By Fr. Lester Bach, OFM Cap. CNSA President–in-turn

Influence

Secular Franciscans who are filled with the Franciscan spirit are expected to have an influence in the workplace, in places of leisure, in the family, in politics, in other areas of public life. That is why they are called SECULAR Franciscans. Their influence is meant to touch the people and issues in the world and help to transform our world into a place that respects the dignity of God’s people. It is a primary responsibility for people who profess to build a more fraternal and evangelical world so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively. (SFO Rule # 4)

If this is going to happen, we will need to put more energy into helping one another in our secular pursuits. Seculars are often a minority at work and in other secular places of their lives. They need support, dialogue and fresh ideas to stimulate more effective ways to transform the secular world.

If we ask: Where does a Secular Franciscan receive such support, dialogue and influx of fresh ideas, what answer would you give? Secular issues are not even brought up at some fraternity gatherings. Often we are concerned with other things and spend little time trying to discover effective ways of being secular in the world. This is not a plea to stop praying at gatherings, nor does it mean that it is the only focus of a gathering, but it is a VITAL issue to address.

Healthy dialogue and inter-action on the issue of influencing our secular workplaces and its people is vital. We need clarity on what is needed and how to implement the Franciscan spirit in daily life in the secular world. If we have no influence there, how can we possibly build a more fraternal and evangelical world? Support for influential perspectives and actions depends on a number of things. A Secular facing issues at work or in volunteer situations needs to know he/she is supported by fraternity people. Fraternity sharing of ideas, issues and problems can ultimately offer ways to take effective action in the marketplace. Fraternity gatherings need to address such issues.

Prayerfulness which develops a sense of the presence of God in all situations is also important. Faithfulness to prayer is a vital ingredient for giving conscious support for influencing the secular world. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we will often be fearful or feel incompetent or simply keep quiet when action is called for. Prayerful support, both personal and communal, is an important element in being able to build a more fraternal and evangelical world.

It is no longer possible for SFO members to shy away from positive action in the secular arena of life. To do so is to fail both our world and our Church (and our profession as Seculars!). There is nothing, in short, for which Christians yearn more than to serve the people of the modern world generously and effectively. We Christians shoulder a gigantic task, which is to introduce love into the world, that love which we receive ourselves from Christ. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Paragraph 93 - (Bill Huebsch’s translation)

The followers of the great lover, Francis of Assisi, ought to be noted for introducing such love into our secular world. Include in your fraternity gatherings a healthy discussion on how this can be done. We must join together to influence our world. God expects us to be involved so that the Kingdom which Jesus described might grow wherever we go. Now is the time for us to consciously extend our Franciscan influence in the secular world.