The Franciscan Charism
The Charism:
In the beginning . . .
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The Franciscan Charism
The questions:
How can we be confident in our knowledge of
the Franciscan tradition so that we can
effectively incorporate that knowledge in our
curriculum and activities at ____________?
How can we integrate into our academic
programs the Franciscan Intellectual
Tradition?
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The Franciscan Charism
The Meaning of Charism:
•The Franciscan charism is the
gift given by God to Francis and
to Clare and then passed on to
all who attempt to live/work
within the Franciscan tradition.
• It is the gift of relating to all creation, and
especially human persons, with utter respect
because all is a gift of God through Christ. . . .
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The Franciscan Charism
Elements of the Charism Lived
by Francis and Clare:
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•
•
•
•
•
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Believes that God is totally self-giving
Rooted in the primacy of Christ
Affirms always the dignity of the human person
Builds Community/Relationship
Acts with reverence for creation/creatures
Mends ruptures
Service
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The Franciscan Charism
Social Structure in Assisi in the 13th Century
Maiores
Minores
Serfs
nobles
laborers
knights
artists
merchants
slaves to the
land/master
lived outside city
walls
boni uomini
“freemen”
had no money
paid no taxes
paid taxes
obliged to protect
the minores
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The Franciscan Charism
nobles &
boni uomini
Military safety
Artists / merchants
PEASANTS
and
SERFS
WORKERS
ASSISI
PILGRIMS
ELDERLY
SICK
LEPERS
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The Franciscan Charism
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The Franciscan Charism
• Medievals saw themselves as ALWAYS as part of a
group, always in relationship to others.
• Maiores, boni uomini, merchants, serfs were
hierarchical terms/vertical relationships.
• “Sisters” and “brothers” connote a particular type
of relationship.
• Horizontal relationships are based upon good
communication and understanding that “the other”
may have needs I/we can meet.
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The Franciscan Charism
Religious Life in the Time of Francis and Clare
• Monasticism required withdrawal from the world and
society to find God in an enclosed society.
• A vow of stability — always in the same house.
Neither Clare nor Francis sought monastic life.
• Francis found God by living in society
and by being itinerant.
• Related more to the serfs than the
maiores yet rejected a class structure.
• Community was necessary, less for
economic security than true fraternity.
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The Franciscan Charism
13th Century Historical Influences
• Wars
• Trade
• Money
• Power
• Social Status
and Influence
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The Franciscan Charism
The Conversion of St. Francis
St. Francis as a
youth had a very
unfruitful
experience of war,
both in the civil
fighting of Italy
and within his
inner self.
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The Franciscan Charism
Francis and Community
• Francis did not start out to
form a community but to
live the life of a penitent.
• Others joined him: “a
certain man of Assisi,”
Bernard, Peter, Giles, Philip
• They were all lesser
brothers - Friars Minor
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The Franciscan Charism
The Life of the Community
Regula non bullata
“Let all the brothers who have been designated the
ministers and servants of the other brothers . . .
frequently visit, admonish and encourage them
spiritually. Let all my other brothers diligently obey them
in those matters concerning the well-being of their souls
and which are not contrary to our life.”
(The Earlier Rule, IV, 2-3)
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The Franciscan Charism
The Life of the Community
“[Lady Poverty] rose and asked to be
shown the enclosure. Taking her to a
certain hill, they showed her all the
world they could see and said: ‘This,
Lady, is our enclosure.’”
(The Sacred Exchange between St. Francis and Lady Poverty, 63)
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The Franciscan Charism
St. Clare’s Conversion
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Nobility
Arranged Marriages
Inspired by St. Francis
Formed the Poor Ladies
Composed the Rule of
Clare
• The Lord reveals what is
best to the least among
us.
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The Franciscan Charism
Clare and Her Sisters
“Let the abbess, on her part, be so
familiar with them that they can speak
and act with her as ladies do with their
handmaid. For this is the way it must be:
the abbess should be the handmaid of all
the sisters.”
(The Form of Life of Saint Clare, X, 4)
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The Franciscan Charism
Clare and Her Sisters
“[In chapter] let [the abbess] consult with
all her sisters concerning whatever
concerns the welfare and good of the
monastery, for the Lord frequently reveals
what is better to the youngest.”
(The Form of Life of Saint Clare, IV, 17)
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The Franciscan Charism
Clare and the Outside Community
Many Poor Clares went to newer communities to help
them in their formation.
The sick came to the monastery
to be healed.
Others came to bring alms or to
received spiritual consolation.
Even the brothers of Francis came
to Clare to be healed.
San Damiano
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The Franciscan Charism
So,
What has this to do
with us?
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The Franciscan Charism
Franciscan Attributes in Higher Education
• Reverence for the dignity of each individual.
• Service to others in the local and global community.
• Hospitality as expressed in an openness to all.
• Formation of a caring community.
• Education of the whole person—
mind, body, heart and spirit.
• Gospel-centered values.
• Reverence for all creation
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The Franciscan Charism
Franciscan Attributes in Higher Education
(continued)
• Belief in the basic goodness of life as demonstrated
through the expression of joy and optimism.
• Demonstration of the Franciscan intellectual
tradition in education.
• Commitment to social justice.
• Demonstration of a sense of responsibility to
others.
• Development of moral integrity.
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The Franciscan Charism
Our Responsibility
To evaluate how systematically, simultaneously and
experientially [we] are addressing the demands of a
quality education in the Christian and Franciscan
tradition, and whether it is an education that invites
each and every one to be conscious of their dignity,
awakens their desire to search for truth while
remaining open to the fount of all truth, and asks
everyone to be responsible for the ways in which they
use their gifts and capacity to care not only for
themselves but for the sake of others.
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The Franciscan Charism
Discussion Questions
 What are the qualities of relationship in my life? my
work?
 Are the relationship skills we use horizontal or
hierarchical?
 How should we address the presence/absence of
Franciscan and Christian principles in our teaching?
 How do we ask one another to be responsible for
the ways in which we use our gifts and our capacity
to care about our students and their futures?
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