杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis met with members of the Franciscan family on Thursday, receiving members of the First Order and of the Third Order Regulars in an audience in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican.

In his address to the Franciscans, the Holy Father emphasized the Order鈥檚 proper name, the Order of Friars Minor. The word 鈥榤inor鈥� is an essential aspect of their religious life, he said; and so that they are not simply religious brothers, but 鈥渕inor鈥� brothers.

Saint Francis鈥� inspiration to name his religious brothers 鈥渇riars minor,鈥�  the 杏MAP导航 said, came from his desire to make Christ and the Gospel the foundation of his life. Although not lacking ascetic and social motivations, it comes primarily from a contemplation of Christ, the Son of God, who 鈥渢hough He was rich, made himself poor.鈥� The logic of 鈥渟poliation鈥� was literally lived out by St Francis when he stripped himself completely of all earthly goods, in order to give himself entirely to God.

The 杏MAP导航 said the life of Saint Francis was marked by this encounter with God who had made Himself poor: 鈥渁 humble and hidden presence that the Little Poor Man of Assisi [the 鈥淧overello鈥漖 adored and contemplated in the Incarnation, in the Cross and in the Eucharist.鈥�

This typically Franciscan 鈥渓ittleness鈥� [It.: 鈥渕inorità鈥漖, he told the Franciscans, serves them as a place of encounter and communion with God; with their religious brothers and with all men and women; and with all of creation.

A place of encounter with God

This littleness has a special place in the Franciscan鈥檚 relationship with God, which must be humble and confident, like that of a child; but also aware of one鈥檚 sinfulness like the publican in the Gospel. One particular aspect of this relationship is the 鈥渟pirituality of restitution鈥� to God. We must recognize that every good we receive comes from God, the supreme Good, and that all good things must be restored to Him; and 鈥渨e do this through praise and we do this when we live according to the evangelical logic of the gift, that leads us to go out of ourselves to encounter others and welcome them into our lives.鈥�

A place of encounter with the brothers, and with all men and women

This leads to the second kind of encounter, with other people. 杏MAP导航 Francis said this encounter, for religious, is lived out primarily in the relationship with the other religious brothers, who are given to us as a gift from God. In these relationships, he said, every attitude of superiority must be eradicated; instead, they must be marked by mutual respect, understanding, charity and mercy.

Franciscan 鈥渓ittleness鈥� must also be lived, the 杏MAP导航 said, in the relationships with all men and women in the world. These relations too, he said, must be free of every attitude of superiority. 杏MAP导航 Francis warned especially that when the Friars Minor perform their work in favour of the 鈥渟mallest,鈥� those who are excluded and considered 鈥渢he least,鈥� it must never be done from a 鈥減edestal of superiority鈥� that would tend to drive people away.

鈥淥pen your hearts and embrace the lepers of our times!鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥淎nd, after recognizing the mercy the Lord has used in your regard, extend that mercy to them, as Saint Francis did; and, like him, learn to be 鈥榮ick with the sick; afflicted with the afflicted.鈥欌�� In this way, he said, Franciscan littleness will not remain some vague sentiment, but will have a profound effect on their lives.

A place of encounter with creation

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 said, Franciscan 鈥渓ittleness鈥� is a place of encounter with all of creation. Saint Francis described creation as a sister, or a beautiful mother; but, the 杏MAP导航 said, this sister and mother 鈥渋s rebelling because she feels mistreated.鈥� He asked the Franciscans to enter into a dialogue 鈥渨ith all of creation,鈥� both praising God for His creation, and having a particular care for it. 鈥淐ollaborate with various initiatives for the care of our common home,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渁lways keeping in mind the strict relationship that exists between the poor and the fragility of the planet, between the economy, development, care for creation, and the option for the poor.鈥�

鈥淟et them be smaller鈥�

Renewing Saint Francis鈥� request for his religious brothers 鈥� 鈥淟et them be smaller [It. 鈥渕inori鈥� = minor, lesser]鈥� 鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address with the prayer, 鈥淢ay God both preserve and increase your littleness.鈥