Formation Friday’s

To view past Formation Fridays
(Click on the Icon below)

***********************************

Formation Friday January 16, 2026

Please share with your fraternity 

Focus on the Admonitions  (#2 and #3) 

[II. The Evil of Self-Will]^b

¹The Lord said to Adam: Eat of every tree; you may not eat, however, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ^{Gn 2:16  Gn 2:17}

²He was able to eat of every tree of paradise, because he did not sin as long as he did not go against obedience. ³For that person eats of the tree of the knowledge of good who makes his will his own and, in this way, exalts himself over the good things the Lord says and does in him. ⁴And so, through the suggestion of the devil and the transgression of the command, it became the apple of the knowledge of evil. ⁵Therefore it is fitting that he suffer the punishment.

[III. Perfect Obedience]

¹The Lord says in the Gospel: Whoever does not renounce all that he possesses cannot be my disciple; ^{Lk 14:33 2}and: Whoever wishes to save his life must lose it. ^{Lk 9:24}

³That person who offers himself totally to obedience in the hands of his prelate leaves all that he possesses and loses his body.^a 4And whatever he does and says which he knows is not contrary to his will is true obedience, provided that what he does is good.

⁵And should a subject see that some things might be better and more useful for his soul than what a prelate commands, let him willingly offer such things to God as a sacrifice; and, instead, let him earnestly strive to fulfill the prelate’s wishes. ⁶For this is loving obedience because it pleases God and neighbor. ^{1 Pt 1:22}

⁷If the prelate, however, commands something contrary to his conscience, even though he may not obey him, let him not, however, abandon him. ⁸And if he then suffers persecution from others, let him love them all the more for the sake of God. ^{1 Jn 3:15  1 Jn 3:16 9}For whoever chooses to suffer persecution rather than wish to be separated from his brothers truly remains in perfect obedience because he lays down his life for his brothers. ^{Jn 15:13 10}In fact, there are many religious who, under the pretext of seeing things better than those which the prelate commands, look back, ^{Lk 9:62} and return to the vomit ^{Prv 26:11} of their own will. ¹¹These people are murderers ^{2 Pt 2:22} and, because of their bad example, cause many to lose their souls

Questions to discuss or to comment on in your journal.

+ Come, Holy Spirit! Open my mind and heart as I contemplate Admonition II.
—As Secular Franciscans, we do not promise “obedience” as such. However, how does sacrificing our own will help us to live out our Rule?
—When do I have the most difficulty following the directives of my lawful superiors?

+ Come, Holy Spirit! Open my mind and heart as I contemplate Admonition III.
—How is obedience related to simplicity and humility?
—What are some ways that I can seek to have a well-informed conscience?
—How does having trust in the Lord help me to let go of my own will?

 

***********************************

Formation Friday January 9, 2026

Please share with your fraternity 

Focus on the Admonitions  (#I) 

[I. The Body of Christ]

¹The Lord Jesus says to his disciples: I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. ²If you knew me, you would also know my Father; and from now on, you do know him and have seen him. ³Philip says to him: Lord, show us the Father and it will be enough for us. ⁴Jesus says to him: Have I been with you for so long a time and you have not known me? Philip, whoever sees me sees my Father as well. ^{Jn 14:6-9}

⁵The Father dwells in inaccessible light, ^{1 Tm 6:16} and God is spirit, ^{Jn 4:24} and no one has ever seen God. ^{Jn 1:18 6}Therefore He cannot be seen except in the Spirit because it is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh has nothing to offer. ^{Jn 6:63 7}But because He is equal to the Father, the Son is not seen by anyone other than the Father or other than the Holy Spirit.

