Friars meet Pope to mark 800 years

BY CAROL GLATZ
POPE BENEDICT XVI has thanked the world's Franciscan family for being."a precious gift" to all Christians.
The Pope was speaking to a crowd of 4,0130 Franciscans in the courtyard of the papal villa Castel Gandolfo during a special audience to mark the 800th anniversary of the Franciscan order.
The Pope recalled how St Francis heard God's voice telling him: "Repair my house", and he urged today's Franciscans to continue those efforts of fixing the serious "ruins" in society and mankind.
"Like Francis, always begin with yourself. We are the first homes that God wants restored," Pope Benedict said. In the spirit of the Gospel, "continue to help the pastors of the Church by rendering her face as the bride of Christ more beautiful".
Almost 2,000 Franciscans gathered in Assisi last week to celebrate the anniversary of papal approval of the Franciscan rule. It was the first time that many representatives of the four main Franciscan branches Friars Minor, Conventual Franciscans, Capuchins and Third Order Regular had come together in Assisi.
The audience al Castel Gandolfo recalled St Francis's pilgrimage to see Pope Innocent III in 1209 to receive approval of his rule of life and formally establish the Franciscan order.
At an outdoor Mass held the previous day Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hammes, a Franciscan who heads the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy, underlined the importance of the Franciscan charism of fraternity, communion and living the evangelical idea] of poverty.
He said in his homily: "To live evangelical poverty in a world that is increasingly dazzled and enslaved by money and to live with love and solidarity toward the poor toward every single poor person must be one of the most important and significant contributions the Franciscan friars make" in bearing witness to Christ in today's world, Cardinal Hummes said in his homily. Cardinal Franc Rodd, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, echoed the importance of living as humble and poor children of God as personified by St Francis.
He said in a homily last week that being a living witness to humility and poverty is a sign of having been freed by God from the thirst for power and possessions. lie said that this liberating message must be shared with others so that everyone may have the possibility of
receiving eternal life.
The Franciscan gathering took place from April 15 to April 18 last week.
Participants followed in the footsteps of their founder with many activities taking place in or around the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, which houses the Portiuncula chapel the small church where St Francis experienced his conversion.
Several hundred friars walked up steep hills, past wheat fields and olive groves, on a two-hour penitential procession to the tomb of their founder, St Francis of Assisi.
Franciscan Fr Mark Reamer, pastor of St Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, North Carolina, said what struck him the most about the gathering was.seeing so many friars from such different cultures.
He said: "We look so different, we speak different languages, and yet there is a sense of unity in our vocation and in our sense of being brothers."
This unity in diversity, he said, was aided by St Francis, who was able to recognise the uniqueness in each person, which led to there being no "cookie-cutter approach to being a friar".
Franciscan Fr Bob Mokry, provincial of Franciscans in western Canada from 2001 to 2007, said St Francis's example and message was "absolutely necessary" today.
He said St Francis had universal appeal, and not just among Christians.
"There's something about the poor little rich man who gives up everything and experiences freedom and has a rapport with everyone, with all of creation," he said.