TESTED LIKE SILVER: An Ode to 25 Years of Existence of the Franciscan Youth Movement NSOLL Fraternity

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2: 7

They said one knows if the silver is ready once the person making and heating it would see his own face in the silver. God made us in His image and likeness, just like silver we are suppose to reflect his image in the way we live.  For 25 years, each member of the Franciscan Youth Movement have tried to follow the precept to be Christ-like through the examples of St. Francis of Assisi. Silvers.

I am pleased to know that the Franciscan Youth Movement is celebrating it's 25th or Silver Anniversary. A milestone indeed.  Many souls have been converted and many hopes were created. Each of us learned to dream in the movement. Dream and journey. To use what we have our very own treasures in the form of time, talent and theology.

Each of us though may have have swerved from the path, as the journey of a Franciscan Youth is not an easy one. We trudge a path full of trials, temptations as we make use of our gifts and share them with others. It is not easy to be a Franciscan Youth because we are mandated to be truly heralds of God's love. But what's so interesting about it, is that we have to do it in the simplest and most humble means.

We are a generation who must continue to let God's word flourish not just through our reading the Bible everyday, but living the Bible itself in our thoughts, words, and actions. 

I owe a lot to this movement. Mga kapatids here gave me a reason to continue and try my best to be Christ like and use my talent for God's glory.  This is a group of individuals who accepted me despite my flaws/imperfection and brought me back home to God. They were beacons of God's love to my then bewildered and very lost spirit. They were more than friends they were my siblings in the Christian, Franciscan Family.

As a Franciscan youth, each of us are tasked to do so. Franciscan Youth, accepted or not, all individuals were created in God's image and likeness the least we can do is give thanks to God by letting Him work through us. To strive to be the best with what God gave us. 

We are all instruments of peace.  It would be great, if you have brothers and sisters like I have in this fraternity whose never ending generosity, gracious and inspiring lives have been my anchor and living Bibles through their examples.

Congratulations again mga Kapatids (Siblings) in this Fraternity - Fraternity in the true sense of the word - brotherhood. Go and make a difference to more youth!

What My Acceptance in FYM Really Meant

"You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"- Mark 10:38

In a way I was like St. John and James of Zebedee, I did not know what I was asking when I wanted to be an Accepted member of the Franciscan Youth Movement.


Before I  thought it was a matter of memorizing Franciscanism and Franciscan Spirituality, knowing Basic Christian Doctrines. But being a true Franciscan Youth is beyond that it is accepting the life of the group.

Truth be told, I had two excruciating scrutiny, as my first attempt to be Accepted Member did not push through and I was extended with fellow troubadours.  The second scrutiny was the most soul-scouring (take note, not soul-searching but scouring) question and answer I had.

Scrutiny really breaks you. Unlike the "common notion of fraternity hazing and initiation" the Franciscan Youth Movement is a fraternity in its truest essence - a brotherhood, a community of young people following Christ through the example of St. Francis of Assisi. The Scrutiny is part of our "Way of our personal cross." We have to be broken in spirit in order to have new, where God leads us.

It took two days for the elders to deliberate whether or not to make me an Accepted Member.  There was a thin line between passing and failing me in the scrutiny. If I fail, I would be extended. I felt downtrodden as the I knew I would fail. During the scrutiny, I did not know what rules or teachings I need to memorize.

Finally, giving up I wrote a letter to the whole fraternity telling them during the Sunday after the second scrutiny that I might be able  to attend. I told them what I really felt. I felt that at first it feels humiliating that I won't be accepted. I told them how painful it is to be not accepted in the movie. I felt confuse to what else do I need to do, do I need to learn in order to be an Accepted member but then I also told them that it was quite a humbling experience.

In my own quandary and loneliness, I remember what Ate Ems said during the scrutiny. She said it is not me being accepted by the group but me accepting the life of the group.

