CUMWÍ /focf^M 

u t 

I h«- • • -m 

APOSTOLIC 
Hfl George I'. finn ni i ut/s 

The l'Ufi Order of Sí. Franeì* 



l o ou* 





Vade Mecum 

A brief vade mecum of abiding and saving 

truths. 

We should think about them, pray to under-

stand them, try to live them. 

W e should make them matter of thought, of 

prayer, of living for all our days, to that day that 

never ends. 



L O Y A L TO CHRIST A L W A Y S 

If God be for us, who is against us? 

Who then shall separate us from the love of 
Christ? 

Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or 
nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the 
sword? 

But in all these things we overcome because of 
Him that hath loved us. 

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor 
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 

Nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea-
ture 

Shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God 

Which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

, —Romans 8: 31, 35, 37-3«. 



IN T H E SPIRIT OF CHRIST 
A n d the peace of God, which surpasseth all 

understanding, 
Keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 
For the rest, brethren, 
Whatsoever things are true, 
Whatsoever modest, 
Whatsoever iust. 
Whatsoever holy, 
Whatsoever lovely, 
Whatsoever of good fame, 
If there be any virtue, 
If any praise of discipline, 
T h i n k of these things. 
The things which you have both learned and 

received, and heard and seen in me, these do ye. 
A n d the God of peace shall be with you. 

—Philippians 4: 7-9. 

BRIEF COMMENTS 
T h i s indicates the way we should live, the 

thoughts we should entertain; the good we should 
constantly seek to attain. " I n m e " . . . means 
first of all Saint Paul, then anyone that has in-
fluenced us for good. 

W e . know the power of example to keep us in 
spirit, in courage, in determination. W e know, 
a t all times, there are many thousands living the 
good life in the spirit of Christ. W e know the 
Saints can always be looked to as those who 
illustrate powerfully and beautifully the Spirit 
of Christ. 

W e , also, should let our light shine before men, 
be the good odor of Christ, an example to others. 

L O Y A L T Y T O C H R I S T , OUR HOME, T H E SCHOOL, 
T H E C H U R C H / T H E S T A T E 
In striving to live in the Spirit of Christ we shall 

meet with difficulty, as does every one. It is then 
we must renew our loyalty to Him by s a y i n g — 
nothing, absolutely nothing will ever separate us 
from the love of Christ. 

J O U R N E Y ' S END 
T h e battle will be over some day, for each of 

us. T h e last duty attended to. In life we are 



laureated for definite achievement; for a definite 
period of time well spent. A t journey's end we 
shall be laureated again for definite achievement 
for a definite period of time well spent. The 
citation then will be "Well done, good and faith-
ful servant. Because you have been faithful 
over a few things, I shall set you over many 
Enter into the joy of the Lord." For the little 
I have asked of you, I now give you peace and 
happiness unsurpassed, peace and happiness un-
ending. 

Each Sunday, read this vade mecum, if not more 
frequently. When you go to Mass and receive 
Holy Communion on Sundays, refresh your spirit 
with those helpful words. Thus you will be 
strengthened to go forth and live another week 
• n Y?e •Spirit' ° f Christ, in the loyalty of Christ, 
in the hope of the great day, your eternal laur-
eation. 

COMFORT A T JOURNEY'S END 

The time of my dissolution is at hand. 
I have fought a good fight, 
I have finished my course, 
I have kept the faith. 

As to the rest, there is laid up for me a 
crown of justice 

Which the Lord, the just Judge, will render 
to me in that day. 

And not only to me, but to them also 
That love His coming. — T i m o t h y 2 : 5-8. 

BAPTISMAL PROMISE 
I renounce Satan and all his pomps and works 

and ' 
I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever. 

(Renew often, this allegiance to Christ.) 





T H E A P O S T O L I C A R M Y 

T H E L A Y O R D E R 

O F 

S T . F R A N C I S O F A S S I S I 

By George P. Cummings 
Franciscan Tertiary 

Franciscan Herald Press 

Publishers of Franciscan Literature 

Chicago 9, Illinois 



L O R D , make me an instrument 
of your peace. Where there is hatred, let 
me sow love; where there is injury, par-
don ; where there is doubt, faith; where 
there is despair, hope; where there is dark-
ness, light; and where there is sadness, 
joy. 

0 Divine Master, grant that I 
may not so much seek to be consoled as 
to console; to be understood as to under-
stand; to be loved as to love; for it is in 
giving that we receive; it is in pardoning 
that we are pardoned; and it is in dying 
that we are born to eternal life. 

Peace Prayer ascribed to St. Francis of 
Assisi. 

Copyright 1954, Franciscan Herald Press 
Made in United States of America 

D e & M s d 



DEDICATED TO MARY 

T H E MOTHER OF GOD 

My thanks to Sister Superior and the Sisters 
of The Community of the Sisters of Charity, 
Grey Nuns of St. Peter's Hospital, New 
Brunswick, N. J. for their many kindnesses 
to me — kindness that was responsible for 
many thoughts contained herein. And my 
heartfelt thanks to the Franciscan Fathers 
who helped me in the preparation of this 
booklet by generously giving of their time 
and knowledge. 

G. C. 





T H E A P O S T O L I C A R M Y 

T H E L A Y O R D E R O F 

S T . F R A N C I S O F A S S I S I / 

1. INTRODUCTORY 

The late Will Rogers received the 
encyclical of Pope Pius XI on "Chaste 
Marriage" and the Wickersham report 
regarding Prohibition on the same day. 
He said: "I read the Holy Father's en-
cyclical on birth control once and the 
Wickersham report on Prohibition many 
times. There is no doubt in my mind 
what Pope Pius meant, but the Wicker-
sham report remains a complete mystery 
to me." He added: "Whether or not you 
agree with the Holy Father, you have to 
give him credit for calling a spade a 
spade, and if the world needs anything 
at this time, it is just that." Let us pursue 
this subject with like candor. In so doing 
we shall be imitating the Master, whose 
directness only hastened his crucifixion. 

The unprecedented growth in our pop-
ulation has put a terrific strain on our 
schools, churches, utilities, hospitals, etc. 
The hospitals are woefully lacking in 
buildings, finances, and personnel. In 
New Jersey the lack of hospitals is so 



acute that in a recent election the voters 
approved a bond issue of $25,000,000 for 
the erection of new buildings. The situ-
ation is bad throughout the country. 
Funds are low, with the exception per-
haps in hospitals maintained by individual 
states. The insufficiency of personnel is 
very serious. Many of our hospital sisters, 
nurses, and orderlies are working them-
selves to death. Recruiting campaigns to 
induce young women to train as nurses 
in "this noble profession" are conducted 
everywhere. All might take to heart the 
slogan which they use: "Learn to take 
care of others, and you will take care of 
yourself." Yet despite these difficulties, 
the hospitals are producing marvelous re-
sults. Of the first two deficiencies I think 
we can say that as Catholics and as good 
citizens we contribute our share in do-
nations and taxes to hospitals, whether 
they are Catholic or not. 

Layman to layman, I should like to 
have a chat with you regarding the Third 
Order of St. Francis, the lack of person-
nel in hospitals, and attendant possibili-
ties, adhering to the old adage that "it's 
an ill wind that doesn't blow some good". 
In the present instant the good to be de-
rived is our opportunity to perform the 
corporal works of mercy, thereby procur-

—6— 



ing our own sanctification through volun-
teer hospital work and in so doing, my 
dear brothers and sisters of St. Francis, 
presenting the world an answer to its 
problems through Catholic action based 
on the Christian tenets of our order. 

