A brief history of the secular franciscan order and its rules. The secular franciscan order, or ofs, is an order of catholic men and women who, attracted to the person and charism of saint francis, recognize that they are called by god, the holy spirit, to profess the rule of the secular franciscan order, and so to follow christ in the footsteps of francis of assisi rule, article 1. We live in the world in communion with the church of rome. If the cards are printed properly, article 1 will be on the back of the cover card and article. The secular franciscans are the lay branch of the order of st. The tau is the habit of the secular franciscan living in the world.
Admission into the order is gradually attained through a time of initiation, a period of formation of at least one year, and profession of the rule. Requests for admission to the secular franciscan order must be presented to the local fraternity, whose council decides upon the acceptance of new brothers and sisters. Local fraternity council selfevaluator revised march 2006 ministers check list revised march 2008 visitation cover letter revised march 2006. The secular franciscans commit themselves to live the gospel according to franciscan spirituality in their secular condition. The preface provides background on the history and purpose of the ritual and helpful guidelines for. The secular franciscan order is an official organization within the catholic church for people who seek to follow the teachings of st.
The process of becoming a member of the secular franciscan order is not quick. Secular order which abrogates and takes the place of the preceding rule of pope leo xiii. Secular franciscans and their spiritual assistants will appreciate this little bookletan english translation of the approved latin text of the ritual for the secular franciscan order. We strive to observe the gospel of our lord jesus christ by following the example of saint francis of assisi, and to make present the charism of saint francis in. Welcome to the website of the national fraternity of the secular franciscan order in great britain ofsgb. Each set should have four pages with four doublesided cards on each. Secular franciscan order usa following christ in the. To all ofs and franciscan youth international councilors. The secular franciscan order is divided into fraternities of various levels local, regional, national, and international rule xx.
Ordo franciscanus saecularis, postnominal abbreviation o. Josaphat fraternity secular franciscan order milwaukee, wi. The secular franciscan order is an order within the roman catholic church, and was founded by saint francis of assisi. Francis that, over time, brought about a rebuilding of the church, which at the time was falling into ruin. According to the rule, there are four levels of fraternity in the order.
In the same year, pope honorius iii writes to the bishop of rimini. From the beginning, the secular franciscan order ofs has had its own proper place in the franciscan family. Grant us, by his intercession and according to your will, the graces we implore, hoping that blessed fr. In these fraternities the brothers and sisters, led by the spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state. They promise to follow jesus christ and to live the gospel in fraternity by entering the secular. However, members do gather together in community on a regular basis. Handbook for secular franciscan servant leadership an aid for those who wish to improve their service. The secular franciscan order phases of formation and expectations the purpose of the orientation phase is to determine some basic dispositions of prospective members that are essential to building fraternity entering into mature, committed relationships and to insure that there is a clear understanding of the secular franciscan way of life. On june 19th 1986, pope john paul ii addressed the secular franciscan order in these terms. The secular franciscan order ofs whose members are called to live a vocation of charity, a vocation of faithfully following the gospel of our lord jesus christ, includes among its stages, initial formation the time after admission to the order and before profession. A spiritual commentary on the general constitutions of the secular franciscan order 9780819909763 by lester bach o.
The secular franciscan order ordo franciscanus saecularis, or ofs is the third order founded by st. Members, which include both men and women, live with their families and perform normal jobs but gather regularly in fraternities for meetings. I also want to acknowledge that pam stout, my predecessor, has laid a great foundation for this work. By profession, secular franciscans promise to follow a rule of life approved and confirmed by pope paul vi in june of 1978. This book examines the impact of that new rule while looking at the franciscan lay movement from its origin, earlies expression and lat. Elizabeth of hungary fraternity edmonton alberta 2 1220 cardinal hugolino appointed protector of the order. Secular franciscans are not like the other third orders, since they are not under the higher direction of the same institute. Francis of assisi in 1221 for lay men and women, and diocesan clergy, who feel called. In search of a secular franciscan charism onepeterfive.