⁸All those who saw the Lord Jesus according to the humanity, therefore, and did not see and believe according to the Spirit and the Divinity that He is the true Son of God were condemned. ⁹Now in the same way, all those who see the sacrament sanctified by the words of the Lord upon the altar at the hands of the priest in the form of bread and wine, and who do not see and believe according to the Spirit and the Divinity that it is truly the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, are condemned.10[This] is affirmed by the Most High Himself Who says:

This is my Body and the Blood of my new covenant [which will be shed for many]; ^{Mk 14:22 11}and Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. ^{Mk 14:24 12}It is the Spirit of the Lord, ^{Jn 6:55} therefore, That lives in Its faithful, That receives the Body and Blood of the Lord. ¹³All others who do not share in this same Spirit and presume to receive Him eat and drink judgment on themselves. ^{1 Cor 11:29}

¹⁴Therefore: children, how long will you be hard of heart? ^{Ps 4:3 15}Why do you not know the truth and believe in the Son of God? ^{Jn 9:35 16}Behold, each day He humbles Himself as when He came from the royal throne ^{Phil 2:8} into the Virgin’s womb; ^{Wis 18:15 17}each day He Himself comes to us, appearing humbly; ¹⁸each day He comes down from the bosom of the Father ^{Jn 1:18} upon the altar in the hands of a priest.^a

¹⁹As He revealed Himself to the holy apostles in true flesh, so He reveals Himself to us now in sacred bread. ²⁰And as they saw only His flesh by an insight of their flesh, yet believed that He was God as they contemplated Him with their spiritual eyes, ²¹let us, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, see and firmly believe that they are His most holy Body and Blood living and true. ²²And in this way the Lord is always with His faithful, as He Himself says: Behold I am with you until the end of the age.

Questions to discuss or to answer in your journal

+ After reading this admonition carefully, note what Francis’s feelings are about the Eucharist.

+What do you believe about the Eucharist? What part does receiving the Eucharist play in your spiritual life?

Bishop Barron’s Sunday sermon on the Eucharist (2024)

 

Formation Friday January 2, 2026

Please share with your fraternity 

Conversion and Discernment

As we enter the new year, we focus on St. Francis’s conversion and how it can have a deep effect on our own conversion.

If you have read a good biography of St. Francis, it is easy to see different steps of a conversion process as they apply to different events in the life of Francis. During the time of discernment in the period of initial formation, or as professed members seek to strengthen their vocation,  it is important to ponder the events of Francis’ conversion and vocation process and see how these might relate with your own conversion and vocation process.

As a help, you might use the following steps in a conversion process as they apply to the life of St. Francis, and then ask yourself how they might also apply in your own life:

• Darkness that can lead to openness (Questions and ambiguity can propel us to God)  [Think about: Francis’ desire to be a knight; his restlessness; his time in prison; his  illnesses and dreams]

• Listening and hearing (Prayer) [Think about: Francis’ encounter with the leper and how he began to think about the poor Christ; after traveling to Rome, he returns home and prays and waits for an answer] –the voice in the dream; the voice from the San Damiano Cross; the time in solitude listening to the Lord
• Choosing to follow  [Think about: Francis realizes that his true bride is Lady Poverty; He hears the voice from the San Damiano cross and responds immediately; Hears the voice in his dream-“Who do you want to follow, the servant or the master?” St. Clare and Bro. Sylvester counsel Francis to preach instead of becoming a hermit]
• Signs which strengthen our decisions and our walk  [Kissing the leper; trading clothes with the beggar in Rome; He hears the voice from the San Damiano crucifix]
• Finding new direction [All of the above begin to move him in a new direction. He begins the “rebuilding” process.]
• Life of Christ/Gospel as point of contact and reference
• Finding support in this newness
• Walking in faith [“The Lord gave me brothers…]
• Trusting even in darkness
• Darkness that can lead to openness
• As conversion is ongoing, we “begin again”, returning to the top

From For Up to Now:  Franciscan Movement Part 1 “The Journey of Francis” by Jan Parker, OFS

As you think about each of the above points,

+Think about your own life and the timeline that has brought you to where you are today.

+Has the discernment of your vocation taken a smooth path?

+How has the Holy Spirit helped you to overcome the bumps along the way?

