The Evangelical Counsels

The religious make public vows to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows are beautifully described in Lumen Gentium in the chapter entitled "The Religious." How do the evangelical counsels apply to Secular Franciscans in particular but also to the whole Church in responding to the call to holiness?

The Secular Franciscan Order is an order in the Church, but is not, properly speaking, a religious order because it does not have the public profession of the vows to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience nor a requirement to live in community. The Secular Franciscan Order is a public association of the faithful. (See Canon 298 - Canon 320, click here.).

At profession, a Secular Franciscan makes promises to live "the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Secular Franciscan Order by observing its rule of life." A Secular Franciscan makes promises, not vows as do religious at their profession; therefore, a Secular Franciscan is not bound to the Evangelical Counsels the same way as religious. (Of interest, "A Vow and an Oath," Canon 1191 - 1204, click here.)

The Evangelical Counsels are essential to a Gospel-centered life, lived according to one's state of life, and for all in the Church responding to the universal call to holiness. They are present in spirit in the The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order and the General Constitutions.

A deeper understanding of the universal call to holiness, the Evangelical Counsels, the laity and the religious may be obtained through a reading of Lumen Gentium. See Lumen Gentium, at Our Lady of the Pearl website.

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Source: Our Lady of the Pearl - http://www.ourladyofthepearl.com/counsels.htm.

Secular Franciscans may consider doing a scripture meditation on poverty, chastity and obedience by reading Hebrews 13:1-8.

Blessed Are They

ALL SAINTS' DAY

NOVEMBER 1

All Saints' Day, November 1, is a principal feast of the Catholic Church and a holy day of obligation. The Church celebrates all the saints - canonized or beatified as well as those who are in heaven that are only known to God.

This a day to remember also that we are all called to holiness and to live the Beatitudes. From the 5th Chapter of Lumen Gentium, on the "Universal Call to Holiness":

"They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history." (LG 40)

Gospel Reading of the Day

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:1-12a)

The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order

Article 11

Trusting in the Father, Christ chose for himself and his mother a poor and humble life, even though he valued created things attentively and lovingly. Let the Secular Franciscans seek a proper spirit of detachment from temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs. Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God's children.

Thus, in the spirit of the Beatitudes, and as pilgrims and strangers on their way to the home of the Father, they should strive to purify their hearts from every tendency and yearning for possession and power.