View source for Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

{{Short description|Roman Catholic religious congregation for men}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
| native_name         = Frati Francescani dell’Immacolata
| native_name_lang = it
| image               = Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.png
| image_size          = 150px
| caption             =
| abbreviation        = FFI / FI
| formation           = {{Start date and age|1970|08|02}}
| founder             = Fr. Stefano Maria Pio Manelli, F.F.I.
| extinction          = <!-- date of extinction, optional -->
| type                = Clerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for Men)
| headquarters        =  Via Palazzolo 2, 00040 Rocca di Papa, RM, Italy
| location            =
| coords              = {{Coord|41.0047|N|15.1079|E|display=inline}}
| region_served       =
| membership          =  291 members (includes 129 priests) as of 2019
| leader_title        = General Minister
| leader_name         = Fr.Immacolato M.Acquali, FFI
| website             = [http://www.immacolata.com/ www.immacolata.com]
}}
The '''Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate''' ({{langx|la|Congregatio Fratrum Franciscanorum Immaculatae}}; abbreviated '''FFI''' or '''FI''') is a [[religious institute]] founded in 1970 by [[Conventual Franciscans]] Stefano Maria Manelli and Gabriel Maria Pellettieri and canonically erected by [[Pope John Paul II]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|title= Religious Life, Friars|url=http://marymediatrix.com/religious-life/friars|access-date=December 28, 2010|work=Religious Life|publisher=Franciscans of the Immaculate}}</ref> Their rule of life is the ''Regula Bullata'' of [[Francis of Assisi|Saint Francis of Assisi]] according to the ''Traccia Mariana''.<ref name="traccia">{{Cite web | title = The Traccia Mariana: A Marian Plan for Franciscan Life | publisher = EWTN | url = http://www.ewtn.com/library/PRIESTS/TRACMARI.TXT| access-date = December 28, 2010}}</ref>
The FFI is the male branch of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, while the female branch is the [[Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate]]. There is a third branch for lay people, namely the Franciscan Tertiaries of the Immaculate.
==History==
===Foundation===
On 2 August 1970, Stefano Maria Manelli and Gabriel Maria Pellettieri, two [[Conventual Franciscans]], started the FFI in Casa Mariana, Mary Most Holy of Good Counsel at [[Frigento]] in the [[province of Avellino]], [[Italy]].<ref name="chisiamo">{{Cite web|title=Who are we?|url=http://www.immacolata.com/index.php/en/chi-siamo/|access-date=December 28, 2010|publisher=Francescani dell'Immacolata (Casa Mariana)}}</ref> Pellettieri was also one of the first four original Conventual friars sent by the Minister General of the Conventuals to start the mission in the [[Philippines]].<ref name="ofmconv">{{Cite web | last = Acosta | first = John Vianney M., O.F.M.Conv. | title = The Beginning of the Order in the Philippines | work = Our History | publisher = Conventual Franciscans, Philippines | year = 2007 | url = http://www.conventuals.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=35/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151123103753/http://www.conventuals.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=35%2F | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 23, 2015 | access-date = December 28, 2010 }}</ref>
On 23 June 1990, the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benevento|Archbishop of Benevento]], Carlo Minchiatti, with the express permission of Pope John Paul II, erected as the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate the approximately thirty Franciscan friars who lived at Casa Mariana as a religious institute of diocesan right.<ref name="chisiamo"/> On 1 August 1993, the ordinary of [[Monte Cassino]] erected the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, a religious institute of women, also living the ''Regula Bullata'' according to the ''Traccia''.<ref name="traccia"/>
[[Pope John Paul II]] elevated the FFI to an institute of pontifical right on 1 January 1998, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate was likewise elevated on 9 November 1998.<ref name="chisiamo"/>
Following the publication of the [[Ecclesiastical letter|apostolic letter]] ''[[Summorum Pontificum]]'' by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in 2007, Father Manelli promoted the celebration of the [[Tridentine Mass]] in the churches run by the order. This caused a protest from a minority of the order, who objected that this was not in line with the founding Constitutions of the order. Such minority appealed in protest to the [[Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life|Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life]] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tornielli |first=Andrea |date=2013-08-08 |title=Francescani dell'Immacolata, ecco le ragioni del commissariamento |url=https://www.lastampa.it/vatican-insider/it/2013/08/08/news/francescani-dell-immacolata-ecco-le-ragioni-del-commissariamento-1.36060847/ |access-date= |website=[[La Stampa]] |language=it}}</ref>
