Hope Built on Faith Results in an Increase in Vocations

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2025 Issue #114)

 Anne Mulqueen, OFS
National Formation Commission

Hope is a special virtue to me because it is my middle name. I was born the ninth child to older parents, a girl after a string of boys. My father, a dreamer, added Hope to my name because he believed I would be their hope for the future. I hope I fulfilled his dream. He died when I was 15.

Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” People, especially Franciscans, always hold on to hope, even in difficult times. It is part of human nature and a virtue. These lovely words speak the truth that it is God who plants hope in the human heart.

St. Thomas Aquinas speaks directly to our hope and desire for an abundant harvest of Secular Franciscan vocations.

“First, hope is triggered by a future good — a good not yet obtained. Second, by a possible good — a good that can be obtained. Third, by a difficult good — a good that, while possible, can only be obtained through difficulty.” [Summa Theologica]

All three aspects of hope speak to our current situation: a future good, a possible good, and a good obtained through overcoming obstacles.

I am a regional spiritual assistant and conduct pastoral visitations. When I ask, “What is your current challenge?” I invariably hear, “We need more vocations.”

If we hope for an increase in vocations, what should we do? I don’t have all the answers, but I will share some of my hopes, thoughts, and dreams for a vibrant, growing Secular Franciscan Order that gives praise, honor, and glory to God through its many members.

Pray: The best way to start is with prayer. If a Secular Franciscan vocation is a call from God, who better to get inspiration from than the Almighty? God calls, the person responds, and we assist. Hope and vocations are gifts from God and lead us back to God more intimately and profoundly. Prayer coupled with hope sustains us in times when we see little progress.

Invite: I never heard of the “Third Order of St. Francis” until Maryellen Hickey invited me to a fraternity gathering. She was persistent. She never gave up and continued to invite me. How many of us discovered our vocation because of an invitation? Remember what Andrew said to his brother Simon Peter: Come and See!

Be an Authentic Witness: We live in an anxious age, and our need for meaning and purpose is great. Many people we meet daily hunger for a deeper connection to God and may not know what that hunger is or how to satisfy it. They need to see in us what they are looking for. As Aquinas said, hope prevails despite difficulties. And we, like Francis and Clare, cling to that hope. Francis’ followers found solace and purpose in the gospel way of life. If we live our charism as Francis did, the people God has called to be Secular Franciscans will flock to us.

Maya Angelou said: “At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did; they will remember how you made them feel.” Your witness of gospel peace, acceptance, and joy may help them discern a call to something deeper, to a Secular Franciscan way of life.

Hope is the assurance of things not seen. [Hebrews 11:2] In the words of Pope Francis, hope is not “…a passive virtue that merely waits for things to happen.” We must step out in faith and be that gospel salt, leaven, and light illuminating the path for those God has called to be one with us.