+What still requires work and prayer in your life?

Comment in your journal or share with your fraternity or formation group.

Looking for a biography of St. Francis? Here are a few suggestions:

—St. Francis of Assisi: Passion, Poverty, and the Man who Transformed the Catholic Church.  By Bret Thoman OFS (entry level)

— St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography  by Omer Englebert
— Francis: The Journey and the Dream by Murray Bodo O.F.M. and John Michael Talbot (entry level)
–-Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint  by André Vauchez 

 

***********************************

Formation Friday December 26, 2025

Taking Stock in 2026 Our Lives of Prayer as Secular Franciscans

“As Minister General of a large Order, St. Bonaventure provided, among other things, spiritual direction for those seeking God. In a letter to Poor Clare nuns, he offered directives as to how we might enter into prayer by way of ‘descent.’

“The steps are summarized as follows:

• Return to yourself; Enter into your heart;
• Ponder what you were, are, should have been, called to be;
• What you are by nature;
• What you are through sin;
• What you should have been through effort;
• What you can still be through grace;
• Meditate in your heart;
• Let your spirit brood. (Are you resentful, angry, jealous?);
• Plow this field, work on yourself;
• Strive for freedom within, the freedom that leads to relationship with God, realizing that God will never force us to love him;
• Lack of self-knowledge and failure to appreciate one’s own worth make for faulty judgment in all other matters;
• If you are not able to understand (and accept) your own self, you will not be able to understand (or accept) what is beyond you.”

Bonaventure, Perfectione vitae ad sorores (Perf. Vit.) 1.5 (VIII, 109). Engl. trans. Jose de Vinck, “On the Perfection of Life, Addressed to Sisters,” in The Works of Bonaventure, vol. 1, Mystical Opscula (Paterson, N.J.: Saint Anthony Guild Press, 1960), 214.

Quoted in: Delio, Ilia. Franciscan Prayer (Kindle Locations 613-616). Kindle Edition.

For our Prayer Journey as Secular Franciscans

• We take as our “book” the poor and crucified Christ
• Our “inspiration” the writings of Francis, Clare, Bonaventure
• Our “guide” the Holy Spirit
• Our “model” Mary
• Our “core” the gospel
• Our “focus” the life of penance we profess to live
• Our “sustenance” the Eucharist, Sacraments and prayer. 

FUN Manual The rule of the SFO page 27 of 46

Questions for discussion or to comment on in your journal

+How has your prayer life changed over the years?

+If you are a Secular Franciscan, how does your prayer reflect who you are as member (or candidate) of the Order?

+Does prayer influence how you live your life?

+Based on St. Bonaventure’s directives above, how can you strengthen your prayer life?

Formation Friday December 19, 2025

Please share with your fraternity 

St. Francis and the Crib

St. Francis centered his life and spirituality on the Incarnation, the humanity of Christ. He was in awe that God “bent down” to be with us through his birth; through his suffering and death on the cross; and through the Eucharist by which he remains with us for all time. As we approach Christmas, we reflect on St. Francis and the Crib.

++ “³We thank You for as through Your Son You created us, so through Your holy love with which You loved us ^{Jn 17:26}
You brought about His birth as true God and true man by the glorious, ever-virgin, most blessed, holy Mary and You willed to redeem us captives through His cross and blood and death.”  FA:ED, vol. 1, 82    The Earlier Rule

++ “Francis used to recall with regular meditation the words of Christ and recollect His deeds with most attentive perception. Indeed, so thoroughly did the humility of the Incarnation and the charity of the Passion occupy his memory that he scarcely wanted to think of anything else. FA:ED, vol. 1, 254 The Life of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano

