In this engaging conversation, Paul R. Long OFS speaks with Brother Francisco Whittaker OSB, a Benedictine monk from St. Vincent Arch Abbey. They explore the essence of monastic life, the unique vows of Benedictines, and Brother Francisco's personal journey to the monastery. The discussion delves into the importance of prayer, community, and the active role of Benedictines in ministry, contrasting it with other monastic traditions. Brother Francisco shares insights on defining a prayerful life and the significance of intentionality in one's spiritual practice. In this conversation, Br. Francisco and Paul R. Long OFS explore the essence of prayer, humility, and the importance of community in religious life. They discuss the challenges of engaging younger generations in the church, emphasizing the need for authenticity and a deeper understanding of faith. The conversation highlights the significance of distinction in religious life and the joy found in service and community. They conclude with practical advice on discernment and the importance of prayer in discovering one's vocation.
Brother Francisco OSB is a solemnly professed monk at St. Vincent Arch Abbey.
Benedictines follow the Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizing community and prayer.
The vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of life are central to Benedictine life.
St. Vincent Arch Abbey is known for its active ministry and community involvement.
Brother Francisco's journey to monastic life began with a strong sense of community at St. Vincent College.
Prayer must include specific time and place for it to be effective.
Lectio Divina is a key practice in Benedictine prayer life.
The connection between Benedictines and Franciscans is historically significant.
A prayerful life requires intentionality and a turning of the heart towards God.
Brother Francisco emphasizes the importance of scripture in prayer. The essence of prayer is rooted in humility and surrender.
Younger generations seek deeper theological understanding from the church.
Authenticity in faith is crucial for engaging youth.
Distinctive religious symbols can spark meaningful conversations.
Community support is vital for a fulfilling religious life.
Joy in service is a key aspect of religious vocation.
Prayer is the foundation for discernment in one's vocation.
Engaging with the youth requires addressing their genuine questions.
The church must adapt to attract younger members effectively.
Discernment involves both prayer and practical action.
Conversation with Brother Francisco.mp3
Transcript
I.
The.
Hello. Welcome to our walk. I'm glad you could find some time to be here. It was special guest today in this podcast. A special podcast. And our our guest today is a Benedictine monk who is from Latrobe, PA, belonging to the. Vincent Arch Abbey, in Latrobe for those who don't know, this part of the world, the Latrobe is a just a little bit outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
Uh.
Brother Francisco joined. Vincent in July of 20/20/19, only two months after graduating from St. College making his final profession in July of 2023. Brother Francisco is currently studying for the priesthood and will be ordained a Deacon in May of 2025 and a priest in May of 2026. Since entering the monastery, brother Francisco has worked as an assistant Miller in the Archabie. Gristmill is an assistant in the Archabbey Vocations Office and the assistant director of Campus Ministry at Saint Vincent College. And is. Host, along with his brother Nate of the All good in the Brotherhood podcast, an excellent podcast. Precise podcasting and. Brother Francisco enjoys staying active in sports. Reading creative writing and spending time with his nieces and nephews. And now let's hear from brother Francisco. Brother Francisco, welcome to our walk together.
Thank you, Paul. Glad to be here.
Let's start out because I I'm sure that people get confused as to who's what and where and. Maybe just start it up by what is a. And what's that all about?
Yeah, particularly, I'm a Benedict. And benedictions were founded by Saint Benedicts back in the 6th. He was the well educated young man who lived in Rome but then really got disillusioned by the hedonism and the political bureaucracy of the Roman Empire. So he fled to the hills of Italy and became a hermit at a very young age. But slowly, over time, men started getting attracted to his way of life and asked him to be leader over them. And there was a couple trials by. There was some who didn't really like him right off the bat. Actually try.
To kill him. God.
When he, when he finally found a group who was willing to listen, to follow. His leadership and his guidance, he wrote what he. Called the rule of the. Rule of. Benedict, which is 52 chapter guide about how to basically live the early church's. The Apostle's life in a community now, as he said, we read in the 2nd chapter of who acts of the Apostles. All live together and had all things in common, and they prayed together. Breath and that's exactly like the core basis for monasticism. It's just living that out. What kind of distinguishes benedictions or monks religiously from maybe Franciscans or Dominicans? Also, is are the vows that Benedict says we take, which are obedience, which is one of the Evangelical Councils, but then also stability. And converts ozio, morim or the Latin translation is not perfect, but a conversion of one's daily life. Was obedience. But stability is unlike Franciscans or Dominicans, who might vow to the whole order. Only make my vows to Saint Vincent specifically.
