Commission on Prayer and Devotion

About us

• The Commission on Prayer and Devotion has the overall objective of supporting the Minister General and his Definitory in promoting and strengthening prayer and devotion in the lives of the Friars Minor. The Commission reports to the General Secretariat for Formation and Studies.
• Specifically our objective is to assist in the implementation of Mandate #7 from the 2015 General Chapter which reads: “The General Definitory should encourage every Entity, or at least every Conference, to establish a Hermitage Fraternity or House of Prayer (cf. SSGG 15 §1) particularly designed to promote contemplative prayer and devotion. Concrete guidelines and plans for such a place and fraternity should be drawn up. Other brothers outside this fraternity should be allowed to consider when they might best be able to take some time to engage in this specifically Franciscan style of prayer.”

News:

https://www.ofm.org/en/international-meeting-of-ofm-franciscan-hermitages.html

Commission Tasks

• To investigate how the spirit of prayer and devotion is lived concretely in the different Entities of the Order.
• Conduct a survey to see how the document “Listen and You Will Live” was received by the Brothers of the Order.
• Conduct a census to determine the number of hermitages and prayer houses currently existing in the Order, update information about them, and ask them to send their life projects to the Commission.
• Identify what problems exist which limit the presence of prayer houses in the Entities.
• Offer suggestions for promoting hermitages and prayer houses perhaps within the Order's properties.
• Develop guidelines for a Franciscan prayerful reading of the Word of God.
• Promote a deeper practice of prayer and devotion to the Virgin Mary.
• Develop a practical version of Franciscan spiritual exercises.
• Develop specific guidelines for training in contemplative prayer.
• Hold periodic Commission meetings virtually via Zoom. 
• Organize Zoom meetings for hermitage fraternities around the world to share ongoing experiences.
• Request a space on the Order's website to keep the friars informed and updated on the different experiences of hermitages around the world.

History of the Commission on Prayer and Devotion

The Commission on Prayer and Devotion was established on November 29, 1997, by the Administration of the then-General Minister, Br. Giacomo Bini, to support the General Minister and his Definitory in promoting and strengthening this vital aspect of our life. It began meeting annually in 1999 and concluded each meeting reporting to the General Definitory.

The materials produced during that period of time were based on both the experience and writings of Saint Francis, with a strong emphasis on the importance of the word of God in every stage of the friars' formation. These were published in the form of thirteen different prayer cards.

During that period, the Commission also promoted a Franciscan style of Lectio Divina, to encourage the prayerful reading of the Word of God in personal and fraternal life. On March 16, 2010, the General Definitory appointed the following friars to the Commission: Br. Julio César Bunader (President), Br. Benvenuto Baisas, Br. Eugenio Barelli, Br. Andre Cirino, Br. Vumile Nogemanr, Br. Herman Schlegel, Br. Celso Teixiera, Br. Scaria Varanath, Br. Michael Vovk.

During that period, the Commission prioritized promoting the prayerful reading of the Word. Taking advantage of the celebration of the Year of the Word (2008-2009), a letter was drafted and titled “Pilgrims and Strangers in this World Guided by the Word,” which, in addition to offering some reflections on the importance of listening to the Word of God, provided a concrete method for praying with the Word of God.

In 2016, the following members were elected to form the Commission: Br. Julio César Bunader (Vicar General, Argentina), Br. Gerardo Evans (Irish), Br. Diego dalla Gassa (Italian), Br. Emilio Rocho Grande (Spanish), Br. Eugenio Barelli (Italian).

On March 19, 2017, the commission published the document “Listen and Live.”

In 2021, the newly elected General Minister, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, and his Definitory elected the following Members for the Commission: Br. Fabio César Gomes (President), Br. Hieronimus Yoseph Dei Rupa, Br. Gerard Evans, Br. Anthony Jukes, Br. Paolo Zampollini, and Br. Angelo Fernandez De Pinedo Arnaiz.

On May 13, 2022, as Br. Fabio César Gomes was unable to serve as president due to other commitments, the General Definitory decided to appoint Br. Paolo Zampollini as President, keeping the rest of the commission members unchanged.

On December 15, 2022, the General Definitory decided that the “Spirit of Prayer and Devotion” Commission would become a permanent body of the General Secretariat for Formation and Studies.