THE FRANCISCAN ECUMENICAL FRATERNITY

THE MINOR BROTHERS ECUMENICAL FRATERNITY

Very few people know that within some reformed churches there are religious orders. Among them is the Franciscan Order.

Within the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church there is a Franciscan movement with fraternities in Seville, Málaga, Cárdenas, (Matanzas), Cuba, and Montevideo, Fray Bentos (Uruguay). These communities do social work such as feeding foreigners that have been robbed or lost their money, housing people, looking after the sick, giving food to the local needy, and evangelisation through retreats and meetings.

Given their eminently ecumenical character, their members belong to various Christians churches and, apart from other gatherings, they hold meetings, the first Tuesday of each month, to pray for the Unity of Christians, every Wednesday to pray and study the word of God and every Saturday there is a meeting to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and ministry to the sick and infirm.

FOUR BRANCHES

Although this leaflet wishes to deal principally with the Third Order, a brief mention of the other branches will help the reader to see the Minor Brothers Ecumenical Fraternity as a whole.

1. The First Order.- is made up of brothers who live in community and work and pray and serve among the poor and outcast in our society, as do many T.O. brothers and sisters. They also direct retreats.

2. The Second Order.- is composed of sisters living in community and although being called to the life of adoration and intercessory prayers, they work helping abandoned children, old people living alone and feeding people in need.

3. The Third Order.(T.O.), composed of men and women called Tertiaries, married or single, with or without family, who live and work in the world, in their professions or occupations, without being prevented by that from living the Gospel.

4. The Associated, are lay persons, who, not feeling called to join an Order, feel the need for a Franciscan dimension in their lives and are linked to the Fraternity by means of its literature and by their relationships with other members of the different Franciscan branches

BRIEF HISTORY

Saint Francis did something that few men and women have ever done: He took Jesus’ words literally, i.e., he really lived the Gospel in a simple, direct and complete way. He followed Jesus’ example as closely as he could. Since then he has been the inspiration for thousands of men and women attracted by his love for God and for all creatures, and by his unique message of joy, simplicity, humility, service, peace and brotherhood.

So great was his attraction that when brother Francis went into a town all came out to receive him. Some of these people told him that they wished to lead a life like his even when they continued carrying out their occupations and have their own families. Because of their responsibilities they were not at liberty to renounce all.

In order to help these people and make them form part of the Franciscan family, Francis conceived the idea of creating a Third Order, called in the beginning the Order of Penitence: men and women who wish to live in accordance with the Gospel, in a fraternity of which Saint Francis is the inspiration and the example for following Christ.

Historically, the greater expression of the work of the Franciscan Orders has been seen in the Roman Catholic Church, but Franciscanism also had a great influence in the countries that accepted the Reformation as from the end of the 15^th century and in the Orthodoxy.

THE GOAL OF THE THIRD ORDER

Our goal as Tertiaries is to surrender our lives to Christ and give testimony to the evangelical life in our homes and in the various occupations to which we believe that God has called us, declaring him always as unique and sufficient Saviour.

PURPOSES OF THE FRATERNITY

Our purpose as an Ecumenical Fraternity is to make our Lord Jesus Christ known and loved everywhere, as Francis did, extending the spirit of brotherhood and living with simplicity. This is the obedience that the Gospel asks of us and which defines our lives and attitudes.

Our Third Order is composed of Christians of different denominations, so there are, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR LIVES AS TERTIARIES

Our life styles are varied since we are made up of men and women, single or married, some lay, others ordained, and we cover the widest range of careers and professions and domestic jobs.

The Gospel calls us to die to our egocentricity and to live again a new life in the Lord. This signifies a radical transformation with the objective of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.

The Minor Brothers Ecumenical Fraternity is a family centred in Christ, whose members, in addition to responsibilities in their respective churches, pray and work together for the unity of Christians and also for the bodily needs of those needy that call on the Fraternity. It is a union of joy, love and interdependence.

CONDITIONS OF OUR LIVES

Saint Francis said, "The rule and life of the brothers minor is this: keep the holy Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and live in obedience, chastity and poverty".

Loving God signifies allowing ourselves to be incorporated in the life with God and practising kindness and courtesy with our fellows. We express this through our promises, but in the Third Order these vows are interpreted; that our Lord Jesus Christ be known and loved by all people (obedience), that we spread the spirit of brotherhood (chastity) and that we lead a simple life without luxuries (poverty).

For further information please write to:

MINOR BROTHERS ECUMENICAL FRATERNITY

CALLE DE SANTA CLARA, 5

41002 SEVILLE (Spain)

FRATERNIDAD ECUMËNICA FRANCISCANA

CALLE ALCAPARRÖN 58

29018 MÄLAGA (Costa del Sol)

ecumenismo FRATERNIDAD ECUMËNICA FRANCISCANA