The Marian Vow of the Franciscan Friars Minor According to the Constitutions

In the Constitutions of the Franciscan Friars Minor there are 31 paragraphs that refer to Our Blessed Mother and/or the Marian Vow. The Introduction, Chapters 1 and 8, as well as the Conclusion have no references to Our Lady and/or the Marian Vow. Each of these paragraphs is weaved throughout the Constitutions creating a thread that highlights the Marian aspect of that particular chapter

 

Statement of Charism:

1. The Charism of the Franciscan Brothers Minor is to observe the Holy Gospel

of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rule, Testament and the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. We observe the Rule of 1223 strictly and “without gloss” (Testament 9). The distinctive character of our Fraternity is the strict observance of the Rule combined with and joined to the Marian Vow of Total Consecration to the Immaculate. The Marian Vow is the crowning jewel of our vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

 

3. By our Marian Vow, we intimately unite ourselves to Our Lady so that she might

mediate to us the grace of personal sanctification. The Vow compels us to participate more fully in her mission of Universal Salvation. It is our special task to promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart. As “Penitents from Assisi”, a name once used by Saint Francis, we make reparation for sins committed against her Immaculate Heart.

 

6. Saint Francis, when he established the model Friary at the Portziuncula, willed that our Friaries be primarily places of prayer and the Friars to be contemplatives. In accordance with his will, we are men of prayer before we are men of action. Our life includes periods of solitude spent in remote hermitages, devotion to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and Marian devotion.

 

7. Our Apostolate is evangelization in any form that is in keeping with our Rule and Constitutions. All apostolic work and activity must always be subservient to our life of prayer, penance, poverty, minority and fraternity. In accordance with our Marian Vow, we promote devotion to Our Lady in all we do. Upon request and our availability the Franciscan Friars Minor will give spiritual and or material assistance to the Poor Sisters of St. Clare.

 

Introduction:

-No Marian Vow Articles

 

Preamble:

14. The distinctive character of our Charism is the strict observance of the Rule combined with and joined to the Marian Vow of Total Consecration to the Immaculate which finds its meaning in the complete, total, unlimited and unreserved gift of oneself to Mary Immaculate. The Rule of Saint Francis, which calls for perfect poverty, is lived most perfectly by the Marian Vow that places the totality of ones person into the loving arms of the Immaculate. This witness of total dependence on Our Lady for all things is in itself a sermon, a book or a program regarding the truthfulness of God and His loving care for His creatures. Total dependence on Mary’s love and providence for all our needs of life is greater than any apostolic work or ministry. As these Constitutions are to be the fence around the Rule, The Marian Vow is Our Lady’s mantle that, if we are faithful to our consecration, will always protect our strict observance.

 

15. The Marian Vow is not an addition to the Franciscan life, but the natural development of the

seed planted by Saint Francis and watered by the Saints throughout the centuries. Saint Francis founded the community in the small church of Our Lady of the Angels. He himself consecrated the Order to her. And such Friars as Saint Bonaventure, BL. Don Scotus, and Saint Lawrence of Brindisi have always been defenders and promoters of Marian doctrine. The Marian Vow was revealed and given to the Franciscan Order through Saint Maximillian Mary Kolbe. He defined and explained this vow as the “Marianization” of the Franciscan Order, the climax of Franciscan devotion to the Immaculate.

 

16. When we are faithful to our consecration and truly seek to imitate all of the Immaculate’s virtues, all twelve chapters of the Rule will be lived in their perfection. Each chapter will be as one of the twelve stars in Our Lady’s crown. Each Friar should spend time reflecting on each chapter of the Rule in light of the Immaculate and our consecration.

 

Chapter 1:

-No Marian Vow Articles

 

Chapter 2, Formation:

49. In order that the Friars reach the summit of most high poverty, the queen and mother of all virtues, the spouse of Christ our Lord, and of our Seraphic Father, and of our most beloved Mother, we exhort all the Friars not to have any attachment on earth, but always to fix their affection in heaven, using the things of this world sparingly as if by constraint, and in so far as their weakness will allow, deeming themselves rich with all their poverty. Let them be content with one spiritual book, or even Christ crucified, and with two pants. And let them remember that our Seraphic Father said that a Friar Minor should be nothing but a mirror of every virtue, especially of poverty.

