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St Francis of Assisi: An icon of Minimalism!
– Jawahar, Capuchin

At the age of fifteen I decided to join the priesthood. During that young age I had no much awareness as in what really the priesthood is or religious life, religious orders, congregation and so on is. Since from my younger days I had a strong desire to be priest I joined one. During the high school studies I came across the Carmelite priests of Mangalore whom I had promised to join. Later during my tenth standard studies I came across a Capuchin priest Fr Vinod, who enlightened me about the life of St Francis of Assisi, a nature lover. It was then I randomly decided to join the Franciscan Capuchin Order.

During my Postulancy and Novitate studies I realized the difference between being a priest and being a religious, being a member of order and being a member of a congregation, being a diocesan priest and being a religious priest. With this awareness and enlightenment I began loving the religious life that I joined. I started loving my Franciscan Capuchin Order. I started liking the person of St Francis of Assisi. I was delighted to wear the brown habit as often as possible. I read more of his life, the poverty, the simplicity, the humility and minimalism. Even to this day St Francis Assisi is my inspiration towards a life of simplicity. St Francis is the personification of minimalism.

The present scenario that we live in is divided with two extremes. If one thinks of progress, advancement, development and encroachment the other is pushed down to experience utter poverty, hunger, insecurity and danger. The system of our society honours the rich, influential, noisy and authoritarian individuals in most of the circumstances. The poor, hungry and sick go unnoticed and are uncared in most of the cases in spite of enough and more funds, provisions and facilities. The idea of equality is still a dream for many. The imbalance is clear, the partiality is felt and the favouritism is rampant among the people who hold the supreme keys of the administrations in many sections of the society that includes religion and its institutions.

St Francis of Assisi, the founder of Franciscan movement brings before us the images of
simplicity, equality and minimalism. The life of St Francis would teach us to be minimal and declutter ourselves from the evil, negative and unbecoming things that disturb and restrict a peaceful living. In fact in the recent times minimalism has become a popular practice all over the world. Efforts have been made to free the cluttered mind and reduce the physical clutter as well. Decluttering the home/room/workplace can help declutter the mind.

St Francis of Assisi was born into a wealthy family to a wealthy dad who was an Italian cloth merchant. His early years were carefree, and full of the worldly pleasures consistent with the prosperous class of which he was part. But when he started following Christ he began to share his possessions with the poor thus becoming a man of humility and simplicity. He even decided to share and exchange his clothes with the beggars. He became the friends of poor and the lepers. Though in the youth he intended to become a knight in the royal court, he decides to follow Jesus and live the life of radical poverty. He is often quoted to have said that “People lose everything they leave behind in this world; but they carry with them the rewards of charity and the alms which they gave, for which they will have a reward and a just retribution from the Lord.” He had no possessions and he preached a simple doctrine of voluntary poverty and love for all living creatures. These simple teachings of Francis had many takers. Within a year eleven young men followed him. It is said after eleven years of his founding the Order of Friars Minor his following increased up to fifty thousand men and women.

Even to this day in the Roman Catholic Church as well as in other reformative churches Franciscan family is considered to be having a largest number of individuals. Having the largest number of followers shouldn’t be a criterion to judge the quality of a religious order/ family. The sincere life of every individual who has vowed to walk in the foot prints of St Francis of Assisi add the meaning to the teachings he has laid before us in the present day context.

I consider St Francis to be my role model for a minimalistic living though I fall short to his ideals. However I am forever grateful to the Lord for calling me to be the part of this Franciscan way of life. Much have I learnt. Much have I yet to learn. Joy isn’t found in hoarding up the wealth rather in sharing it freely and living with less.

Here are few ideas to promote the minimalistic culture after the example of St Francis of Assisi.

