Hi friends it’s Deana Williston with our blooming Catholic life oh this is really in a series so let me put on my sweater that I was wearing when I did those lexio deas and then you’ll kind of know that they go along I try and match my outfits
When I’m doing a a series even if I have to change a little bit to do them let’s see here ah there we go so you remember we were doing lexio deina on Matthew 16: 2 to 23 which led us in the end to the Testament of St Francis as well as some
Other looks into some other documents the fragments and other things um really great stuff there and in The Testament H perhaps I have to read it is it here let’s see if we still have it open ah I’m on page 127 of el Chun Monas the early documents volume one so again on
Page 127 and this is the line that really got me it’s line 35 in The Testament and let the general Minister and all the other ministers and custodians be bound through obedience not to add or take away from these words and let them always have this writing with them
Together with the rule and in all the chapters which they hold when they read the rule let them also read these words and I strictly command all my cleric and lay Brothers through obedience not to place any floss upon the rule or upon these words saying they should be
Understood in this way but as the Lord has given me to speak and write these rules and these words simply and purely may you understand them simply and without gloss and observe them with a holy activity until the end and whosoever observes these things let him be blessed in heaven with the blessings
Of the most high father and on Earth with the blessing of his beloved Son with the most holy spirit the paraclete and all the powers of heaven and with all the saints and as far as I can I little brother Francis your servant confirmed for you both within and
Without this Most Holy blessing and yet we know the rules have been updated and some of them outright changed over the years so I wanted to go back I know that there are groups that have split off from the secular franciscans the ones following the Pauline rule of 1978 it’s called
Pauline because Pope Paul v 6 gave it to us and before that Pope Leo the 13th gave a rule and that’s called the Leo 9 Rule and but there was a rule before that that was approved by a pope and this Testament wasn’t a part of it so I
Don’t know that it could ever be changed or couldn’t but if you’re following Jesus in the footsteps of St Francis it makes for an awkward moment that he said this and yet we have changed the rules we have listened to people say no it means this or that and there are a lot
Of people who really struggle with the rule of 1978 because it is so vague in in one country it can mean one thing and in another con country something else you can’t do so it’s a little confusing and then there’s all kinds we could get into other issues of all the levels of
The fraternities and I have no idea what they’re doing sometimes I don’t even understand what the national projects are or why we need national projects why we can’t just live in our little fraternities which of course you want to be unified to the rule right and you
Want to have like a chapter of maths and exchange ideas I don’t know on one hand I love the idea of the national and international projects when it’s fraternities is coming together to do it but when it’s leadership that’s coming together and making decisions without like a vote or anything it seems odd
So I don’t know I don’t know and there are some people who haven’t left to follow groups who follow either the leo9 rule or the original rule but they they are going more deeply they’re still absolutely following the rule of 1978 because it’s easy to do and a pope gave
It to us so it’s a little awkward when he says he abrogated the previous rules it’s a little awkward to ignore that but it doesn’t mean that you can’t voluntarily follow it and a great resource that I know a lot of people are using is the confraternity penitence
Handbook um why because they’ve gathered so many resources in here it’s like the chunky monkeys this is a great resource for secular franciscans or anyone interested in doing penants so let’s go back in this is the eighth edition that I have number one is their rule they do have
Constitutions and and talk about canon law but it is nice because the lessons and all are in here so you can still study you can use it a as a way of studying um talks about why we should do piece um does explain why they go to the original rule
What here’s the rule of life of the confraternity of penitence Immaculate mother of Jesus we honor you as God’s chosen one beautiful beloved and free from all sin keep watch over us pray that we may rise above our sins and failings and come to share the
Fullness of Grace be a mother to us in order of Grace by assisting us to live your obedience your faith your hope and your love amen and here’s the rule this is the rule of life for the confraternity of penitence penitence live this rule according to the Constitution of the confraternity of
Penitence it says the rule has no footnotes footnotes were added by the confraternity to explain terms which are unfamiliar to Modern penitence for example the unit of money mentioned in it things like that so the Primitive rule is what they’re talking about the Primitive rule of 1221 here Begins the
Rule of the continent brothers and sisters in the name of the father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit amen the Memorial of what is proposed for the brothers and sisters of penants living in their own homes begun in the year of Our Lord 1221 is as poss is as follows