Hence this booklet: 

2 . S T . F R A N C I S A N D H I S D I S C I P L E « 

We call ourselves Franciscans because 
our father and founder is St. Francis. As 
you know, we should "be distinguished, 
as by a special badge, by brotherly love". 
Does love, charity, really set us apart 
from our brothers in the Faith? Are we 
doing what we can, without going too 
far out of our way, to relieve bodily, men-
tal, and spiritual distress? 

In the present materialistic atmosphere 
it is good to revert to the times of our 
Seraphic father, or better still, to picture 
to ourselves what Francis would do were 
he in our midst today. A son of the am-
bitious, wealthy merchant Peter Bernar-
done, and reared in comfort and luxury, 
he loved fine clothes, spent money lavish-
ly on entertainment, gloried in being king 
at the sports and festivities of Assisi's 
younger set, and dreamed of becoming a 
famous knight. 

—7— 



A kiss which he imprinted on a leper 
was the beginning of a radical change. 
In his Testament he says: "The Lord 
gave me, Brother Francis, thus to begin 
to do penance : While I was yet in sin, 
it seemed to me an intolerably repulsive 
thing to see lepers, and the Lord himself 
drew me into their midst and I worked 
with compassion among them. When I 
came away from them, what before had 
seemed bitter to me, became for me a 
source of sweetness in body and soul. 
Then, after waiting a little, I left the 
world." 

Francis bade adieu to his former am-
bitions and became a knight of Christ, a 
herald of the Great King. Through in-
tense prayer and heroic self-conquest, he 
attained to such Christlikeness that he is 
justly called a mirror of Christ, or as 
Pope Pius XI put it, Francis appeared as 
a second Christ to his contemporaries. 

With incredible zeal he traveled about 
preaching peace and penance and doing 
good. The charity of Christ consumed 
him. No sacrifice was too great, no labor 
too menial. In every man he saw an 
image of the Creator, a brother or sister 
to be led to eternal happiness. Francis 
would not have considered himself a 
friend of Christ had he not worked for 



the salvation of souls for whom Christ 
shed his blood. The poor and the sick 
were his particular friends; for them he 
went begging and deprived himself of 
necessary clothing and food. When the 
sacred stigmata prevented him from walk-
ing, he had himself carried from place to 
place, in order to encourage and console 
his fellow men. He and his disciples prop-
ped up the tottering Church. Francis is 
everybody's saint. 

What would Francis do were he on 
earth today? Just what he did over seven 
hundred years ago: he would spurn world-
ly possessions and honors, and serve God 
in doing good to his fellow men. He still 
lives and works in our midst through the 
Franciscan order, which encircles the 
globe like a beautiful rosary of self-effac-
ing charity, the lengthened shadow of the 
personality of its Christlike founder. True 
to the injunctions of its founder, the order 
flourishes, not among the rich and power-
ful, but among the poor, the afflicted, the 
lowly. For these were the clients of 
Francis, and they are still the clients of 
his order and the object of their special 
predilection. No more authentic expres-
sion of the spirit of Christ's courage and 
love will be found in the world today.1 

—9— 



3 . T H E C O N V E N T I N T H E W O R L D 

We Tertiaries are not religious in the 
strict sense of the word. Pope Benedict 
XV writes in his encyclical on the occa-
sion of the seventh centenary of the Third 
Order in 1921: 

"The Third Order came as a kind of 
climax to the illustrious and immortal 
services which Francis rendered to Chris-
tianity, and for which he was justly styled 
a pillar of strength given to the Church 
by God at a critical moment, and nothing 
better illustrates the extent and intensity 
of his burning zeal to promote in every 
way the glory of Jesus Christ. Stirred 
with concern over the evils which beset 
the Church of the day, Francis with in-
credible zeal undertook the reformation 
of conditions according to the Christian 
standard, by founding two communities, 
one of men and one of women, who were 
bound by solemn vows to espouse the 
humility of the Cross; and not being able 
to receive into the cloister all who were 
drawn to him by the desire of profiting 
by his teaching, he conceived a plan to 
make the pursuit of Christian perfection 
possible to those who lived amid the tur-
moil of the world. He therefore founded 
the Order of Tertiaries, an order in the 

—10— 



true sense of the word, not indeed bound 
by religious vows, as are the other two 
orders, but distinguished by the same 
simple life and practice of penance." 

The simple life of penance of the Fran-
ciscan friars and sisters should character-
ize us. As Pius XI said in part of the 
Tertiaries of the Aracoeli fraternity: 

"It is the religious life in spirit. It is 
the spirit of that life and perfection car-
ried into the family, into everyday life, 
the ordinary life of the world. Thus, in 
the life of the Tertiary, to the vow of 
chastity . . . . corresponds the spirit of 
penance through mortification in his en-
tire manner of living. To the vow of 
obedience corresponds the spirit of obedi-
ence which enters into all his devoted and 
generous sacrifices in obeying the com-
mandments of God and the laws of the 
Church, as well as the manifestations of 
authority and the exigencies of his daily 
duty. To the vow of poverty corresponds 
the detachment of his heart from the 
goods of the world and his liberal and 
generous charity toward the unfortunate 
and suffering. Thus the spirit of the 
Franciscan Tertiary is the apostolate of 
Christian life, Christian faith, and Chris-
tian peace carried about everywhere, to 
every hearth, every walk of life, every 



one of the various social relations." (Cf. 
Rome Hath Spoken, Franciscan Herald 
Press, Chicago, 111.) 

To me the Franciscan vocation is a 
sign of God's special love. The Fran-
ciscan way of life is eminently adapted to 
human nature. There are ascetical writers 
who demand renunciation of all love for 
visible things as a condition of sainthood. 
A number of saints have made this ab-
juration ; Francis did not. He was in love 
with nature. All earthly creatures were to 
him members of God's family, brothers 
and sisters. Francis, however, shunned all 
inordinate attachment to creatures and 
used them only as a ladder to ascend to 
the Creator. They revealed God's perfec-
tion to him. 

The members of the Third Order Secu-
lar have not the security of the cloister. 
But there are souls who long for the clois-
ter and cannot be admitted. The father 
and mother of St. Therese of Lisieux 
knocked at cloister doors in vain. God had 
other designs for them. He distributes 
his graces as he wills. For us the impor-
tant thing is cooperation. Then, too, if the 
Franciscans in the cloister have some ad-
vantages, we out in the world have others. 
Rules and regulations do not tie us down 
to a definite time and place. Much is left 

—12— 



to our choice and initiative. Avenues 
closed to priests and religious are open 
to us. Our lot is cast with the ordinary 
run of people. In many ways we can 
influence the multitude by word and 
example more than priests and religious 
can. We can meet them on our own 
ground; they do not shy from us as they 
often do from people of the cloth. More-
over, in many cases prejudice does not 
have to be overcome before a start can 
be made. Many conversions to the Faith 
are started by the laity. 

Secular Tertiaries thus have an immense 
power for good. It is for each of us to 
use that power according to his strength 
and opportunity. I am reminded here of 
the proverbial elephant: "If we only knew 
our strength!" A look at the illustrious 
line of lay saints and their marvelous ac-
complishments will convince anybody that 
God has aiways intended that the laity 
should participate in propagating the 
Faith. Saint Francis himself never held 
in his hands the white Host of the Mass, 
but for seven hundred years the world has 
watched those two bleeding hands up-
lifted, offering to God his every thought 
and word and deed. It is a matter of 
showing that we appreciate our God-given 

wwm 



gift of faith by proving magnanimous in 
our efforts to propagate it. 