Celebrate the Nature:
There is a story told of St Francis on how he preached to the birds. Near the town of Bevagna, a four hour walk from Assisi, Francis and some of his Brothers came upon a flock of mixed birds. When he saw the birds, he left his friends on the roadside and ran toward the birds, greeting them as if they understood him. The birds perched on bushes bent their heads toward Francis when he came near and watched him, curiously. Francis spoke to the birds, saying, "My brothers, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator. He clothed you with feathers and gave you wings to fly, appointing the clear air as your home, and He looks after you without any effort on your part". As he spoke to the birds, they stretched their necks toward him, flapped their wings, and opened their beaks as if they understood his words. In his enthusiasm, Francis walked among the birds; his habit brushing against them, yet not one of the birds moved until Francis made the sign of the Cross and gave them permission to leave. Then, with Francis' blessing, the birds flew away together.

St Francis wanted to emphasize how, even if we fail to realize it, nature is heaven shaped. The be
auty of nature reveals a deeper, even more beautiful world beyond this one. Man made things aren’t always able to convey the same messages, some objects might be beautiful and lovely but other products are disposable and utilitarian.

St Francis may have given away all his possessions, but he never gave away his appreciation for natural beauty. To be a minimalist doesn’t mean we have to only inhabit plain, ugly surroundings. In his “Canticle of the Creatures” Francis enthuses: “Brother Sun, who brings the day … is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour!” The more we’re able to share this attitude and see the beauty all around us, whether that be simply noticing the sunrise, taking a walk in the park, or playing catch with your dog in the backyard, the less stuff we’ll need in our lives.

Be Generous:
Having things isn’t bad simply because they are things. Purchasing many things and hoarding them after a single or few uses bad. It doesn’t mean we have throw them away. Someone else could greatly benefit if I were to share it. St Francis didn’t live a minimalistic lifestyle for his own selfish purposes rather he lived that way so that he could be more generous to others. St Francis travelled a lot and spent time in prayer and charity. He got rid of all material restrictions on himself so that he could give his life away in love to others. So, when the cleaning bug strikes, we too can consider how to be generous not only with the things we want, rather in giving out that things that keep us more comfortable. Generosity builds up treasure in the heart and wins a far more important possession – the love and gratitude of others.

Be an Example:

Francis was a trend setter. He was an example of letting go. He lived a life of extreme poverty.
Many thought he was a mad man. He worked very hard to overcome the doubters and organize a religious order. In the end he was marginalized by his own followers, who were attempting to change his ideals for the community. But through it all he never lost his joy and peace of mind.

It takes courage to let go, to loosen your grip on the material possessions that provide comfort. It needs courage to be on a minimal path. It takes courage not to worry about people making fun of you for being different. Francis took courage and never worried about what anybody said about him. If there’s one thing that St Francis can teach us through the idea of minimalism is, that life is what we make of it and if we’re brave enough to cut ourselves free from anything that holds us back, the reward is well worth the effort.

If you are willing to make a choice of simple and a beautiful living here it is!
Get in touch with any Capuchin Franciscan priest you know or whom you find on social media.
We are here to help you. Your choice of Franciscan Religious life is a blessing to your family and society.
Do not delay!


 


 

The Story of my Religious Vocation
- Rev Fr Jossy Fernandes, Capuchin

- (The director of English section of Padre Pio Shrine, Italy)
The Seed: The story of my vocation takes me back to 1956 when I was just five years old. I used to accompany my devout parents to the church on Sundays and watch the parish priest celebrating mass in Latin facing the wall and showing his back to the faithful. I took home my own innocent and ignorant impressions of what took place at the altar. Once home, wearing my granny’s half saree (zuner) torn in the middle (chasuble) I used to ‘celebrate’ mass in my own way, with a cup and a saucer as chalice and pattern, singing “Dominus vobiscum” and “Ite missa est”. This childhood experience remains still fresh in me. I used to think that from the monstrance in which the consecrated host was placed (vodlo kumgar) during the holy hour on first Sundays of the month the small particles (dakte kumgar) were miraculously formed on the bronze “sunbeams” of the monstrance! At that time I never told my parents or grandparents about my thoughts but preserved them in my heart. After my first communion at the age of 8, which is one of the most impressive spiritual experiences I cherish even today, I had a desire to serve mass at the altar as I was drawn by the red skirt and white gown (lob ani koth) the altar boys wore. At the age of 9 I joined the parish altar boys sodality of St. John Berchmans. As I was small in stature and had no much experience of serving at the altar they did not give me the red-ribbon(pinth) worn around the neck by senior altar boys (a regret which I still have). But I used to serve the mass quite enthusiastically(even today I like to serve the mass though I am a priest for 40 years.