 

50. Lest that it should be said of us which our most holy Savior said of the Scribes and Pharisees: “Woe to you, because you go about the sea and the land to make one convert, and when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves”, (Mt. 23:15) we determine that Novices shall be placed in a Friary suited for the spiritual life. They shall be given masters who are most mature, refined and enlightened in the ways of God. The masters shall be diligent in teaching not only the ceremonies, but also those spiritual matters necessary for the perfect imitation of Christ, our Light, our Way, our Truth, and our Life. By word and example they shall show them what a Friar Minors life consist of. Classes in the history of the Franciscan Order, Religious Life, the Constitutions, the Vows, the Liturgy and Mariology shall be taught over this year. The Masters shall take diligent care that the Novices learn the Rule by heart during the time of Novitiate.

 

55. At Temporary Profession the Friars profess the four vows of Total Consecration to the Immaculate, Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. Temporary profession is for three years and renewed for no more than four years unless special permission is granted. The vow formula is as follows:

 

To the Glory of God and to the honor of the Immaculate, with a firm will to live more perfectly the Gospel of Christ, I, Br.__, vow and promise to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to our Holy Father Saint Francis, to all the Saints of our Seraphic Order and to you Fr.__, to observe for all the days of my life (for three years), the Rule of the Friars

Minor, confirmed by our lord Pope Honorius, as expressed in the Constitution of the Franciscan Brothers Minor, living in Total Consecration to the Immaculate, in obedience, without property and in chastity.

 

56. The Marian Vow and the Evangelical Counsels (i.e. the Vows) are defined as follows:

 

a) The Marian Vow of Total Consecration to the Immaculate is the first of the

four vows. It is the crowning jewel of our Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. It

obliges us to daily imitate Our Lady’s perfect and humble Obedience, spotless

and pure Chastity and her sincere and complete Poverty. The Marian Vow has

two essential realities that directly affect the life of every consecrated Friar:

Personal Sanctification and Universal Salvation.

 

i) Through the Vow of Total Consecration the Friars are personally

sanctified by our Lady’s conforming them perfectly to Christ. The

perfect imitation of Christ: Jesus came to us “born of a woman”

(Gal. 4:4), born of her womb and He entrusted Himself to her care.

Through the Marian Vow we seek to go to God born of “the woman”.

The Blessed Virgin possesses the fullness of all graces. She is the

Mediatrix of All Graces. Our intimate union with Her always gives the

graces of sanctification. The Marian Vow obliges us to concretize in our

souls the imitation of all of Her Virtues. It is by the imitating of Her

virtues that we will assimilate our souls to the Immaculate. The Marian

Vow requires us to place the totality of our person into Her hands. Our

total confidence and trust is in Her motherly guidance. To belong so

completely to her in such a way that it is She who works and lives in

and through us. In this way we are perfect lovers of Christ and reach the

“conformity to the image of the Son” (Rom. 8.29).

 

71. Whether a religious brother in Perpetual Vows or an Ordained Priest of our Order, the Friars shall never consider their formation to be complete. They should daily strive to grow as Christian men and holy Religious. Always they must pursue continual growth in theology, Mariology and our Franciscan Charism. Let them remember that formation will only end when we have been completely conformed to Christ crucified through Mary.

 

Chapter3: Prayer and Penance:

88. Since the Marian Vow is a total consecration of the whole person, it necessarily requires the daily offering of one’s body, soul, heart and mind. Daily we must offer our work, sacrifices, inconveniences and all of our efforts. To accomplish and continue a living consecration, the Friars shall renew twice daily, in community, the act of simple consecration. On Feasts and Solemnities of Our Lady, after Holy Communion, we recite together the solemn act of consecration. The Friars are encouraged to renew their consecration before starting any task.

 

89. Prayer, our first priority, is sanctified when placed in the hands of Our Lady. From her place in Heaven she continually makes intercession for us (cf. L.G. 8) and so we always bring her our needs trusting in her motherly affection. Particularly, we pray the following devotions: Daily communal Rosary is prayed after Compline. Friars are to complete the rest of the 20 mysteries i

private. (Norm III:5a) Twice daily we renew our Marian Consecration. The Litany of Loreto is said after the evening Rosary. An “Ave Maria” is prayed after the intercessions at Holy Mass, The Angelus/Regina Coeli are prayed at the three traditional hours. First Saturday devotions are done when possible.

 

90. To foster devotion and to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart, the Friars shall be devoted to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. In place of the regular communal Rosary: every Tuesday, they shall recite the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, every Saturday they shall recite the Franciscan Crown (the Seven Joys of Mary) and every Sunday they shall recite the Seven Glories of Mary.

