So begins the Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Francis of Assisi. According to Franciscantradition.org, this simple collection of titles forms a litany of greetings describing Mary’s role in the plan of salvation.
As we come together for our May 15th gathering, we will begin our gathering time together with this beautiful prayer as we celebrate our special Franciscan connection with the Blessed Mother, particularly as the Immaculate Conception. We will begin our day with our Chapel prayer at 12:30 with the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It will be a beautiful way to spend time with Our Lady.

   Inside the May edition of our newsletter, The Cord, you will find articles that tell parts of this amazing story. Sam DeSantis will be writing about St. Joseph the Worker (Feast Day 5/1), Jan DeSpain will be writing on the Visitation (Feast Day 5/31), and Marta Kassai will be reflecting on the Immaculate Conception and that incredible and long held devotion in Franciscan spirituality.

I leave you with a prayer of Consecration to Our Blessed Mother as a gift for the month of May:  O Immaculata, you are my queen and my mother.  I, (your name), a Secular Franciscan, consecrate and entrust my entire life to you.  Through your Immaculate Heart, keep me always faithful and united to the Sacred Heart of your Son, to the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, and to the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Please help me to remain pure and holy, O Immaculata. I love you. Amen.
 
Blessings to you –
 
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

On April 16th we celebrate the anniversary of the Franciscan order; tradition holds that the Primitive Rule for the Friars was approved on April 16th, 1209 by Pope Innocent III. Just as with the friars, we reflect and recommit to our lives as Franciscans, for us as Seculars we will renew the promises of our Secular Franciscan profession.

Our April gathering (April 10th) is on Palm Sunday. We will remember St. Clare’s ‘YES’ to God on Palm Sunday 1212 (see image, above)[1].  On that day, the bishop of Assisi handed the eighteen-year-old Clare a palm, a symbolic gesture arranged by Saint Francis. Shortly afterward, the young Clare gave up her luxurious life as the daughter of a wealthy nobleman. Her hair was cut off. Her rich garments were discarded. And she was received into the Franciscan life. Eventually, Saint Francis helped her to establish her own order and through her determination and years of her dedication, her own Rule.[2]

May God grant you peace!
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

[1] The image above is one of the earliest German medieval panel paintings probably made for the convent of the Poor Clares in Nuremberg. (Tempera on wood, 1360). Note the Bishop handing the palm to Chare. Note also Francis in the background with scissors in hand to cute Clare’s beautiful hair.
[2] From https://ofsgb.org/franciscan-gallery-a-palm-for-saint-clare-1360/, referenced 3/26/2022

As Franciscans, we know the story of St. Francis and the Leper. Francis was also in his conversion process – he was already seeking God’s will, but also struggling to see God in the most marginalized: the people afflicted with leprosy. Let’s reflect on that for a moment…

Afterwards, as he remounted his horse and turned back to say farewell to the man, the leper had vanished. That leper was Jesus Christ – who received a kiss from Francis.

     Francis’s tells us about this story in his own words: "The Lord gave me, Brother Francis, thus to begin doing penance in this way:  for when I was in sin, it seemed too bitter for me to see lepers. And the Lord Himself led me among them and I showed mercy to them. And when I left them, what had seemed bitter to me was turned into sweetness of soul and body. And afterwards I delayed a little and left the world".[i]

     In this encounter, Francis opened his heart to the transformative power of God. Of such complete conversion that it was completely life changing. As we approach Lent 2022 let us open our hearts be opened to the unexpected sweetness waiting for us in our encounters with the marginalized. Perhaps encounters with those suffering with poverty, disease. Or even those we consider to be on ‘our’ margins – those who may hold different political views. Let us, like Francis, be open to the encounter, and in so doing, open to touching the face of God.

Lenten Blessings -
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

     Years ago, I listed to a recording or Fr. Richard Rohr presenting the Trinity as a ‘Divine Dance’ (The Divine Dance of the Trinity: Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity’).  There was something alluring about thinking of the Trinity as movement. Symbols of the Holy Spirit come to mind with movement and transformation – water, wind, fire. When I think of dancers, I think to collaboration, of flow, of such an innate level of communication that their movements come together as one – they are one dance. The dancers are transformed by the Dance. They become One. One flow. One experience.
     Sometimes the next steps of the Divine Dance are totally unexpected. I was particularly moved by an unexpected phone call recently from a fellow Secular; I woke the next morning with their words flowing through my mind. Our conversation was such a gift. This Secular Franciscan is a beautiful example of living a vocation of love. They are the primary caregiver for an incapacitated friend. With all the caregiving responsibilities, are unable to join us at in-person Gatherings, and without a computer, can’t join us on Zoom.  They have stayed connected to us though our Newsletter, the Cord.
     This person also remained lovingly committed to their Secular Franciscan vocation. When encouraged by a former Secular Franciscan to renounce their vocation, they remained steadfast. Steadfast in their love of Christ, walking in the footprints of St. Francis of Assisi. I heard this love, dedication, and commitment in their voice. What an incredible witness! I hope one day this incredible person will be able to join us in person and in community - because we are all part of this big, beautiful, Divine Dance.

Pace e bene -
Laura Chun, OFS 
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

     Our theme for January is 'Epiphany - Light & Hope.’ Although in a time of darkness, the light is increasing. I feel full of hope. I am humbled by the work of the Holy Spirit in the selection of our new Council. I'm painfully aware that we likely still have many pandemic potholes ahead of us yet, but this new Council has such beautiful optimism going forward! Our new Council is comprised of Sam DeSantis, Jan DeSpain, Connie Collins, Corinne Helena, Pam Pert, and Marta Kassai, myself, and of course, Sr. Madeline Fitzgerald, OSC. Please see our current wonderful Council and Fraternity Support team on our website, and as always, keep us in your prayers.