Role of Parents: My parents were fervent members of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, begun in our parish even before 1950 by a very zealous Capuchin friar – Fr. Vincent Lobo, of happy memory. (That the Third Order Fraternity in the parish struggled to survive due to the hostile attitude of the later Parish Priest, Alphonsus D’Cunha at that time, is quite another story. Due to it only the roots (Kuthi) of OFS survived until the transfer of this parish priest.). I used to see my parents wear the large scapular of the third Order and attend the monthly meets of the fraternity without fail. They also used to wear the Franciscan cord of the third Order. Occasionally we used to pray the Franciscan Crown (7 decades) instead of the five decades of the rosary. My father used to intone the old Franciscan hymn; “Bhagevonta bhapa Frasca” after the Franciscan crown. My parents were a devout Christian couple by any count, loving each other very much, doing hard work in their farm and trying to bring up their children (me and my younger brother Freddy) gracefully.

The Sprout: Loretto parish being in a village setting, and my parental house being 6 Km away from the nearest little town, Bantwal, schooling was really a problem as the church insisted that the Catholic children be sent to Catholic schools. The nearest high school at that time was in Bantwal, and if one had to attend it one had to make it all the way on foot to and fro.
My uncle, Sebastian Fernandes, finished his higher primary studies in 1949 and his parents wanted that he should study further. As if God-sent, Fr. Denis Pinto, S.J. visited our parish and recruited my uncle as a candidate for the Society of Jesus and admitted him in Gonzaga House, Mangalore to do his high school studies in St. Aloysius High School (He completed 50 years as a Jesuit and died on 10 February 2015)..

Three years later as I was studying in VII Standard, a SVD priest visited St. Patrick’s H.P. School, Siddakatte where I had joined for my higher primary studies. He spoke on the religious vocation and missionary work in Northern India to the Catholic boys of sixth and seventh standards. Close on his heals came Fr. Vincent Lobo, OFMCap for recruiting vocations at Siddakatte. He wore a long beard and a simple brown habit with a cord, with his head half shaven (Franciscan crown). He too addressed the Catholic boys and later met each one of them individually. When Fr. Vincent came to know that I was the son of Charles and Bendicta Fernandes whom he knew well as members of OFS, he was simply thrilled. He offered me the book “Assisiso Sant Francis” to read along with “Kristanv Kutmaso Sevak” and other booklets like “Dev Apovnem”. Next he made it a point to visit my parents at home: My father used to call Fr. Vincent: “Kadaso Aab” even at that time! Fr. Vincent came to know that my uncle had gone to Gonzaga House. He asked my father: “Bhavak Jeguitank dadloi, atam puthak Kapuchinank dijoi tunvem”! “Taka mon asa jalyar, Father, moji kaim adkol na”, answered my father. Already drawn by the good example of my parents, and attracted by Fr. Vincent’s winsome ways, I was also inspired by the reading of the life of St. Francis and the other books to respond to God’s call. On my completion of higher primary studies Fr. Vincent Lobo, who was also the director of Assisi House, Bejai at that time welcomed me to the Apostolic School to begin my High School studies in Mangalore. It was in Assisi House that my vocation was gradually nurtured, through prayer, good example of friars and above all God’s boundless graces and blessings. There were times when I had doubts about my vocation, maturing as I was in age, knowledge and experience. I did hesitate and look to my left and right, but I never turned back!



