Franciscans of Halifax Sélection de la langue: Spiritualité Easter Decoration in Italy The convent of San Francesco a Folloni, Montella, Italy “This is the life of the Friars Minor, to live the Gospel.” (Regola Bullata, n.1) This is, for all Franciscans, men as well as women, of every order and rank, the foundation of their spirituality. Living the Gospel is translated in the exemplarity of the life of Christ, with privileged moments, unique to the Franciscan Spirit: the incarnation and the Cross. In these eight centuries of the existence of the Franciscan Family, thousands, better millions, of men and women have taken these words as foundation for their spirituality. One may be surprised by the simplicity and ingenuity of the affirmation. Is it maybe an accusation from the times of St. Francis? Was it maybe because of the corruption of the Church and the pauperian and millenarian movements? It would seem to, but that would make a member of the generation of the flower children out of St. Francis! St. Francis does not accuse anyone; this attachment is contrary to his spirit. Francis “changes” (metanoia) himself: “The Lord gave me the task to do penance...”. Conversion is not the decision to be morally upright, a difficult undertaking in the times of the saint, but a very special meeting with Christ, dead and arisen...with the Crucifix of St. Damian. He seems to catch a glimpse of the experience of Paul of Tarsus: in one single moment he is in front of Him, totally and completely. In this single moment, one understands that He is God, and that there is no separation between Him and His Church: “Francis, go and repair my Church, which as you see, is falling down.” The love for the Church is strictly connected with the love for Christ, for this reason Francis wants to be obedient to the Church, in order to please his Lord. In all this, Francis discovers the vows as theological places. Poverty, chastity, and obedience are not ascetical modalities, but rather are theological places in the highest sense, realties belonging to the Son of God. The Franciscans, and consequently those of Halifax, live this spirit in the highest availability to service: the service to every poor person, as well in spirit as in the mind as also in the body. The Cross of St. Damian, replica in the Church of San Francesco a Folloni Home Spiritualitè Links Pictures Ou nous sommes Qui nous sommes Nôtre histoire Vie contemplative Vie active Vie francescaine Contact