(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2024 Digital Issue #112)
By Layna Maher, OFS
National Formation Commission Chair
Think back to your profession and recall the words that you said as the Minister held your hands and you made your profession promise.
I, by the grace of God, renew my baptismal promises and consecrate myself to the service of his Kingdom. Therefore, in my secular state I promise to live all the days of my life the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Secular Franciscan Order by observing its rule of life. May the grace of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our holy father St. Francis, and the fraternal bonds of community always be my help, so that I may reach the goal of perfect Christian love.
Our OFS Rule provides guidance for how we are to live each day and act in every situation. Article 9 tells us how we are to appreciate and respect Mary, our mother and model in life.
The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to His every word and call. She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family. The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently. OFS Rule Article 9
St. Francis’ love and devotion to the Blessed Mother is evident from the earliest days.
Thomas of Celano, the first to write a life of Saint Francis, describes how St. Francis rebuilt the church of Saint Mary of the Portiuncula in Chapter IX of the First Book.
“When the holy man of God saw it SO ruined, he was moved by piety because he had a warm devotion to the Mother of all good and he began to stay there continually.” (FA:ED vol.1, 201)
Saint Bonaventure shares with us that Saint Francis “…embraced the mother of the Lord Jesus with an inexpressible love since she made the Lord of Majesty a brother to us and, through her, we have obtained mercy.” (FA:ED vol. 2, 598)
We can turn to the early documents to read the words of St. Francis himself in his Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Hail, O Lady,
Holy Queen,
Mary, holy Mother of God,
Who are the Virgin made Church,
chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
whom he consecrated with His most holy
beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is
all fullness of grace and every good.
Hail His Palace!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!
And hail all You holy virtues
which are poured into the hearts of the faithful
through the grace and enlightenment of the
Holy Spirit,
that from being unbelievers,
You may make them faithful to God.
(FA:ED, vol. 1, 163)
Take time to ponder the words of this beautiful salutation and pray with gratitude for Mary, our mother and model, that gave us Jesus as our brother.
What qualities or attributes of Mary most move you? How do you imitate those qualities and attributes in your daily life? How are you saying yes?
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