Lived well, there is a simplicity, joy and peace to our calling which is in stark contrast to the relentless hurry and consumerism of our world today.
Our life of service and poverty is as powerful and relevant now as it was in the 13th century when Saint Francis first preached. Eight hundred years later, this radical way of living the Gospel has transformed cultures around the world.
Today, men and women still hear Jesus’ words, first spoken to Saint Francis, to 'repair my church, which is falling into ruin.’
The first step in discerning the call to become a Franciscan is simple and heartfelt prayer to God. As you spend more time in prayer, it will become easier to hear God’s voice and distinguish his Will from your own and the world around you.
The second step is to find a trustworthy spiritual director. This should be someone you feel comfortable with speaking about your spiritual life and who is willing to help you on your journey of discernment.
The third step is to experience Franciscan life directly, for instance by attending missions and other events run by us. An important process is to attend a ‘Come and See’ session, a 4-5 day retreat where young men join us in our friary and take part in our ministries and prayer life.
‘Do not be afraid’. These are the words most commonly spoken in the Bible and they are an excellent place to start on your discernment journey. When discerning, prayer is your best tool. Simply find a time and a place where you can be free from any distractions, including technology. Put your phone on silent (or better yet, in another room), find a comfortable place to sit and simply be attentive to His presence.
It takes practice and patience to quiet the mind to be able to hear God’s voice, which comes as a ‘gentle whisper’ (1 Kings 19:12), and to distinguish it from the voices of the world, our will and imagination. It is also useful to simply pray, ‘Lord, where are you calling me to serve you?’
Next, it may be helpful to write down how you feel God is speaking to you, to pray with scripture and to find a trustworthy spiritual director who can guide you through this process.
It is also important to get firsthand experience of the Franciscan way of life, which may involve taking part in our events, visiting a seminary, or attending one of our ‘Come and See’ sessions.
There are several signs that might indicate that you are called to the Franciscan life. One is a desire to serve God in a radical way, being willing to surrender even good things such as marriage and family.
Another sign is a feeling of deep and overwhelming peace when you imagine yourself living a life as a Franciscan. For those who join the brotherhood, this sense of peace only continues to grow throughout their lives.
A third sign of the Franciscan vocation is an attraction to a life of poverty and simplicity, essential components of our lifestyle.
This is a great question which many people are often afraid to ask! There are a lot of similarities between priests and brothers.
Both can be part of the same religious order, and take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The difference is that priests can celebrate Mass and hear confessions, whereas brothers will live in a community.
Within the Franciscan community, both priests and brothers go through the same process of initial formation over several years. During this time, a brother can discern if he feels called to the priesthood and, if both he and the community agree, he can begin seminary studies.
Have you ever wanted to experience life as a Franciscan? Our ‘Come and See’ visits are an open invitation to all men aged 18-35 and are often one of the first steps taken by those interested in becoming a Franciscan.
The visits simply involve staying at one of our friaries for a few days to experience what our life is like. Guests will take part in our schedule of daily prayer, ministry and fraternal life and attend talks about Saint Francis and religious life.
They will also meet with our Director of Vocations to discuss their discernment and ask any questions they may have. To book a visit, get in touch with your nearest friary.
We participate in Christ’s renewal of all things through our prayer, fraternal life, service of the poor, and evangelisation, as a complement to the work of those whose mission is to serve parochially.