You see how long this is oh my it’s a little longer than I thought but let me see if we can get through it the men belonging to this Brotherhood shall dress in Humble undyed cloth the price of which is not to exceed six Rena soldi and L unless for
Evident and necessary cause a temporary dispensation is given and the breadth and thinness of the cloth are to be consider considered in said price they shall wear their outer garments and furred coats with without open throat sewed shut or uncut but certainly laced up not open as secular people wear them
And they shall wear their sleeves closed the sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of the same price and humble quality or at least they are to have with the outer garment a white or black o under wrap or pett coat and an ample linen gown
Without gathers the price of an L which is not to exceed 12 piz of diners as to this price however in the fur cloaks they wear a dispensation may be given according to the estate of the woman and the custom of the place they are not to wear silken or dyed veils and
Ribbons and both the brothers and the sisters shall have their fur garments of Lamb’s wool only they are permitted to have leather purses and belts sewed in simple fashion without silk and thread and no other kind also other vain adornments they shall lay aside at the bidding of the
Visitor they are not to go to unseemly parties or shows or dances they shall not donate to actors and shall forbid their household to donate chapter 2 is abstinence they are to abstain from meat save on Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays except on account of illness or weakness
For 3 days at blood Ling in traveling or on account of a especially High Feast intervening namely the Nativity for 3 Days New Year’s Epiphany the pass of the rest res direction for 3 Days Assumption of the Glorious Virgin Mary the semity of All Saints of St Martin on other days
When there is no fasting they may eat eggs and cheese but when they are with religious in their Convent homes they have to leave they have leave to eat what is served to them and except for the feeble the ailing and those traveling let them be content with
Dinner and supper let the healthy be tempered in eating and drinking before their dinner and supper let them say the Lord’s Prayer once likewise after their meal and let them give thanks to God otherwise let them say three our fathers not entirely sure about that one
Chapter 3 fasting from the pasc of the Resurrection Resurrection to the Feast of All Saints they are to fast on Fridays from the Feast of All Saints until Easter they are to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays but still observing the other fast and joined in general by the church they are to fast
Daily except on account of infirm or any other need throughout the Feast of St sorry throughout the fast of St Martin from after said day until after Christmas and throughout the greater fast from Carnival Sunday until Easter sisters who are pregnant are free to refrain until their purification from
The Corporal observances except those regarding their dress and prayers 11 those engaged in fatiguing work shall be allowed to take food three times a day from the pas of the Resurrection until the dedication of the Feast of St Michael and when they work for others it will be allowed them to eat everything
Served to them except on Fridays and the fast enjoyed in general by the church chapter four is prayer all are to say daily the seven canonical hours that is matens prime terce sex nun Vespers and compline the clerics are to say them after the manner of the clergy those who
Know the Suter are to say the deas inom psalm 54 and the bti immacula Psalm 119 up to the leum pone verse 33 for Prime and the other Psalms of the hours which the glory be to the father but when they do not attend church they are to say
Matens for the Psalms the church says or any 18 Psalms or at least to see the Our father as do the unlettered at any of the hours the others say 12 our fathers for menance and one for every and for every one of the other hours seven our fathers with the glory
Be to the Our Father after each one and those who know the Creed in The Miser May deas Psalm 51 should say it at Prime and compline if they do not say that the hours indicated they shall say three our fathers the sick are not to say the
Hours unless they wish all are to go to mountains in the face fast of St Martin and in the great fast unless inconvenience for persons or Affairs should threaten chapter 5 the sacraments and other matters they are to make a confession of their sins three times a year and to
Receive communion at Christmas Easter and Pentecost they’re to be reconciled with their neighbors and to restore what belongs to others they’re to make up for past ties and pay future ties they are not to take up lethal weapons or bear them about against anybody they all are to refrain from
Formal Oaths unless where necessity compels in the case is accepted by The Sovereign pontiff in his indult that is for peace for the faith under colum and in bearing witness and in their ordinary conversations they will do their best to avoid oath and should anyone have sworn thoughtlessly through a slip of the
Tongue as it happens where there is much talking he should the evening of the same day when he is obliged to think over what he has done say through our fathers in amends of such Oaths Let each member fortify his household to serve God chapter 6 special mass and meeting