I did not get what she said then, and during those downtrodden times, but I guess God had a hand in it when he made write the words that the elders needed to see. I placed in my letter how much I really want to be part of the movement, how sorry and could not understand if I feel so much resentment towards them. I told how I felt rejected and humiliated knowing or assuming the worst, that I will not pass. Yet through it all, I told them that this "bitterness becomes sweet because it is for God."

I told them that I love the group and I really wish to be part of me. If being extended for the second time would make a better person and a better candidate for accepted, I will obliged. And though it is a painful reality, I succumbed to the idea of accepting my so-called defeat.

But as history went, God works mysterious ways and I was accepted. The letter which showed how broken I was, the letter which showed my willingness to undergo further trials and understanding the fraternity more, and following the footsteps of St. Francis and applying the Franciscan way of life had somehow been shown in that letter.

Now that I am an Accepted member, and that was practically a decade ago from now. I realized now what it means to be accepted. An Accepted member must be ready to follow Christ and be heralds of God's glory like St. Francis of Assisi. It means utmost humility while making a difference. Being accepted was accepting the life of a Franciscan Youth, lovingly embracing the cross and being instruments of peace.

The Tale of Two Brothers Who Were Candidates for Acceptance

"...for they all put in out of their abundance, but out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." - Mark 12:44

It is never the quantity, it had always been the quality and sincerity that one puts when it comes to serving God.

When I was a young troubadour in the movement, there were different snippets about questions and anecdotes about the scrutiny. 

Before becomes a fully pledged Franciscan Youth or an Accepte Member of the Fraternity they should at least have been with the group for several months or years - depending on their development and desire to be finally accepted.  During my time, that was in 1999, we had to send a letter of request to express our desire to be formally accepted by the fraternity, we had a written exam, a local scrutiny comprised of mostly accepted member and the local fraternity heralds (officers equal in right but different responsibilities) and the most crucial of all was the final scrutiny with the "elders" of the fraternity, the national and local fraternity heralds and accepted members.

Just like silver is tested in fire, so is the aspiring candidate tested.  Questions so personal that would purify and release true intentions to be a member will come out.

One of the anecdotes I remembered was the tale of two brothers. They were asked how they will "promote" or "market" the fraternity to others. The older and more learned but proud brother said he was to photocopy stuff, do campaigns and all those flamboyant way to show-off the fraternity while the second and younger brother, who was a bit shy but determined to be in the group simply said that he will try his best to be a living Bible to others by sharing himself to people and helping others.

I'll give you three guesses who was accepted - the second and younger, brother.

Just like St. Francis of Assisi, who lived simply and followed the way of the humble Christ so are we Franciscans or Christians as a whole should do the same.

God even prefers personal anonymity than those who are hypochrites.  It is not how the "gift of service" was made of but it is more about the true intentions of glorifying God and not the self when it comes to be truly God's heralds of peace, hope and love.

Paying It Forward

"Good man, you showed yourself capable in small matters. For that you can take over ten villages...the moral is: whoever has will be given more, but the one who has not will lose what he has." - Luke 19:17

Have you watched the movie "Pay It Forward?"

I guarantee you, it's a certified tearjerker. But besides that it reminds us about an important lesson: sharing what we have been given.

I know I have been given with so much talent. It would pathetic and disappointing if I do not do anything to glorify God, as a way of thanking Him.

I know I will never be famous. My epitaph may not hold so much promise. I doubt if ever I would have the dream eulogy that I might be given at the time of my funeral. However in all that, it does not matter.  God knows what I have done. That is what is important.

The world may not know or care for my efforts, even if I try to make the world a better place in my own simple way, through the gifts God gave me. I may never receive the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer or even a Palanca Award. Nevertheless, that does not stop me from doing what I can to make life better and more livable through my works, actions, thoughts and words.

I was given gifts. Given. So I should I also "Pay it Forward" to others for they are not mine to keep. At the end of my life, I am accountable for what I was given.