++“As usual, blessed Francis had John summoned to him some fifteen days prior to the birthday of the Lord. ‘If you desire to celebrate the coming feast of the Lord together at Greccio,’ he said to him, ‘hurry before me and carefully make ready ^{Prv 24:27} the things I tell you. For I wish to enact the memory of that babe who was born in Bethlehem: to see as much as is possible with my own bodily eyes the discomfort of his infant needs, how he lay in a manger, ^{Lk 2:7} and how, with an ox and an ass standing by, he rested on hay.’” FA:ED, vol. 1, 255 The Life of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano

++ “Moreover, burning with excessive love, he often calls Christ the ‘babe from Bethlehem’ whenever he [Francis] means to call Him Jesus. Saying the word ‘Bethlehem’ in the manner of a bleating sheep, he fills his whole mouth with sound but even more with sweet affection. He seems to lick his lips whenever he uses the expressions ‘Jesus’ or ‘babe from Bethlehem,’ tasting the word on his happy palate and savoring the sweetness of the word.” FA:ED, vol. 1, 256  The Life of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano

++ “Humility enabled Francis to celebrate the birth of the Incarnate Word that he heard, preached, and lived throughout his life.” The Life of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano  FA:ED, vol. 1, p. 177 

Each of the above quotes can be found on the Franciscan Tradition website: (You will need to sign in, but the resources are worth it!

Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Vol. 1, The Saint

Questions to discuss or to answer in your journal

+Why do you think St. Francis was so in awe of the Incarnation of Christ?
+Give some examples of how St. Francis imitated Jesus.
+How do we see the Incarnate Lord? In His birth and in His passion and death?

***********************************

Formation Friday December 12, 2025

 

Please share with your fraternity 

St. Francis’s Praises of God and the O Antiphons

If you have ever read St. Francis’s Praises of God, you may have noticed that they mirror the O Antiphons which we pray starting December 17^th each year. You will notice these Antiphons appear each day for the Canticle of Mary from December 17^th to the 23^rd.  

The Praises of God

You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things. 

You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are the almighty king. You holy Father, 
King of heaven and earth. 

You are three and one, the Lord God of gods; 
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true. 

You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness, 
You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.

You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment. ⁶You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-praises-of-god-and-the-blessing/125-fa-ed-1-page-109

Each day, meditate on the relationship between the antiphons and Francis’s writings.

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
PRAISES OF GOD: “You are love, charity; You are wisdom,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness,…”

December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)

PRAISES OF GOD: “You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things. 
You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are three and one, the Lord God of gods; 
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true…”

December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
PRAISES OF GOD: “You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.”

December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
PRAISES OF GOD: “You are the protector,  You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength…”

December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
PRAISES OF GOD: “You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are refreshment. ⁶You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,…”

December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
PRAISES OF GOD: “You are the almighty king. You holy Father, 
King of heaven and earth.”

December 23: O Emmanuel (God is with us.)

PRAISES OF GOD: “You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.”

As Advent draws to a close, use the Praises of God above to enhance your meditations on the coming of our Lord Jesus,

***********************************

Formation Friday December 5, 2025

Please share with your fraternity 

Advent a time of Hope and Faith

Secular Franciscans are people of conversion. Looking through this lens during Advent, we realize that seeking conversion requires hope and faith.

CONSIDER: 

+ Our Rule: Article 19—”Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon. Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they should strive to bring joy and hope to others.”

+ Our Rule: Article 9—”The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his every word and call. She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family15. The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently16.”

+Admonition XXVII: Virtue Puts Vice to Flight

¹Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.
²Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor disturbance.
³Where there is poverty with joy, there is neither greed nor avarice.^a    
4Where there is rest^b and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor restlessness.
⁵Where there is fear of the Lord to guard an entrance, ^{Lk 11:21} there the enemy cannot have a place to enter.
⁶Where there is a heart full of mercy^c and discernment, there is neither excess nor hardness of heart.

Admonitions: page 137

+ During Advent, we strive to imitate our Blessed Mother who brought joy and hope to the world through her “YES.” Now is the time to ask ourselves if we are saying yes to what the Lord is asking of us and to what we promised at our Profession.

