Do we ask ourselves, is what He is saying apply to me?" or do we say, "It applies exactly to so and so."

For example, there is the episode Christ speaks about of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple. The Pharisee conspicuously in the front "Lord-Lord-ing" all over the place while the Publican meekly, with bowed head, stands away in the back. "Lord, I thank thee I am not like that sinner there," cries the Pharisee rolling his eyes piously back towards the target of his disapproval. While the Publican quietly comes back and says, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner."In which category would Jesus put me, I wonder? Would He see me in the Pharisee or in the Publican? Maybe I'd better take time out and think about these things that Jesus is saying. Maybe I'd better be more polite and listen to him. Maybe I'd better put my feet in the shoes of the other guy and see if they fit my feet.

When Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men," He, by no means, meant we should, like the Pharisee, point our finger accusingly in the direction of someone else while patting ourselves on the back. What we say about ourselves, as the song says, "it ain't necessarily so," Our actions tell the true story loud and clear.

"Listen to the Lord"

    St. John said, "Let us love, not in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and in truth..."
    The Franciscan Rule says, "and let them be moderate, showing all mildness to all men."
    Also, Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged"
    Let us not point to the devil walking at that man's side. The Franciscan rule says, "One way the brothers can conduct themselves among the unbelievers, spiritually, is to avoid quarrels and disputes and to be subject to every living human creature for God's sake."
    That is something we could ponder with profit" -- to be subject to every living human creature for God's sake."
     We hear something that Jesus said and we say, "That is good I like that. It reminds me of so-and-so he is just like that, isn't he?" Stop right there and think. Who is Jesus talking to? Is He talking to so-and-so? No, not right now, He isn't. So-and-so isn't here right now. No one is here right now but me. So, who is Jesus talking to?
    This brings me again to the point I am trying to make. We don't really listen to what Jesus is saying. We are very impolite. We only listen from the outside of our heads. We don't listen from inside where our minds and hearts are attuned to the little voice of conscience trying to make itself heard. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace," the little voice quavers, but is drowned out by the strident words that pour forth from our mouths.
    Take the parable of the "Good Samaritan." We immediately think, "I am not like that, I would stop and help the injured man. I am a Franciscan, I want to advance in spiritual perfection, don't I. All right then, if I do, let me read those words of Jesus again - carefully. I am not really trying to advance in spirituality unless I look right down underneath and see Jesus standing there pointing a finger at me.
    "Don't go applying my words to anyone else," He says, "I am talking to you."
    So, I sit down and think about my prejudices. I think about how some of these are built-in prejudices, born in me. I remember way back when I was in the second or third grade and a few school chums and I went skipping gaily along the sidewalk chanting, "Smarty, smarty, thought you had a party. No one came; but, a red headed darky."
    Did anyone say, "Stop that! That isn't nice. That isn't Christian!" No one did and no one thought of it. How could they, they thought the same way.
    The prejudices that were born in us don't have to stay in us. Most of us say glibly, I don't have prejudices. I don't have a thing against blacks, yellows, reds, Jews, or what-have-you. I treat everyone alike. Of course that doesn't mean I want to live next door to one of them. "Ah!" Right there we stumble over our own thoughts. Look at Jesus' words again. See Him there, still pointing his finger at us. See His eyes boring right down into our inmost hearts.
    "Ask me," he challenges. "Ask me. Would you live next door to one of them? And, after you have truthfully answered that question, let me ask you another. By what right, and by what exertion an your part, did you come up with the personal achievement of being born white instead of black? By what failure or fault on their part did they bring themselves to be born black instead of white. By world standards, they have three strikes against them at the outset simply because their skin is dark. By what right do you consider yourself superior because you were born rich or highly intelligent or endowed with a glorious singing voice; or a great talent for drawing, painting, writing; a genius at figures, or a whiz in the business world, or great in athletics; or possess a beautiful face or body; or born male, or female; or born into a good Christian family instead of the bastard child of a prostitute mother and a thieving father? It's not under what circumstances you came screaming and kicking into the world that counts. It is all important what you do with what you received from God -- mental, physical, and spiritual that tells the story."
    Jesus pauses for breath. "Remember," He continues firmly, "there are a lot of morons in my everlasting Kingdom. There are many who would be called dummies by some of you. St. Margaret Mary wasn't too bright. There are a lot of prostitutes and thieves and bad guys in My Heaven. Think of Matthew, my Apostle and Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene, and Dismas, and Augustine, and many more. Oh, and don't forget that one first class playboy, Francis of Assisi. St. Augustine was not only a bad guy at one time; but, he was black. If I spoke to you in the lingo of my days on earth I would say to you Amen. Amen. I say unto you, many a man who is black on the outside is whiter inside than many a white man who is a whitewashed wall on the outside; but, splotchy and muddy and worm infested inside."
    Jesus stops and toes at the ground under His feet and thinks of the time He bent over and started to write in the dust. "He who has ears to hear let him hear," He goes on. "Do you have ears to hear? I hope so, because I am talking to you. Why can 't you listen to what I am saying to you? This man over here is black outside, but he is a child of God. He is my child. You are white and you are a child of God, and you are my child and that makes you brothers. When you sing in church, 'With God as our Father, brothers all are we; let me live with my brother, in peace and harmony.' Stop, just mouthing words. They are empty words unless you put them into action. Start right now and work on this. It isn't easy. Who ever told you that being my disciple is easy? When you stumble and make a mistake, and you will, you poor weak little thing! Don't mind too much, I will understand. It takes a lot of doing, and goes on and on. The thing is to keep trying. Hang in there. Don 't give up. Judas gave up. He needn't have gone the way he did. I would have forgiven him."
    "That reminds me," Jesus' eyes begin to dance, "I've heard some of you say about someone who has wronged you; forgive him, "but." Tell me, what do you mean by that "but"? He shakes His head. "You people," He says wonderingly, "it's a good thing I love you."
    Jesus, We love you too. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; what a comfort it is to repeat your name. Teach us to be polite to you. Teach us to be polite to each other. Teach us to really see you hanging on the Cross, between two thieves. Help us to understand what that really means. Help us to really see the hordes gazing maliciously up at you. Help us to hear the thud of the blows as they rain down on your body, "Yeh!" they scream. "If you be the Son of God, come down from the Cross."
    Oh, my most holy Jesus, compassionate and understanding companion of my daily life; let me never forget that my face can so easily be numbered among those in that mocking horde who watched you die in slow agony on the Cross. Jesus, help me to be polite to you. Help me to listen to what you are saying. Help me to hear your merciful words from the Cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Let me see your eyes, now sunken deep in your head from the rending, tearing death you are undergoing. Turn to Dismas and let me hear your words of everlasting comfort, not only to him; but to all of us who entreat you. "Lord, remember us in your Kingdom." Dear Lord God, help us to hear your voice ring out and know you are speaking to us (thank God you are speaking to us). "Some day, not too far away in the vastness of time, you, my poor, weak, beloved little ones, shall be with me in paradise!"

"The Tau Cross"

The Tau Cross has been accepted as the symbol of the Secular Franciscan Order. It was adopted by St. Francis himself as his "Coat of Arms," and it's background goes back into ancient times.

Father Kenan Morris, OFM says it has its origin at the time of Cain's banishment from Eden. God told Cain he was to be a restless wanderer and that the soil could no longer yield its fruit to him.

Cain cried out to God in despair. "Then anyone who sees me can kill me on sight!"

"No," God promised him. "I will put a mark on your forehead. Anyone who violates that mark shall be condemned sevenfold." "That mark," Father Kenan said, "was the Tau cross."

In 546 A.D., Bishop Gall of southern France organized a procession and painted the Tau on walls, doors, etc. in order to stop a plague.

Again in France, in 1095, an order of hospital friars used the Tau as their emblem and put it on top of their staffs and painted it on their habits.

The Tau was a symbol of conversion and penance, as can readily be understood, when we think of the fact that it is the exact shape of the crucifix on which Christ was nailed.

The crusaders were marked with the Tau.

In Francis' time, we see Pope Innocent III, in 1215, calling to mind the passage in the Old Testament from the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet (9:4). In this passage Ezekiel had a vision in which the Lord showed Ezekiel a man with a writer's inkhorn around his waist. The Lord said to this man, "Pass through Jerusalem and mark a Thau (Tau cross) on the forehead of those living there who are distressed because of the abominations that are taking place in that city."