For the love of Christ, in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi
Pope Francis had declared October month as “Extraordinary Missionary Month”. It’s truly our duty to carry out the mission of Christ and to prove our faith in him as missionaries. Being a Capuchin Franciscan Friar I have been privileged to serve Christ in the parts of North East India along with my fifteen Capuchin brothers.

You being a young reader and a fan of St Francis, I thought of sharing with a few of my missionory experiences here in North East.

I was blessed to be the first priest to be ordained from my native parish, Our Lady of Fathima Church, Perampalli on 2nd May 2016. Just like every one of us have desires in life being a young and new priest I too had some desires - to serve Christ with my own people, to work among Konkani speaking people, to enjoy Manglorean delicious food etc. It is said that whatever we desire in life need not be according to the will of God. Similar was my experience! Within six months of my ordination I was asked to go to Nagaland by my then provincial superior. Though initially I was not interested to be a missionary, under the obedience I said yes and landed at Dimapur in Nagaland. Now that I was far away from my own people and home land, I never felt that I was very far because as a priest I was enjoying my priestly ministry with simple comforts and a good time in Dimapur city. I didn’t lack the things which I was looking for and really felt that I was in my own land.

After spending one year and seven months in Dimapur I was transferred to a place called Tamlu. As I reached Tamlu, I got to experience those things I never ever expected in my life. Tamlu is a remote village which is 8 hours away from Dimapur. It’s a village without connecting roads, in some places roads do not existed yet vehicles keep moving. It takes minimum 2 hours to reach a good market. The house where we Capuchin Fathers stay is a very simple house made up of bamboos and tins. There is not continuous power supply.

Initially the life in this village became really a hard challenge for me. In the beginning I felt like running away back to my home, but as the days were passing I started to love this place, the calm and beautiful greenery made me to fall in love with the nature like St Francis of Assisi. Day by day I experienced the love of these people and who gave a warm welcome in their families.

I used to wonder who are actually the missionaries, what should be their qualification, what exactly a missionary does etc,. Having lived in Tamlu I, now understand that a missionary needs nothing other than the thirst for prayer and the grace of God. One must be willing to accept the reality, things and people around him. One must be willing to sacrifice comforts, desires and likings for the love of Christ. We the Capuchins missionaries apply these qualities to work for the people. Having spent sixteen months in Tamlu, I have experienced good many blessings from the Lord through different people. We need no qualification, other than finding the love of Christ among the people with whom we live. As a missionary in North East India we usually get engaged in teaching/school ministry. Apart from teaching, we visit the villages, families, sit with them, talk to them, eat with them and pray with them.

There are many Christian people who do not experience Eucharistic Lord in their life because there are no sufficient priests to reach out to the remotest villages and celebrate Holy Eucharist for them. We fifteen young Capuchins from the Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka are working as missionaries in four places of Nagaland and two places of Manipur. We need to reach out many more places but with fifteen members it is not possible.

My dear young enthusiastic reader, the Lord is calling you to come and serve Him in North East or elsewhere as a missionary. I assure you that if you become a missionary you will experience Jesus and God’s love through these people. Today I’m happy and proud to be a Capuchin Francisscan because I feel satisfied with the ministry and the service that I render to the people of God. This is possible just because of the prayers and support given by everyone.
Do not hesitate to come forward and opt and be a wonderful religious Capuchin Franciscan. You are always welcome to experience our brotherhood as a Capuchin Friar. God Bless You!

Fr Brayan Anthony DSousa, Capuchin
Perampalli - Udupi

 

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Fr. Manohar Mervin Dsouza
Vocation Director

ST. ANNE’S FRIARY
Jail Road, Kodialbail Post, Mangalore
Karnataka - 575 003, India
Phone: 9980104579 / 9481976210
Email: mmdsouza1972@gmail.com

Regional vocation directors

 

CAPUCHIN FRANCISCANS:
Hearing the Call

CAPUCHIN FRANCISCANS:
Inspired by St. Francis

 

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