This morning, Br. Robin Daniel from St. Francis Province, Kerala (India) presided over the Eucharist and solicited the Lord to teach us to pray in his homily.
After some modifications were made in the daily timetable proposed by the PCO members at 9.00 A.M., the moderator of this session Sergio Dal Moro invited Br. Aurelio Laita, vicar general, to introduce the first speaker of the VII PCO, Br. Fidel Aizpurúa Donazar, of the Province of Navarre, Cantabria, Aragon, who is familiar with Franciscan Spirituality and currently living in Logrono. He studied Theology in Louvain, Belgium specializing in St. John’s Gospel. He is also an outstanding professor, scholar, preacher and writer. He began his talk quoting Lázaro Iriarte’s prophetic denunciation – “For the Order, minority has been the least appreciated part of the inheritance bequeathed to it by its Founder, and the first to be discarded…..” Then, he went on to describe elaborately the question - Is a Franciscan life in minority really possible? and particularly focused on how Francis and his early friars lived minority as imitating the way of life of the apostles. Further, he looked at the basic features for the exploration of the theme of the VII CPO -- questioning the unquestionable, facing up to the single issue, revisiting the topic of social prestige, a conscience within the system, moving to the margins in collaboration with non-systemic movements and an invitation to want to change, to be a sign of change, and concluded with some fraternal recommendations. The members then dispersed into four Groups until the plenary session reconvened at 11.30. After each secretary of the group had presented his group's findings, Br. Fidel responded, thanking the groups for their positive and critical aspect of his papers. At 12.33 P.M. the session concluded with applause for the speaker.

The second presenter this afternoon was Br. Regis J. Armstrong, of the Province of New York-New England, USA. He has lectured on the writings of Saint Francis and St. Clare and the spiritual theology of the Franciscan tradition at Franciscan Institute in Rome and St. Bonaventure in USA. He is presently a professor of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University, in Washington DC. He spoke on the topic: “Minority and Itinerancy of Francis and the Early Brothers. “Minority: The Sacramental Intuition of Francis,” was his choice for the title of the presentation. Further he illustrated minority from the writings of Thomas of Celano and St. Bonaventure as diminutive (to be a lesser friar) and inferioritas (to be lower or below or lesser-ness). In his search of a paradigm, he examined minority through the lens of the Admonitions from the historical, social, biblical, theological and anthropological dimensions. In particular he focused on the Admonitions, number two – which is the symbol of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He saw minority as poverty (sino proprio), humility and the embrace of vulnerability. Finally, he summarized in the words of the gospel: Learn from me and each day Francis perceived the Most High assuming minority; each day emptying Himself, each day lowering Himself, each day becoming vulnerable in His hands. After the break and the group discussion, Br. Regis reacted to the questions and remarks from the participants. Br. Giovanbattista Urso, moderator of this session, thanked him for his reflective input and generous service to the Order. The Plenary session concluded with Evening Prayer in common, followed by supper and recreation.