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The
Origins of the Order
The
First Missionnaries
Our
Characteristics
A
Variety Of Apostolates
Inter-religious
Dialogue
Important
writings
The
Origins Of The Secular Franciscan Order
The
Holy Land and the Missions
Important
Franciscans in history
To
join us
Legend
of St Francis :
11. Francis before the Sultan
Giotto di Bondone, 1297-1300
Fresco, 270 x 230 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi
The
Commitment of the OFM to Ecumenical
and Interreligious Dialogue
(Roma, December 2002)
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Inter-religious
Dialogue
We
live in a society where different cultures mix together and, unfortunately,
sometimes even clash. This is most evident in big cities where
neighbours of different ethic backgrounds live side by side. Even
in rural areas, through the media, people are aware of the growing
ethnic diversity of our country.
In response
to this multicultural growth, the Franciscans have promoted active
reflection on being open to other cultures and religions. This
type of reflection endeavours to diminish intolerance and lack
of understanding. Inspired by St. Francis’s experience with
the Sultan, many Franciscans
work with ethnic organizations and on various initiatives for
inter-religious dialogue. It is inspiring to consider that even
in the Middle Ages, instead of encouraging war and violence, some
people, like St. Francis, wanted to establish harmonious relations
with other religions, especially with Islam.
Even if Francis
of Assisi went to meet the Sultan with the intension of converting
him, his approach was one of reconciliation and peace. Even more
comforting, is that we can still apply today the lessons of that
profound and tender encounter.
“It
seems”, says Albert Jaquard (Le Souci des Pauvres,
Flammarion, 1996)“ that the Sultan did not forget Francis’
smile and his boundless faith. Perhaps he remembered this when
he decided ten years later, when nothing would oblige him to
do so, to give Jerusalem to the Christians. What the armies
from Europe failed to obtain, the intelligence and tolerance
of Malik Al-Kamil permitted Islam to offer. Without a doubt
the insight of Francis had slowly made its way into the consciousness
of this man open to the thoughts of others.”
Today religious
distinctions hide the real cause of conflict. It has nothing to
do with religion. The real conflict today is “north”
against “south” and especially poor against rich. Muslims
also desire to build a better world with human and spiritual values.
For this
reason the Franciscans in Quebec continue the work of St. Francis
by attempting to link with people of different religions (Aboriginals,
Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians from other
denominations). Together they search for ways to face the difficulties
of our times: poverty, loneliness, violence, drugs and many other
issues.
For ten years
now, the Franciscans in Montreal have brought together delegates
from eight religions for prayer services. These gatherings, in
return, have given birth to many diverse initiatives such as inter-religious
prayer initiatives organized by other associations, schools, priests
and other Christian Pastors, a group of Muslim and Christian women
and an inter-religious council.
Else where,
in Lebanon, the Philippines and Indonesia, Franciscans and Muslims
get together every year to organize a pilgrimage to promote peace
and justice. In an elementary school in Tyr, Lebanon, where there
is a mix of Muslim and Christian students, the Franciscans have
devised a method of insuring harmony. They always insure that
there is a mix of Muslim and Christian students in every class,
social group and sports team. Never will you see, for instance,
a soccer match between a completely Christian team and a completely
Moslem team.
In western
Canada, the Franciscans run St. Michael’s Retreat Centre
in the beautiful Qu’Appelle valley in Saskatchewan. It operates
as an ecumenical centre through an interchurch board made up of
the Friars along with the Regina Roman Catholic Archdioceses and
the Anglican and Lutheran communities.
These are
just a few examples of initiatives between different peoples that
attempt to bring about that universal fraternity that Francis
so much desired.
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