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Rule 8
As Jesus was the true
worshipper of the Father, so let prayer and contemplation be the
soul of all they are and do.
Let them participate in
the sacramental life of the Church, above all the Eucharist. Let
them join in liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by
the Church, reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ.
Rule 8 exhorts us to pray. We are
to participate in some form of Liturgical prayer of the Church. Most
fraternities train its members in using either the 4-volume or the
1-volume (Christian Prayer) edition of the Liturgy of the Hours. The
1-volume is (still) affordable, the 4-volume is getting rather
expensive. However, there are other means or prayer as indicated in
the "Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order" and other official
documents. Quoted from the original Ritual text:
Liturgical Prayer
For the Members of the Secular Franciscan Order
26. According to the SFO Rule (art. 8), the members of the
Secular Franciscan Order are to join in liturgical prayer in
one of the forms proposed by the Church, reliving the
mysteries of Christ.
27. These prayers may be:
a. Morning and evening prayer from The Liturgy of the Hours,
either in common or in private. These celebrations are to be
preferred at the fraternity meeting.
b. A shortened form of The Liturgy of the Hours according to
forms adapted to the local Churches.
c. The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
d. The office of the Passion written by St. Francis of
Assisi
e. The office of the twelve Our Fathers in one of its many
versions that have been enriched with short biblical
readings and also adapted to the structure of The Liturgy of
the Hours, especially since this form of prayer still
thrives in many parts of the world and is a useful way of
praying in everyday circumstances.
It is up to each fraternity to
choose the Liturgical prayer used in the fraternity, however, they
should follow the recommendations of the local or Regional Spiritual
Assistant.
Then there is contemplative
prayer. Contemplation is not only for those in religious orders, but
can be accomplished by all, even Secular Franciscans, provided we
continue to realize that contemplation is a gift of God. Please see
box below. A lot has been written in our website about contemplation
because of my experiences with same, when I was a religious,
specifically a monk.
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5-10-2008
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"When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and
pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father
who sees in secret will reward you. (Mat 6:6) |
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I have known some very
fine people who were not religious but to whom Our Lord
gave the great gift of contemplation.
But notwithstanding that,
we should all foster a close relationship with Our Lord,
a place of peace deep in our inner being, where we are
totally alone with Our Lord and His/Our Mother Mary, be
it for a minute, five minutes or half an hour.
This should be a time
where we pray some, then quiet ourselves down and await
His quiet and helpful voice.
It is time well spent,
although very often when I begin doing something else I
feel neither good nor bad, just peaceful. Very much at
peace.
There are great periods of
my day that it seems I haven't a particular thought in
my head, but I am very much at peace.
It isn't necessary to
always say something or do something, just spend some
time in each others’ presence. And so it is with Our
Lord.
F. Schaeffer,
SFO |
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Jesus
Wants Us As His Best Friend
A Flame Within: Reflection on the
Soul
Ascent to Interior Prayer Part 1,
Part 2
&
Part 3 |
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