杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

杏MAP导航 Francis has urged members of the Franciscan Family to hold true to the charism of fraternity, humility and poverty of their Founder by going out to the world to share the Gospel.   

The Regola Bullata of 1223

For Franciscan friars and sisters going around the world means realizing their 鈥渋tinerant vocation in a style of fraternity and peaceful life鈥� and is in line with the call on all Christians 鈥渢o be an 鈥榦utgoing Church鈥�", the 杏MAP导航 said in a letter he addressed to the Ministers General of the Order on the occasion of the 8th Centenary of the formal confirmation of the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi by 杏MAP导航 Honorius III.

The Rule (Regola Bullata) was formally recognized in the Bull 鈥淪olere Annuere鈥� issued on November 29 1223, 800 years ago today.

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� letter was read out during a solemn liturgy presided over on Wednesday afternoon at the Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the 杏MAP导航's Vicar for the Diocese.

The celebration was attended by friars, nuns, and lay people belonging to the three Orders founded by St. Francis.

Rooted in the Gospel

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 noted that the centenary is 鈥渁 propitious occasion鈥� not only to remember an important historical event, but above all, 鈥渢o revive the same spirit that inspired St. Francis of Assisi to strip himself of everything, and give birth to a unique and fascinating form of life rooted in the Gospel鈥�.

Drawing from St. Francis鈥� Rule, 杏MAP导航 Francis, therefore, exhorted the members of the Franciscan Order first of all to 鈥渙bserve poverty, humility and the Gospel鈥�, living 鈥渋n obedience, without anything of their own and in chastity.鈥�

Recalling that St. Francis put 鈥渢he Gospel at the center of his existence鈥�, the letter stressed the importance of returning 鈥渢o the foundation of a Christian and baptismal commitment, capable of being inspired, in every choice, by the Word of the Lord.鈥�

Obedience to the Church

杏MAP导航 Francis then highlighted the Franciscans鈥� duty of obedience to the Church enshrined in St. Francis鈥� Rule. 鈥淚n that bond of obedience and reverence to the 杏MAP导航 and the Church of Rome,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渉e recognized an essential feature of the fidelity to his vocation and of receiving Christ in the Eucharist and this is why he declared, with no hesitation, his compelling belonging to the Church.鈥�

Going out to the world

Finally, the letter called on the Franciscan friars and sisters 鈥渘ot to hesitate鈥� to go out to the world 鈥渟haring the bliss of poverty, becoming an eloquent evangelical sign, and showing our age, marked by wars and conflicts, by selfishness of every kind and logics of exploitation of the environment and the poor, that the Gospel is truly good news for man.鈥�

Concluding, 杏MAP导航 Francis said he confides in the Order鈥檚 capacity to identify the right way to courageously and faithfully respond to the charism it has received and invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi.