OFM International News the Inauguration of the Year of The
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VOLUME XLVIII • ISSUE 219 JANUARY 2015 Fraternitas OFM International News The inauguration The Christmas Letter of the Year of the Consecrated Life The Year dedicated to the Conse- crated Life, desired by Pope Francis and organised by the CIVCSVA, was solemnly inaugurated with a prayer vigil in St. Mary Major’s in the after- noon of the 29th of November and a Concelebrated Eucharist in the Ba- silica of St. Peter, the Vatican, in the morning of the 30th of November, WWW.OFM.ORG - FRATERNITAS 2014, the First Sunday of Advent. Pope Francis encouraged the con- secrated men and women of the whole world, through a video message, to be disciples and missionaries in an “open” Church by living and announcing the Gospel among the men and women living on the periphery today. ...St. Francis composed one of the “Psalms” of the Office of the Passion An Invitation to Taizé for Vespers during Christmas. The text expresses joy and delight at the The General Definitory, together with the General Secretariat for Formation birth of Christ, but recognises the and Studies, warmly invites all the Provinces and Conferences to send the humility of the context in which the greatest possible number of temporarily professed Friars to participate in New Born found himself in Bethle- the gathering which, promoted by the community of Taizé in the context of hem: For the Most Holy Child has been the Year Dedicated to the Consecrated Life, will take place from the 5th to the given to us and has been born for us on 12th of July 2015. the way [Is 9, 6], and placed in a man- ger because he did not have a place in VIII Centenary of the Pilgrimage of the inn [Lk 2, 7] (Office of the Passion, XV, 7). St. Francis to Santiago ...Let us reflect, during these days of The VIII Centenary of the pilgrim- celebration, on the “minority” of Je- age of St. Francis of Assisi to Santi- sus, on his being “less than” others, on ago de Compostela (1214-2014) is his presenting himself as their serv- being celebrated in different parts ant. The Prologue of The Gospel ac- of Spain, especially in Santiago de cording to John describes this choice Compostela in Galicia, during 2014. of mingling among “the smallest” in The pilgrimage of St. Francis is a tra- simple words: “The Word was made dition mentioned in Chapter IV of flesh, and lived among us” (Jn 1, 14). the Little Flowers of St. Francis and The Word, the Beloved Son, hum- his Companions. It is well known that bled himself, he descended from the Santiago de Compostela was one of highest state of divinity to the womb three places of Christian pilgrimage, of the Virgin Mary where he received alongside Rome and the Holy Land, “the flesh of our humanity and frailty” during the Middle Ages. lasted the whole day, with the Friars (2LtF 5). This choice, this totally free The Minister General, Br. Michel A. and the Franciscan Family of the re- act of the overflowing love of God, Perry, the Vicar General, Br. Julio Bu- gion, to which not only the Friars of led him to become a creature among nader, and five Definitors General the Province, but also the laity and creatures in such a way that He, the made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. religious who collaborate with the Only-begotten Son, could redirect all James and, on Saturday the 8th of No- Friars in the various houses of the back to their source in the commun- vember 2014, held a meeting, which Province, were invited. ion of love of the Trinity. 1 OTHER NEWS The Delegate General for the in gratitude to God, who is all good Economic Affairs of the Order and the highest good and who has blessed them with the 450th anni- versary (1565-2015) of their canonical approbation as the Province of Sts. Pe- ter and Paul of Michoacán. A “Pro-orantibus Day” th th A “Pro-orantibus Day” was held in of Istanbul from the 13 to the 28 of St. Anthony’s Hall on the 21st of No- October 2014. vember 2014. Presided by the Rector In addition to the conferences and Magnificus of the PUA, Sr. Mary Mel- The Minister General has appointed moments of examination, there were, one, S.F.A., and moderated by Maria Br. Pasquale Del Pezzo, OFM, of the among the more significant activities, Parente, RAI Vaticana, the Day includ- Salernitano-Lucana (Italy) Friar Minor three days of visits to the region of the ed two presentations (Elena Frances- Province of the Immaculate Concep- Churches of the Apocalypse. ca Beccaria, OSC., “Francis and Clare tion, to be the Delegate General for of Assisi: the grace and exercise of the Economic Affairs of the Order. This Academic Act in honour of contemplation”; and Patrizia Girola- delegation is granted