From 15th to 19th July at the Porziuncola in Assisi the Meeting of the Temporary Professed Friars of Europe organized by the General Secretariat for Formation and Studies will take place.
Opening the meeting, Br. Darko Tepert, Secretary General for Formation and Studies, recalled that the title of the meeting is "Filled with infinite admiration", explaining that it is the expression taken from the text of Thomas of Celano, where he, in the Vita prima, describes the event of La Verna and thus speaks of Francis after the vision of the Seraph:
"At that apparition the blessed servant of the Most High felt himself filled with infinite admiration, but he could not understand its meaning. He was also imbued with lively and superabundant joy at the beautiful and sweet gaze wherewith the Seraphim looked at him" (1Cel 94; FF 484).
Br. Darko emphasized that the purpose of this meeting is not to offer too much content or to give lessons, but it is to listen and dialogue.
On the first day of the meeting, more than 150 temporarily professed and about twenty of their formators were able to listen to four different testimonies on life and formation in different areas of the continent and on the prospects for the future of Franciscanism in Europe.
Testimonies were offered by Br. Cristian and Br. Giuseppe from the Province of St. Anthony of the Friars Minor in Italy, Br. Karol from the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in Poland, Br. Steven from the Province of the Holy Martyrs of Gorkum in the Netherlands and Br. Danijel from the Province of the Assumption of the BVM in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These different testimonies served as an impetus for the work in the language groups.
The day ended with the celebration of Holy Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, presided over by Br. Francesco Piloni, Minister Provincial of the Seraphic Province of St. Francis in Umbria and Sardinia, and with the celebration of Vespers.
Read the Homily by Br. Francesco Piloni: Italiano - English - Hrvatski - Polski