OK.
So stability is to say I give my life to this community and the rule as it's practiced here. And while I might be put on assignments, maybe at a distance from monastery at times I'm always coming back here for this community, this Abbot, these brothers and that it. Really instability when we first begin to. Ground ourselves in Christ. And then converseats, your moron is really living out the baptismal Call of Duty holiness, but in a concrete way. So Benedict says that vow is to choose how the monk daily choose more and more God's will rather than his own, so that he becomes the monk, the man that God calls him to be rather than the man he desires to be. When the root of. Word Monk comes from the Greek monocos, which just means to be alone or to be one with God. So we live. One in a relationship with God, but also in the context of community. So that's a general. Summary of elevator pitch along elevator.
So. Street will think of monks and they think in terms of probably cloistered monks or the Trappist, that kind of thing. That's obviously not what what you're in because you seem to have a lot more freedom than those particular orders do.
Yes, and that even can be. Dependent on. The that specific monastery chooses to live its Apostolic. Life so. Vincent is much more active in its ministry. Boniface Wimmer, who's our founder, came from Bavaria to Pennsylvania in 1846, and his vision was to basically. Rekindle and evangelize the Catholics of this area. And from the very beginning, his goal was to be active in pastoral work, in education, in community, like agriculture, which is a contrast to a lot more of European models of Manassas. Them, which tends to be more contemplative, so. So yeah, Trappists or Cistercians, they tend to to learn more on the community prayer solely with their work only being that which sustains themselves, benedictions. And you can find different ones. Benedictions in Oklahoma, Clear Creek Abbey, who are a lot more like that. OK, you are founded with kind of a a missionary principle and we haven't really lost that sense. Vincent is is known for being out.
Yes.
We.
Run parishes about 20 different parishes. We have priests. Are the pastors there? The college and the seminary that we both founded and yeah, in a lot of ways, just working outside. In here so.
Keeps you busy.
Then they. Yet some some people joke the the motto of the one of like a modern motto of Benedictines is for at Labora prayer and work. But some people joke that at St. 'S. Just labor at Labora more and more.
So.
That's true sometimes, but.
That's the part I can identify with as a secular, for instance.
It's all work.
It's interesting to me that as I've listened to you, and by the way folks, I've listened to a good number of Brother Francisco's podcast. All of. I can't say I listened on, but I listened a good number. But there's there seems to be. A lot of parallels so that they're not exactly the same thing, because I think in terms of myself as a secular Franciscan, while we are, we do take or professed at a certain point in times is one a great thing. But we also are professed to a huge organization, the entire secular Franciscans, which is the third order of the what everybody thinks of as the Franciscans. And we also are very committed to to being with what we call our fraternity. Which is a localized group of. There's thirty members in my particular fraternity, so that's there's a little bit of parallel there, a little. So what brought you to the monastery? Why did you? What brought you there? What was the thought process?
So when I was first looking for schools to go to after high school, Vincent was high on my. And made the visit from the very. I met a couple monks, one of them Father Maximilian, who was just really lives. The spirit of Benedict in hospitality through and through. I'd actually he had come to speak at my youth group when I was in high school, so I had. Them already. So when we came here, I let him know that we were. He set us. Me and my parents and my younger. We all came in like this guest house, very young as we have served breakfast and like way better than like the normal. Like freshman. Come and see visit for college.
Right.
And just immediately, I just felt a sense. Community. So I decided to come. For school. And at that point, there was definitely no idea or context of a thought for to be a monk. I had, since I was probably about six or seven. Felt to some degree occult to the priesthood, but it went back and forth when I was interested in different things. My undergrad was in biochemistry, so I was planning on pursuing like medical research and things. Was that? Believing. Go do something that makes a lot of money.
Yeah.
And it was my sophomore year of college. I went to. If you've ever heard of focus on the chip of Catholic University students, they have a big yearly conference called seek.
Philips.
