Fr Bryan Shortall OFM Cap. gives a blessing with a relic of Padre Pio. Consecrated Life Supplement
Fr Bryan Shortall OFM. Cap.
Consecrated life is the free and generous choice a woman or a man makes to follow God in the religious life, living with others in community and living the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The man who feels he might have a call to live his life in the Capuchin Order following the rule of St Francis of Assisi, is making a conscious choice to join a worldwide family of more than 11,000 brothers living on all five continents. Even as I write these lines, I’m wondering is it making sense? Is it making sense in our 21st century world? Why would someone decide to become a Capuchin Friar and live out their religious life as a priest or brother? The choice for religious life is not something that is understood by our world today which is geared in the main to those who will meet someone and marry and who hope to find their soulmate.
Vows
The vows we take initially for a period of three years, and then eventually for life are meant to be life giving if lived well and will help us to live happy and joyful lives which should radiate our consecration to all the world. The profession of the ‘Evangelical Counsels’, or the vows, are how we consecrate ourselves to God following the rule of St Francis. The first chapter of the rule, which was written 800 years ago says this: “The rule and life of the lesser brothers is this: To observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, living in obedience, without anything of our own, and in chastity. Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius and his canonically elected successors, and to the Roman Church; and the rest of the brothers are obliged to obey Francis and his successors.”
The vow of obedience challenges the Capuchin to be always at the service of the brothers in the person of the provincial minister and to be like Francis of Assisi who was a “pilgrim and stranger”. From the fifth chapter of the rule of Saint Francis we read: “The brothers should appropriate neither house, nor place, nor anything for themselves; and they should go confidently after alms, serving God in poverty and humility, as pilgrims and strangers in this world.”
Taking a vow of obedience to a religious way of life or a religious superior can be counter-cultural today as the world out there seems to preach a selfishness and to “look after number one”.
When our consecration is well lived, despite the challenges of life, there is a deep-down joy that can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ”
Similarly, the vow of poverty challenges us to be poor, modest, humble, and content with little. Poverty can also mean putting our will to one side in order to do the will of God through the provincial minister and those who we are at the service of. Poverty doesn’t make sense in a world where we are constantly reminded about the finer things of life and how much having them would make our lives better and more comfortable. The lifestyles of the rich and famous say nothing to the one who wishes to have little or embrace the simple life. Poverty also speaks against the temptation to have more and more power.
The vow of chastity allows us to be free to love all people and be at their service rather than have one partner. It means we don’t choose marriage or relationships, instead Capuchins live in community as a family of brothers. Celibacy is challenging and it is something the world doesn’t understand; however, it is not celibacy for nothing, it is celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom.
Direction
The three vows can only be lived by the Capuchin who tries to have a strong prayer life, in private, and in common, and good spiritual direction. Also, the vows are best lived with a high degree of honesty and truthfulness. When our consecration is well lived, despite the challenges of life, there is a deep-down joy that can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are lucky we have some great beacons of hope in our Capuchin way of life to help us with their prayers like; Marco of Aviano, Laurence of Brindisi, Felix of Cantalice, Crispin of Viterbo, Angelus of Acri, Leopold Mandic of Castelnuovo, Solanus Casey, and Pio of Pietrelcina.
The call
The call to follow Jesus Christ in the Capuchin Order is no soft option and it takes maturity and dedication. It is not for everyone. It is God who calls, and it is God who will give the man the necessary gifts to step up. In today’s world we are called to excellence, whether in business, education, medicine, politics, sport, science, etc and it is critical that the ministers of the Gospel be second-to-none in the living out of our consecration in the name of Jesus Christ and his Church. Prayer is the raw material for the person to fuel the living of the vows. The Holy Spirit is at the centre of this call and will provide the wherewithal for the open heart to hear and respond to the call to religious life. Do not be afraid.
For more information, visit the Vocations page of the Capuchin Franciscans Ireland here.