Questions for discussion or to answer in your journal

+ How do you build peace in your fraternity and in your family? What are the most challenging times/topics that you encounter during family or fraternity gatherings, and how do you handle them?

+Which characteristics of the Blessed Mother do you strive to imitate? Consider Mary’s role in the Incarnation. What does it take to say YES to God?

+The Prayer Before the Crucifix occurred before the Admonitions were written. According to Admonition XXVII, how did God answer Francis’s prayer?

Thank you to Anne Mulqueen, OFS,  for her inspiration.

 

***********************************

Formation Friday November 28, 2025

Please share with your fraternity 

Advent is a time of waiting and meditation. We think about the coming of our Lord and Savior in the Incarnation and the part that Mary and Joseph played in his life. During this month we can use the words in the graphic (or the word bank below) in our prayer and meditation to focus on the meaning of this season. St. Francis was devoted to the Incarnation. This devotion came out in his prayer, his writings and in his actions.

Here are some ideas to put a Franciscan flavor in your Advent meditations:

• Choose a word or two from the word bank each day and see where those words or ideas come up in our Rule.
• Choose a word or two and see where they come up in Scripture—perhaps in the readings of the day or in the psalms as you pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Think of stories in Scripture and in the writings by and about Francis and Clare that typify hope and patience.
• Read online or in books that you have at home:

1 Celano chapter 30 (The story of the first Nativity scene at Greccio)  (FA:ED, vol. 1, 254) 

The First Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano  

A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (FA:ED, vol. 1, 163)

The Praises of God (FA:ED, vol. 1, 109)

St. Clare’s Fourth Letter to Agnes of Prague  (CA:ED, 56)

The references above (FA:ED and CA:ED) refer to Francis of Assisi: Early Documents and Clare of Assisi: Early Documents. These and many more writings of and about Francis and Clare can be found on the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition website: Feast of All Saints of the Seraphuc Order

Word Bank

Poverty, Peace, Emmanuel, Promise, Yes,  Joy, Hope,  Anticipation, Waiting,  Praise, Generosity, Humility,  Simplicity, Mary,  Jesus, Joseph, Forgiveness, Mercy, Listening,  Patience,  Pilgrims,  Strangers,  Conversion, Incarnation, Greccio, Manger

***********************************

Formation Friday November 21, 2025

Please share with your local fraternity 

This month we have been focusing on Servant Leadership. Today we offer the characteristics of good servant leaders (in no particular order). You may be able to add to the list based on the qualities you have observed in the excellent servant leaders you know.

Secular Franciscan Servant Leaders:

• Love the Order and are willing to serve, when asked, for the good of the fraternity but do not seek positions of power. Have enthusiasm for living the Rule.

• Seek to understand the vision and collaborate with others to bring it to fruition–no matter who gets the credit.
• See challenges as opportunities for creative solutions. They do not blame others when the outcome is unexpected. The Holy Spirit may have other ideas!
• Are gentle in leading others—true servant leaders are humble and communicate well with the entire group.
• Work for the good of the entire fraternity and Order.
• Begin, on the day they are elected or appointed, their search for and mentoring of those who will replace them.
• Understand the needs of the group and make use of the talents of the entire group to move the fraternity forward through collaboration.
• Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and use that inspiration to reach out in a concrete way to the world in which they live and serve.
• Consider leadership an opportunity to invest the talents they have been given in the service of others.
• Are generous with their time and willing to make time in their lives to serve.
• Have life experience both in the Order and in the world that can be offered to the fraternity.
• Are willing to listen to others—to ask for and act on input from their brothers and sisters.

 Questions for discussion in fraternity, with a partner, or in your journal.

+Think of servant leaders you have known. Which of these characteristics do you see in them?
+Which of these characteristics do you see in yourself?
+Which characteristics do you think you could develop in order to become a servant leader?
+If you presently hold office, which of the above characteristics can you improve in yourself?
+Challenge: This week, read Mt 25:14-30 and consider the talents and abilities God has given you. How will you invest them to serve your fraternity and the Order?

