In the year in which the Church marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia receives a new and precious pastoral tool to rediscover the beauty and relevance of Franciscan spirituality.

The “Ten Franciscan Words,” written by Fr. Stefano Luca, OFM Cap., Director of the Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue Office of AVOSA, has just been published in Italian and English. The book gathers the catechesis on St. Francis and Franciscan spirituality that Fr. Stefano has been offering for several years in different contexts, including in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

For the Church in the Gulf, this publication has a particular significance. The Vicariate has been shaped from its beginnings by the presence and service of Franciscan missionaries, yet Franciscan spirituality is still a treasure that the faithful are invited to know more deeply.

Speaking about the book, Fr. Stefano explained: “It is not just another book on St. Francis. It was really thought of and desired as a useful material for our faithful to grow in faith and to get to know Franciscan spirituality.” 

The book is intended not only as a spiritual reading, but also as a pastoral tool. It can be used for personal meditation, group reflection, catechesis, prayer meetings, and formation sessions.

Both the Italian and English editions include a foreword by Fr. Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap., Preacher of the Papal Household, who also preached the spiritual retreat for the priests of the Vicariate last year.

The English edition, specifically for the Arabian Peninsula, also includes an afterword by Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, who links the content of the book to the life and mission of the Church in the Gulf.

“The Bishop was able to deeply link the content of the book with our reality,” Fr. Stefano highlighted. “He gave a perspective to read the text based on who we are as a Church of migrants.”

In this way, the book can help the faithful not only grow in their personal spiritual life, but also understand how Franciscan spirituality can speak to their experience while living in the Vicariate.

Bishop Paolo himself, in his Letter for the 8th Centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, recommended it and mentioned it as a valuable pastoral tool.

The style of the book is simple and direct. Fr. Stefano wanted to preserve something of the rhythm of spoken language, so that the reader may feel almost as if taking part in a catechesis.

“The language is simple, so that those who have never heard about St. Francis can become familiar with him,” he explained. “At the same time, even those who already know Franciscan spirituality, including priests, may find insights and perspectives that are spiritually helpful.”

The book is structured as a journey in ten chapters, each dedicated to one Franciscan word or expression. It begins with “Letizia” and, in a certain sense, returns to it at the end.

“‘Letizia’ is the general frame, it is the Franciscan point of view,” Fr. Stefano said. “If you approach Scripture, your relationship with the Lord, and your relationships with others without letizia, then you may be living a form of spirituality, but it’s not the Franciscan way.”

The journey leads the reader through different aspects of Franciscan spirituality and reaches the Cross. “We are not talking about a random cross,” Fr. Stefano explained. “We are talking about the Cross of Christ. And the Cross of Christ is also connected again to ‘letizia’.”

Along the way, the reader also encounters St. Francis himself through some episodes of his life and - one of its important features - through his own words, quoted in the book. “With this methodology, people have the chance to become familiar with the words of St. Francis himself,” he said, referring to his writings, prayers, rule, and spiritual texts.

The book is the fruit of almost five years of catechesis. The idea was inspired by a formation project created in Italy by a Franciscan group and centred on ten key words expressing the heart of Franciscan life. 

In 2020, Fr. Stefano reimagined the project, writing all-new catechetical content and giving the project a new overall structure. Each word was developed through four moments: Catechesis, Eucharistic Adoration, Spiritual sharing, and a Fraternal meal. Now, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis, the material of the Catechesis has been gathered and shaped into a book, and offered as a pastoral tool, especially in the Vicariate. 

“There is no fixed way to use it,” Fr. Stefano writes in the introduction. The Catechesis can be proposed using the same format and pattern but each word can also be used separately for a single catechesis or moment of reflection, according to the needs. At the end of each chapter, readers also find questions for personal reflection or group sharing.

The book is also the fruit of Fr. Stefano’s own life as a Franciscan friar. “It comes not only from studies and knowledge, but from 20 years of experience as a Franciscan,” he said. “It is about what I have understood, what I have received as a gift, also from older friars, and what I have lived within this charism.”

In the Church of Southern Arabia, where the faithful are all migrants from many countries and live among people from different cultures and religions, Franciscan spirituality can offer a path for growing in faith while living in this region. For this reason, “The Ten Franciscan Words” is presented as a compact yet valuable resource to help the faithful of the Vicariate rediscover St. Francis and allow his spirituality to illuminate their own journey of faith.