www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Byzantine & Franciscan??? A possibility?

Hello all and God bless!

I was wondering if the possibility is open for becoming both a Byzantine and a Franciscan? I believe that I have a vocation to the Priesthood, and I also want to become a Franciscan...ahhh! Help!

Christos Voskrese, Voistinu Voskrese!

Will

Will,

The Ruthenian Church has a Franciscan friary somewhere in America, so yes, you can!

http://OldWorldRus.com

Glory to Jesus Christ!

The Holy Dormition Byzantine Franciscan Monastery is in Sybertsville, PA, and has a website which can be accessed from the ByzCath directory of parishes, institutions, and monasteries. I don't know if offhand.

In Christ,
Theodosy, servant of God.

Will,

My son and I served liturgy today with Bishop BASIL, (Ruthenian) Eparch of Parma in Ohio. My understanding is that he is an OFM from the monastery in PA.

One thing to mention, though...as a member of the secular clergy, you can still profess as a Secular Franciscan. This means that you are a full member of the Franciscan Order and you do have the priveledge of wearing the Franciscan habit. There is an SFO province that has been set up for Eastern Catholics - mostly Byzantine.

If you would like more information, I can get it for you.

As a professed SFO who would like to enter the Byzantine Church, I believe that the two spiritualities are extremely compatible. I would love to see a Byzantine-Franciscan Spirituality Center set up some day!

Pax et bonum!

Gordo, sfo

Dear Dozier,
I have never heard of such an innovation called a Secular Franciscan. How much of your Roman Catholic beliefs have been compromised with secularism? What on earth is a secular clergy? Another form of compromise with secularism? Are your goals to compromise Byzantine Church with secularism? What is spiritual about secularism that you have already associated it with Franciscans and your clergy? I am plainly curious.

Robert,

'Secular clergy' in traditional Roman Catholic use means 'priests not living in community (monastery, friary) in a religious order'. Also known as 'diocesan clergy'. The term 'Secular Franciscan' is jarring and problematic; it's a post-Vatican II renaming (part of a '60s-'70s mania for change of any kind) of what traditionally has been known as the Third Order (members are 'tertiaries') of Franciscans. The First Order are the priests and brothers, the Second are the Poor Clare nuns. Other monastic orders like the Benedictines traditionally call their tertiaries 'oblates'.
http://OldWorldRus.com

Dear in Christ Will,

God Bless you in this Holy Season!

You certainly have received some very good leads here to your question. I just wanted to add that not only are there Byzantine Franciscans, but there are also Byzantine Carmelites, our own Father Elias being one.

unworthy servant

+Kyrill

Robert -

I gladly defer to Rusnak for his explanation of the term "secular" applied to Franciscans and clergy. Thank you, Rusnak, for clarifying.

Apart from your misunderstanding (somewhat understandable)of the use of "secular", I would only mention that our Lord, before entering into His ministry years, worked in a secular career for many years as a carpenter. "Secular" doesn't always mean something evil. It's unfortunate that "secular" humanists and the like have essentially ruined what would be otherwise a perfectly acceptable word and concept...and a perfectly Christian one at that!

Peace and all good things,

Gordo, sfo

Benedictines call their "tertiaries" oblates

Unlike the mendicant Orders (Franciscans, Carmelites, Dominicans etc.), the Benedictine Order has only one rule of life (for monks, nuns and lay people). Properly speaking, Benedictine Oblates are not to be classified as Third Order because St. Benedict did not write a second or third rule of life - one for monks, another for nuns, and another for lay members. There is only one Rule of St. Benedict and it is adapted according to one state in life. The flexibility of the rule is probably the reason why most monasteries and convents (if not all of Medieval Western Europe) followed it.

The word "secular" oblates is a term used to distinguish between those who are living in the world and following the rule of St. Benedict and those who live in the monastery but are not monks and nuns (with solemn vows).

In modern usage, it is best to refer to third order secular including oblates as Secular Institutes.

Fr. Mark

I might also amplify on Fr. Mark's comments by noting that there are many Orthodox laity who are also Benedictine oblates.

A good number of orthodox laity are oblates of St. Benedict is not surprising. In chapter 73 of the rule, St. Benedict urges his disciples to consider the rule as a secondary source - just a "rule for beginners,". He wrote:

"For those who are hastening to the perfection of monastic life...the divinely inspired books of the Old and New Testaments...most accurate rule for human life...or the teachings of the catholic fathers...proclaim as straight course to reach our Creator...or the conferences of the Fathers, their institutes and their lives, and the Rule of our holy Father Baisil - what else are these but examples for observant and obedient monks,and instruments of virtue?"

Looking for a model of a person who breaths with two lungs? How about St. Benedict of Nursia?

Fr. Mark

Dear in Christ,

I am happy to learn that the Benedictines have admitted Orthodox faithful as Oblates. You should also know that the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance ( O.Carm ) have done so in the recent past too.
There is certainly something to be said about the "universality" of the Monastic Life which can and does overcome and embrace those of different backgrounds, experience and practice, recognizing rather the "Christian Heart" which dwells in the other person.

unworthy servant,

+Kyrill