It was in San Antonio that year. And some of us from who were active in campus ministry in the college were invited to go. So I went down there. And sort of Long story short, just was very convicted by a speaker in my own discernment, that discernment is an active process. Can't passively. Oh, I'm going to do whatever I want. And if God intervenes, then I'll do. At that. And so when we had adoration that night, I was very intentional about praying, and I probably one of the most powerful experience I've ever had in prayer. And God was very clear and direct that he was calling me to priesthood. And so I got back from that. And for Lent that year. Decided as practice to go to morning prayer with the monks four days a week. And most of the time I like got in there. The skin of my teeth. It starts. 6:15 and the color student like that is rough. Still rough I've been in here for. There was one morning. I got there a little bit early and the lights were dim. A few months just praying before. Started and. Just said to myself, wow, I I I think I could. Almost see myself doing this this.
Is.
Beautiful and I hadn't had a felt like that, but right, right in that moment, I felt like the Holy Spirit descend and says yes, because this is where you're called to be. Is your home. That was convicted. Did and a lot of things happened in those next two. That sure almost convinced me out of it, but there was deep, clearly in my heart and my mind. Knew God had called me. It applied and then only about a month and 1/2 after I graduated from St. Joined the Montessori.
Wonderful. Wow. Seems like somebody had their eye on you for some reason.
Yeah. Something in the food, one of those two they.
Could have been 2, I don't know.
Combo I can't.
Understanding. Understand a lot of what you were talking about. That is, in terms of feeling vocations and things like that in my own life just a little bit about me, my own life, when I was, what, 15 years old, which was 100 years ago. But when I was, when I 1315 years old, eighth grade is. I decided I wanted to be a priest. And went into what at that time was called the minor seminary as high. And that and I was in seminary until my second would would have been second year, what they call theology. Was the second year after college graduation. And before I left, of course, then there was another vocation to be married, be a father and a grandfather, and a great grandfather. And then came all of a sudden came this Franciscan thing out of nowhere, which was interesting to me because I had when I first left the seminary, I had thought about joining the O FM S. Friars rather and that kind of was always there until I had the time to, really.
I mean.
Devote myself to it, this one God said OK.
Right and.
It's time now. And followed through on that showing me all different kinds of things that just really like me on that path to to join a religious order, which. There's a lot of things you do that anybody would do, but there's just so special charism when it's part of a religious order which which the 3rd order is. Franciscans are, where the third there's the Friars and then the 4th, Claire's, and then the 3rd order, we.
Yeah.
The original. 3rd order Frances founded the 3rd order as a lay order for those who who wanted to follow his way but didn't want to that had other commitments. They married or had other commitments that couldn't fully be. In in with the fires. I think I was sharing with you one of the I shared with you once before. One of the things that's interesting to me is.
Yeah.
There, there's even from the very beginning there was. Loose anyways, connection between the Benedictines and the Franciscans. Francis, when he was first establishing the. For the order. Pope at that time wanted him to follow the example of the benedictans. And Francis said, I ain't doing that. I. It. The way he wanted to do. In fact, one time, he says, I don't want to hear anything about other rules I Don. Benedictines. This is where God's calling me. Do. There was one connection and also when Claire came into the. Into the order. She was the first woman as of Francisco's, and of course at that time there was no place. For for her to be, she obviously couldn't live with the Friars. So she went and. He had her live with the Benedictine sisters near OCC, so she was living. There's all kinds of stories about what went on there, because at that time the Benedictine sisters had the choir sisters and those who were not choir.
Yep, Yep.
Great. Kind of fun. All. But it was actually the Benedictine sisters who saved her from her father and uncles when they came trying to take her back home again. There's little connection, certainly.
A lot of people don't know the cross of Sandamiano that spoke to Saint. Francis of Assisi is a Benedictine crucifix. So that Chapel.
Yeah.
You. The kind of we didn't keep do our upkeep. Well, but that Chapel of Saint Dominios originally. Ah. Benedictine Chapel.
I didn't know.
That in ways we could say our lack of maintenance contributed to the founding of the Franciscan.
It's a good way to say.
It even though Francis is the concrete thinker that he was. Curd rebuild my church and thought we got walls up. Wasn't quite into the word. How sweet to work. I want to use the more aesthetic kinds of things that as opposed to concrete. This is what I'm being called to do, which is one of the beauties of Francis is if he was told to do something, that's what he did. There was just. No question about it. I also expected the same of his brothers, which sometimes caused some problems early man.
Buddy.
Talking in terms of the both of us in different capacities belong to religious orders and most people don't. And yet. They think in terms of many people think in terms of living a, quote, UN quote, prayerful life.
How would you?
What would you? How would you define a prayerful life?
First of all, let.
Suppose that's a good way. To ask that question, OK.
