Talk 1: What Does It Mean to Live by a Rule?
by Sr. Elise Saggau, OSF
A religious Rule is a guide. It sets some kind of limits or parameters to a way of living, distinguishing it, making it recognizable and giving it character. In and of itself a Rule is a dead thing, words on a page; but when it is accepted as a vehicle of the Spirit it can be an instrument of grace and life. It is like the filament in an incandescent bulb. Of itself it is lifeless and lightless; it's just a piece of wire. But energized by electricity it is brilliant and illuminating for all who are within its radius and radiance. It comes "alive" and sheds light on all. The filament by itself is of no use; it cannot enlighten anyone. The electricity, by itself, is of no use. It cannot enlighten anyone. When the two are brought together in the right way, power is available for the good of all. The power is, in a sense, incarnated in the filament. Everyone who comes within the radius of this power is enlightened by the marvel of this cooperation between a poor little piece of wire and an electrical charge. Our Franciscan way of life is kind of like this. For its power to touch others, we have to let the Spirit work in us. Mary Meany, a professor at St. Bonaventure University used to say: “The reality is that the Franciscan tradition lives because of the presence in the world of those men and women who live the Rule.”
A religious Rule, of course, is a human institution. It is a vehicle that allows God’s Spirit to empower a like-minded group of committed persons to walk together along a path of the Spirit. It has its limits. Those who enter upon such a way cannot do just anything. They submit what is individualistic to the larger enterprise of the community. One who enters upon such a way follows this way and not that way. A choice needs to be made. Yet, our individuality is not lost. It is like a map for a journey. It is not the journey itself. Each person follows a map in her or his own way; deviating from the most direct route oftentimes because of differences in personality, values, biases, types, etc. But, still, the map shows the way, and if you don’t follow it at all, you may very well not get there. And, of course, when we go together somewhere, we need to follow the same route in spite of our individual differences and preferences. We decide together what is our common mission or purpose and how, in general, we will work toward this end. However, we are not always real good at this. In a sense, we are always beginners, amateurs if you will. The Rule continues to be our teacher, our guide. It continues to place not only the words, but the persons, of Francis and Clare before us, who take us by the hand and lead us to the cross, where we find the Lord Jesus, the Gospel person, the way of our life. The Rule, by its nature, points to the Gospel. The Rule, in a very real sense, is the Gospel for us. “The Rule of life of the brothers and sisters is this: to follow the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Beginnings of a Way of Life for Seculars