***********************************

Formation Friday November 14, 2025

Please share with your local fraternity 

The Handbook for Servant Leadership, published by OFS-USA in 2010, contains a wealth of information that can guide us in being or becoming excellent servant leaders. This week we are inspired by our models: Jesus, Francis and Clare.  (See Handbook for Secular Franciscan Servant Leadership pp. 4-7)

Jesus as a leader: points to ponder:

• Jesus tells us that “no pupil outranks his teacher” (Matthew 10:24).

o   If we want to be followers, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow (Luke 9 23).

o   Through his strong appeal and quiet persuasion, he enlisted others in his mission.

• He was patient and attempted to foster collaboration among the disciples, binding them together through love and the Spirit.
• He prepared them to carry out his work.
• He taught them the meaning of servant leadership. After washing their feet, he said, “What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do” (John 13:15).
• He makes it clear that true leadership is grounded in love, which results in service
• Jesus did not have the whole future planned. He gave Peter and the Apostles the keys to the kingdom, allowing the Church to unfold through the leadership of committed people.

St. Francis as a servant leader: Points to ponder

• “And after the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what I had to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel.” (The Testament of St. Francis FA:ED Vol 1 124 )

o   The brothers are all equal. Everyone follows Jesus.

o   The leader is the servant of all—washes the feet of the others.

• “We must never desire to be above others, but, instead, we must be servants and subject to every human creature for God’s sake.” (Later Admonition and Exhortation To the Brothers and Sisters of Penance FA: ED Vol 1 48)
• “Let no one be called superior but let everyone in general be called a lesser brother. And let one wash the feet of the other.” (St. Francis of Assisi, The Earlier Rule, VI:3-4).
• “Let the one to whom obedience has been entrusted and who is considered the greater be the lesser and the servant of the other brothers.”(St. Francis of Assisi, Later Admonition and Exhortation, FA:ED Vol 1 42) 
• “I did not come to be served, but to serve, says the Lord. Let those who are placed over others boast about that position as much as they would if they were assigned the duty of washing the feet of their brothers.” (Admonition #4 FA:ED Vol 1 130) 

St. Clare as a servant leader: Points to ponder

• “Let whoever is elected reflect upon the kind of burden she has undertaken on herself and to Whom she must render an account of the flock committed to her. Let her also strive to preside over the others more by her virtues and holy behavior than by her office, so that, moved by her example, the sisters may obey her more out of love than out of fear.” CA:ED, 114 (Form of Life)
• Clare never hesitated to work right alongside the sisters taking some of the more distasteful tasks for herself.

Questions for discussion in a group or with a partner or to answer in your journal:

+After reading the quotes above, what stands out to you as the leadership style of Jesus, Francis, and Clare?

+As a present or future servant leader, why is it important that we “wash the feet” of others?

+Which of the quotes above presents the greatest challenge to you?

+Challenge:  This week take each of the quotes above to prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your skills as a present or future servant leader. Think about the service you can provide to your fraternity and to the Order.

***********************************

Formation Friday November 7, 2025

Please share with your local fraternity 

he Handbook for Servant Leadership, published by OFS-USA in 2010, contains a wealth of information that can guide us in being or becoming excellent servant leaders. For the next few weeks we will focus on various portions of that handbook. We begin by preparing ourselves with an examination of our servant leader conscience.

A PRIVATE TALK WITH MYSELF 

This private talk can be used to surface some of your inner feelings and give you an opportunity to reflect upon your own thoughts and actions. Take a few minutes to answer each question and just jot down a few words that will remind you of the thoughts and feelings that went through your head when you were responding to each question.

1. How often does my approach to another brother or sister in the fraternity result in reactions different from those I intend? Does my brother or sister seem to be put off by my approach or does he or she seem to back away from me and the situation? Why do I think this is so?

