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DAILY BRIEFING
ENGLISH SPEAKING CONFERENCE O.F.M. |
June 15, 2009 |
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"Little by little I understood that more than my reflections on Christ, it was my experience of Christ that interested them. My companions were mostly colonists, that is they came from the so-called settlements. Their experience of faith and their reading of the Bible had brought them to make strong choices, even if they were debatable. What was mine? There was no challenge of hostility in their attitude, but simple and sincere curiosity. Faced with this, I was initially rather uneasy. What, in fact, was my experience of Christ, and how could I speak of it in an understandable and believable way?"
- Br. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM |
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| Lectio Divina: The missionary experience |
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DOMUS PACIS - This final week of the General Chapter began as the last two have with an experience of Lectio Divina. This week's focus was on the experience of missionaries and the Chapter heard from one missionary to Africa and another to the Holy Land.
BR. SEBASTIAN UNSNER, OFM, ADDRESSING THE CHAPTER ABOUT HIS MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES
The point of reference for this experience of Lectio was Chapter 16 of The Earlier Rule:
Those Going Among the Saracens and Other Nonbelievers
The Lord says: Behold I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be prudent as serpents and simple as doves. Let any brother, then, who desires by divine inspiration to go among the Saracens and other nonbelievers, go with the permission of his minister and servant. If he sees they are fit to be sent, the minister may give them permission and not oppose them, for he will be bound to render an accounting to the Lord if he has proceeded without discernment in this and other matters.
As for the brothers who go, they can live spiritually among the Saracens and nonbelievers in two ways. One way is not to engage in arguments or disputes but to be subject to every human creature for God's sake and to acknowledge that they are Christians. The other way is to announce the Word of God, when they see it pleases the Lord, in order that [unbelievers] may believe in almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Creator of all, the Son, the Redeemer and Savior, and be baptized and become Christians because no one can enter the kingdom of God without being reborn of water and the Holy Spirit.
They can say to them and the others these and other things which please God because the Lord says in the Gospel: Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father.
Wherever they may be, let all my brothers remember that they have given themselves and abandoned their bodies to the Lord Jesus Christ. For love of Him, they must make themselves vulnerable to their enemies, both visible and invisible, because the Lord says: Whoever loses his life because of me will save it in eternal life. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Blessed are you when people hate you, speak evil of you, persecute, expel, and abuse you, denounce your name as evil and utter every kind of slander against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad on that they because your reward is great in heaven.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of them and do not fear those who kill the body and afterwards have nothing else to do. See that you are not alarmed. For by your patience, you will possess your souls; whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.
The first reflection was offered by Br. Sebastian Unsner, Provincial Minister of the St. Francis Province of Madagascar. He described his years as a participant in the Africa Project where he went to minister in Malawi, a country he had never heard of before being sent.
He said, "I believe that if someone desires to go to the mission, he must be helped by divine inspiration; he must be really called to go. Anyway, it was my experience 27 years ago. At that time, I didn't think seriously about going to the mission, but after hearing the words of Fr. John Vaughn inviting us to join the Africa Project, I almost immediately knew that I had to do something about it. Seven years passed from the time of making my decision to join the Africa Project until the day I actually reached Africa. Many things happened during that time, things that were able to change my decision, if I wouldn't desire by divine inspiration to go to the mission. I am convinced of it."
Following Sebastian's reflection, the Chapter heard a testimony of Br. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Custos of the Holy Land. He shared his experience of what it was like first going to the Holy Land 20 years ago. He said, "Little by little I understood that more than my reflections on Christ, it was my experience of Christ that interested them. My companions were mostly colonists, that is they came from the so-called settlements. Their experience of faith and their reading of the Bible had brought them to make strong choices, even if they were debatable. What was mine? There was no challenge of hostility in their attitude, but simple and sincere curiosity. Faced with this, I was initially rather uneasy. What, in fact, was my experience of Christ, and how could I speak of it in an understandable and believable way?"
According to the pattern of the Emmaus Methodology, the Chapter delegates then met in language groups to discuss their personal reflections about what they heard. |
| Report from the Antonianum |
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DOMUS PACIS - Following the morning Lectio Divina, Chapter delegates again assembled in the main aula to heard the report delivered by Br. Johannes Freyer, OFM, the Rector of the Pontificual University Antonianum.
BR. JOHANNES FREYER, OFM, RECTOR OF THE PUA REPORTS TO THE CHAPTER
The central focus of the report was on the recent change that elevated the Antonianum from an Athenaeum to a Pontificual University.
Br. Leslie Hoppe, OFM, (Assumption BVM) detailed some of these issues in his Provincial Newsletter. He wrote that Freyer "outlined for the delegates the challenges that the Antonianum faces as a result of its transformation from simply an institute of higher learning (Athaneum) to a university. Its new status carries with it responsibilities to the European Union as well as to the Holy See. Johannes maintains that the PUA can continue its mission for the next five to eight years-beyond that its future is tenuous."
He continued, "The rector outlined needs for faculty development and ongoing formation. He also noted some problems with the physical plant of the university. A special problem are the theological
institutes affiliated with the Antonianum. There are ten of these throughout the world where friars are
prepared for the ordained ministry. These institutes also admit lay people to their programs-something that the Congregation for Catholic Education now forbids. Johannes believes that the PUA has the possibility of elaborating, in a Franciscan key, an alternative way of thinking about the environment, the economy, justice and peace, as well as a theological synthesis that his dynamically faithful to the Church's tradition. To accomplish this, the PUA will have to deal with serious issues immediately."
LESLIE HOPPE, OFM (ASSUMPTION BVM) ASKS A QUESTION OF JOHANNES FREYER, OFM
PUA, through its affiliations, is now present in Rome, Jerusalem, Venice, Petropolis as well as being affiliated with institutes in Mexico, Argentina, Gongo, Zambia, Japan, Equador, Potsdam. The also collaborate with institutes of the English Speaking conference including Canterbury, Berkeley, and St. Bonaventure University.
Chapter delegates spent the afternoon in discussion and votation of the various proposals that were worked on in Commissions last week. Once final votations have been reported, those finalized changes will be published here.
Delegates also received their first draft of the proposed Chapter document, "Restoring the Gift of the Gospel."
MOST OF THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES STAFF OF THE GENERAL CHAPTER POSED FOR AN OFFICIAL PHOTO TODAY. THESE FRIARS WORK AS TRANSLATORS - BOTH OF DOCUMENTS AND LIVE TRANSLATIONS - COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, LITURGY, SECRETARIES AND MORE TO ASSURE THE CHAPTER FUNCTIONS SMOOTHLY. THESE FRIARS ARE FROM PROVINCES AROUND THE WORLD. |  This DAILY NEWS BRIEF is produced by and for the friars of the English Speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor. Executive Secretary: Thomas Washburn, OFM.
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