By Julie A. Ferraro | FāVS News Columnist
For me, a marvelous source of continuing education on Franciscan topics has been monthly lectures, via Zoom, offered free by the Franciscan School of Theology, based at the University of San Diego in California, and also made available on Youtube.
My past work with both Franciscan friars and sisters familiarized me with this graduate school, formerly located in Berkeley, California, along with other institutions of higher education affiliated with Catholic religious orders, like the Dominicans and the Jesuits.
The December lecture was presented by Darlene Pryds and was titled “Franciscan-hearted People and the So-Called “The Fourth Order:” The Tradition of Lay Franciscans.” Dr. Pryds spoke from her own experience of being an “unaffiliated Franciscan” — designated by some scholars as “Fourth Order” Franciscans — and how lay people who do not belong to the formally recognized Secular Franciscan Order, yet still integrate the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi into their daily lives, are often not considered “legitimate” Franciscans.
Pryds raised the question of who, exactly, is Franciscan, and who makes that decision? She brings up the point that, in this 21st century, many religious communities — including those of Franciscan men and women — are facing “demographic decline.”
The necessity to recognize how the Franciscan charism and spirituality are being carried by a broad range of people, including “ordinary” lay people, must be acknowledged as a long-standing tradition and will play into the future of how these ideals are promulgated.
This is not just a Franciscan issue, either. Dominicans have a Third Order, as do Carmelites, for instance. The Benedictines welcome oblates — lay people — to affiliate themselves with a particular monastery, while adapting the wisdom of “The Rule of St. Benedict” for their own lives.
These lay people of many faiths — or, in the case of Franciscans, even no faith — must be given their due. The centuries-old practice of excising the work of lay people from historical records involving the founders of religious communities, as with Giovanni, St. Francis’ friend. Giovanni organized the first Nativity scene in Greccio, but he is relegated to minor status by 13th century biographers.
Or how about Jacopa dei Settisoli? She was a wealthy woman who became Francis’ close confidante. Her exclusion from history, though, perpetuates the idea of who’s “in” and who’s “out,” with lay people being “out.”
Pryds is one of the “dedicated faithful” who is championing the cause — the “rights”? — of lay people to stand side-by-side with those who have professed vows or made promises before the altar to observe the charism that touches their respective hearts.
No individual should be excluded from the table of the Lord simply because they have not jumped through a series of imposed “hoops” to gain acceptance.
All willing souls should all be considered “in” on this road following Jesus and the saints who have paved the road before us. The status of any person should not depend on whether they include an abbreviated designation when signing their name — like OblSB for Benedictine Oblates or OFS for Order of Franciscan Secular.
By sanctioning the tendency to allow lay people to “fly under the radar of recognition,” as Pryds stated, a great disservice is done not only to the individual, but to the entire family of believers.
Recounting an anecdote of breakfast with a friar, she recalled how he presumed she was a vowed woman religious, and when she told him she was a lay person, he again presumed she was a member of the Secular Franciscans.
Being “just a lay person” should be sufficient for the respect and recognition we all deserve — as we are all human beings, equally loved by God.
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. FāVS News values diverse perspectives and thoughtful analysis on matters of faith and spirituality.
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