Art Francis Saint Francis The Rule

Commitment : The Gospel’s Human Face

Being a Secular Franciscan is about living in the world, not in an enclosed community.  We are not isolated from the Church nor the world, instead we aim to bring both together by following the example of St Francis – enriching God’s Creation with the Gospel of Christ.

Commitment:

If we only knew
the desire of the heart of Francis
to give a human face to the Gospel
for the people of our world.

Would we then walk more boldly?
Study more earnestly?
Live more vigorously?
Animated by a rule that calls us
to a world dying in a drought of love?

What will we leave to our world?
What will be our gift
as we commit ourselves to this Rule
for Secular Franciscans?

Think it through.
Realise how precious
is the gift of your commitment.
Every day begun with praise
and ending with thanks
with a middle that is a Gospel lifestyle.

Here’s to you, gracious God,
and your Son, Jesus,
and his Spirit dwelling in us.
What a privilege to proclaim
this Trinity of lovers
who is one God.

Poem from : To Catch Me a Rainbow Too – 1997 [Page 113]
Lester Bach OFM Cap

Image: A mural of St Francis by Héctor Rios
at the Franciscan Renewal Centre, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

Elizabeth is a member of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. She has had an interest in Franciscan Spirituality for over 20 years.