2. When I have a problem with a brother or sister in the fraternity, how often do I stop to think about my own actions and words? I may be contributing to the problem instead of to the solution. Do I need to change in this respect? How?

3. Do I tend to use labels and stereotypes as a substitute for seeking to understand? Do I look at every fraternity brother and sister as an individual with unique talents and gifts, or do I become angry because my brothers and sisters do not respond the way I think they should?

4. How do I try to solve fraternity problems? Do I always want to fix everything myself and prevent my brothers and sisters from becoming actively involved in the process of collaborative decision making?

5. Do I have a need to be in control and when things do not go according to my plans, do I have a tendency to blame my brothers and sisters in the fraternity?

6. Am I willing to talk with fraternity members about the impact their behavior has on other brothers and sisters in the fraternity? Can I share this information with constructive intent, in ways that minimize feelings of criticism and threat, and show concern for their feelings and needs? What do I need to work on here?

7. How open am I to receiving information about how my approaches affect my brothers and sisters in the fraternity? How can I increase my opportunities for this kind of learning?

8. What will I try to do differently next week and in the future in the way I relate to the brothers and sisters in my fraternity? What changes will increase my effectiveness with other fraternity members?

9. How can I use my leadership skills to become a servant leader for my fraternity?
10. What specific steps am I going to take to help my fraternity solve its problems?

For discussion in a group, with a partner, or to answer in your journal.

+ After thinking about each question above, which sets of questions did you find most challenging? Why?

+ Which sets of questions did you answer that show you are or can be effective as a servant leader? What are the characteristics that make you think this is true?

+ Which answers tell you that you have some work to do?

+ Challenge: Over the next several weeks, choose sets of questions that will help you to work on your servant leadership style and skills. Carry out any necessary changes.

***********************************

 

Formation Friday October 31, 2025

During the month of November, the entire Church prays for the dead. St. Francis meditated on Sister Death throughout his life. Toward the end of his earthly life, he spoke of Sister Bodily Death in the Canticle of the Creatures.

“Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.” [FA: ED vol 1, p. 158]

Our Rule and Constitutions ask us to remain in communion with our deceased brothers and sisters.

Rule, Article 19: Since they are immersed in the resurrection of Christ, which gives true meaning to Sister Death, let them serenely tend toward the ultimate encounter with the Father.

Rule, Article 24: It should adopt appropriate means for growth in Franciscan and ecclesial life and encourage everyone to a life of fraternity42. This communion continues with deceased brothers and sisters through prayer for them.

GC, Article 27.2: Secular Franciscans should commit themselves to create in their environment and, above all, in their fraternities, a climate of faith and hope so that “Sister Death” may be regarded as a passage to the Father, and all may prepare themselves with serenity.

There is a tradition in the Catholic Church dating back to Pope Clement XII in 1736 who encouraged all Catholics to pray Psalm 130, also known as the “De Profundis” followed by the short prayer, “Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord,…” for all of our deceased brothers and sisters in Christ.

Psalm 130 “De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine…”

I

Out of the depths  I call to you, LORD; ²Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

³If you, LORD, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand?  ⁴But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered.

II

⁵I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word.^c 6My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.

More than sentinels for daybreak, ⁷let Israel hope in the LORD, For with the LORD is mercy, with him is plenteous redemption, ⁸And he will redeem Israel from all its sins.

To ponder and discuss with a prayer partner or in fraternity throughout the month of November:

+How do you remember in prayer the deceased members of your family?

+How does your fraternity (local, regional, and national) remember our deceased members?

+Share some thoughts on how your local fraternity might celebrate a Rite of Remembrance for your deceased members.

Challenge: This month, pray the De Profundis (Psalm 130) for all those who have died, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

 

***********************************

Formation Friday October 24, 2025

Please share with your local fraternity 

When We Gather in Chapter for the Fraternal and Pastoral Visitation 

In the USA, Regional Chapters are held each year and have a profound effect on that region’s members. On the regional level, elections and visitations take place every three years. On the national level, elections also take place every three years, but the visitation by the higher level (CIOFS) takes place only every six years.