Sure. I think one of the the first things is something I heard. Father. He's one of the monks at Saint Vincent and he's very well renowned for his writing and speaking, but that some people confuse an idea of being. Or spiritual. With just having a disposition of oh, I'm like generally preferable, I think about God, he said. OK, sure that. You can do it. X If you don't pray at some time specifically. So that I. I definitely, especially in times in college, being really. OK. God, I don't really have time to go to the Chapel today, so I'm just this homework. I'm just going to offer this time for you. Which? OK. Good. And that's going to be a a good place to start, but that could not be.
That's.
Your totality of your prayerful life. So for me, if you really want to say or you really want to have a foundation of prayer, it has to include a time. Time and a place that you go somewhere and you do it for a specific length of time. And for some people, that starts out slow maybe 10-15 minutes, but. Francis of the sales says that if you're busy, everyone should pray for half an hour at least.
Please.
If you're busy. Need to pray for an hour. So that because the war you think is dependent on you, the more. Need to depend on God.
Great.
So yeah, I I would say it has to start with an intention of time and place and then just fundamentally understanding that what prayer is is not necessarily a rote memorization of a lot of words, but it's the turning of the mind and heart directly towards God. Calling to mind his presence and and bringing to him what is on your heart that you want to and what you don't want to. And then listening to what you want to hear and. You don't want to hear.
But you don't want it here.
And for me, that benedictions, a lot of the root of our prayer comes from, bless you, Divina or Scripture and St. Says you know, in prayer we speak to God and in scriptures God speaks to us. So sometimes people say I pray, I pray and I don't ever hear God say anything back to me. Have you opened the? Anytime recently, because you might have the. It might not be saying it because I already wrote it, so just go, like find my words. Fruit for me, and not everyone necessarily is drawn to the Bible immediately, but I think that. Also, is a foundation for prayer. Is consistent exposure to the scriptures. With the. That's the word of Jesus. Then expending that too.
Mm hmm.
So it's an intentional sort of thing is that you gotta make that time, I think in terms of interestingly, when I was young, you could go and find if you needed quiet time or whatever, you could actually find a church and. Can remember going.
Sure.
Coming home from high school, stopping at the cathedral because it was on my way and was very nice and wonderful. And I loved it because it was quiet. Was bothering you and you could just concentrate. That's in many ways. I think that's something that's missing in the church today. Because they're all locked. And that's really sad in my mind. But I say that to some people and they say, yeah, but somebody's going to go in. Hey, Rob, I think, OK, where's your faith? Where's your? It's not going to happen, whereas I find myself sometimes being very jealous of people. Who live in a community like. Where there's always a Chapel available, it's a little different when you're at home and the phone is ringing and you don't know what's going on and the stuff is happening all over. But. That's the thing that we need to think about and keep going on is where am I going to find that time, you know, and what how am I going to use that time? I loved what what you said about things are going good half. And. You're not going out. You know that. I love that. The. A prayerful person. If you see a prayerful prayer, what you would consider to be a prayerful, holy person, whatever. However you want to. It what would they look? What do they look like to you?
So. Well, just drawing from the rule of. Benedict, I think the marker of one whose peripheral is one who is. So the longest chapter in the rule of. Benedict, and really the heart of it, is his chapter on humility, and it's he gives like original the original 12 step program. His 12 steps of humility. And anyone who is really prayerful, he has prepare, ultimately, is a position of humility and surrender, because it's to say God, I know I can't, and only you can. And. Well, I think about some of the monks who I would consider, you know, the holiest and the most powerful monks. I definitely see them praying, that's for sure. I see them. It. A prayerful person. You don't necessarily always have to be seeing praying right? Their lives. Never cross. But just simply in the manner in which they speak and speak about God. Especially too, is one that it's very clear that they're basing it off of their own conversations with him and their experience with him, and not just something they've read in a book. But it's a.
****.
Knowledge, rather than a headache. In prayer. Yeah. And at times that comes and goes. And so that can be like, OK. This person really powerful. Whatever. But that's where the human aspect of. Is coming. One that, yeah, I would say the mark of humility and just being able to authentically speak about God from there from themselves, rather than just from something else.
It's always interesting the words that we use in terms of vows and promises and all that kind of stuff like. Ours is seculars are are just slightly different than the Friars would have, but they're the same thing. We our solemn promises. Vows are to simplicity, to humility and charity. Those are our three pretty close. The others are vowing at the same time, so it's interesting. I want to talk. Little bit about something that you might have a little bit of expertise in and.
