The Fraternity as Community

When our Father Francis began his quest with his “little brothers”, in love with Lady Poverty, setting out to rebuild the Church, he did not know that the movement he began would extend through the centuries and around the world. The Franciscan movement might have become a mere blessed footnote in Church history, but for the men, women, and children who have followed him throughout the ages and in all corners of the globe. 

For that reason we are called to fraternity as community. The word “fraternity” does not refer merely to an organization of men. It means that Jesus is our brother, and we are called to be brothers and sisters to Jesus with Francis and his other followers.

The fraternity gives us many advantages in our life:

(1) Fraternity keeps us from becoming self-centered.

(2) Fraternity creates the place where apostolic work in the world is fostered.

(3) Fraternity gives us strength where we are weak. 

(4) Fraternity gives us opportunities to love others with all their goodness as well as their flaws and irritating ways. And they can do the same for us.

(5) Fraternity provides an intimate spiritual family within “family” of the Church, where we can grow in holiness.

Under the Leonine rule, the Secular Franciscan Order had “isolated” members. These members were Franciscans who followed the way of Francis on their own without the benefit of fraternity. Today, however, we are returning to Francis’ original plan – we go the Franciscan way together, not as individuals on private journeys. 

Our Rule devotes an entire chapter (Chapter 3) to “Life in Fraternity.” Indeed, the local fraternity is “the basic unit of the Whole Order and a visible sign of the Church, the community of love.” (Rule 22)  But do we attend our gatherings as merely another”meeting” to go to? Or, perhaps as a place where we sit passively and are spiritually “fed,” like needy children?

No. In the General Constitutions of the OFS (Article 30), we are reminded that:

“(1) The brothers and sisters are co-responsible for the life of the fraternity to which they belong….” And

“(2) The sense of co-responsibility of the members required personal presence, witness, prayer, and active collaboration, in accordance with each one’s means and possible obligations for the animation of the fraternity.”

In fraternity, we are reminded of our responsibility to ourselves and each other, as well as our duty to cultivate and practice our Franciscan charism.

Meeting regularly gives us a chance to work together. Individuals grow in friendship in the Lord and each other as they pray together, work together, motivate each other, and share their faith journeys.  The fraternity is a sanctuary of joy where laughter and humor lightens one’s burdens, and gives us the opportunity to lift up our brothers and sisters. The fraternity provides a place to resolve disagreements peacefully. The fraternity is a place to learn to forgive ourselves and others as we begin, again and again, to follow Jesus in the footsteps of Francis and Clare.

Finally, let us end our formation together in prayer: 

“Lord, sometimes the temptation to strike out on my own is very strong. I can’t see how my present life, with my family, or my brothers and sisters in community, is allowing me to grow. Everyone around me seems only a distraction or a burden, and I wish I could just leave everything and everyone and be free.

But that is only a temptation, most of the time, Lord. For I find You in my commitments and responsibilities, my loves and friendships, not in fleeing them. And in finding You, I find myself. You are where I am, not somewhere else. Lord Jesus, help me to discover You where I am. Amen.”

 Pax et bonum (Peace and all good),

Pat Johnson, OFS