until the cele- Bl. John Duns Scotus mi, OCSO, “Living the contemplative bration of the 2015 General Chapter. dimension today”) and a statement from Msgr. José R. Carballo, OFM, Sec- Meeting of the OFM Formators retary of the CIVCSVA, on “The Year of COTAF of the Consecrated Life: an ecclesial event”. The day concluded with an Eucharistic celebration presided by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the CIVCSVA. The usual academic act in honour of An Experience in formation for Blessed John Duns Scotus was held Friars of the Holy Land Custody in the PUA on the 10th of November 2014. The academic act began with A meeting of Formators of the Sec- the report on the academic year 2013- 2014 by the Rector Magnificus, Prof. FRATERNITAS WWW.OFM.ORG - FRATERNITAS retariat for Formation and Studies of COTAF (The Franciscan Transalpine Mary Melone, S.F.A. Prof. Romuald Conference), coordinated by the Sec- Kośla, of the “John Paul II” University retary, Br. Andreas Brands, OFM, was in Cracow, spoke of “The Influence of held in the Franciscan Friary of Os- John Duns Scotus on the theology of nabrück in Germany, from the 27th to reparation”. The Minister General and the 31st of October 2014. 35 religious: Grand Chancellor of the PUA, Br. Mi- A pilgrimage to the Franciscan plac- almost all the formators; the Provin- chael A. Perry brought the academic es in Italy - Assisi, la Verna, Rieti Valley cial Ministers; Br. Roger Marchal, OFM, act to a conclusion. and Rome -, coordinated by the SGFS General Definitor; Br. Vidal Rodríguez, and organised by the Custody of the OFM, the Secretary General for For- 450 years of Canonical Approval Holy Land, especially by the modera- mation and Studies; and Br. Sergiusz tor of On-going Formation of the CTS, Baldyga, OFM, Vice-Secretary, partici- Br. Marcelo Cichinelli, OFM, took place pated. from the 17th to the 27th of November The theme of the meeting was “Evan- 2014. The pilgrimage was considered gelisation ad intra” to which Br. Jo- an experience in on-going formation hannes B. Freyer, OFM, professor at for Friars of the Custody with 25 years the Pontifical University Antonianum, of profession. A formative stage was contributed a reflection. held in the General Curia on the 25th of November. Ecumenical and Inter-religious The Friars of the Province of Sts. Peter Dialogue and Paul of Michoacán share their joy The Sending of Missionaries (SGME) The X Course of Ongoing Formation with the whole Franciscan Family as The missionary mandate was con- on Ecumenical and Interreligious Di- they celebrate the opening of a jubi- ferred on five of our missionary broth- alogue was held in the historical city lee year on the 13th of November 2014 >> 3 2 FRANCISCAN BOOKMARK Franciscan Books Marcel Tshikez OFM, 150 questions about the Mass. The Franciscan Editing House of Kol- wezi, 2014. It is a simple, doctrinal, liturgical and very practical book. It will serve: to remind one of the principles of the liturgy; and for formation, both personal and communal, with regard to the Eucharistic celebration. ALFONSO CAPECELATRO, The Life of Br. Lodovico da Casoria, Editrice Velar, Gorle 2013, pp.772. On the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of Blessed Ludovico da Casoria (1814-2014) and of his upcoming canonisation (23.11.2014), the prestigious biography by Cardinal Al- fonso Capecelatro, Archbishop of Capua, has been re-published. The volume is an indispen- sable source of knowledge about the life and works of the great Friar Minor. The first edition goes back to 1885 and was printed at the Accantoncelli Printing Works of Naples, one of the many works which the genius of the Friar of Casoria had set up. Written on the basis of FRATERNITAS WWW.OFM.ORG - FRATERNITAS first-hand testimonies, the text is undoubtedly a literary masterpiece which can be easily fol- lowed even though approximately 130 years have passed since the first edition. (Requests to: Libreria Internazionale Francescana in Assisi). A digitalised book: THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR, One faith in many cultures: the Franciscan experience (Una fede in molte culture: l’esperienza francescana), I.S.E. Venezia-Roma 2009. The result of the work of The Service of Dialogue of the Order and of the collaboration of people from various cultural backgrounds, the fourth volume of the collection pays attention to culture and cultures. It could, therefore, constitute a good instrument for the formation of the Friars and for opening up a way for them to become involved in this complex and fascinat- ing reality. The book is in digital form and can be found at: iBookstore and Google Play Store. << 2 Br. Federico Gandolfi, of the Roman Province, for South Sudan, Br.