It is true, the world in which we are 
living is wicked. Its seductiveness is great 
and manifold. Only strong characters 
escape its allurements. But it is no less 
true that "God fits the back to the bur-
den". St. Paul says : "We know that for 
those who love God all things work to-
gether unto good." God does not deny 
grace to him who does what he can. Fi-
delity to the word we Tertiaries pledge 
to Mother Church at our profession as-
sures us of abundant graces. 

4 . T H E L I F E B E A U T I F U L 

What makes life beautiful and happy? 
Is it the worldly existence portrayed by 
motion picture, radio, and television ? No, 
life is not really made happy by what thé 
world offers—conveniences, amusements, 
fat bank accounts, political power," social' 
triumphs, and the like. The worldlings 
have no true happiness here, and no hope 
for happiness hereafter. Their so-calléd 
goods are nothing but glittering tinsel and 
pricking thorns. There comes to mind a 
man who said, "I have drunk $20,000 
worth of wine, and I am still thirsty." 
Man's heart was created to possess the 

—14— 



Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it will never 
be satiated until it rests in that Heart. 

Our mild rule (which, by the way, does 
not of itself oblige under any sin) points 
out to us the safe way to happiness by 
imposing moderation in the use of 
temporal things, perseverance in devout 
prayed, the frequent reception of the 
Sacraments, and the habitual performance 
of our work with a holy intention. If we 
follow these injunctions of our rule, we 
will enjoy peace of mind and serenity of 
heart; God will be with us. "So much for 
so little." It makes us think of our Sav-
ior's words: "Whoever gives to one of 
these little ones but a cup of cold water 
to drink because he is a disciple, amen 
I say to you, he shall not lose his re-
ward," 

We are in prominent society in the 
Third Order. Popes and cardinals, bishops 
and priests, scholars and artists, states-
men and soldiers, men and women of 
sterling character grace the roster. The 
order has ever been the cradle of saints, 
from all walks of life, from princes to 
peasants. All who submit whole-heartedly 
to the light burden and sweet yoke of the 
rule find rest for their soul and belong to 
the highest nobility. 

Our order is a part of the God-fearing 
—IS— 



and God-loving progeny of St. Francis. 
Who can count the prayers and sighs as-
cending day and night from humble and 
contrite hearts to the throne of the Al-
mighty ? How many labors and' sacrifices 
are performed for the salvation of souls ? 
God alone knows the tortures the children 
of St. Francis have been undergoing even 
down to this day in Iron Curtain lands. 
From the news reaching us we can only 
infer that the sufferings of soul and body 
are inhuman, inspired, it seems, by evil 
spirits. 

But the point I wish to make here, is 
that we share not only in the spiritual 
fruits of the good works performed by 
the millions of our Tertiary members, 
but "of all who are enrolled under the 
banner of the Seraphic founder St. Fran-
cis, no matter to what order or family 
of the orders they belong". What con-
fidence this should give us! We are not 
alone in our combat to gain life everlast-
ing. Yes, we are more than mere mem-
bers of Christ's mystical body; ~we are 
a select portion of it. 

The twelve Our Fathers, Hail Marys 
and Glorys which we recite daily, have 
a very special value and significance. They 
are not merely private devotions, but an 
official prayer said in obedience to and 

—16— 



in the name of the Church- We act as her 
spokesmen. There is a great difference 
when these prayers are said with the same 
devotion by a Tertiary and by a non-Ter-
tiary. In the former case they partake of 
the dignity and power of the prayer of 
the Church, and spouse of Christ. They 
are for us what the Breviary is for priests. 

A study of our rule will show that it 
is a practical guide to Christian perfec-
tion, an adaptation of its principles to 
everyday modern life. St. Francis was 
broad-minded in the best sense of the 
word. He proposed the goal in a few 
bold strokes and left great freedom in 
the choice of the means and the manner 
of striving toward the goal. 

It is true, due to its broad application 
our rule lacks the unction of the rule of 
the Franciscan convent orders. But our 
spiritual guides are to supply that de-
ficiency. They are to teach us the Fran-
ciscan way of life and nourish our souls 
with Franciscan food as it applies to us 
severally. 

The Third Order is a storehouse of 
spiritual treasures. Without any difficulty 
we can gain many indulgences wherever 
we may live. What splendid opportunities 
to help our deceased dear ones and to lay 
up treasures for eternity! 

—17— 



Every city street and every country 
road has its poor who stand in need of 
bodily or spiritual assistance. Adding the 
works of mercy to our prayer and the 
discharge of our duties is the other sub-
stantial half of our life as Tertiaries. It 
fills our cup of happiness and makes our 
life beautiful in the best sense of the word. 

Francis traced out in his life the amaz-
ing paradox that a person begins to live 
only when he forgets himself by being 
absorbed in the welfare of others. Beneath 
the soft and gentle music of social al-
truism and unselfish service for love of 
God whose image man is, the ear, sensi-
tive to the overtones, will not fail to de-
tect those tones coming ever and anon 
from the iron chord of courage, the cour-
age of self-effacing conquest, the courage 
of joyous service, the courage of self-
effacing love.1 

Readers of this booklet who are not 
Tertiaries can obtain information about 
the Third Order not only from Tertiaries 
but also from the Friars Minor, the Con-
ventuals, the Capuchins, and the members 
of the Third Order Regular, including 
the members of the various Franciscan 
sisterhoods and brotherhoods. 

What has been said above is corrob-
orated in a statement made by a priest to 

—18— 



Fr. Bernard Christen, then minister gen-
eral of the Friars Minor Capuchin, and 
related by the latter at a meeting of Ter-
tiaries in Freiburg October 4, 1894: 

" I am the pastor of a small parish in 
the diocese of Trent. A few years ago 
I had one of your fathers conduct a mis-
sion. Everything went well until, deviat-
ing from his subject, he spoke on the 
Third Order and urged my people to join 
it. I was so incensed that I interrupted 
the sermon and forbade him to continue 
on this point. In the sacristy I repeated 
my command. 

"The good seed, however, had fallen 
on fertile ground. Without my knowledge 
the best parishioners were invested in the 
monastery at Trent and soon formed a 
regularly functioning little fraternity. 
After some time I noticed a decided 
change. Attendance at services and the 
reception of the sacraments increased. 
The love and fear of God again entered 
the homes. Family feuds of long standing 
and other deplorable evils disappeared. 
The Christian virtues flourished. 

"I had done nothing to bring about the 
marvelous improvement. Beginning to 
observe and investigate, I discovered the 
little fraternity which had been leading 
a hidden life like the Christians in the 

19-— 



Catacombs. To the prudent zeal, the 
prayers, the charity and kindness of the 
humble Tertiaries I owed the renewal of 
my parish. 

"I was honest enough to acknowledge 
the fact. On the following Sunday I con-
fessed my fault in the pulpit and asked 
pardon. To prove my conversion, I de-
clared myself ready to enter the Third 
Order and, should it be desired, to direct 
the fraternity." 

5 . T H E L A D Y LOVE OF S T . F R A N C I S 

There has ever been an affinity between 
poverty, suffering, and the performance 
of the corporal works of mercy, inasmuch 
as so little of these virtuous elements is 
accepted or done from a supernatural 
point of view. Yet the point is entirely lost 
unless the latter view animates us. 