“The goal of all …Chapters is to promote communion of mind and heart, and a renewal of the lives of each and every brother and sister of the OFS Order. Speaking about renewal, it is a long and difficult process that makes serious demands of us: the demand to return to the source of our vocation, the priorities and essential elements of our

gospel way of life that, over the course of time can become less clear and, in the extreme, no longer serve to animate and set direction for our Franciscan lives.” (Br. Michael A. Perry, OFM, former General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor, at the General Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order in 2021.)

As you can see in what Br. Michael said, the Chapter is not only for business, although that is also important. But, probably the most important part of the gathering is fraternity and ongoing formation. National Chapters (and Regional Chapters) occur on a three-year cycle. On the regional level, a visitation by the higher fraternity is usually requested by the Regional Minister in the year following elections. The National Executive Council will then schedule the visitation according to the availability of the Minister (or her delegate) and the National Spiritual Assistant who will conduct the visit.

Did you know that…

…That the earliest Rules of our order, right up to the promulgation of the Rule of 1978 and the Constitutions of 1990 (updated in 2000 and 2001), required that the visitor be a friar alone? (You can read about this in the Handbook for Spiritual Assistance—updated in 2012) 

…That our present-day Rule in Article 26 and our Constitutions in Articles 92 and 94 give us important insight into the Fraternal and Pastoral Visit?

• “The purpose of both the pastoral and fraternal visits is to revive the evangelical Franciscan spirit, to assure fidelity to the charism and to the Rule, to offer help to fraternity life, to reinforce the bond of the unity of the Order, and to promote its most effective insertion into the Franciscan family and the Church.” (Constitutions: Article 92-1)

• “The fraternal visit is a moment of communion, an expression of the service and concrete interest of the secular leaders at the various levels, so that the fraternity may grow and be faithful to its vocation.” (Constitutions: Article 94-1)

• “Among the various initiatives to achieve the purpose of the visit, the visitor will give special attention to:

+the validity of the formation, both initial and permanent;

             +the relations entertained with other fraternities at the different levels, with Franciscan youth, and with the entire Franciscan family.

             +the observance of the directives and of the guidelines of the International Council of the SFO and of the other councils;

             +the presence in the local Church.” (Article 94-2)

• “The visitor will (also) check the report of the previous financial review or verification of the financial and property management of the Council, the register of the accounts and every document pertaining to the property of the fraternity…” (Article 94-3)

 …That one of the duties of the fraternity minister at each level is “to request, with the consent of the council, the pastoral and fraternal visits, at least once every three years.”? (Article 51-2) In the case of visitations of Regions, the National Fraternity often contacts the Regional Ministers to schedule visitations.

…That your Regional Minister and council prepare ahead of time for this visitation? Executive councils prepare for the Fraternal and Pastoral visitation for many months. They fill out pre-visitation questionnaires, prepare notebooks with paperwork and various reports that the visitors will want to see. (When a local fraternity has a visitation, the local council also has to fill out paperwork and prepare ahead of time!)

…That the National Visitors will meet with the Regional Executive Council on the night before they meet with the Regional Fraternity? At that time, the visitors will examine the regional records and discuss with the Regional Exec all aspects of life in your region. During the meeting with the entire Regional Fraternity council on the following day, after business is concluded, the visitors will ask the Regional Exec to leave the room so that a free and frank discussion can be had with all the local ministers and Spiritual Assistants who attend.

For discussion or to answer in your journal:

+Have you attended a National or Regional Chapter? What was your impression?

+Talk to someone who has attended your regional chapter and ask them their impressions.

+If you could attend your Regional Chapter this year, what questions would you ask the National visitors? What questions would you ask the Regional Executive Council?

+Could you explain to a non-Secular Franciscan what the different levels of the Order are? (All four are mentioned in this article.)

 

***********************************