VERBUM SERAPHICUM
PAX ET BONUM FEBRUARY -- 2000 A. D. AVE MARIA
"If thou wilt
be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor,
. . . and come follow Me." Matthew 19:21
|
INTRODUCTION This is the first issue of VERBUM SERAPHICUM: a newsletter for vocations to traditional Franciscan life. The purpose of this publication is to provide information that assists in the discernment of a supernatural vocation to religious life and to the priesthood. O Mary, Mediatrix of every Grace, pray for us! Is God calling you? How to know with certainty Three principles of discernment: 1) When one with a vocation is near God he senses his vocation is true; but when far, he falls into doubt; whereas one who has not a vocation does not sense his vocation even when he is near God. 2) Many individuals who sensed a vocation fall into doubts especially during college years; there is the realization of the opportunity to pursue a career and/or marriage; there is the consideration that the idealism of a vocation was a youthful dream and that the real world contains either nothing idealistic or things more promising. St. Alphonsus dei Liguori counsels this during such times: consider what choice would give you the greatest peace of mind in the hour of your death; which is less dangerous, in which can one come to know, love, and serve God in a manner more suitable so as to avoid mortal sin. 3) And St. Ignatius of Loyala offers this counsel: which choice comes to you in peace and light and with joy and leaves a taste of these things -- that is from God; but that which comes in anxiety and doubts and is feverish and leaves a taste of shadows and doubts and fears -- that is not from God. Glorious St. Joseph, pray for us! |
NATURAL VS. SUPERNATURAL Good and Bad reasons to follow a vocation The fundamental characteristic of all good reasons to follow a vocation is that they are supernatural motives which move you to say yes to God's call. Supernatural means above the category of all things which are created. What is supernatural comes from God, cooperates with God, and leads back to God. Everything that is supernatural is associated with grace in some manner. Some things which are supernatural are purely gifts, that cannot be merited; others can only be merited; still others can only be begged for in prayer. A vocation to priesthood or religious life is only supernatural when it arises in one's heart and mind out of supernatural reasons. Some of these reasons include: (1) to avoid the occasions of mortal sin which exist in the world, (2) to assist the practice of virtue, (3) to make it easier to get to Heaven, (4) to serve God's people, (5) to seek the perfection of holiness, (6) to seek one's own salvation, (7) to seek the salvation of sinners, (8) to honor God through the observance of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, (9) to glorify God by seeking and obtaining the salvation of souls, (10) to do the will of God for me, (11) purely for the love of the Most Holy Trinity, (12) out of love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, so as to be one of Her faithful adopted sons. Bad reasons are those which arise from natural motives: such as to have a comfortable life, to get an education, to obtain power, fame, wealth; to avoid hardships of the world, such as married life. In discernment one must examine the reasons and desires which lead to saying yes or no to a vocation. Sinners that we are, it is usual that there is some bad motive, however small; let these be repented of. Merciful that God is, there are usually many good motives; let us say yes to these and pray for the grace to make them grow in our hearts and minds. Let us not be tricked by the Devil, who will use bad reasons to convince us to say yes or no to a vocation. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us! |
VERBUM SERAPHICUM
PAX ET BONUM FEBRUARY -- 2000 A. D. AVE MARIA
"If thou wilt
be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor,
. . . and come follow Me." Matthew 19:21
|
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER
By St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, OFM If you would suffer patiently the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you would gain power and strength to overcome the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer. If you would mortify your will with all its affections and lusts, be a man of prayer. If you would understand the cunning devices of Satan, and defend yourself against his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live joyfully, and with sweetness walk in the path of penitence and sorrow, be a man of prayer. If you would drive out the troublesome gnats of vain thoughts and cares from your soul, be a man of prayer. If you would sustain your soul with the richness of devotion, and keep it ever full of good thoughts and desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen and confirm your heart in the pilgrimage with God, be a man of prayer. Lastly, if you would root out from your soul every vice and in their place plant the virtues, be a man of prayer, for in this is obtained the unction and grace of the Holy Spirit who teaches all good things. And besides all this, if you would climb to the height of contemplation, and delight in the sweet embraces of the Bridegroom, exercise yourself in prayer, for this is the way by which the soul mounts up to contemplation and to the taste of heavenly things. You see, then, of how great virtue and power is prayer, and for proof of all that has been said (to say nothing of Holy Scripture) let this now be sufficient assurance that we have seen and heard, and see, day by day, many simple persons who have attained to all these things above mentioned and to others greater, through the exercise of prayer.
Published by The Franciscan Archive, 62 Pilgrim Rd, Mansfield, MA 02048 http://www.franciscan-archive.org |
WHAT IS Part I Traditional Franciscan Life is first of all an authentic religious vocation, embraced for supernatural motives and aiming at perfect conformity with the will of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Our Lord says in the Gospel: "If thou wilt be perfect, ...". A religious puts these words into practice by abandoning a worldly way of life and radically seeking to change his entire mind and heart and body so as to be conformed to Christ Jesus and to serve Him perfectly and totally without reservation. He who is called to trust in Christ, ought to trust in Him as God and Messiah. If one only trusts in Him to a certain extent and under certain conditions, then one trusts in Him only as a man and not as God. There is nothing that the Son of God cannot do for us if we only trust in Him without reservation. Did He not say, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain be moved and cast in to the sea, and it would obey you."? Our Lord spoke of this in truth and so it is also true as to the mountain of doubts and fears and selfishness which dwells in our hearts and minds. "Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you!" says Scripture. He who is willing to acknowledge that Christ is God with his lips, should have the nobility of soul to make the same acknowledgment by deeds. St. Francis did all this by abandoning his father and mother and inheritance, his career and reputation among his friends and fellow citizens. He left everything and renounced this world, his flesh, and the devil. Triumphing over the three enemies of the soul, He took God the Father as his very own Father; and he followed God the Son as His Lord and Master, striving to put into practice all His teachings, especially those on obedience, poverty, and chastity. St. Francis did not hesitate to follow Christ Crucified, for he realized that all this world has to offer is deceitful appearances, vain promises and everything slippery and conducive towards eternal damnation. As a great spiritual warrior St. Francis conquered over all temptations; by recognizing that of himself he had not the power; but that in Christ and by uniting himself to Him in prayer; victory was certain. |