“What Is Franciscan Fraternity?” That was the theme of a meeting that took place on October 12-13, 2024 at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rauma, Finland. The meeting was organized by the Pastor of the church, Reverend Taneli ALA-OPAS, and his community.
The Holy Cross Church commemorated the Conventual Franciscan friars who once served here before the Reformation. Five centuries later, the friars return to Rauma each year for a special day to commemorate St. Francis and the early friars who left an indelible mark on the memory of the local people.
What kind of meeting was this? That is actually the question. Was it a study day? Only in part. It did feature three lectures. Reverend Taneli ALA-OPAS lectured on “The Presence and Profile of the Conventual Franciscans in Rauma.” Friar Emanuele RIMOLI gave a lecture on “The Characteristic Traits of the Franciscan Fraternity” and Friar Marie-Augustin LAURENT-HUYGHUES-BEAUFOND, OP, lectured on “The Relationship Between the Franciscans and the Dominicans” The atmosphere, however, was not that of a pure academic exercise.
Was it an ecumenical meeting? Certainly, yet there was no talk of ecumenism even though we all hoped we could celebrate the Eucharist together as soon as possible. Was it a fraternal meeting? It might seem obvious at this point that we are desperate to find the right adjective. However, this is what we are trying to avoid, because, paradoxically, using familiar language can diminish the significance of the time we spent together.
Perhaps it is not even necessary to define what kind of meeting it was. Suffice it to say that it was an experience of a friendly, and therefore truly spiritual, ecumenism, a seed that has grown into the practice of praying for one another. Then, there is the sense of fraternity that, by the grace of God, continues to grow through our mutual esteem and increasingly frequent gatherings in Assisi and Rauma. Finally, there is the increasingly concrete desire to share creative, clear and wide-ranging thinking, as shown in the Canticle of the Creatures.
Indeed, the meeting in Rauma was this and much more, amidst many cups of coffee and food at all hours. It was marked by a sense of pride for the friars who had come before us, pride that was confirmed when we were asked to preach the Sunday Mass broadcast on national radio. Moreover, the meeting was notable for the wonder seen on the faces of the many lay people, including many Secular Franciscans, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who participated in the weekend initiatives.
Friar Emanuele RIMOLI