Our Seraphic father espoused Evangeli-
cal poverty. Not only did he give up all 
possessions, returning even the clothes he 
wore to his angry father in the court of 
the bishop of Assisi, but he chose the 
company of the poor and the destitute. 
Of those who wished to join his brother-
hood he demanded that they distribute all 
their possessions among the poor. Francis 
personified poverty and made it his lady 

—20— 



and queen, whom he loved with all the 
ardor of his heart. No knight was so de-
voted to his lady love as was Francis to 
his Lady Poverty. He died covered with 
a borrowed habit and lying on the bare 
ground. His holy romance with the Lady 
Poverty has ever touched the hearts of 
men and inspired poets and artists. In 
reality, he loved the poor Christ and his 
poor Mother in the guise of Lady 
Poverty. 

Renunciation of earthly goods is not 
required of us Tertiaries; it would not 
even be desirable. Because we live in the 
world and share the various responsi-
bilities of our fellow citizens, we need 
material resources. Riches are not evil in 
themselves. Our holy patrons King Louis 
of France and Queen Elizabeth of Thu-
ringia had large possessions in their day. 
Like them, however, we must keep our-
selves free from inordinate attachments, 
never allow temporal goods to master 
us, and use them as stewards according 
to God's will. 

Since it is difficult to possess as if one 
possessed not, read the following beauti-
ful prayer which St. Francis addressed 
to his Lord, and meditate on it: 

"O Jesus, Poverty welcomed you in 
the crib, and like a faithful armor-bearer 

—21— 



she kept at your side in the great combat 
you waged for our redemption. During 
your passion she alone did not forsake 
you. Mary, your Mother, stopped at the 
foot of the cross, but Poverty mounted 
it with you and clasped you in her em-
brace till the very end. And when you 
were dying of thirst, as a watchful spouse 
she prepared the gall for you. You ex-
pired in the ardor of her embraces. Nor 
did she leave you when you were dead, 
O Lord Jesus, for she allowed not your 
body to rest elsewhere than in a borrowed 
grave."* 

It was because Francis had the courage 
to walk so faithfully in the footsteps of 
Him who did not have whereon to lay 
his head that he had so great a devotion 
to poverty. The secret of his love which, 
while it has provoked admiration, has 
mystified so many, is revealed in that 
prayer.1 

If poverty is your portion, think of 
Christ's example and be resigned. If God 
has blessed you with earthly substance, 
share it generously with the poor. Alms-
giving is highly commended in Sacred 

*Full text of the prayer here briefly sum-
marized, in The Words Of St. Francis, 
Meyer, Franciscan Herald Press. 

—22— 



Scripture. Giving is a part of living, espe-
cially for the Tertiary of St. Francis. 

6 . A N A T T E N D A N T OF L A D Y POVERTY 

Poverty as practiced by our Seraphic 
father is attended by suffering. Not all 
who suffer are poor, but all who are 
really poor, suffer in one way or another. 
They lack the necessities of life, are often 
hungry and cold, and are looked upon 
as a burden to society. 

God did not make suffering. The first 
man brought it on us by sin. All mankind 
sinned in Adam's fall, so all mankind is 
subject to the consequences of sin. Suffer-
ing is as universal as sin. But God who 
knows how to draw good out of evil, has 
turned suffering into an instrument of 
salvation. His incarnate Son has redeemed 
us by the cross. If we suffer with him, 
we shall be glorified with him. The world 
would like to banish suffering at all costs, 
but man will never rid the world of sor-
row and pain. 

The pity is that suffering is so often 
misunderstood, wasted. We suffer from 
the cradle to the grave. Of itself that 
profits us little, and we are fortunate if 
we remain patient enough to refrain from 
making it a cause of our damnation. In 

—23— 



the nature of things it is not nearly so 
pathetic that we suffer as that we suffer 
in vain. 

If there is one question in this world 
«which we have to understand fully with 

God's grace, it is this matter of suffering, 
if we are to make any progress in the 
spiritual life. Since it is so much a part 
of us, it should be the sun about which 
our life revolves. 

Francis went through the most acute 
pains of body and soul, but he remained 
Brother Joy. He took our holy Faith's 
view of suffering, which is beautifully 
described by St. Francis de Sales and St. 
Paul. The former writes: "Death, afflic-
tion, labors, which by the just ordinance 
of God are the punishments of sin, are 
also by his sweet mercy so many means 
to increase in glory.' Blessed then are 
poverty, hunger, sadness, death, persecu-
tion, for they are the just punishments of 
our sins, but punishments so tempered 
with divine sweetness and clemency that 
their bitterness is made sweet." St. Paul 
says: "There was given me a thorn for 
the flesh" (very likely a chronic illness), 
"a messenger of Satan to buffet me. Con-
cerning this I thrice besought the Lord 
that it might leave me and he said to 
me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for 

—24— 



Strength is made perfect in weakness.' 
Gladly therefore I will glory in my in-
firmities, with insults, with hardships, 
with persecutions, with distresses. For 
when I am weak, then I am strong." 

We who have not the illumination of 
the saints, must realize that one of the 
characteristic differences between us and 
them appears in our attitude and theirs 
toward suffering. For the saints ever 
seemed to understand that suffering is of 
some extraordinary value which only God 
can appreciate, since his beloved Son 
thirsted for it so. 

7 . T H E F R A N C I S C A N T R A D E M A R K 

As already indicated, charity should be 
our distinguishing mark. Uncharitable and 
Franciscan are mutually exclusive. Fran-
cis is known as the "Seraphic saint" be-
cause of his burning charity, his love of 
God and neighbor. He strove with might 
and main to love as Christ has loved us. 
If we wish to be genuine children of his, 
we must honestly try to imitate his charity 
as far as our condition permits. 

Our love of neighbor is the measure of 
our love of God. Do you wish to know 
how much you love God? Then find out 
how much you love your fellow man. St. 

25-— 



John asks: "How can he who does not 
love his brother, whom he sees, love God, 
whom he does not see ?" The same apostle 
says that as Christ has laid down his life 
for us, so we also ought to lay down our 
life for the brethren. St. Paul teaches that 
love of neighbor is the fulfillment of the 
whole law. 

To love as Christ has loved us, we must 
cultivate sentiments of kindness and for-
giveness toward all men, and banish at 
once false suspicion, rash judgment, and 
spiteful thought. If we love Christ in our 
fellowmen, our love is supernatural, 
rooted in the Faith. If our deeds are per-
formed from purely natural motives, we 
cheat God, ourselves, and our neighbor: 
God, because our deeds have no reference 
to him; ourselves, because our deeds have 
no value of satisfaction or merit; our 
neighbor, because our deeds lack that 
Christlike halo which touches and soothes 
hearts. 

Our Seraphic father, merciless toward 
himself, overflowed with compassion for 
others. No one appealed to him in vain. 
He always found something to give to the 
needy, even though it might be only a 
piece of his poor clothes or a portion of 
his scanty meals. 

We belong to the Order of Penance. As 

—26— 



the Most Rev. Leonard M. Bello, late 
minister general of the Friars Minor, 
explained: to be in penance meant to 
Francis to imitate Christ. And to imitate 
Christ means to offer up our works of 
piety to God, to bear within us the suffer-
ings of our Savior by mortification of the 
flesh, and to exercise works of mercy. 

