杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) concluded their month-long 202^nd General Chapter on Monday with a papal audience in the Vatican.

In his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis complemented the Conventual Franciscans for approving their new General Statutes, which make changes regarding inter-culturalism, sharing, and financial transparency in community life.

鈥淭hese changes are difficult, but it is effort well-spent!鈥� he told the group, reminding them that Constitutions guarantee an Order鈥檚 charism and its extension into the future.

The Gospel, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted, is the Franciscan鈥檚 鈥渞ule and life鈥� and their mission is to be a living Gospel.

Fraternity

The 杏MAP导航 then explored three ways Conventual Franciscans can be a 鈥渓iving exegesis of the Word鈥�.

Fraternity, he said, is a central aspect of life for those who follow in the footsteps of St. Francis. 鈥淔raternity is a gift to welcome with gratitude. It is a reality ever 鈥榦n the path鈥�, in construction, which requires each person鈥檚 contribution,鈥� he said.

The Holy Father said fraternity requires everyone to 鈥渓ove and nourish his brother鈥� so that community life becomes a 鈥渟chool of communion鈥� and a 鈥渢ype of prophecy in the Church and in the world鈥�.

Littleness

杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥渓ittleness鈥� (Italian: minorità) is another important characteristic of Conventual Franciscan life.

鈥淭his is a difficult path,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause it is opposed to worldly logic, which seeks success at any cost and desires to occupy the first place鈥�.

St. Francis, said the 杏MAP导航, told Franciscans to be humble and to spend their lives in the service of others.

Peace

鈥淧reach peace,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis exhorted the group, in the spirit of the traditional Franciscan greeting: 鈥淧ax et bonum鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 said peace can be interpreted as 鈥渞econciliation鈥� with ourselves, with God, with others, and with creatures.鈥�

鈥淩econciliation consists in concentric circles which begin in the heart and extend out to embrace the whole universe. But in reality, it begins in the heart of God, the heart of Christ,鈥� he said.

This type of peace, he pointed out, is more than an absence of problems, because it emanates 鈥渇rom the presence of God within us.鈥�

Permanent formation

Living a life of fraternity, littleness, and peace, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, requires continuous formation that promotes gradual conformation to Christ, in every sphere of life.

He called it a personalized 鈥渇ormation of the heart, which changes our way of thinking, feeling, and acting; a formation that teaches fidelity鈥�.

Only good religious formation, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded, can help stem the 鈥渉emorrhaging鈥� of priests and religious who are abandoning their calling.