The drama of the Franciscans

 

"A Drama of Reform" is an American book published in 2005. The editor of the volume is named Benedict Groeschel, and the volume is also attributed to the Franciscans of the Renewal. The photographer´s name is Grazyna Marczuk. Perhaps true to form, I got the book cheaply from a second-hand store. Yes, it´s about Franciscans! Or rather one of many branches of the Franciscans, the so-called Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and its female counterpart Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. These religious orders have full papal recognition and are an integrated part of the Roman Catholic Church. 

The Franciscans of the Renewal are a relatively small organization, formed by former Capuchin monks. They look like a cross between Capuchins and regular Franciscans, wearing the grey habits of the latter while spouting the huge beards of the former! The group was formed in the United States by conservative Catholics dissatisfied by the modernist drift of the Church. They are de facto opposed to the reform processes associated with Vatican II, although as good members of the Church, they never openly proclaim this. Rather, "A Drama of Reform" emphasizes the Renewal´s close contacts with the Catholic hierarchy. John Paul II, American cardinal O`Connor and Mother Theresa are all said to have supported the project. 

Judging by the book (which is relatively uninteresting to a heathen sinner like myself), the Renewal Franciscans spend most of their time praying, working and doing charitable work. They also function as "street missionaries" for the Catholic Church. At least when the book was written, New York was their main base of operation. Much of the charity and social work shown in the book takes place in South Bronx, one of the worst neighborhoods in New York City (I´ve actually been there). The Renewal also has a missionary outreach in Honduras, and there too, they combine religious preaching with attempts at aiding the poor. Some photos in the book show the bearded monks sing, perform music or even play soccer. The sisters make food, although it seems the brothers might do the dishes! 

On a more sinister note, the friars target abortion clinics in New York City, very visibly protesting these "abortuaries" (the neologism is based on "mortuary"). Several monks have been arrested by the police and even served jail time, presumably for breaking Bill Clinton´s Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, although the book doesn´t specify. It´s also interesting to note that most members of the Franciscans of the Renewal seem to be White, while the people they are aiding are often Black or Hispanic. Make of that what you will. 

The spiritual life of the Renewal Franciscans include public processions with cross-bearers during Easter, pilgrimages, retreats in Upstate New York, and a peculiar ritual called "the transitus", commemorating the death of St Francis, with one of the brothers starring as the dying St Francis! The group seem to have a special devotion to the Marian apparation at Guadalupe, but the book says very little about this. It´s not clear to me whether the Renewal´s semi-cult of John Paul II is just another expression of this Pope´s strong popularity among Catholics, or goes beyond this (the book was published before John Paul was declared a saint). 

With that, I end this little review.