 

91. Our Seraphic Father, as appears in the beginning and end of the Rule, wished that special   reverence should be paid to the Supreme Pontiff as the vicar of Jesus Christ, to all Bishops   and Priests. We ordain, therefore, that, over and above the prayers said in common, every Friar   shall, in his private prayers, beseech the Divine Goodness that through the intercession of the   Mediatrix of All Graces, Mother of the Church, the fullness of Grace may be given for the   welfare of the Church militant and for His Holiness the Pope, that Grace may be given him   clearly to see, efficaciously to will and successfully to carry out all that may redound to the   honor and glory of the Divine Majesty, the salvation of all and the conversion of sinners. They   shall also pray for all Bishops and Priests, particularly for our Ordinary, auxiliaries and the   pastors who provide for us and for whom we serve. (Norms III:6). Prayers for the Pope and   Church are to be prayed communally after Lauds.

 

100. As Franciscan Brothers Minor we have, as an essential part of our

Franciscan Capuchin Charism, the obligation to do penance. For us, our penance takes on a particular direction with the Marian Vow. In response to Our Lady’s request at Fatima, the aim of our penance is to make reparation for sins committed against the Most Holy Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 

Chapter 4, Our Life of Poverty:

114. Experience teaches us that no sooner does a Friar drive away from himself holy poverty then he falls into every great vice. Let the Friars, therefore, after the example of the Savior of the world and His Most Beloved Mother, strive to be poor in earthly things that they may be rich in divine grace, holy virtues and heavenly treasures.

 

Chapter 5, Manual Labor:

126. The devout Saint Bernard was wont to say that nothing is more precious than time, and that nothing is less esteemed. He also warns us that we shall be rigorously examined as to how we have spent our allotted time. We exhort all our brethren never to be idle, nor to spend their time in matters of little or no importance, much less in vain or useless conversation, let them always bear in mind the fearful warnings of the Infallible Truth that, for every idle word we speak we shall render an account on the day of judgment (cf. Mt. 12:36). Let the Friars, therefore, spend all their time in praiseworthy, honest, and useful occupations, either of mind or body. Let them do this for the Glory of the Divine Majesty and the honor of the Immaculate, and for the edification and good example to all our brethren and fellow men, religious and secular.

 

Chapter 6, Our Vow of Poverty:

138. It is enjoined on preachers not to carry with them many books, so that they may attentively

study the most excellent book, the Cross. As it was always the intention of our beloved Father that the Friars have the necessary books in common and not individually, and the better to observe poverty and to remove from the hearts of the brethren all feelings of attachment, it is ordained that in each house the Friars may have a small library where books for our use may be kept. The amount of books shall be small in number but sufficient for the spiritual and intellectual needs of the Friars. There shall be well developed Franciscan, Magisterial and Marian sections (Norms VI: 3). Books that are really useless and make a man worldly rather than Christian, shall not be kept in our houses. Let such as are found be disposed of according to the injunction of the Minister General.

 

151. In order to have our minds raised to God and kept from distraction we ordain that most holy poverty and austerity shall be expressly manifested in our Friaries by the starkness and emptiness of our places. Therefore, all Friaries are forbidden to have carpets, wallpaper, and curtains, etc..(For list of items see Norms VI:5a-e). All furnishings shall be poor, plain and austere. Each room, including Friar’s cells, may have only a crucifix, image of Our Lady and a Saint. In this way our houses will proclaim Christ and Him Crucified and remind us of those who have achieved the Glory of the Kingdom.

 

157. As we possess nothing in this world, no Friar is allowed to give anything away without permission of the Guardian except small things kept for the specific purpose of being given away. Friars may have a small supply of Rosaries, Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, Holy Cards and the like, kept in a common area, for distribution to those whom we serve.

 

Chapter 7, Fraternal Life:

160. In his Testament our Seraphic Father Francis reminded us that it was the Lord Who gave him brothers (cf. Testament 3), a brotherhood born not of the flesh but of the Spirit (cf. Jn. 3:6), men called by God to follow Christ in oneness of mind and heart. It was in the light of this truth that Saint Francis called his Order a fraternity, a brotherhood, born of the same Mother.

