LOVE OF GOD
ROME — A panel discussion on several types of love was among the highlights of the General Chapter on Nov. 14.
Former Presidency Councillor Michel Janian from Lebanon said signs of God’s love are everywhere — in creation, in Christ, the Bible, the Rule, the writings of St. Francis.
Living God’s love as Secular Franciscans can been seen in community, prayer, service, joy and simplicity. Challenges to living God’s love include ego and pride, judgement and prejudice, fear and indifference.
Consider, he urged, how Francis inspires us to live love and to share love of God with others in our presence among those in need.
Start with the possible, he said, which leads to the impossible.
LOVE FOR OTHERS
There’s no better place to fully grasp “love for others” than serving the needy and the invisible of our society.
Such was the experience of panelist Stefania Marinetti, OFS, a former national councillor with the OFS of Italy. She served among 200 volunteers at the canteen of Saint Claire.
It was tiring, she said, but “full of blessings” as they worked with the lonely elderly, families without a home, earthquake victims, refugees, migrants, alcoholics and drug addicts.
“For our guests we don’t just cook: when we can we sit at the table with them, we know their stories. Because as the Hassidim told in the beautiful book by Martin Buber, “this is love for men, to feel what they need and to bear their pain”.”
LOVE OF SELF
Psychologist and Secular Franciscan Ricardo Gerardo Herrera Sandi from Costa Rica gave the capitulars and guests permission to “love themselves”.
Some Secular Franciscans may not recognize this as important and may even consider it selfish, said Ricardo. He emphasized: “To love myself is not selfish.” We must take care of ourselves. Matthew 22:34-45 reminds us to love God … and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Clearly, that means that we must love ourselves. God is inviting us to love ourselves.
We do this by addressing our most basic needs of life – food, sleep, health, physical accompaniment, an ability to express our feelings and the realization of our projects.
He emphasized that we must be basically well to be able to help others. With this equilibrium we have a greater sense of well-being so that we can focus on helping and loving others.