The blog ministry of the People of Peace fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order
Saturday, July 12, 2008
"Be All that You Can Be"
In his manual for the formation of lay Franciscans, Fr. Fonck outlines his approach “Penance is primarily a positive experience: choosing spiritual health (whole soul), mental health (whole mind), emotional health (whole heart), physical health (whole strength), and social health (loving neighbor as self) as the way of returning the love God has bestowed upon us. It is setting oneself on a five-point program of daily living which fulfills God’s plan for a healthy, productive, stimulating, creative love-life with God. It is a conscious, concerted effort to work toward well-being of the spirit, mind, feelings, body, and social interactions in order to be open to intimacy with God. It is a decision to embrace specific attitudes and concrete behavior to make one’s human/divine life more fulfilling in the complete range of its expressions from the transcendent union with the God to outreach with others with healthy self-love, to the development of one’s mind and intellect, to the use of emotions, to careful attention to the physical dimension of living. It is the commitment to experience everything we do from the sublime to the mundane as part of an over-arching continuum of striving for holiness.” (Fully Mature with the Fullness of Christ, Fr. Benet Fonck, OFM, Candidacy #2, page 08-5)
"Lord, what do you want me to do?"
In the 12th century, at the beginning of his conversion experience Francis of Assisi asks: “Lord, what do you want me to do?” L3C 6 That is a big question. Fortunately, a good and generous God provides the answer.
In the Old Testament we read “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. (emphasis added) Deuteronomy 6:4-8
Today, in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church Catholics are reminded that “The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of this holiness of life: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect".(216)(2*) Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength(217) and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.(218) ….” (emphasis added) Lumen Gentium 40 (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964)