Something that I've.
Been wondering about something that I've been talking about, something that I've been trying to figure out. In terms of. We look at the churches today and people who are at mass and people who are active in parishes, and I would say a good. Chunk of them are Gray hairs like me and Oregon. The ladies are blue. But that it's almost a graying of a church, and we, the cycler Franciscans say the same thing, where our order is graying and there's a constant trying to figure out. How do we attract? What do we do, what's you know? I firmly believe. And I I learned this from the Vice Minister of our of the secular that God is still calling. Jesus is still calling. And for some reason, even though we're praying and praying for vocations, I think that's hurt as I am. I'm trying to get your attention kind of thing. And but yet, if there's not a response, the church is losing young people and working with the young folks at. Vincent's and also remembering a podcast that you and your brother did where there was some interesting aspects and thoughts that he had. What do younger people, in your opinion, look for from the?
From a lot of conversations I've had, and certainly my brother, Nate exemplifies a lot of that because of the school he went to, Thomas Aquinas, a lot of, I guess I'll break this up maybe in a couple. Categories. 1st from like the perspective of like. Theology and doctrine there in all ways, I'd say what they're looking for is something clearly distinct and different. That a lot of young people I've interacted with and said if going to mass or if going to church prepares whatever don't feel or look much different than like maybe Protestant denomination, or they just the priest says just a lot of these general platitudes that I could prob. From some motivational speaker. Why bother? If it's no different than what's the point so? Especially for a lot of young people. What I work with here that theologically and doctrinally they want to be told the hard things and the heavier things they want to hear. Theology. They don't want to just hear. Oh, everyone should come to mass. Show your love to Jesus. They get that, but they want to. What happens? The mass they want to know how. They want to. Understand the scriptural roots of each of the sacraments. Want to understand why? Say that Mary is the mother of God and not just say it. And I host a Bible study with the college students every week on Tuesdays and the last five weeks, we've gone over the scriptural roots of the mass. And so many of them have said it's been like the most fruitful Bible study they've ever done because it's transformed how the way they pray at mass. And I said, why do we never hear this? Do we never hear this stuff? And I can't give them necessarily the answers to why, but that's like, that's why I'm giving it to you now. But they want. Hear and know something different because I think especially Gen. ZI like the I was born in like the first year of Gen. Z. This inundated by social media. Grew up with social media so that. Are. Galore out there you can get any. Of the white. And they want a guiding principle that tells them this is not just opinion, this is truth. And if they want, then that's what they want from the. And liturgically they also, I see desire much more shows of reverence and tradition. Whether that's. Obviously going to something like the Latin mass, but even not necessarily, we're not a Latin mass community at St. In any sense of the word we. A lot of students say they still prefer coming to the monastic liturgies because of the clear reverence and the music, and just the the nature of the basilica that we have the. And everything. Reflects something transcendental, something. That some students I've talked to, they certainly are more attracted to going to Latin mass, but there's even those same students. You have festival appraisers, adoration. Sing charismatic worship songs and they're there to. Don't. To put the Holy Spirit in a box that it's one or the other, which I think is a sad criticism, a lot of them get is that, oh, you're trying to push away from the sad cand. Can count and they're not. Want to take what said Canvatic council says. Do that and so I I'm very invigorated, honestly by.
No.
Z and I saw an interview. Father Mike Smith did recently with Bishop Baron and he said Gen. Might be the generation that's leaving the most. I think they're the most honest generation. That they're leaving said, you know. Our parents and millennials, whatever they just floated in out because they just didn't feel it like we're going to tell you, This is why we don't want to be here or This is why we want to stay. So I think. Benedict's is in the rule that God often inspires the young. The truth. So yeah.
I certainly.
Being part of that same. Crowd. I would agree that in a lot of ways, and I think this is the fruit of us praying for vocations, hope Benedict says. The church might not be as large in the future, but it will be. Vibrant and. Think this is an indication of that.