===Apostolic commission===
In July 2012, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] authorized an [[apostolic visitation]], recommended by [[João Braz de Aviz]] prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.<ref name="cwr">[http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/2469/the_vatican_and_the_franciscan_friars_of_the_immaculate.aspx Miller, Michael J., "The Vatican and the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate", ''The Catholic World Report'', July 31, 2013]</ref> This was stated to be due to five priests complaining that the institute had an "overly traditionalist bent".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Pope's crackdown on order alarms traditionalists|url=https://apnews.com/article/1f5efe01a14241e5971feea622cfc0e6|access-date=2020-10-30|website=AP NEWS}}</ref> One of the priests, Alfonso Maria Bruno, welcomed the apostolic visitation, accusing the sisters of becoming accustomed to using the [[Preconciliar rites after the Second Vatican Council|Extraordinary Form]] exclusively and that their decision had then been “exploited” by traditionalist groups.<ref name="cwr" />
In July 2013, under [[Pope Francis]], the Congregation for Religious issued a decree dissolving the General Council of the FFI and appointed Father Fidenzio Volpi {{Post-nominals|list=[[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|O.F.M. Cap.]]}} as an apostolic commissioner with governing authority over the FFI.<ref name="cwr" /> Volpi subsequently sent Manelli away to a home, closed the FFI's seminary, suppressed the lay movement, and suspended the ordination of all prospective priests. He also accused Manelli of a [[cult of personality]], and other friars of [[embezzlement]].<ref name=":0" /> The Congregation also stripped the FFI from their permission of celebrating the Tridentine Mass; Cardinal [[Darío Castrillón Hoyos]], chairman of the [[Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei|Pontifical Commission ''Ecclesia Dei'']], stated that such measure was only temporary and due to the abuse of the Extraordinary Form in that particular context.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-20 |title=All’Open Forum della FIUV il card. Castrillón dichiara che le limitazioni alla forma straordinaria per i Francescani dell’Immacolata sono determinate da questioni interne all’ordine e non da contrarietà al rito antico |url=http://www.unavoceitalia.org/wordpress/2013/11/20/allopen-forum-della-fiuv-il-card-castrillon-dichiara-che-le-discusse-limitazioni-alla-forma-straordinaria-francescani-dellimmacolata-sono-determinate-da-questioni-interne-allordine-da-contrarieta/ |access-date= |website=[[Una Voce|Una Voce Italia]] |language=it-IT}}</ref> However, ''Summorum Pontificum'' was later repealed by Pope Francis through the apostolic letter ''[[Traditionis custodes]]'' in 2021, making such ban permanent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apostolic Letter issued “Motu proprio” by the Supreme Pontiff Francis “Traditionis custodes” on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the Reform of 1970, 16 July 2021 {{!}} Francis |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>
Bruno and as well as another priest Angelo M. Geiger initially said in July 2013 that the vast majority of members welcomed the intervention by the Holy See in the present complicated situation.<ref name="cwr" /> However, in September 2013, the FFI and the Congregation published the results of a poll of the friars that had been conducted before assigning a commissioner, showing that only a minority wanted a commissioner. In January 2014, a further note published by the Congregation said that, out of 350 friars, only 21 had asked for a commissioner.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Magistero|first=Sandro|date=31 January 2014|title=Curia non immacolata. Nemmeno sa la matematica|url=http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2014/01/31/curia-non-immacolata-nemmeno-sa-la-matematica/}}</ref>
