The Franciscan Family

Once I finished six weeks of language school in Bolivia, I moved to the place where I will reside for the next two  years. I live in the Franciscan Social Center in downtown Cochabamba in the oldest Spanish colonial part of the city. That Sunday, I attended Mass at Templo San Francisco. The Mass was beautiful, and unlike many Spanish colonies, the local Quechua culture has remained. The influence upon the music of the Mass is obvious. 

I came to Cochabamba as a missioner and a member of the Franciscan third order. After the Mass, I sat in the pew and observed several lay people going in and out of the sacristy putting things away. I was wondering why the Franciscan brothers were not taking care of it. Maybe this was a sign of an active parish, and I wanted to be a part of it. I sat a while longer trying to get up the courage with my imperfect Spanish to go into the sacristy to talk to them. Finally, I got up and approached the group. They smiled at me, and I said, “I am new to Cochabamba, and I would like to become involved in your parish.” They began to ask questions, and one of the men could see I was struggling, so he began to speak to me in English. His English was equivalent to my Spanish (we both use words in the wrong order because we think in our native language). We could understand each other with some patience. I asked him if he knew where the local Secular Franciscan Fraternity met. They were all Franciscans, and they welcomed me like a long lost brother. They invited me to the next gathering.

The Third order minister invited me to introduce myself at the first gathering I attended. I said the usual things, and ended with, “I am here to serve and to learn.” I am part of Saint Francis Fraternity as a guest. I have been with them for seven  months now. I do not have voting privileges, and I would not want to interfere with how they operate. 

August 25th is the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France, the patron of the third order. We had a special public Mass as five  people made their final profession to live the rest of their lives according to the third order Franciscan rule. We are an order of contemplation and action as Francis himself founded us in 1221. I remembered my own profession day as I watched my Brothers and Sisters give the response to the questions. “THIS IS WHAT I WANT”. I want to live poverty, simplicity and humility, going from Gospel to life and bringing life to the Gospel, a  life of service to humanity (all of God’s children). 

When the profession Mass was over, the five new professed helped the other professed put away all the decorations. The fact that it is a life of service was evident. We arrived at the reception, and the newly professed began serving all the guests. In Franciscan hospitality, it is more important to tend to the needs of your guests than your own. When our guests come to the Franciscan Social Center, the sign above the door reads “a work of the Franciscan Family.” We see all three orders as the same, and we serve our guests together. The guests are given bread and fruit for later in the day, and then they take a seat in the dinning room where they are served a restaurant-style meal. We are their servants. 

This very special evening ended with music performed by the first order brothers and dancing. Brother Carlitos, my friend, knows how to get a crowd moving. Being Professed for ten years now, I have learned that everyone is my brother and sister, not just the Franciscan family. We are all one human Family created by God. We Franciscans strive for justice, peace and integrity of creation.

PAX ET BONUM
Ralph (Rafito) Anderson, OFS

Question for Reflection: Think about a community that has become like a family to you. What values and virtues have you embraced or grown in as part of that family?