Just like St. Francis of Assisi. He was not as smart or prolific as St. Augustine or St. Thomas Aquinas. His writings were all straightforward and his way of life of simple. Yet in never stopped him to serve the poorest of the poor, never minding his health, that even in his late forties St. Francis of Assisi was practically blind.  He tried to make the world a better place by abandoning his pride and letting God work through him. And God led Him and bless Him, and gave provided for Him.

Whatever we decide to do, always count in the eyes of the Lord. We do not live and love life for our own but for God and our fellowmen.

Spread the Word

"Write up on a scroll what you now see and send it...," Revelation 1:11

"'Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.' at the very moment he was given his sight and beegan to follow   him, giving God the glory."  - Luke

When I was directing "West Side Story" for YAFCA, I found it cool when the Jets (the American gang in the play) would say "spread the word."

Unlike modern text messages that says "Please, pass", I began using "Spread the word!" to let the others send other people messages.

However, now that I know better, "Spread the Word" for me now means sharing the Good News/Gospel either through written/verbal/example.

Just like the blind man, there are times that I too was in darkness, and though my own faith is not as as great as other people, somehow it is accepted by God and He allowed me to share His love and wisdom through my different talents.

Following of Saint Francis of Assisi, this dear saint he made his life an open book where God can write His love story for us. In St. Francis' life, there was a time that He felt alone and lost that He searched for God. He spend time in places like Mount Subasio and visited places like San Damiano. In the end, God answered His prayers in the right time. Once St. Francis was enlightened, he never turned back from his faith and against all odds followed God and lived his life as a living Bible - through words, action, and thoughts.

Everyday of our lives, I realized that we have our moments of blindness of darkness. And yet if we learn to seek God, depend on Him and His love. Cling to Him without ceasing then whatever had plagued us will be smoothened out.

But the buck does not stop in simply thanking Him. While it is great to thank God, but it would be better if we share what we have experienced through Jesus Christ's mercy and graciousness. God ask us to be workers in His vineyard. Like St. John, the blind man and St. Francis of Assisi, may we allow God to work through us make us herald of the Gospel.

The Never Ending Stories

"There are still many other things that Jesus did...I doubt there would room enough in the entire world to hold th books to record them." - John 21:25

Did you ever experience the fear of not able to finish something you started?

I have ...and this blog is one of them.  I've always told myself that I'm a writer.  I have many experiences and I guess I don't think I would be able to lose stories to write here.

But as I've found out in this first week, it's not really a matter of lack of things to write, it's a matter of lack of faith.

Writers usually experience what you call a writer's block. There are some famous writers who would get drunk and walk around for a few minutes to get the inspiration they need. With Hemingway, he would write for at least 2 hours everyday so that he would not lose he's drive and momentum.

For me, I know I'm a writer but I'm not prolific yet and making blogs is something I just recently discovered.

I told myself that I must write the entry in a time where I could freely do it - say every dawn whre no one else would bother me.  I have to do the entries weekly and distribute them separately, daily.

I found it difficult. It's hard to write something in just a few hours, let alone five blog entries in one sitting.  I fear that there would come a time I would not know where to get my topics/entries from.

But I guess as a Franciscan, the answer had been taught a long time ago. Have faith and don't forget that the great source of wisdom and knowledge would be from the Bible.

The Bible has so many books. It's practically a library and witin this library of knowledge are diverse stories whose experiences and lessons are as timely as now.

Now, I do not fear that I might lose a topic or inspiration to draw from.  Just like St. Francis, all I have to do is open the Bible, read a verse and let God through the Holy Spirit move me.

The Bible is not just a source of inspiration to jumpstart this blog, but it is a guidebook for all eternity.

As both a Franciscan and Christian, I believe that everything here is true and is forever relevant.

So regarding fear of losing topics for my blog, let my hands do the walking and let my eyes rest on the "Words of God," strike my heart and move me like it did St. Francis of Assisi.