FOUNDATION Trusting in the Father, Christ chose for himself and his mother a poor and humble life, even though he valued created things attentively and lovingly. Let the Secular Franciscans seek a proper spirit of detachment from temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs. Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God’s children. 1

Thus, in the spirit of “the Beatitudes,” and as pilgrims and strangers on their way to the home of the Father, they should strive to purify their hearts from every tendency and yearning for possession and power. Rule, Art. 11 2

THE BEATITUDES AND THE SFO Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall be satisfied. 3

JUSTICE Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith. Rule, Art. 15 4

JUSTICE Two basic needs: – –Food – –Drink Compare Israelites in the desert with people today 5

JUSTICE Israelites: Israelites: –Complained about lack of food –God gave them bread – manna –Told them not to store it up Today: Today: –Affluent society –Always want more 6

JUSTICE Israelites: Israelites: –Kept the manna for “control” –By morning it was wormy and rotten Jesus: Jesus: –Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure. (Mattl 6:19-21) 7

JUSTICE Israelites: Israelites: –Complained of thirst – God gave them endless water – Asked if God was there Today: Today: –We ask “is God here?” 8

OUR RULE   United by their vocation as “brothers and sisters of penance,” and motivated by the dynamic power of the Gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel itself calls “conversion.” 9

OUR RULE Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily. On this road to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation is the privileged sign of the Father’s mercy and the source of grace. Rule art. 7 10

CONVERSION   5 facets of conversion: Affective Intellectual Moral Religious Socio-political 11

CONVERSION Affective: Emotional Ex: Evangelical “altar call” 12

CONVERSION Intellectual Involves: seeing, experiencing, understanding, judging, deciding Study Change of mind Often leads to becoming agnostic or aetheist 13

CONVERSION Moral Change of value system Personal change: from self-love to love of others 14

CONVERSION Religious Requires divine initiative Challenges us to re-examine our values and habits in 4 areas emotional thought conscience society 15

CONVERSION Socio-political A change in how we look at human rights Commitment to work for reform 16

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. 1.What are concepts of “justice” that you have seen in others? 2. 2.What are ways in which people try to achieve “justice”? What do YOU believe about justice, and how do you act out that belief? Discuss the 5 conversion types and examine where you are as to each of them. 17