Ruth's Book I

Franciscan Apostolates

    Dear Brothers and Sisters I would like you to become really aware of yourselves and understand what Franciscanism is all about and not just depend on the words of other people. I want you to begin or if you have already begun, to intensify your own feeling about what this “Franciscan Way of Life” is and to begin to feel the great joy and the marvel of how it can bring you into a closer intimacy and greater love of Jesus Christ. I want you to begin right now to stand on your own two feet and be dedicated to this mission.

1. The Duty of the Apostolate

    “God has not called you for your own sake alone; but, also to save others.”

        (a) A responsible adult does things not because he is asked to do them, but because they need to be done.

        (b) As baptized children in the Church, we work for our own personal salvation. Later we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and grow up and feel responsible for the great family of people of which we are a part.

        (c) We are to “go and preach to all nations.” We are to share our faith with others.

     How? For most of us, it is by example. St. Francis said, “All brothers and sisters should preach by their actions.”

2. The Apostolate is Good Example.

        (a) We may think we have little influence on others. Don’t believe it! Even as we have been influenced by the good of others, like mothers, fathers and teachers; so too, we may, unknown to ourselves, influence others to be good. Someone once said, “What you are thunders so loud I can’t hear what you say.”

         (b) We should always call on Christ to influence what we do and how we should react in any given situation.

3. The Apostolate of Peace.

        (a) Blessed are the peacemakers. Pax et Bonum! Peace and Goodness to you.

        (b) Peace. What is it? Peace is in the heart, despite physical or mental suffering or tragedy. It is found in Christ on the Cross. Christ is peace. Without Christ there is turmoil! Peace is seeing eye to eye with Christ.

        (c) Peace is not the absence of trouble, problems, suffering or temptation. Peace is Christ in our hearts, in our thoughts and in our wills. It is our responsibility to conform our will to the Omniscient One.

        (d) Peacemakers should be humble, charitable, prudent and patient. One must be ready to be silent when words are futile.

        (e) One must not be unbending. Peace may have to be made by surrender, not of a principle; but, by yielding to the preference of another.

4. The Apostolate of Personal Holiness.

        (a) We want holiness for ourselves and for the whole world. Holiness is not a private affair. Holiness is social because it consists of charity to all men.

        (b) Holiness is apostolic, not in devotion alone; but, in action and in involvement in projects.

5. The Apostolate as Franciscans.

        (a) Francis’ philosophy was, not to live for himself alone, but to live for the benefit of others.

        (b) Christ said, “I came, not to be served, but to serve.” We see again the Franciscan apostolate following closely the Gospel way which is Christ’s way. His way is what He said, what He did and what He taught us while He lived on earth.

        (c) Christ did not come for the private benefit of St. Francis or anyone else. He came to make all men his brothers, and for this task, the help of all Franciscans is welcomed and necessary. 

        (d) The Secular Franciscan Order must be actively apostolic. The primary purpose is personal holiness, but the secondary and equally essential purpose is the active apostolate. The Secular Franciscan Order is not merely a devotional society. Christ works through us, and He succeeds only to the degree that we work for Him.

6. The Apostolate To Those Within The Church.

        (a) We are the Church and we are either the glory or the shame of it.

        (b) We can spoil what God has made, so there must be a purifying within ourselves.

        (c) Secular Franciscans should, in their daily life, strive to lead others by good example, including piety and good works. It should be with kindness — kindness to converts, to fellow parishioners, to those who have strayed, to those who are confused and to those who are strangers in our parish.

7. The Apostolate to the Church and Christianity

        (a)  Keep humble in all things. We should know that all the good works we do are the result of God working through us. As St. Paul said, “if we are to boast, let us boast in Jesus Christ in whatever we do.”

        (b)  Secular Franciscans should be informed Catholics. Do not be timid in answering questions about your Faith. If we feel we do not know enough to answer questions, we have an obligation to learn more about our faith, both for our own sake and for the sake of others. We should: Read Diocesan newspapers, religious books and magazines; attend religious discussions and be ecumenical.

8. The Apostolate of Defending the Church.

        (a) We must defend the Church against the Devil. We should know who he is and what tactics he uses, and know that only through the power of God can we conquer him. It is by fasting, prayer and charity that this can be done.

         (b) We must defend the Church against the world — against the evil in the world. It is sometimes in the voice of a crowd; sometimes in the voice of one

person; sometimes openly and brazenly and sometimes slyly, hiding behind friendship, behind beauty, talent and popularity.

    How? It is by standing up for what is right; by being not just against something, but for something. It is not condemning people but condemning evil acts and error. It is by encouraging and understanding others, by showing your love for them as children of God.

        (c) We must defend the Church against ignorance, the seat of error.

        (d) We must proclaim that what is true, is true! Do not be afraid of the truth.

9. The Apostolate of Social Justice.

    St. Francis was a social reformer. In the earliest Rule no one was allowed to bear arms to be used against any person. Today the defense of one’s country or self is allowed by law of the Church.

    Secular Franciscans should:

        (a) Pay all debts because it is just.

        (b) Give or take a just price for goods and services.

        (c)  Promote peace between members of different social classes.

        (d)  Better the conditions of the poorer classes.

        (e)  Support and encourage the middle classes.

        (f)   Honor agricultural and manual workers.  

        (g)  Strive to better the social and political world.

        (h) Promote Interracial justice. We must see Christ in brothers and sisters of all races, even when we might be blamed for supporting them and suffer because of it.

        (i)  Have concern for all human rights. A Franciscan is his brother’s keeper.

        (j)  Not be an isolated or selfish Christian.

        (k) Work for the body and the soul of all mankind.

10. The Apostolate of the Laity in Society.

      Secular Franciscans have responsibilities.

         (a)  To try to produce a moral society.

         (b) To try to produce a society whose institutions are morally sound. These institutions are: Political, economic, educational, family, recreational, and religious. We should try to foster the Christian ideal in these six institutions.

         (c)  As parents, to Christianize their family life. The basis for a Social Apostolate starts in each individual in his or her own family where there is  prayer and good example. This must come before all other apostolic work. After the family, if there is time, they can be involved in outside-the-family apostolates.

    We must do what we can and look for opportunities, even though it is in a small way, to make the world a better place to live.

    Remember, many a good movement dies because people loose heart. Franciscans should never lose heart.