The Popes keep calling for the propa-
gation and advancement of the Third 
Order. Our country is literally dotted 
with Franciscan organizations, erected 
and maintained for the common good by 
the various Franciscan convent orders. 
But is our Third Order Secular what it 
should be? Do we deserve the titles of 
"Soldiery of Christ" and "the New Mac-
habees," which Pope Gregory IX be-
stowed on the first Tertiaries? 

No! Certainly not all of us! Why not? 
Let me express my thought in the form 
of another question: Does the charity of 
Christ urge us to be channels of grace 
to others, to lead stray sheep back to the 
Good Shepherd, to save souls, to share 
our spiritual treasures with our neighbor ? 

The Third Order needs action for its 
existence and development. Fraternities 
without action sink to the level of de-
votional societies, stagnate and disinte-
grate. The rule inculcates helpfulness, 

—27— 



good example, the promotion of piety and 
good works, and the apostolate of the 
press. In the Franciscan scheme prayer 
and work go hand in hand. According to 
Tertiary St. Pius X, active charity is as 
peculiar to the Third Order as penance. 
If a fraternity does not cultivate active 
charity, there is no good reason why it 
should exist. Secular Franciscans need 
action both as an outlet for accumulated 
spiritual energy and as a sort of dynamo 
to increase that energy. 

Men and institutions are judged by 
their deeds rather than by their ideals. An 
ideal amounts to little unless it is put to 
practical purpose. The Third Order must 
prove by its works that it is an important 
factor in solving the problems which con-
front the world today. Unless it does that, 
it cannot hope to get the support necessary 
to make it the leaven for the masses 
which it should be. 

The Church asks for action. The Popes 
of our times take such great interest in 
the Third Order because they are con-
vinced that it can repeat its achievements 
of the past. Why are their lofty hopes 
still so far from realization ? 

The fault lies not with the Third Order 
as such, nor with its adaptation to modern 
times. Am I wrong in saying that it is the 

—28— 



Tertiaries themselves who are responsible 
for this situation? They must get busy 
and apply their rule and Franciscan spirit 
to changed conditions. 

Without hard and persevering labor it 
is impossible today to win society for the 
principles of the Gospel to any appre-
ciable degree. Social reforms are not 
brought about by watchful waiting nor by 
spending all our efforts on our own sal-
vation. Many of our Tertiaries are doing 
wonders in the apostolic field. Yet there 
are many more who could and should 
share in this work. 

It is a sad commentary, but we of the 
Faith have to admit that we who are in 
possession of the truth have not the zeal, 
enthusiasm, or devotion for our cause 
which the Communists, who are in gross 
error, have for theirs. The Third Order 
in our country would flourish even more 
than it is if we were equal to the Com-
munists in these attributes. 

8 . M I N I S T E R I N G TO T H E 
S U F F E R I N G C H R I S T 

In the sick we visit, we console and 
serve Jesus suffering and dying for our 
redemption. At the last judgment Christ 
will mention our visits to him in the sick 

—29— 



as a cause of reward, and our failure to 
visit him in the sick as a cause of punish-
ment. Our patron St. Elizabeth said to 
her companions, "Oh, how fortunate we 
are in being permitted to wash and clothe 
our Lord and Savior in the person of the 
lepers!" 

The purpose of such visits is not mere 
sociability, but the bodily and spiritual 
welfare of the patients. We must seek the 
honor of God and the salvation of souls. 
On the one hand, we must carefully avoid 
whatever might point to forwardness, 
curiosity, impatience, or mere worldliness. 
The sick should feel that they are doing us 
a favor by accepting our sympathy and 
services. 

Ministering to the sick in the way de-
scribed is a source of choice graces and 
blessings. It awakens wholesome thoughts 
and elicits good resolutions. What has 
happened to others may happen to us at 
any moment—now healthly and strong, 
the next hour writhing in pain and facing 
death. We can almost feel the uncertainty 
of life and the prudence of preparedness 
for the final decisive account. Why cling 
to fleeting satisfactions? In these matters 
God's will must be our guide. In licit 
enjoyments we should practice moderation 
in order to build up resistance against 

—30— 



forbidden pleasure, " I 
Helping the sick offers splendid oppor-

tunities to exercise charity, humility, pa-
tience, meekness, and self-denial. The hos-
pital room is a school of perfection. It is 
a withdrawal from the chaotic life about 
us, a little retreat, an oasis if you will. 
Here the real philosophy of life is laid 
bare, in its truest form. Where can a more 
suitable place be found for the study of 
this philosophy than the place which 
ushers in life amid travail, and eases life 
out, more often, in silence. Very likely 
Providence had led or will lead us to this 
school some time or other. 

Wherever he went, Christ was sur-
rounded by suffering people, and he cured 
them. Serving the sick is an excellent 
way of imitating Christ, especially if we 
zealously practice the lessons imparted. 
Because we show mercy to him in the per-
son of the sick, we are sure of a multitude 
of graces. He will not be outdone in gen-
erosity by his creatures. For the ounces 
we give him, we receive pounds in return. 

If religious conduct a hospital in your 
neighborhood, offer them your services. 
There you are near Jesus in the taber-
nacle and have edifying company. Our 
Tertiary brothers can find meritorious 
work for instance in watching at the bed-

—31— 



side of a patient or in volunteering as 
orderlies in the men's ward of a hospital, 
if for only a few hours a week. Our sisters 
can do even more; they may volunteer 
their services besides in making bandages, 
mending linens, and the like. Similar aid 
can be rendered in homes for the aged and 
in orphanages and nurseries. We should 
not hesitate either to offer assistance to 
secular institutions. 

Let us follow the example of our saint-
ly ancestors, which contributed greatly 
toward spreading the Third Order. Con-
all O'Leary O.F.M. writes: 

"It was about the year 1221 that St. 
Francis went through Tuscany, preaching 
that men should do penance for their sins 
and take upon themselves the sweet yoke 
of the Gospel. The grace of God, working 
through the simple, fervent eloquence of 
the little Poor Man of Assisi touched the 
heart of the people, and they came to him, 
asking, What must we do to be saved? 
At Florence especially his hearers were 
inflamed with enthusiasm for the service 
of God. The men formed a congregation 
which founded a hospital to care for the 
sick and the aged. A similar group of 
women visited the sick and poor in the 
city and its suburbs." 

One wonders if the spirit which ap-
—32— 



peared so essential at the birth of the 
Third Order is not to some degree neces-
sary for its continued life and propaga-
tion. 

Not all of us can offer services to in-
stitutions, but all of us can offer aid and 
consolation to the sick and helpless in 
their homes. A great burden is lifted from 
a poor mother's shoulders when a friend 
offers assistance or volunteers to watch 
an hour or two at the bedside of her ailing 
husband. Our sisters have a large and 
fertile field here in which to exercise their 
apostolate. For many it would mean little 
hardship occasionally to prepare a meal, 
care for the little ones, clean rooms, mend 
clothes, wash the laundry, and the like, 
for a poor sick mother in the neighbor-
hood. 

Natural aversion to being around the 
sick may be advanced as a reason why 
some cannot partake in this type of work. 
If the will is there, that revulsion will be 
short-lived, as it was in the case of St. 
Francis through the grace of God. 