Each month all the brothers and sisters of every city and place are to for Gather every month at the time the ministers see fit in a church where the ministers will make known and there assist at Divine services and every member is to give the treasurer one ordinary dinar the treasures to collect
This money and distribute it on the advice of the ministers among the poor brothers and sisters especially the sick and those who may have nothing for their funeral services and thereupon among the poor and they are to offer something of the money to the a for said church and
If it be convenient at the time they are to have some religious who is informed in the words of God to exhort them and strengthen them to persevere in their Penance and in performing The Works of Mercy and except for the officers they are to remain quiet during the mass and
Sermon in ENT on the office on prayer and on the service chapter 7 visiting the sick and bearing the dead whenever any brother or sister happens to fall ill the ministers if the patient let them know of it shall in person or through others visit the
Patient once a week and remind him of penance and if they find an expedient they are Supply him from the common fund with what he may need for the body and if the yelling person depart from this life is to be published on the brothers and sisters who may be present in the
City or place so that they may gather for the funeral and there not to leave until the mass has been celebrated and the body consigned to burial thereupon each member within 8 days of the demise shall say for the soul of the deceased aass if he is a priest 50 Psalms if he
Understands the Salter or if not then 50 our fathers with the recum atum at the end of each in addition every year for the welfare of the brothers and sisters living and dead each priest is to say three masses each member knowing the Salter is to recite it and the rest
Shall say 100 our fathers with the recum aternum at at the end of each all who have the right to make who have the right are to make their last will and make disposition of their goods within 3 months after their profession lest any one of them die
Intestate as regards Making Peace among the brothers and sisters or non-members at odds let what the ministers find proper be done even if it be expedient upon consultation with the Lord Bishop if contrary to their right and privilege trouble is made for the brothers and sisters by Mayors and governors of the
Places where they live the Ministers of the place shall do what they find expedient on the advice of the Lord Bishop Let each member accept and Faithfully exercise the ministry of other offices imposed on him although anyone May retire from office after a year when anybody wishes to enter this
Brotherhood the ministers shall carefully inquire into his standing and occupation and they shall explain to him the obligations of the Brotherhood especially that of restoring what belongs to others and if he is content with it let him be vested according to the prescribed R way and he must make
Satisfaction for his debts paying money according to what pledged provision is given they are to reconcile themselves to their neighbors and to pay up their ties after these particulars are complied with when the year is up and he seems suitable to them let him on the advice of some discreet brothers be
Received on this condition that he will promise he will at the time of his life observe everything here written or to be written or baited on the advice of the brothers unless on occasion there be valid dispensation by the ministers that he will when called upon by the minister
Render satisfaction as the visitor shall ordain if he has done anything contrary to this condition and This Promise is to be put in writing and thereby a public notary even so nobody is to be received otherwise unless in consideration of the estate and rank of the person it shall seem advisable to the
Ministers no one is to depart from this Brotherhood and from what is contained herein except to enter into a religious order no heretic or person in bad repute for heresy is to be received if he is Under Suspicion of it he may be admitted if otherwise fit upon being cleared
Before the bishop married women are not to be received except with the consent and leave of their husbands brothers and sisters ejected from the Brotherhood as encourageable are not to be received in it again except it please the senner portion of the brothers chapter 8 correction dispensation and officers the
Ministers of any City or place shall report public faults of the brothers and sisters to the visitor for punishment and if anyone proves encourageable after consultation with some of the discreet Brothers he shall be denounced to the visitor to be expelled by him from the Brotherhood and thereupon it should be
Published in the meeting moreover if he is if it is a brother he should be announced to the mayor or the governor if anyone learns that a scandal is occurring relative to brothers and sisters he shall report it to the ministers and shall have the opportunity
To report it to the visitor he need not be held to report it in the case of a husband against wife I don’t know the visitor has the power to dispense all the brothers and sisters in any of these points if he finds it advisable when the year has
Passed the Ministers of the Council of the brothers are to elect two other ministers and a faithful Treasurer who are to provide for the need of the brothers and sisters and other poor and Messengers who at the command of the ministers are to publish what is said
And done by the fraternity in all the above mentioned points no one is to be obligated under guilt but under penalty yet so that if after being admonished twice by the ministers he should fail to discharge the penalty imposed or be imposed on him by the visitor he shall