Then Ezekiel heard the Lord order some other men to go through the city and slay all who did not have the mark of the Thau (Tau) on their forehead.

So, again we see the Tau as a symbol of penance, of mercy and of preservation, as it had been a sign of mercy for Cain.

Pope Innocent said, "the Tau has exactly the same form as the cross to which Christ was nailed. It is only through the sign of the cross and the mortification of the flesh that people will obtain mercy and accept the life of the Crucified."

Pope Innocent had invoked the 4th Lateran Council, and had called upon all Christians to accept the Tau as a sign of the urgent need for spiritual renewal in the Church. He proclaimed the Tau to be a sign of humility because it is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

St. Francis eagerly accepted this and at once made the Tau the symbol of his Orders. He traced it on himself before beginning each of his actions. He preferred it above all other symbols. He used it as his signature for his letters and writings. To Brother Leo he wrote: "May the lord bless you and keep you." May the Lord show His face to you and be merciful to you. May the lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." And he added, "God bless you, Brother Leo!" and he sketched an image and drew a Tau over it as his signature.

Brother Leo wrote under Francis' signature, "This blessing was given to me, Brother Leo, by the blessed Francis, who wrote it in his own hand, and it is also his hand that drew the image and the Tau." This original letter of St. Francis to Brother Leo is one of the three handwritings still in existence.

Francis painted the Tau on the walls of his brothers cells. On our pilgrimage, we saw one that he had painted in the small chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, at Fonto Colombo, where we had Mass on May 20th, Ascension Thursday. This little chapel was built in the 12th Century. The Tau was up front, on the left wall near a window and was discovered in the early 1920's when the window was unblocked and opened to view after having been hidden for centuries.

A miracle is told by Thomas of Celano about a man who, after the death of St. Francis, had lost the use of his leg due to an abscess that could not heal. Francis appeared to him, touched the abscess with a small staff in the form of a Tau. The abscess burst and the man was healed.

Let us remember the importance of wearing our Tau Cross. We are not a secret society. Besides our fraternal actions, how else would those around us know we are followers of St. Francis of Assisi? It is our duty as members of the Secular Franciscan Order to wear the cross as often as possible, especially during Mass, working at church functions, and during the works of our apostolates. Your Editor

Novice and Postulant Training

Why Be A Secular Franciscan

Why Be A Secular Franciscan?
What advantage is there in living a professed Gospel Way of Life?

     Basically, the way of the Commandments of God is the way that leads to perfection. Actually, the way of the Commandments is encompassed in living up to the first two commandments: to love God all out, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our challenge as Secular Franciscans is to LIVE these two commandments. Only by LIVING them can we hope to mold ourselves as dedicated Secular Franciscans seeking spiritual perfection in closer union with God.
     Father Philip Marquard, OFM, in the Franciscan Herald of December 1980, links together professed Secular Franciscans and Religious. He says, "The lives of a Religious and professed Secular Franciscan constitute a visible sign, a witness and an inspiration." This thought is a very great challenge to our responsibility as a Secular Franciscan.
     Father Marquard goes on to say, "Religious and professed Secular Franciscans express what Christ means to them by the very structure of their lives." And, "all in the Church are called upon to observe the evangelican councils of poverty, chastity and obedience. In a Religious and in a professed Secular they become visible and tangible, a Religious taking these vows and a Secular Franciscan professing publicly to live in the spirit of them." By living in the spirit of them, God becomes real to us and this reality of God in our lives can bring our human lives to the fulfillment that comes from sharing in the divinity of Christ.
     Father Marquard repeats again that the Gospel life must be lived in such a way that Secular Franciscans witness to it. This is such a very important thing for us to keep in mind at all times. Father Marquard bluntly says that if we do not do this we can be a scandal. He quotes from Karl Rahner, "the Christian bears responsibility or culpability in creating atheism by mouthing that which he does not live.
     To help us live the reality of God in our lives we need Faith, without questioning. We should help others to believe by ourselves praying and living the faith. "People," Father Marquard says, "must see from our lives that God exists and that He brings happiness to those who follow in the Gospel footsteps of His Son. When we radiate joy because of our close association with Christ we help others to believe and experience in themselves, more and more, the spiritual riches available through Christ.

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