Thrill seeking, in this age of ours, ap-
pears to be just a part of living. What 
money, energy and precious time is spent 
chasing this elusive rainbow ? Would you 
like to be thrilled. The formula is very 
simple. Ferret out God's old, sick, and 

33-— 



lonely—they will not be long in finding— 
if you have the desire in your heart. Min-
ister to them. Try it and see! 

Some Tertiaries may be able to obtain 
gratis the services of a physician for a 
needy patient, or to procure the proper 
institutional care for him. 

9 . A U X I L I A R I E S OF T H E P R I E S T S 

As children of St. Francis we are auxil-
iaries of the priests. Our priests need their 
time for prayer, study, and the exercise 
of the sacred ministry. They are to con-
tinue the redemptive work of Christ. The 
faithful expect them to provide for all 
their spiritual wants. In return the faithful 
owe them unstinted support. 

We should readily take the front lines 
in our respective parish. Thereby we also 
encourage others to become active. Thus 
we can greatly contribute to make our 
parish a harmoniously working unit; to 
the joy of the pastor and of the eternal 
High Priest whom he represents. 

Once it is known that we render services 
willingly, opportunities will not be lacking. 
It is often a great help if Tertiary brothers 
when they are at leisure, donate a few 
hours of labor or help make repairs. The 
sisters, especially in small parishes and 
in the missions, may be welcome to keep 

34-— 



the church clean, decorate the altars, take 
care of the linens, and the like. 

Most of us are so situated, especially in 
cities, that we can do work of a more 
or less spiritual nature. We can contact 
newcomers and acquaint them with the 
priests. There may be chances of bringing 
back careless families and individuals to 
the practice of their religion, and to dispel 
the prejudices of non-Catholics. By the 
promotion of religious study clubs we can 
accomplish much good. 

A small fraternity in a middle-sized 
city did fine spiritual work. The sisters 
prevailed on a number of parents to send 
their children to parochial school. They 
had several invalid marriages validated, 
some children baptized and others dressed 
for making their first holy Communion. 
Tertiaries acted as sponsors at baptisms 
and as witnesses at marriages. 

1 0 . A S S I S T A N T M I S S I O N A R I E S 

Fervent sons and daughters of the 
Seraphic founder are not spiritual isola-
tionists, who think only of their own sal-
vation and that of their family. Their 
model is our Savior, who came to serve 
and lay down his life for all men. They 
are truly Catholic, universal, all-embrac-

35-— 



ing. Their heart goes out to God's unhap-
py children who sit in darkness and the 
shadow of death. 

It is their ardent desire that God be 
known and loved by all men, that not 
a single soul be lost. At home they work 
in various ways with the missionaries 
in foreign lands. 

All of us should and can have the 
missions at heart, be co-missionaries. 
Working for the conversion of the un-
believing and other dissidents is essen-
tial to the Church, consequently to our 
own Catholicity, and certainly to our 
Franciscanism. Christ commissioned the 
Church to make disciples of all nations. 
Are we not part and parcel of the Church ? 
In a joint letter the four Franciscan 
Fathers General exhort us to collaborate 
generously with all the enterprises of the 
Holy See. Among these enterprises mis-
sionary activities are of first importance. 

As stated repeatedly, charity is the 
Franciscan trademark. Now, if you ask 
how we can exercise the general charity, 
I answer with Pope Pius X I : "Charity 
towards the missions surpasses all other 
works and acts of charity as the soul sur-
passes the body, Heaven surpasses the 
earth, and eternity surpasses time." 

These words should be a powerful in-
—36— 



centive to take a lively interest in spread-
ing the Gospel. Our principal means are 
prayer and sacrifice. Through them we 
may hope to obtain missionary vocations. 
Christ told his disciples to pray that the 
Lord of the harvest send laborers into his 
vineyard. Faith is a free gift to God. Can 
we doubt that fervent prayer will obtain 
it for some souls ? When the Apostles or-
dained deacons to preside over the dis-
tribution of alms in Jerusalem, they de-
voted themselves to prayer and the min-
istry of the word. Prayer was assigned 
the first place! 

Occasions for sacrifices are always pres-
ent. We can offer up the daily grind of 
work, unpleasant experiences, offences 
against our person, infirmities, acts of 
self-denial, and practices of religion and 
charity. Wealthier members should readily 
make financial contributions. What we 
give to the missions is a loan to God. 

Many fraternities have groups of cir-
cles making articles for the missions. Our 
sisters should consider it an honor and a 
privilege to help as much as possible. 
Furnishing things for the altar gives them 
a special share in the holy Sacrifice. What-
ever is needed in Divine services draws 
God's blessing down on the donor. 

—37— 



1 1 . M E S S E N G E R S OF P E A C E 

Peace is a most desirable good. Of 
what use is all else, if peace is missing? 
Do we not read of persons who had all 
the world offers and yet committed sui-
cide? They certainly did not have peace 
in their hearts. 

The prophets foretold that our Savior 
would be the Prince of Peace. At his 
birth angels announced peace to men of 
good will. Wherever he appeared, words 
of peace flowed from his lips and streams 
of peace from his heart. Shortly before 
his suffering, he bequeathed peace to the 
Church: "Peace I leave with you, my 
peace I give to you. Not as the world 
gives do I give to you." The peace of 
Christ is the fruit of the Holy spirit. 

Our Seraphic father was a most zealous 
apostle of peace. He commanded his friars 
to wish peace to all they met, and on en-
tering a house to say, "Peace be to this 
house." The first words of his sermons 
were, "May the Lord give you his peace". 
Peace was his favorite subject. What he 
preached, he practiced. Not only did he 
avoid most carefully whatever might dis-
turb peace, but he healed discord wherever 
he found it. As his children, it behooves 
us to do the same. 

38-— 



In order to promote the peace of Christ 
we must know what this peace is and pos-
sess it ourselves. It does not consist in 
freedom from humiliations, adversities 
and sufferings. Christ's whole earthly life 
was a chain of crosses, yet he was at 
peace. He left us his peace. The peace of 
Christ consists in complete submission to 
God's good pleasure. As the heliotrope 
ever faces the sun from its rising to its 
going down, so should our mind and heart 
ever face God and in so doing acquiesce 
in his holy will. 

Complete resignation implies constant 
watchfulness over ourselves, abstention 
from all rash judgment and from med-
dling in affairs that do not concern us. The 
Imitation of Christ says: "Never to feel 
any disturbance at all, nor to suffer any 
trouble of mind or body, belongs not to 
this life, but to the state of eternal rest." 
No matter what tribulations befall us, if 
our will runs parallel with the will and 
pleasure of God, we shall have peace, 
radiate peace, and our words of peace 
will be blessed. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they 
shall be called the children of God." 

1 2 . M I N S T R E L S OF T H E LORD 

Diseases of heart and nerves are on 

— 3 9 — 



the increase. The modern way of life is 
taking its toll. John F. Quinlan, M.D., in 
Whither Ethics in Medicine writes: "In-
sanity is on the increase. Some author-
ities claim the increase is out of propor-
tion to the increase in population. Psy-
chiatrists tell us that it is due in a great 
measure to the strain incidental to mak-
ing a living. Temperaments which would 
bear up well in a simpler environment, 
crack under the strain in our own." 

Schizophrenia is given as an illustra-
tion. Doesn't it strike you that much of 
life's complexity is needless? Why this 
obeisance to wealth, to position, to learn-
ing? These futile goals which men have 
set and for which they goad themselves 
beyond their endurance, are in greatest 
measure responsible for the rupture in 
personality. 