Be obliged under the guilt as contumacious here ends the role of the continent author is Cardinal hul hugol Lino de kti de segy who wrote this rule at the request of St Francis of AI 1221 yeps that’s pretty heavy right and then there are the Constitutions the Constitutions I suppose you could say
Are adding something to those rules but they kind of make It adapted to the time perhaps let’s just read what it says first family and the church members of the confraternity of penitence strive to surrender to God through living the rule of Life given to the penitence in the year 1221 at the request of St Francis of AI and written
By Cardinal Hugo de kti de segy later Pope Gregory the9th the Constitutions of the confraternity of penitence delineate how members are to live the rule today so you could say they’ve also adapted the rule but it’s pretty hard to live exactly the way it says and I’m not sure
About the fur coats and all that so they do address all that I just wanted to read that to you what is the constitution of the confraternity of penitence they are an International Private Catholic lay Association the faithful existing with the permission of the bishop of the dicese of Fort Wayne
Southbend Indiana USA and it’s headquartered in his dicese because that Bishop has deemed the rule and constitutions acceptable to live he has indicated that the cfp way of life is a safe guide to Holiness if penitents live this life in humility and love they will move deeper in their own personal
Conversion here’s the thing if you were a secular secular Franciscan living the Pauline role of 1978 you’re not allowed to join any other fr is group last I heard the confraternity of penants are okay with secular franciscans being in both groups but secular franciscans are
Not okay with that so just to know that but could you find some guidance in the rule could you find some things from that earlier rule that you could adapt into your own life today I think there are feeling like my clothes may be a little fony today I don’t know
Um and at the same time I bought a lot I buy a lot of my clothes on clearance are on sale or this is made for myself um so I don’t know how does it look in your life but they’re saying keep going more deeply I do wish I do wish the money
Thing happened in our fraternity that we collected a certain amount from everyone as they are able and then we either gave to the brothers and sisters as needed or we gave it to the poor one of the tricks with that is that we have dues that we have to pay to the
Fraternities above us again that’s a little tricky so we have to money in our treasury so that we’re able to do that or do you spend your money almost every month every penny and then you give it just when it’s time to raise that money you just raise that money say hey
Guys it’s time to pay you know time to pay up we need to pay these dues here’s the bill and everybody has to pay it we just just called a common fund and people just Chuck money in it right now and yeah so it’s awkward we use it to
Like if somebody passes away we might buy something in Memorial we may use it on to pay for the books for people who are learning you know the journey book we may pay it to buy people a towel as they’re entering so that’s kind of what the
Money is used for now although people almost immediately turn around and buy themselves a fancier towel or a gold towel or towel earrings you know it gets a little silly so I don’t know it’s all so confusing what do you think what is leading you more deeply on the road to
Holiness how are you incorporating the rule in your life I’m just really curious are you adapting in elements from the previous rules I really like the um prayer before and after meals I think it got changed in the Leo 9 rle but it was still a requirement just not
The same requirement I think it was the like the blessing before and after meals that you find in like the 1950s prayer books but singing Our Father before and after your meal nothing wrong with that absolutely nothing wrong with that um oh we were originally called to say the
Entire office we were called to have the mass said for all of us once a year I think most fraternities do that but do we stay after and then also play pray the Liturgy the hours and also do a a number of our fathers I don’t think we
Do interesting so it’s just interesting as we’re beginning our new year and making some plan of life you know some goals you may want to look at that earlier rule of 1221 and see if there aren’t some things that you can incorporate back into your life maybe start with something small maybe start
With a big challenge I don’t know what are you up for um doing all the hours of the Liturgy of the Hours is a lot you may want to turn to the little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary our friend Veronica Brandt has a course out on how
To learn to sing that you can learn to chant that as well um in Latin so you can do it with brothers and sisters all throughout the world whatever their language is we could all have that nice common language of Latin to do it with so many options I’m definitely
Going to be looking at this in the weeks ahead and seeing if there aren’t more things I can incorporate Um yeah I want to follow Francis more closely and so I feel like I want to follow the words of St Francis more closely and those are his words so I don’t know friends may God bless you and keep you may make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you and may the good Lord bless you and know spiritan amen
source
