Lord
Make me an instrument of your peace
where there is hatred let me sow
* Love *
 
where there is injury
* Pardon *
 
where there is doubt
* Faith *
 
where there is despair
* Hope *
 
where there is darkness
* Light *
 
and where there is sadness
* Joy *
 
O divine master,
grant that I may not so much to seek to
be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
 to be loved as to love;
for it is giving that we received,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

--St. Francis of Assisi

 Is Christ Calling?

The Secular Franciscan Order is the lay people’s branch of the worldwide Franciscan Family, that is, the secular expression of that movement and order begun in the Church over 750 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
 
In today’s world, we are plagued with time schedules, projects, and activities that leave us tense and unnerved. We are far from thinking about God much less thinking about living the Gospel. Yet that last sentence tells us exactly what Secular Franciscans try to do. They are ordinary people like yourself, constantly on the move in search of practical ways to live the Gospel of Christ and help others to do the same.  There’s no big fanfare, no notoriety in their quest. They move quietly forward in the company of others whom they regard in a special way as brothers and sisters.
 
Nowadays we resent hidden gimmicks. We want everything laid right out on the table so that we know what we are getting. So it is no more then right for you to ask quite bluntly: “In a nutshell WHAT EXACTLY DO I HAVE TO DO TO BE A SECULAR FRANCISCAN?”
 
“Try to attend Mass more often! I’m making every effort I can now to get to Mass during
the week .. “ (THAT’S ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN). You are not expected to do the impossible.
 
“SAY MORE PRAYERS! I’m lucky to get in a few Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glories with all the other activities and taking care of my family.” (THAT’S ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN.) Twelve Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glories take care of that obligation. Or if you like, you can say the canonical hours, the short office granted by the Church, or the
Little Office of the Blessed Mother, or any ecclesiastically approved office.
 
“Wear a habit! You’re kidding!” In the olden days it was a full habit, but now a medal, a Franciscan emblem ring or pin is worn instead.
 
“Make a last will! Now there’s a good sound idea for all families.”
 
“Read or meditate on the Scriptures! That’s too much! And to be truthful I’m really not much of a reader. Five minutes is about all the time I can manage before the family gets up.” (THAT’S ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN.) To the extent that our condition in life permits, we should try to read the inspired Word as St. Francis did.
 
“Attend one meeting a month! That’s my problem now. No time.” It is true, but I wonder how many of those meetings you attend really are liturgical functions that prepare you to make GOD’S WAY YOUR WAY OF LIFE.... thus making you a direct channel for carrying out His message to the rest of the world.
 
“Do more charitable deeds! I guess I could but in between taking care of my sick aunt, collecting clothes for the needy and visiting some old people, I really don’t have much time left.” (If you are doing all that, you are ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN).
 
“Do more penance! I’m trying not to accept all the setbacks we’ve been having without grumbling.” (THAT’S ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN). There are times when we do not have to look for penances...they come to us, accepting them without complaint is the Franciscan way.
 
“So...If I’m ALREADY PART OF BEING A FRANCISCAN....why should I join? Ah-h, that’s the point we are driving at. Now you are only part of being a Franciscan.  WHY NOT BE ONE FULLY?
 
If you are doing most of these things already and you would like to get some encouragement and company doing them, JOIN US. We marshal our forces and stand as one.
 
We are united in an international order founded by St. Francis of Assisi over 750 years ago.
 
Our Breda Fraternity consists of people from Carroll and Breda and we belong to the Queen of Peace Region which is an arm of the national organization. We have a set of officers, a monthly program that our local officers plan and prayer time at each meeting. We share in the Masses, prayers, merits, fasts and good works of all the four and a half million members of our Franciscan family.