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The Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis
Catholic Life of Prayer We Franciscans are challenged to live an integrated life through prayer, community, and our ministry to serve the poor, neglected and disadvantaged youth, the powerless, people in need, and the elderly. We live by our vows of poverty (living in simplicity), chastity (living in love with all), and obedience (living and witnessing the Gospel). |
| How do I know if I have been called by God to serve as a Brother? The process of making a decision about your life by letting the Holy Spirit guide you is called “discernment.” A vocation to the religious life and the discernment it demands is not an easy, cut and dried task. Francis spent many hours in the caves near Assisi struggling to give form and shape to an inner vision. It need not happen in one single event, but it happens rather as a process. Slowly, as his dream became more definite and his calling stronger, he began to take some risks. He told a friend of dreams, one who would be a companion and stand at the mouth of the caves waiting for Francis to reemerge. He began “trying on” the life of the Gospel he would eventually embrace. Francis journeyed to Rome and exchanged his own clothes with those of a beggar. It was a simple thing, perhaps, but that exchange of clothing was an exterior sign of the inner transformation going on within Francis. From the writings of Francis and the stories about him, we know that his discernment did not end when he embraced the life of the Gospel. He was constantly seeking out the Lord’s will in his life. He gently pursued the dream. Do not force your dream, but be attentive to it. Take along a friend with whom you can share your hopes and doubts about your future. Above all, be a person of prayer who listens as the Lord speaks to your heart. When the time feels right, take the risks you sense you are called to take. It is in the responding and the reflection on the response afterward that the will of the Lord becomes clearer. Know, too, that a vocation to the religious life and the Franciscan Order is a growing, changing thing. As you continue to discover your unique calling, do not be afraid to dream. A calling to the religious life is not just a job. In a very real sense, it is something you slowly “fall in love with.” It calls you to be more than you ever thought you could be or think you can be right now. But just like Francis, if the dream is authentic and you are generous, open and honest in your response, the Lord has a way of transforming you, of making the impossible possible. Continue to listen -- and continue to pray! Here are some practical things that may be of help to you. • Listen Listening is a large part of any decision. Relax. Think clearly. Learn to understand your feelings and to listen to your deepest self. Discovering God’s will for you is a process. You want to make a decision about your life that is going to bring you happiness and the Lord has created you to be happy. The two of you are not working at cross-purposes, but for the same goal. Catholic Vocations in the Religious Life of Catholic Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Counselors, Elementary Teachers, High School Teachers and Religious Educators |
 • Compose Writing in a Journal is a personal tool for growth, for personal integration, and for the development of awareness, as well as for getting in touch with the flow of one’s life. As a tool it should be used when needed. Some general ideas about writing in a journal include the following: 1. Always date the entry: when you re-read the journal, the date may be important. 2. Always write for yourself; never write with the intention of showing the journal to anyone else. Although you may later want to share it with someone close to you, do not write with the intention of doing so. 3. Always write descriptively and nonjudgementally; just write what you feel regardless of whether it looks “right” or “wrong.” 4. Don’t erase. If you wish to add or nuance, add but don’t erase. 5. After you have finished an entry, re-read it, then add how you feel now that you have re-read what you have written. • Select None of us can go it alone. If we are interested in advancing in our Christian journey, we may benefit from enlisting a guide. Select someone you feel is farther along the road and heading in the direction you wish to go. This friend is someone you can comfortably talk with, someone who will listen. This guide is someone whose experience and empathy allow you to tell your story, look at yourself honestly and gain some direction. Through such a relationship, a person comes to know him/herself better, to realize some of the possibilities ahead and some ways to proceed. A certain amount of stagnation can be avoided, pitfalls side-stepped, self-deception surfaced, and self-doubt overcome. • Reflect Many people find meditative reading to be a very helpful way to gain deeper insight into themselves. This is not textbook reading; it is slow, thoughtful, deep reading. The book or material you select for meditative reading should be rich in content. The important thing about meditative reading is not to hurry or to attempt to read too much at one time. Some people use meditative reading as a method of prayer. By taking time to relax and to be reflective, they find that this type of reading can put them in the “mood” for a dialogue with God. • Pray Prayer means the opening of your mind and heart to the mystery of God’s role in existence, and especially in your personal existence. To pray means to be open to God -- to be in the presence of God. Here are some thoughts about entering into prayer: 1. Find a suitable place -- free from distractions. 2. Realize that harmony of body and spirit is important; take a peaceful, relaxed position. 3. Spend a few moments quieting yourself as you come into the presence of the Lord, believing He is with you. 4. Be a receptive listener -- prayer is primarily listening, not talking to God. 5. Reflect on what God has said to you. 6. Respond in simplicity and honesty. • Ponder Ask yourself -- what is most important in your life? How interested are you in your own growth, the growth and well-being of others? Are you looking for creative and meaningful ways to live your life and to help others live? Are you interested in an apostolic mission realized in the realm of human services, especially to the poor and neglected? Are you interested in an apostolic mission that stands in solidarity with the needs of the poor, the powerless and the disadvantaged? |
• Home Page Who are the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis? What do we do? What does it mean to be a Brother? • St. Francis, Our Namesake • Bro. John Hoever, Our Founder • Catholic Religious Vocation • Franciscan Order, the Congregation of the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis • Newsletters Available Upon Request Fall/Winter Spring/Summer • Frequently Asked Questions • Contact Us • How do I know if I have been called by God to serve as a Brother? • Do you wish to take the challenge of becoming a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis? • An Inquiry Form |
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Catholic Life of Prayer |