Making the Transition

From 13 Century Values to 21st Century Society

“When I was in sin, it was very bitter for me to see lepers. And the Lord led me among them, and I did mercy with them. And afterward, what was bitter was turned into sweetness of soul and body.” (Francis, Testament)

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Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Fantome Island Leprosarium, Australia 1945

Franciscan Health Systems, U.S. 2013

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“ ... they shall not ride horseback”(Francis, Rule, 1223)

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Crusader knight on horseback

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U.S. Law Enforcement Vehicle

“ ... they shall not ride horseback”

2000“ ... they shall not ride horseback”

St. Francis MissalAssisi, Church of San Niccolo (1172-1228) (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore MD)

1200 “let them pray for the living and the dead”

(Francis, Earlier Rule, 1221)

iBreviary daily Catholic prayer in electronic form, created by Fr. Paolo Padrini of Tortona, Italy

2000 “let them pray for the living and the dead”

(Francis, Earlier Rule, 1221)

Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures, earliest copy: Assisi Ms. 338 (1250 ca.)

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Pope Francis washing feet of juvenile prisoners

Sr. Denise Boyle fmdm, FI Executive Director 2007-2012

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The St. Francis Pledge:“We Pledge to:”

• PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.

• LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.

• ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.

• ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.

• ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

“They are still arguing about whether they will crucify him for being from my Order or for taking your name, Frank

“ ... as pilgrims and strangers in this world let them go confidently ...” (Francis, Rule, 1223)

Padre Alfonso OFM Cap with new immigrants from Italy, Sydney, 1951 ca.

St. Anthony Dining Room,San Francisco CA

David Bornstein

Change for Common Good

• St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, would qualify as a social entrepreneur -- having built multiple organizations that advanced pattern changes in his "field."

• David Bornstein, How to Change the World : Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas , p. 3

Friar Bernardino of Feltre,founder of microlending inMonte di Pietà

Monte di Pietà, Naples (1539)

Monte di Pietà,Perugia (1460)

Monte di Pietà: Franciscan Micro-lending

“The highest interest is the interest of all.”

Women’s Co-op Snack Shop, Widows’ Sewing Cooperative, Coimbatore, India FMM Convent

Maastricht Book of Hours, 14th cent., British Museum, London

A Generous View of God

• God is the “Good,” God is love– humans connect with God through free act of love

• God is interpersonal communion of Persons– the Trinity puts community at center of all

• Jesus: the center/heart of Trinity made a creature– Incarnation, “the Word made flesh” a free act of love

• All creation exists because of him and for him– “Christocentrism:” all is related to him

• God’s will: all will be saved, all things made new– the “universal salvific will of God”

A Contrasting View of God

• God is primarily the “Truth” – humans connect with God through intellect

• God is “the One,” “the supreme Being” – the unconnected individual is image of God

• World is testing ground for salvation: to be destroyed at the end–material reality basically irrelevant to God

• God wills some to be saved– others be damned

Optimistic View of Human Person

• Made as image of God, patterned on Christ

• Injured by evil, sin: bent over, looking down

• Healing work of Christ brings upright posture

• Humans share bond with all creatures: Christ

• God’s plan is sharing divine life with all

A Contrasting View of Person

• Sin has destroyed image of God in humans– sin is organic, rotting from within, poison

• Christ came because of sin, to die as payment– without human sin no need for a Savior

• Humans have creation to “use” and dominate– all other creatures exist for the sake of

humans

A Positive View of the World

• Made to reveal its good Creator– world leads us toward God, not away from God

• Created for Christ, remains in him, to be fulfilled in him– world is of great importance to God who calls it “very

good”

• Careful attention to the world opens us to God’s presence in Christ– the world is charged with “God’s grandeur”

• Every created being is linked to us because we have a common source and destiny– in God, through Christ

A Contrasting View of World

• The world exists to be stage for human drama– the testing place for final salvation

• Material reality is of little importance – what really matters is “spiritual”

• World is put here for us to consume – its meaning is fulfilled when humans use it

• Destiny of created world is destruction– after the “saved” are taken away