Yeah, I. That you're hitting on a couple of things that that I have thought a lot about in terms of. I'm one of those people. I live through varying. I'm old enough to have been on both sides of Vatican 2, and I firmly believe that we went a little bit too far after Vatican 2 and we became a cumbia church. Which I don't think is the church that Jesus calls us to and so many things that were important suddenly didn't seem important, and we threw them out. But we threw out the baby with the bathwater. At the same time. And it. To me. That young people acoustic, I see young people. They look for that more solid. Good. Kind of. Yeah. It's very interesting to me. I've I've told the story 100. It was very interesting to hear that the pairs that I belong to is like 1/2 a block away from a parish that's run by the pious, the 10th society. And they're like, almost literally next door to them. And you go to the Catholic Church and it's mostly older folks, very few young families, very few young people. You go the Pius, the 10th Church, and it's almost all young people and young families. It says OK, we're missing the boat here, folks someplace. And I think there's. I I love what you said about something being something different. I think that has a lot. Do with vocations as well.
Yeah.
That being something different than is the norm.
No, I would agree.
I had a very interesting conversation with a sister the other day and have this. That's just my theory, but I look in terms of history and I look in terms of when vocations. Started going South and it began to begin. In like 196566. And what? In 196566, that's when. Sisters. Started getting rid of. Yep. And so suddenly, though. I kid them, they could pick a nun out in a huge crowd, but, but suddenly they didn't look any different. They weren't representing anything different to the people they were seeing. I say it to this to seculars as well we this is our habit and I keep saying that how many times you're wearing it. Do you go with with it? That's. Whole other thing, but I think that's an important. Of it as well.
Absolutely. Yeah. I I have a video on wearing my habit in public because it's a good reminder for me, right? Don't like use my monasticism when I take my habit off or when I go away from the monastery. So it's a good reminder to keep it on at all times. Like, yeah, this is what you have professed to be. But it's also just like such I walk into Walmart for. Wearing my habit and I get every weird look for people when I. In western Pennsylvania. I've only looks weird but. But yeah, and the. I've been asked are you a Jedi? You a. Are you cosplaying like some medieval? Whatever is, people are immediately drawn to something different, right? And that can be the like a simple witness. And the conversation is that it starts can often be very fruitful on airplanes especially, I've had a lot of conversations. Someone like what's all this? I'll. I'm Benedict and Monk and like those exist. So yeah. And then be able to share them that truth. And some people like, OK.
What's up?
Good for you, but I've had several people. Could you answer this theological question or I used to be Catholic 30 years? But I. Left and then being able to talk to them, which none of those conversations would happen at all if I just dress normally, yeah. I agree with that. Keeping our symbols that keep us distinct. My ecclesiology professor this year said with no distinction, we experience extinction. And I if we don't show that we're distinct in some way, then we're just not going.
To exist anymore. I think in terms of the Friars in the Bronx, Francisco Friars in the atonement, I've been talking about vocations to people and things like that. They had. The people are amazed when I say this last. Think it? Was last year they had 18 postulates.
Wow, I thought, which?
Is amazing to me, you know and.
Yeah.
What are you doing again? It's the symbol. And I think that's a big part of. I always laugh when you talk about going to different places in in your habit, but I remember one of the podcasts you were talking about, the members of the monastery are going to the Pirates game all in. It and. Had to be just like.
The.
Weirdest thing in the world for people to see.
There's like 20 of us too, but black habits entering the stadium let's people call, like, what the heck? I'm not asking.
Yeah.
Think of Father Casey Cole. Franciscan does all kinds of podcasts, and he and another brother were doing baseball Parks 1 summer and they always wear their habit. When they went to the ballpark. People would always ask them. Well, are you like San Diego fans? Know Sandy Padres fans are you? They got the Jedi question too. All that kind of stuff. There's a symbol. There's a value to that. And sometimes I think there's value to. People being aware of what is available to them. You know, we don't all have to be monks. Don't have to be. Don't all have to be nuns. But yet we all have some kind of vocation. Yes, I was. I told somebody recently in in my fraternity. Yet when I first was trying to find information about the secular Franciscans. I called the person I thought might know anything and that was diocesan vocation director. And when when I asked him about secular Franciscans. His response was who? I am thinking you have a vocation director. What's it? There's more than just priests. Nuns out here. But that's neither here nor there. Just. Weird kind of story, but so maybe to begin to bring things together, all these topics I think we could go on for an hour and a half about. What bringing things together. I perceive that in what you're doing and where you are, we're very happy. I get that impression from you. What is? That makes you so happy about what you're doing.