In June 2015, Volpi suffered a stroke and died.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barrett|first=David V.|date=2015-06-08|title=Priest appointed by Pope Francis to investigate traditionalist order dies after stroke|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/friar-appointed-by-pope-francis-to-investigate-traditionalist-order-dies-after-stroke/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Catholic Herald|language=en-GB}}</ref> He was replaced by a commission composed by Father Sabino Ardito {{Post-nominals|list=[[Salesians of Don Bosco|SDB]]}}, Father [[Gianfranco Ghirlanda]] {{Post-nominals|list=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} and Father Carlo Calloni {{Post-nominals|list=[[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|OFMCap]]}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Don Sabino Ardito nuovo Commissario dei Francescani dell’Immacolata – Ricognizioni|url=https://www.ricognizioni.it/don-sabino-ardito-nuovo-commissario-dei-francescani-dellimmacolata/|access-date=2020-10-30|language=it-IT}}</ref>
=== End of commission ===
The Apostolic commission came to an end in 2022: on 13 May of that year, Father Immacolato M. Aquali {{Post-nominals|list=FFI}} was elected new Minister General of the order and Father Massimiliano M. Zangheratti {{Post-nominals|list=FFI}} was elected new Vicar General.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=NUOVO GOVERNO PER I FRATI FRANCESCANI DELL’IMMACOLATA - Sitoweb Frati Francescani dell'Immacolata |url=https://immacolata.com/it/nuovo-governo-per-i-frati-francescani-dellimmacolata/ |access-date= |language=it-IT}}</ref>
==Charism==
The FFI follow the footsteps of [[Francis of Assisi]] (1181–1226) after the example of [[Maximilian Kolbe]] (1894–1941), who is considered a martyr of charity in the [[Auschwitz concentration camp]]. Their habits are gray-blue, and they wear the [[Miraculous Medal]]. Like other religious communities they profess the [[evangelical counsels]] of poverty, chastity and obedience, but they also take a fourth “Marian” vow whereby they consecrate themselves to the Mother of God.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
===The ''Traccia Mariana''===
The ''Traccia Mariana'' is the way of life that the F.F.I. lives, a Marian plan for Franciscan life. The ''Traccia Mariana'' was submitted by Fr. Manelli and approved by the Minister General of the Franciscan Conventuals in the summer of 1970. It was first lived in the Casa Mariana in Frigento, Avellino, Italy.<ref name="traccia"/> The entire ''Traccia Mariana'' formation program has been established in the Franciscan Conventual Province of [[Naples]] and the mission in the Philippines, which was then under the custody of the province of Naples.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
==Apostolates==
Today, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate are composed of about 200 professed members each.<ref name="traccia" /> The F.F.I. is present today on most continents of the world with friaries in [[Argentina]], [[Austria]], [[Benin]], [[Brazil]], [[Cameroon]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Portugal]], [[Nigeria]], the [[Philippines]], and the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States|url=http://marymediatrix.com/|access-date=December 28, 2010|publisher=Franciscans of the Immaculate}}</ref>
In the United States, the friars run a retreat center, Mount Saint Francis Hermitage in Maine, New York<ref>[http://mtstfrancis.com/ Mount Saint Francis Hermitage, Maine, NY]</ref> and another, Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center, in Bloomington, Indiana.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Lady Coredemptrix, Bloomington, IN|url=https://marymediatrix.com/who-we-are/bloomington-in/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=Franciscans of the Immaculate|language=en-US}}</ref>
The Academy of the Immaculate also publishes ''Missio Immaculatae'', a bimonthly magazine that is dedicated to [[Mariology]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Missio Immaculatae Magazine|url=https://marymediatrix.com/missio-immaculatae-magazine/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Franciscans of the Immaculate|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2006, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in the United States developed ''AirMaria.com'', a website which produces and hosts Catholic videos and other media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marymediatrix.com/what-we-do/airmaria-com/|title=AirMaria.com|website=Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate - USA|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.immacolata.com/ ''Francescani dell'Immacolata'' - Official website - Italy]
*[http://www.marymediatrix.com/ Franciscans of the Immaculate – USA]
**[https://www.youtube.com/user/franciscanfriars Franciscans of the Immaculate on YouTube]
**[https://airmaria.com/about/ Air Maria TV]
*[http://maryvictrix.com/2014/05/25/state-of-the-franciscan-friars-of-the-immaculate/ Geiger F.F.I., Angelo M., "State of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate", ''Mary Victrix'', May 25, 2014]
{{Catholic congregation}}
{{Catholicism}}
{{Franciscans}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Franciscan organizations]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1970]]
[[Category:Order of Friars Minor Conventual]]