"Why worry when you can pray?" 
Worry bespeaks a tremendous lack of 
faith, makes one miserable, and changes 
nothing. Listen to Oliver Wendell Holmes 
and William James. The first says: "It is 
faith in something and enthusiasm that 
makes life worth looking at." The second 
observes: "The sovereign cure for worry 
is religion. It supplies motive power for 
action and the enthusiasm which commits 
the whole man, mind and heart and soul, 



to the undertakings." 
These two gentlemen offer good advice 

for joy in the success of an undertaking, 
but we want continual joy in God. St. 
Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always". 
With regard to our temporal lot we do 
as Christ and the Psalmist tell us. Christ 
says: "Seek first the kingdom of God 
and his justice, and all things will be 
given to you besides." The Psalmist 
writes, "Cast your care upon the Lord, 
and he will sustain you." We rejoice in 
the loving care of our heavenly Father. 

Pat was a cheerful Christian. "It could 
be worse", was his invariable comment 
when any one approached him with com-
plaints. One day a friend told him, "Last 
night I dreamed I had died and went to 
Hell." Again, "It could be worse!" The 
disconcerted friend wanted to know how 
it could be worse. Pat said, "If it were 
true !" 

"Yes, it could be worse. For a visual 
demonstration, visit the wards of hos-
pitals. You will discover suffering and 
sorrow that you never dreamed existed. 
Your lot in life will appear to be not too 
bad after all. Your heart will swell with 
gratitude toward God for his goodness to 
you. 

St. Francis could not bear long faces. 

41-— 



We should be minstrels of the Lord, be 
cheerful ourselves arid spread cheer 
wherever we can, especially in our fam-
ilies. Cheerfulness is an essential element 
of Franciscanism. Instead of his morti-
fications making Francis gloomy or ir-
ritable, it heightened his cheerfulness and 
deepened his joy. 

His early love of song never waned, 
and during his last illness he spent much 
of his time singing. A God-intoxicated 
man if there ever was one, his love of 
God and of all God's creatures flowed 
from him in language so tender that the 
words seem like lyrics of love. 

1 3 . A H O B B Y 

This is the day of hobbies; without a 
hobby one is just not in the swim. We 
hear of the most fantastic things classi-
fied as hobbies. Let me suggest to you 
a hobby that is as natural as breathing— 
greater love for the Sacred Heart of 
Jesus through true Franciscanism. 

Here is a hobby the results of which 
are enjoyed not only here but hereafter. 
When stamps, bric-a-brac, painting, wood-
working, and the like have long passed 
into oblivion, this hobby will be just bear-
ing fruition, please God, in the Beatific 

42-— 



Vision, as expressed by St. Paul: "Eye 
has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it 
entered the heart of man what God has 
m store for those who love him." 

In other words, make a hobby of some 
pursuit based on Catholic Action, an ac-
tivity so necessary today. The Church 
and civil society need men and women 
of initiative and energy. When the enemies 
are working a t full speed day and night 
we dare not sit back. Nevertheless we 
must beware of what Pope Pius XII calls 
the heresy of action." 
Only men and women of God are fit to 

do God's work. Once they are convinced 
that an enterprise is God's will, no diffi-
culty, no opposition, no persecution should 
deter them. Convinced that without Christ 
we can do nothing, they consider them-
selves as mere instruments in his hands 
claim for themselves neither recognition 
nor temporal rewards, and leave success 
or failure to him. 

This holy indifference they acquire 
through fervent mental and vocal prayer 
through spiritual reading—in short, that 
holy inwardness in which God becomes 
their all, a spirit so commonly resulting 
from the Third Order spirit and life that 
it is proverbial. 

Sometimes a laudable enterprise which 

—43— 



according to all human calculations ought 
to succeed goes on the rocks. The pre-
ceding statement has one explanation, as 
the Psalmist says: "Unless the Lord build 
the house, they have labored in vain who 
built it. Unless the Lord protects the city, 
the guard keeps watch in vain." 

1 4 . COURAGE 

The life of man on earth is a warfare, 
patient Job tells us. St. Paul says that 
all who wish to lead a pious life, must 
be ready to suffer persecution. At best 
it is no child's play to fight the battles 
of life, to remain in the state of grace, to 
live up to the Franciscan standard. Cour-
age is indispensable. If our first parents 
had had the backbone to resist the 
Tempter, the human race would not have 
been plunged into sin and misery. The 
courageous love of Jesus and Mary 
brought salvation. 

It would be difficult to point out the 
most courageous act of Jesus, but if one 
may hazard a thought, it was his prayer 
of resignation during his agony in the 
garden of Olives. There he saw himself 
loaded down with all the sins of the 
world, and for this filthy mess he was to 
atone with his life. He saw the terrible 

44-— 



degradation, suffering and death before 
him. 

As he looked down through the years 
to our day and to us, we may well wonder 
whether he saw anything in our lives 
which offered him any degree of solace. 
He saw the loss of countless souls despite 
his tremendous sacrifice. He saw the 
coldness and indifference of souls dedi-
cated to him. His natural aversion to 
what he saw was so intense that his re-
sistance to it forced blood from his heart 
through the pores of his body. 

The Blessed Virgin Mary, full of grace, 
versed in the prophets, knew the mean-
ing of courage when she said, "Be it done 
to me according to your word." When 
she offered her Babe in the Temple, holy 
Simeon said to her, "Your own soul a 
sword shall pierce." Surely the sharpest 
sword pierced her soul when she, the 
Mother, stood at the foot of the cross 
on which her Divine Son was bleeding 
away his life. 

The millions of martyrs and other 
saints did not lack courage when they 
followed the example of Jesus and Mary. 
They represent all walks of life; by far 
the greatest number of them belonged 
to the laity. We may assume that even 
now many saints are hidden under over-

45-— 



alls and patched house dresses. These 
good men and women make great sacri-
fices, such as to attend holy Mass and 
receive holy Communion on weekdays, 
to say the Rosary and make a medita-
tion daily, to bear their cross patiently, 
and to contribute to good causes. They 
have the courage of the first Christians. 
No doubt their many prayers and sacri-
fices are holding back punishments which 
the wicked world deserves. 

One of the many lessons which the 
saints teach us is that as it is not possible 
to be near a fire without getting some 
warmth from it, so it is not possible to 
be near to the seat of all courage, to 
God himself, without being imbued with 
this attribute. 

1 5 . C O N C L U S I O N 

As an engineer the writer cannot leave 
the project without resorting to a mathe-
matical formula. Suppose seventy-five 
per cent is our passing mark in the Book 
of Life. If we try only to reach this mark, 
we run a risk of failing. It is nothing 
unusual to fall below the ideal. If we 
earnestly work for one hundred per cent, 
we can safely assume that we shall make 
seventy-five per cent. Our Divine Head-

46-— 



master will see to that. For it has never 
been known that he let a willing fellow 
down. 

Dear brothers and sisters, we must 
aim high in activities for God and souls 
but we must aim still higher in fervent 
prayer. It has been said that prayer is 
the strength of man and the weakness 
of God. 

The story has it that John the beloved 
disciple and Judas the traitor were posed 
for by the same man, in Leonardo da 
Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper. 
Years of sin and degradation fitted him 
for the character of the betrayer from so 
lofty a start as the portrayer of St. John. 

