The Franciscan friars of the Province of Saint Barbara wish you and your family a blessed Easter! Let us rejoice in song with the words of St. Francis of Assisi. Alleluia!
"Saint Pope John Paul II named Francis the patron saint "of those who promote ecology" in 1979. Ecology in Europe refers to what we in the United States call environmentalism and not just the science. Francis is the patron of those who cultivate ecological consciousness, but that means a lot more than being the patron of environmental educators. His example really points to a mystical or a spiritual vision for all of the creative world as brother and sister, as he describes in his Canticle of the Creatures." - Br. Keith Warner, OFM
As Franciscan friars and followers of St. Francis we are called to cultivate this spiritual vision for the natural world as brother and sister and our need to care for creation. If you are interested in our way of life you'll need to clarify your willingness to serve the poor and marginalized through caring for creation. The poor and care for creation are linked together. It's the poor and marginalized who are the first to suffer the consequences of the abuse of the earth's resources.
While discerning our way of life you'll need to test your desire and abilities to promote and practice this vision within your family, neighborhood, community, etc.... Look for local opportunities to get involved in your community around environmental issues.
As you volunteer or work in this field you'll need to become aware of the movements of consolation and desolation before, during, and after engaging in this work. As you reflect on your experience you'll ask: Did I experience desolation? Did I feel weary, dry and dissatisfied? Did I feel consolation? Did I feel cheerful and satisfied? Was I able to engage in these activities with a joyful and generous heart? These two movements well help reveal the movement of the Holy Spirit in your discernment process. Read the blog post "Consolation and Desolation" for more information on using this discernment tool.
Next, take your experiences and engage in theological reflection. Theological reflection is an essential ingredient in the process of spiritual discernment.It holds the possibility of discerning God's presence and/or direction.It's the process of standing before your experience 'open' to what may or may not be revealed through the lens of faith. Read the blog post "Theological Reflection" for more information on using this discernment tool.
Next, share you experiences with your spiritual director and/or vocation director. This person will listen to your story with an ear for the movement of the Holy, of the Divine. They will also help you discern between your voice, the world (family, culture, and society) and God's voice within your experiences and theological reflection. Read the blog post "Spiritual Direction" for more information on using this discernment tool.
Remember to be nourished by the Word and the Eucharist at Mass in order to be sent forth in mission to love and serve the Lord. Read the blog post "Freely You Have Received, Freely Give" for more information on why Mass is important for discernment.
Lastly, at this stage in the journey you are trying to put on the "habit" of serving the poor and marginalized by promoting care for creation and living in balance with the earth and her resources. You're trying to see if you have the abilities and the desire to live within and promote this spiritual vision as a religious brother or priest. The work is not easy, but it's the love of God that sustains and nourishes us in this work.
Peace and all good, Bro. Scott Slattum, OFM
Reflection:
For more information on St. Francis' vision of the created world as brother and sister and how it informs our understanding of "Care for Creation" read Franciscan Keith Warner, OFM article published in U.S. Catholic Magazine.
The breeze rushed over head, as she frolicked through the leaves. My
lungs expanded, as she filled me with life. The sun's warmth touched my cheek,
as he danced in and out of the trees. The passing stream spoke, as it tumbled
over the rocks. I felt her midst dampen and cool my skin. The ground beneath me
was firm and solid and yet tickled my toes with her blades of grass. Next to me
stood the tree, strong and outstretched, as life danced about him. I fell to my
knees. "Lord, Who am I?" I said.
Moments before I had stepped out into the midday sun with my guitar strapped to
my back. I had started to softly strum and sing to the tree a traditional
Navajo prayer. I then felt an interior voice say, "Stop!
Listen to how we praise God." In that moment all of creation was
praising God through simply being what God had created it to be. It needed no
words, no song, or dance, it simply was.
Creation was calling forth my authentic self, "Who are you, my son?"
Franciscan theologian Blessed John Duns Scotus from the 13th century believed
each created thing, in its own special way, was the total image of its creator.
It expressed not some aspect of God, but his beauty as a whole.By simply being a tree, the tree offered praise
to God.I was being called to simply be,
Scott. Unfortunately, I like other men, learned from an early age to hide our
true selves for fear of not fitting in or being different.Soon I lost sight of who I was and thus the
image I was created in; the image and likeness of God.As I began to discern my vocation to
religious life, those old feelings surfaced, again. I became nervous to share my journey with my friends, my co-workers, and even my parents for fear of what others might think.According to the National Religious Vocation
Conference study on new members to religious life, I was not alone in feeling
this way.One study participant shared
his initial fear:
"...And of course the
support of family, friends, which was surprising.I think I put more pressure on myself when I
was trying to break the news to my parents, to friends.I almost felt like people would think,
"Why are you doing that?That's
weird."But surprisingly more
people are a lot more supportive than I thought."
Our founder St. Francis of Assisi shared these feeling, too. Thomas of Celano recalls one particular moment in the life of St. Francis:
Once on a pilgrimage to Rome, out of love for poverty he took off his fine clothing and dressed himself in a poor man's clothes. He happily settled among the poor in the square in front of the church of St. Peter, a place where the poor are abundant. Considering himself one of them, he eagerly ate with them. Many times he would have done a similar thing had he not been held back by shame before those who knew him.
The key phrase is "he would have done a similar thing had he not been held back by shame..." Overcoming shame is something Francis had to deal with as he began to discern and live out his new way of life. We can be afraid to appear different; afraid to appear holy or committed to the gospel. If that controls our responses, we can miss the many opportunities to respond to the gospel.
Francis overcame moments of shame by leaving his familial surroundings, where people knew him and where he was too embarrassed to act on the stirrings in his heart. He found new friends (beggars, lepers, the poor) to experience and respond to following Christ. He consciously put himself in circumstances where he was forced to feel different about himself. In time he returned to his old friends and community; stronger and more committed to Jesus.
The friars understand these feelings, too. We've all experienced them to some degree. Which is why we provide discerners an opportunity to leave their familial surroundings and experience life within a friary (house where friars live); to experience our prayer life, and our ministries with the poor and homeless. We provide a space to gather with new friends, your fellow discerners, so as to act on and test the stirrings of your heart to follow Jesus.
Our vocation director and friars are here to support you. We can arrange opportunities to experience a "Come and See" retreat, join a monthly discernment group, or immerse yourself in one of our outreach ministries to the poor and homeless. In other words, we invite you to try on the life, test the stirring of your heart, respond to the movements of the Holy Spirit to follow Christ in a more radical way. Be not afraid. Come and see. Others including, St. Francis of Assisi have come this way, too.
May God bless you and keep you on this journey of faith called life!
Peace & all Good, Bro. Scott Slattum, OFM
The Province of Saint Barbara's postulants spend
the weekend camping in Tillamook, Oregon.Experiencing the beauty of creation and entering into a space of
contemplation and prayer can help you discern the will of God.
Personal Reflection:
According to the National Religious Vocation
Conference new members to religious life found that meeting with members of the religious order and visits to communities were the most helpful activities when discerning a call to religious life. Do you have plans to attend a "Come and See" retreat or a monthly discernment group? If not, what's holding you back? Feel free to share your answer in the comment section below.
The breeze rushed over head, as she frolicked through the leaves. My
lungs expanded, as she filled me with life. The sun's warmth touched my cheek,
as he danced in and out of the trees. The passing stream spoke, as it tumbled
over the rocks. I felt her midst dampen and cool my skin. The ground beneath me
was firm and solid and yet tickled my toes with her blades of grass. Next to me
stood the tree, strong and outstretched, as life danced about him. I fell to my
knees. "Lord, Who am I?" I said.