 

170. The Marian Vow not only transubstantiates us into the Immaculate, but binds us perfectly to her Son and, at the same time, unites us ever more closely as brothers. As sons of the same Mother, we see in each brother, like Saint Francis, a gift from God (cf. Testament 3). Our fraternity is continually strengthened by the recognition of our brother’s Total Consecration to the Immaculate. We, therefore, give that respect due each Friar, honoring his consecration and, in effect, honoring Our Lady.

 

186. Finally, Let us continually beseech Our Lady to increase our numbers. We pray that she may send us brothers so that there might be more souls consecrated to Her, growing in personal sanctification, making reparation to her Immaculate Heart and furthering the reign of Christ and Mary.

 

Chapter 8, Government:

-No Marian Vow Articles

 

Chapter 9, Preachers and the Apostolate:

218. Our apostolic efforts take on many forms and every work is subservient to our life of prayer, penance, poverty, minority, and fraternity and always under the gift of Obedience. At the same

time our retreats, pro-life apostolate, service to the poor, Corporal and Spiritual works of Mercy, sacramental ministry and, particularly, youth evangelization are always to be impregnated with the promoting and defending of true devotion to Mary. For this reason, through the generosity of our benefactors, the Friars shall always make available and disseminate, Rosaries, Scapulars, Miraculous Medals and Marian publications. Each Friar, during formation and the years following, they shall make a careful study of all Marian doctrines in such a way as to be true specialists in Mariology. They shall also be mindful of promoting devotion to her most chaste spouse St. Joseph.

 

Chapter 10, Our Vow of Obedience:

235. The Marian Vow, which compels us to grow in sanctity and seek the salvation of all, also requires the Friars to give the fullness of themselves. They cannot place a limit or reservation on their self-gift to the Immaculate. The Mother of God spoke her “Fiat Mihi” (cf. Lk. 1:38) and it echoed throughout the rest of eternity. Her complete and perfect love of God and humanity gave her the strength to speak her “Fiat” at the Annunciation and at the Cross. Her “Fiat” was unconditional and without the slightest limitation or reservation. So too, every Friar who professes the Marian Vow pronounces with the Immaculate: “Fiat Mihi”. Transformed in Her and united to Her, every consecrated soul receives the mediation of the grace to give oneself unconditionally and without reservation or the slightest limitation.

 

Chapter 11, The Vow of Chastity:

251. The Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception, the Most Pure Spouse of the Holy Spirit was conceived without the stain of Original Sin. There was never in her anything impure or displeasing to God. Let the Friars remember that it is to Her and through Her that we have been consecrated. She will be our strong defense, our shelter and our strong support. We have complete trust that, by our Vow of Total Consecration to the Immaculate and our Marian devotion, we shall be given the grace to attain to the highest purity. The Immaculate, the Mediatrix of all Graces, will mediate to us the grace of perfect Chastity and spotless purity. Never shall we dare to rely upon our own strength, instead, like our Blessed Lord, let us entrust ourselves to Her protection.

 

252. As was the custom of our former generations, we shall hold in great veneration, esteem and love Saint Joseph, the most pure spouse of the Virgin. Let his sublime chastity be for us an example and model. May our daily recourse to him be for us, as he was for Our Lord and Our Lady, a strong refuge of protection from all that could injure our Vow of Chastity.

 

Chapter 12, Missions:

259. Every Friar consecrated and conformed to the Immaculate understands and desires the full and complete participation in the work of the Immaculate Mother of God. The desire and longing to bring every soul to salvation is a direct effect of the Marian Vow. It is the Blessed Virgin Mary, first disciple of Christ and the spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mother to every soul, who seeks out and desires that every one come to know, love, and live in her Son. Being assimilated and transformed in her, we Friars generously give ourselves to the same mission. All our apostolic efforts must be rooted in the desire to bring all souls to salvation and the freedom to live as true sons and daughters of God and Mary. As with our own personal sanctification, we must bring these souls to Jesus through Mary.

 

260. The consecrated heart without reservation is the height of the vow of chastity.

The soul totally consecrated without any limitation is the perfect obedience. And the vowed Friar who gives the fullness of himself into the hands of the Immaculate and spends himself in her work of salvation reaches holy poverty. Our four vows are, essentially, the total gift of oneself. For this reason, every consecrated Friar must always be willing to obey, with great charity, whatever is the will of the Immaculate. Whatever he is asked to do, wherever he is asked to go and to whatever extent he is asked to give himself, the Friar who takes this

Marian Vow responds with joy and total trust that every grace necessary will be granted. Even if it calls for the entire gift of self in holy Martyrdom as it has for

so many of our brothers.