That's a great. I think first and foremost that. We all humans, all persons are meant for community. And God, the very first thing, God. That is not good. Is for man to be. It was very clear in my own discernment that there was a point in 'cause. I was thinking about being a priest, diocesan and even to the point where my mom and I, but I wasn't. Things are going back and forth. My mom suggested. Have you thought about religious life in a community? Last thing I want to do is. With a bunch of other dude. And here I am six years later. But. Yeah, I realized in my discernment that. In order. Have a true relationship with God. I needed a support and a. And that is really the case for everyone. God called apostles, not an apostle, and for me the support of this particular community and whether it's the Abbot who is extremely generous and fatherly here. The the. Particular amongst that I am especially close to, but even a lot of the ones who I might not be. As familiar with but. So like in that fraternity? I just grew up very close to my. Love my family very much. Obviously host the podcast with my own brother.
Here.
So just the continual support of feeling like I'm in a family is one of the biggest reasons, and that is also a family rooted in prayer. Pope John Paul the second. A family that prays together stays. We come together four times a day to do our hours of prayer together. And knowing that no matter how I feel at that particular. I can offer that experience for the monk sitting next to me and he is offering his prayers in turn back for me, so that and then also I truly have loved the ministry that I've been getting gotten to do both in the college and in vocations. That God. Truly blessed me as. Francis would say is in giving that we. That is. Definitely been the truth for me that. The times where I like, retreat back and try to hold on to something is when I'm tenderly and miserable, especially in this last season of my life and especially preparing for diaconate ordination in. A few months. That the acronym in service that as I grow in my ministry and my service I just. More and more joy on so. So that's the summer. There's cabinets. Reasons I could. Huawei.
Oh, sure, yeah.
Happy to my life. That those would be some of the most.
You get this. What you say is very true, Francis also. The one that I keep reminding keeps coming into my mind that Francis says was preach the gospel always and only when necessary. Words that drawings a lot of that kind of stuff together. If anybody is out there listening to the podcast right now. And maybe feels that little stirring, that little nudge inside. What should they do with that? Bring everything together with that question. Should they do with?
It in terms of vocational. Yeah. Yeah, first and foremost. Became active and intentional in your. You can't, because all locations are ways in which our prayer is being borne. In our life. So if you're not praying but you feel a nudge, then start immediately with prayer, because that's where the conversation begins. But then, like I said earlier, discernment is an active thing. If you really. To discover what this nudge of this feeling is. Do things start seeking spiritual direction, or at least some kind of spiritual advising where you're meeting? Consistently with someone who has more spiritual authority and grounding than you do. You just bounce. This is what I'm receiving in prayer. This is what I'm. Is this a sign from God or is this just a feeling I have? And then if that bears fruit and that continues to solidify the way you feel, then go on a visit. If it's, if it's religious, go to visit the house Oregon diocese and go visit the seminary. Or if you really feel the culture marriage, go actually ask the person out there. Just imagine that. That. They might he speak to wife or material, do something about, but be clear with your intentions.
Right.
So yeah, I I tend to think discernment is a lot more practical than people think it is. Some people leave it in this abstract realm of only ever thinking and never do.
Mm.
But yeah, but if it doesn't start with prayer, then it's never gonna get anywhere but. Prayer, spiritual discernment and direction, and then and. In the thing.
Great.
That's wonderful for. Those who are listening or watching the podcast, whichever one you're doing, if you have questions or think you want some reference or whatever, just shoot me an e-mail. On my. You can get ahold of me real easy, and if I need to get you in touch with with Brother Francisco. Or. I'm glad to do that for you, but again, start that discernment process. Ask the. That's usually the way it starts. So, brother Francisco, I am so grateful that you were able to spend some time with us today. I think it's some important thing so that we've been talking about and hopeful things at the same time.
Can.
I ask you if you could just close us out with a prayer and send our people underway.
Sure, absolutely they can do. Anyone father, the son and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Dear Heavenly Father, we just give you praise and thanks for this time and this conversation. We ask that for both Paul and myself and for all those who might watch or listen that you might send your Holy Spirit to. Take root. The truths that have been discussed and bring them into our hearts that we might be convicted with. Deeper love and knowledge of who you are and what you call us to be. May we be transformed. Daily, by Your Grace, and be open to receiving it. And we ask that as we. In these next few weeks. For to remember the coming. Your son and as we prepare for. This next year or that in all things that we might give you glory, who is our savior and our king. And we ask all of these things your name, through the intercessions of Saint Francis and Saint Benedict.
Amen. Thank you very much again, brother Francisco.