“… The brothers who go can conduct themselves among them spiritually in two ways. One way is to avoid quarrels or disputes and be subject to every human creature for God's sake ( 1 Pet. 2: 13), so bearing witness to the fact that they are Christians. Another way is to proclaim the word of God openly, when they see that it is God's will …” (Rnb 16, 5-7)

“To lead a radically evangelical life in a spirit of prayer and devotion, and in fraternal fellowship”, “to offer a witness of penance and minority”, “to announce the Gospel throughout the whole world” embracing all in charity and “to preach reconciliation, peace and justice by their deeds” is essential to our life of Friars Minor (GG.CC. 1, 2).

The basis of our life in fraternal communion is rooted in the announcement of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the mission of making Christ known, through our life, to a world that continues to be characterized by violence, war, marginalization and the destruction of the environment. St. Francis, our Founder, the “Saint of the Incarnation”, gave his brothers and his contemporaries an example without equal of how to be a herald of the Gospel, in word and deed, through commitment to justice, peace and harmony with creation. We cannot be heralds of the Gospel if we do not live open to conversion, reconciled with ourselves, with our brothers and with the whole of creation entrusted to our care (cf. Gen 2, 15), and if we do not do this reconciled with God in Christ, our Brother and Lord.

“To conduct themselves spiritually”, “to avoid quarrels or disputes”, “to be subject to every human creature” and to confess that Jesus is the Christ means, in other words, to be heralds and promoters of life, which we all have received as gift, but over which hangs various threats. The present-day mass media, such as the press, radio and television, allow us to verify easily how people and the entire creation live in “the shadow of death” (Lk 1, 79) and, therefore, we need the “rising Sun to visit us” (Lk 1:78).

There is a close connection between destruction of the environment and increasing impoverishment of many people in our world, and vice-versa. The stream of refugees, driven by the fear of losing their lives and in search of a bountiful existence, not only does not stop but, on the contrary, is increasing all the time. The search for immediate satisfaction of subjective needs does not respect the yearning felt by many to leave future generations a better world. It is difficult to control the reins and global connections of a life threatened by an activity whose guiding principle is constant and progressive development at any cost.

With greater reason, then, we Friars Minor are called to witness by means of our Gospel roots our fraternal communion and our simple life in reconciled diversity, of a liberated existence in Christ and for Christ.

Office of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation
General Curia of the Order of Friars Minor (The Franciscans)

Ufficio Giustizia e Pace
Curia Generalizia dei Frati Minori
Via S. Maria Mediatrice, 25
00165 Rome, Italy

email: pax@ofm.org - Tel: +39-0668491218 Fax: +39-0668491266