The International Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order met in General Chapter in October in Brazil. Lots and lots of issues were dealt with, but one is particularly interesting to me. (I have not yet been able to verify this with any documents, but I have now heard it from two sources.)
In most of the world, Secular Franciscans use the suffix "OFS" (ORDO FRANCISCANUS SAECULARIS). We in the United States, and some other English-speaking countries, use "SFO" (SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER) (like I do). Apparently this was discussed in Chapter, and "OFS" is to be the norm even in anglophone countries.
This has not yet been addressed by NAFRA, but it looks like, perhaps soon, "SFO" will no longer be appropriate: "OFS" will be the norm.
Interesting.
Pax et bonum.
Us Secular Discalced Carmelites use the initials OCDS after our names....it is taken from the Latin "Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Saecularis."
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain to have to change all of your stationary :)
Sara
LOL
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with the use of OFS rather than SFO, for the simple reason that it places "Ordo" before "Saeculorum". I believe that this is important b/c one of the main struggles of the Order in the US (IMO) is the misunderstanding that we are a prayer club or sodality rather than an Order of Pontifical Rite. We are undergoing these pains in our Fraternity.
ReplyDeleteThom, thanks for posting OFS/SFO news!
Nathan
The CIOFS once declared that the German speaking OFS should no longer call the OFS "Franziskanische Gemeinschaft" (=Franciscan Community) and especially abandon its abbreviation FG.
ReplyDeleteWell, that takes a generation.
(I never use FG though, because I don't only belong to a community but to an order)
So the SFO will stick around foravery long time, I promise that.
But actually I find using the same initials very coherent. We're part of the same offspring!
Pax et bonum,
Ralf
Nathan, I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteRalf, I know it will take a long time to "catch on." There are some fraternities who haven't even yet adjusted to the "new" Rule- since 1978. :)
I just saw an official document on CIOFS letterhead.
ReplyDeletePosted here: http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?p=8842043&postcount=10
I received that very document today. Thanks. :) I'll probably post it tomorrow.
ReplyDelete