     During our January Zoom gathering, we’ll be participating in the Epiphany Rite of Extraction. This was entirely new to me, so please read the article in the January Cord to get a feel for what this means. Our Franciscan tradition is so full of spiritual treasures!

May we all be so blessed!
May God bless us all as we journey into this new year.

Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

     Francis and his brothers were dedicated to prayer and contemplation and stayed frequently at hermitages where the brothers would care and support each other in their physical and spiritual needs.  In 1223, Francis had spent weeks in prayer at the hermitage in Greccio spiritually preparing for Christmas. In the 1200’s most of the local lay people had joined his order of penitents (they were likely some of the first Secular Franciscans!) and were engaged in the local fields as farmers and shepherds.

     As Christmas of 1223 approached, and after Francis had spent such time in prayer preparing for this very special feast of the Incarnation, he arranged for a living nativity scene in order to give emphasis on to the birth of Christ. Thomas of Celano, an early biographer of Francis, says that it is here, in the birth of Jesus, that the intimate link between creation and Incarnation become 'visible.'  Francis saw the most profound revelation of God’s love for humanity in the Incarnation. Through the Christmas scene he created at Greccio with the participation of the local people, Francis wanted to show everyone how God entered into our everyday world of creation through the Incarnation. The Incarnation made all of creation holy.

At midnight Mass, Francis put on the vestments of the Deacon, for he was one, and preached on the humility of God's entrance into time, and on the poverty of Jesus.

     Thomas of Celano tells of Francis speaking ‘charming words’ overflowing love. Unlike most medieval preaching which tended to be harsh, Francis spoke so tenderly that is ‘mouth was filled more with sweet affection than with words.’ Francis stood by the manger, overcome with love, and filled with a wonderful happiness. Thomas describes a ‘wonderful vision’ seen by a virtuous man present that night: he saw Francis rousing the Child, as if from a deep sleep. To Thomas, this image was entirely fitting as it illustrated how Francis awoke the love of the Holy Child in the hearts of the people in a way that would make an indelible mark on their hearts and memories.

During this holy Advent and Christmas season, may our own hearts be awakened to the love of our sweet Lord and be indelibly marked with that love. May we, as Secular Franciscans, be emboldened to take that wonderful Love out into the world.

Pace e bene +
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

     Article 53 admonishes that ‘The Fraternity must offer to its members opportunities for coming together and collaborating through meetings to be held with as great a frequency as allowed by the situation and, with the involvement of all its members.’ And also that ‘The fraternity should come together periodically, also as a Church community to celebrate the Eucharist in a climate which strengthens the fraternal bond and characterizes the identity of the Franciscan family. Where, for whatever reason, this particular celebration may not be possible, they should participate in the celebration of the larger Church community.
     I am so proud of us as a Fraternity!  Despite the pandemic and many of us being new to technology, so many of us have made that effort to come together each month over the past year and a half, even with online meetings rather than face-to-face. Others of us stayed connected to our community through the Cord. And now… finally – the option to meet face-to-face again. It’s been a long road – and with all such spiritual journeys, it’s not over; it’s a long journey together and we’re are all on the Way.

     Years ago, our Gathering Day was ‘expanded’ to better reflect the direction of our Constitutions and to enable us to have the option to attend Mass together, have lunch together, and to more deeply pray together. (Hint: that the part of our day that begins before 1pm). I invite each of us… with understanding and respect to everyone’s concern for being out-and-about with others in a still-ongoing pandemic, to consider joining us for a fuller experience of community. For joining us before 1pm.

    Consider joining together with your Secular Franciscan community, potentially at Mass together at 10am in the Serra Center, for lunch together at 11:30, and please – at least this – for prayer together at 12:30pm. Please at least start there – commit to arriving 30 minutes early… for dedicated time to pray together. It’s a small step, but all journeys do start with that first small step.

Peace and Goodness to you!
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity
Secular Franciscan Order

     What? Did I hear that right?  ‘St. Francis was a loser.’ It was just last year, sitting outside during the pandemic in the cool night air for Mass on the Feast Day of St Francis. Fr. Sam Nasada OFM began his homily and said… ‘St. Francis was a loser.’  Fr. Sam asked us to consider: As a youth, Francis dreamed of becoming a knight.  He did become a soldier, but was captured in battle and imprisoned instead. Francis came from a wealthy family, but rejected his father and his wealth, and served the lepers and fixed dilapidated churches instead. Francis begged for building materials and food. His old friends called him a loser.

      Don’t we have people like Archbishop Oscar Romero who died defending the poor of El Salvador; the Trappists of Algeria who died in solidarity with their Muslim neighbors; Sr. Dorothy Stang who was killed by loggers and landowners for defending the indigenous people of Brazil? Doesn’t the world look at them as losers? Don’t WE look at them as losers?
      But what if this is exactly where we need to be as church? Don’t we worship a God who spent his time among the poor, prostitutes, and other sinners and marginalized people, the losers of society; a God who died on a cross, considered foolishness and a scandal, a loser by many?  Pope Benedict once said that “It is not the Church of successful people that we find impressive… Rather what strengthens our faith, what remains constant, what gives us hope, is the Church of the suffering.”
     We know what kind of church St. Francis chose to build. That night, Fr. Sam shared his hope that all of us, the Franciscans of today, habit and non-habit, vowed and non-vowed, who are part of this ongoing Franciscan movement, can follow Francis’s example.

Laura Chun, OFS
San Luis Rey Fraternity
Secular Franciscan Order
 
References are to the homily by Fr. Sam Nasada, OFM, given on the Feast of St. Francis, October 4th, 2020 and used with his kind permission. Fr. Sam’s homily was inspired in part by https://wherepeteris.com/catholics-are-losers/