profession in the secular franciscan order

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PROFESSION in the Secular Franciscan Order Theological and Liturgical Foundations Fr. Richard Trezza, O.F.M. Pictures courtesy of Bob Stronach, SFO

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PROFESSION in the Secular Franciscan Order. Theological and Liturgical Foundations Fr. Richard Trezza, O.F.M. Pictures courtesy of Bob Stronach, SFO. Profession: A gift of the Spirit. The Spirit is in charge - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

PROFESSION in the Secular Franciscan Order

Theological and Liturgical FoundationsFr. Richard Trezza, O.F.M.

Pictures courtesy of Bob Stronach, SFO

Page 2: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Profession: A gift of the SpiritThe Spirit is in charge

During the rite of Profession, there is an intense dialogue between the candidate and God

The liturgical moment gives us a chance to make a response to God

The Profession liturgy is a “confession of faith”.

Encarnita del Pozo, SFO; Minister General General Chapter – Hungary 2008

Page 3: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

The Grace of Profession

We need God’s grace to “dedicate ourselves to the service of His Kingdom”.

One cannot serve the Kingdom without recognizing the role of the Spirit in life.

Benedetto Lino, SFO, General Councillor and author of the Syllabus for the New Formation Manual

Page 4: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Profession: An Action of the Church

Profession comes about through God’s intervention, who …

Works through Jesus Christ, who …

Works through the Church

Profession is an ecclesial act … an event In God’s eternal time – kairos

Fr. Felice Cangelosi, OFM Cap giving his talk on Profession at the General Chapter in Hungary, 2008.

Page 5: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Profession and FraternityThe local fraternity makes the action and the presence of the Church visible.

Profession must be celebrated in the presence of the fraternity … the privileged place.

As a result of Profession, the fraternity receives a gift from God in the persons of the newly professed. The newly elected General Council CIOFS –

General Chapter 2008

Page 6: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Ministries in the Celebration of Profession

The Candidates by their sacraments of Initiation exercise their priestly role in profession.

The local Minister invokes the Holy Spirit and receives the Profession

The Fraternity makes the Church visible

The priest witnesses the action of the Church, guarantees the suitability of the candidates and ratifies the promises made in the name of the Church

Fr. Felice Cangelosi, OFM Cap.

Page 7: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

The Spirit in the Celebration of Profession

The Spirit accomplishes the “sanctification” of the candidates

During the ceremony, the Minister invokes the Spirit upon the candidates

Profession is an “epiclesis” – a New Pentecost

Some of the Chapter delegates at the Esztergom Cathedral – Hungary 2008

Page 8: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Profession and the Eucharist

The priest associates the promise of Profession with the Eucharistic sacrifice

The candidates give themselves as an oblation – gift to the Lord

The candidates as priests and victims make themselves completely available to God

International, national and regional Spiritual Assistants at Mass in Budapest, Hungary 2008

Page 9: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Baptism and ProfessionBaptism produces a consecration

Baptism configures a person to the Paschal mystery of Christ … dying and rising

Baptism makes one a living member of the Church

Profession gives the grace to help one live out this promise

Fr. Felice making a point in his talk

Page 10: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Consecration

To dedicate, to reserve something, to destine a person for God and His exclusive service

In Profession, a person places him/herself into the hands of God enabling Him to take hold of them

The person no longer belongs to him or herself but is at God’s total disposal

The professed becomes God’s propertyThe retired Franciscan Cardinal of Esztergom celebrates the Mass closing the year of St. Elizabeth of Hungary - 2008

Page 11: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

The Value of Profession in the SFOThe SFO Profession is a true and proper profession according to the Church’s understanding

The SFO Profession has the dignity of a solemn and religious commitment and cannot be considered inferior to that of “religious” – although the two are different in content due to the multiple action of divine grace in a diversity of charisms. Encarnita del Pozo, SFO, Minister

General, distributes bread at end of Mass closing out the celebratory year of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Page 12: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

After the Manner of St. Francis

A Secular Franciscan promises to live out the Gospel as mediated by St. Francis by his example and instruction

Profession puts before you the radical, light filled and joyful style in which Francis listens to the Gospel and commits himself to it.

Fr. Felice’s exclamation point!

Page 13: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order

Following ChristFor Francis, to follow Christ meant; following Christ’s poverty, humility, His very life, His precepts, His doctrine, His will His goodness, following the spirit of the Scriptures, following the Good Shepherd and following in the footsteps of Christ. Fr. Ivan Matic, OFM, General OFM Spiritual

Assistant; Fr. Richard Trezza, OFM, Provincial Spiritual Assistant, Holy Name Province; Fr. Trujillo Cano, TOR, General TOR Spiritual Assistant at the Mass in Esztergom, Hungary - 2008

Page 14: PROFESSION in the  Secular Franciscan Order