The story presents an obvious lesson. 
As in this man's life, so in the life of 
each of us, there is no limit to the height 
to which we can rise in our quest of 
God's love, nor to the depth to which 
we can fall in the rejection of that love. 
Either depends on our correspondence 
with God's grace. We can end as John 
did, with our head on that beloved 
breast; or end as Judas did—we can hunt 
for someone who will pay us thirty pieces 
of silver for the betrayal of the Godman. 
In effect each mortal sin committed re-
enacts this crime, and one wonders if the 
recompense is not often less than thirty 

47-— 



pieces of silver! 
We are ever being assured that this, 

that, or the other is an exact science 
today. What more exact science is there 
in the world than the salvation of our soul 
through the teachings of the Church of 
our dear Lord? And how could it be 
otherwise, since the foundation of this 
Church was laid really long before the 
wheels of time began to turn, laid by the 
eternal Wisdom as an essential part of 
the Divine economy, of God's mighty, 
all-embracing plan for his glory through 
the salvation of mankind. Despite its 
magnitude the plan can be summed up 
in a few words: We are living for time 
or for eternity, for God or for mammon, 
as friends of Christ or as his enemies— 
there is no middling way. 

For the world's ills a choice is offered: 
Christ or chaos! 

Let us borrow a thought from St. 
Peter's answer to our Lord when he said: 
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have 
words of everlasting life." In this in-
stance: If in living lives in imitation of 
Christ, and thus keeping the command-
ments of God and the laws of the Church, 
fashioning our homes after the little home 
at Nazareth through the family Rosary 
and Franciscan traditions, helping the 



least of God's little ones regardless of 
race, creed or color because in each we 
see the lineaments of Christ, and doing 
unto others as we would have others do 
unto us,—I say, if the answer is not here, 
where are we to look for another? 

Again, dear reader, you are invited to 
join our Franciscan family if you do not 
already belong. To be a saint is not a re-
quirement. Practical Catholicity and the 
sincere desire to live more closely to 
our Lord—these are the prime requisites. 
The Third Order of St. Francis is not 
nearly so interested in finding saints as 
it is in making saints. Nor are Tertiaries 
interested in being better than others— 
they want above all just to make them-
selves better than they are now. 

And for us Tertiaries, just one part-
ing shot: if we have not arrived as yet 
at this happy state, what better time than 
now to ask the reason . . . W H Y ? 

Yes, we have "an apostolic army" in 
the Third Order of St. Francis—a stand-
ing army which numbers millions, and 
one of the oldest in the world, since it 
is over 700 years old, although the term 
young would be more appropriate. This 
legion throughout the world is trying to 
follow closely ..in the footsteps of the 
Master. 

49-— 



But that the writer may not be mis-
understood, he would like to make one 
point clear. Because of his apparent nega-
tiveness at times, this thought has been 
uppermost in his mind, as stated by St. 
Francis de Sales: "I am glad that you 
make a new beginning daily. There is no 
better means of progress in the spiritual 
life than to foe continually beginning 
afresh, and never to think we have done 
enough." 

Well, my friend, we have come to the 
road's end, and I hope you have enjoyed 
our little chat as much as I have. But 
I just remember someone has been over-
looked in our discussion. Do you know 
who that is? You are right—it is Mary. 
Of all people to forget! That must not 
be! For as Mary brought about the first 
miracle through her intercession at the 
marriage feast at 'Cana, so she will con-
tinue to do down through the ages to that 
day which shall be unique in the history 
of the world, the day which shall see the 
sun rise but shall see its setting restrained 
by the hand of God. 

A number of years ago one of London's 
largest newspapers offered one thousand 
pounds to the one who would write the 
best story on the miracle of Jesus chang-
ing the water into wine at the marriage 

—50— 



feast at Cana. It was open to any one 
of whatever age. The number of words 
was optional. College arid university peo-
ple vied for the very lucrative prize. In 
some cases volumes were written. 

You could never guess who won the 
contest. A little girl in the sixth grade 
of St. Mary's parochial school in London! 
She quoted an English poet: "Jesus 
looked upon the water, and it blushed 
in the eyes of its Maker!" 

Praises of the Blessed Virgin 
by St. Francis 

Hail, holy Lady! Most holy Queen! 
Mother of God, Mary! Yet ever a Virgin, 
Chosen by the most high holy Father 
in Heaven, 
And by him with his most holy beloved 
Son and the Spirit Paraclete consecrated! 
You m whom there was and there is 
All the fulness of grace and everything 
good! s 

Hail, his palace! Hail, his tabernacle! 
Hail his home! Hail, his vesture! 
Hail, his handmaiden! Hail his Mother! 
And hail too, all you holy virtues, which 
by the grace and light of the Holy Ghost 
are infused into the hearts of the faith-

51-— 



ful; to make of the faithless faithful 
children of God [—Words of St. Francis. 
MARY, MOTHER O F GOD AND 
OUR MOTHER, PRAY JESUS FOR 
US T H A T W E MAY BE MADE 
WORTHY O F T H E PROMISES O F 
CHRIST." 

Paragraphs designated 1 are quoted with 
permission from Why Not Be A Saint 
by John A. O'Brien, published by Queens 
Work, Copyright by John O'Brien. 

52-— 



Imprimi potest: 
ELIGIUS WEIR O . F . M . 
Minister Provincial 

Nihil Obstat: 
CONRADIN W A L L B R A U N O . F . M . 
Censor deputatus 

Imprimatur: 
S A M U E L CARDINAL STRITCH 
Archbishop of Chicago 

July 14, 1964 

Feast of St. Bonaventure 

53-— 



FRANCISCAN HERALD 
PRESS PUBLICATIONS 

LEAFLETS: 
Action Together 
Hidden Power 
Your Master Guide 
What's Your Objection 
What is the Third Order 

P A M P H L E T S : 

Blessed by a Curse 
James Meyer, O.F.M. 

St. Francis Yesterday and Today 
Pope Pius XI 

Whose is the Land 
James Meyer, O.F.M. 

Layman's Order 
Juvenal Emanuel, O.F.M. 

Message of St. Francis 
Ferdinand Gruen, O.F.M. 

Third Order Catechism 
Ferdinand Gruen, O.F.M. 

Heart O' the Rule 
Marion Habig, O.F.M. 

—54— 



Glories of the Franciscan Order 
Francis Steck, O.F.M. 

Novice Instruction Outlines 
Hegener & Nimeth, O.F.M. 

Getting Wise in the Ways of God 
Albert Nimeth, O.F.M. 

BOOKS : 

Words of St. Francis 
James Meyer, O.F.M. 

Friends of St. Francis — Sidney Wicks 
Hour of St. Francis 

Rheinold Schneider 
Militant Life — Stephane Piat, O.F.M. 
Social Ideals of St. Francis 

James Meyer, O.F.M. 
Union With Christ — Veuthey 
Our Lady and St. Francis 

Raphael Brown 
Self-Cummunings of a Martyr 

Ven. Paul Heath 
The Christian Home 

Celestine Strub, O.F.M. 

FOR F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N ON T H E 
T H I R D O R D E R W R I T E : 

N A T I O N A L S E C R E T A R I A T 
8140 S P R I N G M I L L R O A D 
I N D I A N A P O L I S 44, I N D . 

I —55— 







B P 
Duneffen, 

Dear Father: 
Complimentary copy of my booklet. 

If you like my humble effort,will you please 
purchase a quantity for ycur fraternity and 
your Church Book Rack. They are each, 

I Yours in the Sacred Heart* 
G. P. CUMMINGS