With indescribable love

A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

 

Rule 9 of the Secular Franciscan Order states: “The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to his every word and call. She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family. (LG*41) The Secular Franciscans should express their ardent love for her by imitating her complete self-giving and by praying earnestly and confidently.” (LG 42b)

 

I have not written many Reflections on the Blessed Virgin Mary, but I always seem to fall back to our Rule 9. This Rule is such an inspiring text expressed by St. Francis, with his love. The Virgin Mary is the strongest intercessor in Heaven, she is our Mother in Heaven and the protectress and advocate of the Franciscan Family. Mary is the model of fruitful and faithful love for the entire ecclesial community. Secular Franciscans and their fraternities should seek to live the experience of Francis, who made the Virgin the guide of his activity. With her, like the disciples at Pentecost, they should welcome the Spirit to create a community of love. (SFO Constitutions: Article 16.1, .2)

 

The Role of Mary to Franciscans

  • Mary is to lead us to her Son
  • Mary continuously points to Jesus
  • Mary brings us to Jesus
  • Mary never separates herself from her Son
  • Mary says “yes” to both happiness and sorrow
  • Mary trusts Our Father, although she might not understand all the mysteries of His Will.


Rule identifies qualities we want to emulate that Mary possessed and by which she lived:

  • Humble servant
  • Openness
  • Complete self-giving
  • Earnest and confident prayer
  • Pure
  • Poverty/Simplicity
  • Obedience

 

Titles of Mary (incomplete listing)

  • Mother of Sorrows
  • Queen of the Universe
  • Queen of Peace
  • Woman Clothed with Sun
  • Refuge of Sinners
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help
  • Advocate of the Franciscan Order


Blessed Thomas of Celano, whom Franciscan scholars identify as directly knowing St. Francis, supports our Rule when he writes and praises:

“Toward the Mother of Jesus he [St. Francis] was filled with an inexpressible love, because it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother. He sang special Praises to her, poured out prayers to her, offered her his affections, so many and so great that the tongue of man cannot recount them. But what delights us most, he made her the advocate of the order and placed under her wings the sons he was about to leave that she might cherish them and protect them to the end. (From: Lady, Holy Queen, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Virgin! - The late, Dcn. Tom Bello, OFS)


Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Feb. 7, 2026


Indented paragraphs from: Francis and the Blessed Virgin Mary [a PowerPoint, found on OFS-USA website.

*LG  Lumen Gentium