Two complementary “Calls” in the life of a Priest who is a member of a Religious Community.
When Saint Francis, in prayer before the crucifix at the ruins of San Damiano, heard Jesus speak to him, “Francis rebuild my church, which, as you see, is in ruins,” he took those words literally and began to repair the chapel. Later, he came to understand that he, and his friars, had been called to not only work with the stones in the Tuscan field where the chapel was located, but, in imitation of Jesus, to work with the “living stones” all around him to help strengthen, empower, and enable those stones-of the universal church-to carry out the mission of Jesus to teach, baptize, and invite to the table of the Lord. And yet, Francis never lost sight of those all around him—whom so many others overlooked; the lowly, the poor, the homeless, the naked, the destitute, the marginalized, the exploited, and the abused. In each of them, he recognized that the poor Jesus, born in a lowly manger, depended on the generosity of others, and had “no place to lay his head.” Like Jesus, Francis had an unshakeable trust in the abundant generosity of God and believed that God would provide all that he needed.
Later, Francis was ordained as a Deacon in the Church--and lived out that call to service through a ministry of feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, caring for the sick, and through numerous other acts of love and care. He also preached the Gospel fearlessly, and sought to do so--as much through what he said as through what he did.
It seems to me that Francis longed to become an icon, like that Cross at San Damiano, a point of connection with Christ. He longed to become transparent, so that others saw through and beyond him personally to the Jesus whom he loved with his whole being and whom he served with every ounce of strength that he had. Francis longed to share the passion and suffering of Jesus, and the gift of the stigmata on Mount La Verna, transformed his physical body—as an outward sign of the inner transformation which also took place. Quite simply, Francis longed to make real, present, and effective, the transforming love of Jesus the Christ in his own time, place, and culture.
The hymn of praise, “The Canticle of the Creatures,” made clear Francis’ own realization that all of creation is bathed in the light and love of God. Even more importantly, this hymn, written when Francis was sick, suffering, and preparing to embrace the reality of death, gave witness to his belief that, through, the Resurrection, Jesus had overcome poverty, illness, suffering, oppression, and even death.
In every generation since, women and men in almost every culture and place imaginable have followed the examples of Francis and of Clare but committing themselves to lives of simplicity, humility, and fidelity.
The Community asks very little of us, in terms of time, and involvement. Each month there is an online “gathering” on a Saturday, a monthly “Cluster” for a small group of Friars, and a “Formation” Session. Altogether this takes up about four hours. In Central Pennsylvania, there is a monthly “Franciscan and Friends” get-together on the first Monday of the month at the Mount Joy Friary (with lunch and prayer). I hope that, as weather allows, I will continue to participate in that time of fellowship. Most importantly, the Community gathers for Chapter for a week each Summer. It is a time in which we celebrate the Rites for those joining the Community and Progressing (Candidate, Postulant, Novice, and Profession of Life Vows). It is also like a family reunion for us—and a time to catch up with each other.
The Community of Francis and Clare is a recognized Religious Community (a dispersed Religious Community--not an Order) under the oversight of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church. The Rt. Rev. Laura Jean Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, is our Bishop Visitor. We are a member of NAECC (“NAECC is a coalition of Christian Communities recognized under the canons of The Episcopal Church working with communities in formation, dedicated to sharing and communicating the fruits of the Gospel — realized in a community — with the church and the world.”). To learn more about the CFC, here is a link to our Community Webpage—www.cfcfranciscans.org
If the vision of Francis and Clare to “rebuild Christ’s Church” is to be realized in today’s world, it must be rooted in the rich soil of the local ecclesial community. That means that it must be nourished, strengthened, and empowered by Word and Sacrament. That can only be realized through the ministry of those who have been called to Holy Orders in the Church.
In the Episcopal Church, the primary “building block” is the diocese. The Bishop is the chief pastor of the diocese, and of each parish—a community of faith, life, love, and service. Since she or he cannot be physically present in each community, since the earliest days of the Primitive Church, Bishops have called, and ordained persons to serve as their representatives in local communities. In the Episcopal Church, parishes prayerfully discern the person whom God is calling to serve as their Pastor. The Vestry then calls them, and after they answer the Call, the Bishop approves and appoints the Priest to serve in that parish. This process demonstrates the collaborative ways in which the Bishop, Priest, and Parish work together to accomplish the mission of Jeus to “reconcile the world to himself.”
Our Book of Common Prayer gives us a powerful insight into the reality of Priesthood in Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. It gives practical guidance into the myriad ways that Priests are ordained to embody the vision of Francis and Clare to empower each “living stone” to fulfill their own vocation (each of the Baptized has an individual “Call” or “Vocation” to participate in the three-fold Ministry of Jesus as “Priest, Prophet, and King.”).
Two quotes from The Service for The Ordination of a Priest explain how every Priest, but most especially a Priest in a Religious Community is called to live out this complimentary “double call.” The Examination and the Consecration of the Priest (BCP, pages 531-534
“As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach, to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce God's blessing, to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ's Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations entrusted to you.”
“May he exalt you, O Lord, in the midst of your people; offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you; boldly proclaim the
gospel of salvation; and rightly administer the sacraments of
the New Covenant. Make him a faithful pastor, a patient
teacher, and a wise councilor. Grant that in all things he may
serve without reproach, so that your people may be
strengthened and your Name glorified in all the world. All
this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and
the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
I conclude this reflection with a prayer which I composed, after a recent morning of service at a Breakfast Feeding Program in Harrisburg. “Beloved Jesus, you called Francis and Clare to rebuild your Church. Empower us to use the gifts, talents, and abilities which you have entrusted to us to make a positive difference in our world. Enable our eyes to see your presence all around us, and most especially in the poor, the marginalized, the weak, and the oppressed. Enable our hearts to love them as you love them and treasure them. Enable our hands and feet to serve them, and in serving them, to serve you. Amen.”
Saint Francis and Saint Clare, pray for us.