A history of the secular franciscan order in the united states vol. See more ideas about francis of assisi, st francis and catholic. The whole fraternity is involved in this gradual journey. The national fraternity of the secular franciscan order in canada is the organic union of all the local fraternities across the country grouped into regional fraternities. Francis, is an official order within the catholic church, established by st. The vaticans congregation for the institutes of consecrated life and the societies of apostolic life approved and confirmed the current revised version of the constitutions on december 8, 2000. It is formed by the organic union of all the catholic fraternities whose members, moved by the holy spirit, commit themselves through profession to live the gospel in the manner of st. The official web site of the national fraternity of the secular franciscan order in the united states of america. Profession, a gift of the spirit the brothers and sisters called to the franciscan life in the secular fraternity make their profession during a specific celebration according to the ritual proper to the sfo. Stewart the secular franciscan order received a new rule in 1978 from pope paul vi which was intended to give a new impetus to the order so that it might flourish vigorously. Guidelines for initial formation secular franciscan order. The number of secular franciscans has been dropping, and many believe a deeper knowledge and understanding of the rule and franciscan spirituality is vital. So we consider this symbol of our franciscan life a true expression of the life of st. It is presented as indicated by the following topics.
It is an organic union of all catholic fraternities scattered throughout the world and open to every group of the faithful. Francis of assisi the rule of the secular franciscan order. Secular institutes, which has diligently examined and carefully evaluated the text, we approve and confirm with our apostolic authority and sanction the rule of the secular franciscan order, provided that it agrees with the copy in the archives of the sacred congregation for religious and secular institutes, beginning with. Josaphat fraternity secular franciscan order, milwaukee, wi. The first is the order of franciscan friars, the second order is comprised of the sisters of st clare of assisi commonly referred to as the poor clares. The national fraternity of the secular franciscan order usa. The secular franciscan order is a worldwide community of catholic men and women, married and single. Members do not live in community, but live their everyday lives in the world. History of the rules of the secular franciscan order.
From gospel to life and life to gospel patrick mayo sfo st. The secular franciscan order is a vocation, a way of life approved by the. We work, worship and play in the community where we live. The franciscan family, as one among many spiritual families raised up by the holy spirit in the church, unites all members of the people of god laity, religious. Who are the secular franciscans, and what do they do. Regional formation resource kit secular franciscan order. This first chapter details the place of the secular franciscan order in the church, in the franciscan family, and in the history of the order itself the first paragraph shows how the franciscan family, as one of the many spiritual families in the church, is united with all the people of god by the call of the holy. The rule of the secular franciscan order pack of 5 national fraternity of the secular franciscan order usa on. To foster communion and cooperation among the fraternities in canada. The secular franciscan order is open to young people above the age of 18 years, and in europe many groups of young people are involved in the activities of the. The franciscan order is comprised of four main groups.
As the order has members in countries in all continents throughout the world it uses the acronym ofs, from the full international title. Francis of assisi called the order brothers and sisters of penance. Francis and who is not a member of a religious order can become a secular. This chapter presents a brief history of the secular franciscan order. The sfo secular franciscan order is not a club one just decides to join, it is a calling a vocation. The secular franciscan order ordo franciscanus saecularis is a branch of the worldwide franciscan family.
Francis writes a letter that becomes the basic rule memoriale propositi of the third order, a franciscan order for lay men, lay women and diocesan clergy. Secular franciscan order national fraternity of canada. Secular franciscans saint clare of assisi coquitlam. Participation in the various gatherings and activities of the lay franciscan. It is to pope paul vi that we owe this splendid gift, which he bestowed.
Francis, in their secular state, following rule approved by. Secular franciscan order after a time of inquiry and preparation are the time of formation of at least one year. Clare fraternity, omaha, ne queen of peace regional. Some 800 years later the 3 franciscan orders are a treasure of the catholic church, a. I am happy to welcome you and offer my cordial greeting. Hayward, wi saint junipero serra newly forming group.
The fraternity comprises england, scotland and wales and is divided into nine regional fraternities. The spiritualities of both sfo and tor are so strikingly similar that it is inept, in this case, to contain rigidly each article under a single subject heading and compare the headings as such. Francis, as well as a reminder to us of our own christian call and sincerity of response. We seek to pattern our lives after christ in the spirit of st. Some international leaders of the order have started a conversation about how to understand secular franciscan spirituality. Francis of assisi without becoming monks like other franciscans. Brothers and sisters of saint francis region secular. History of the rules of the secular franciscan order 1221. Faqs welcome to secular franciscan order of australia. Dedicated to the cross of christ, the eucharist and the gospels, secular franciscans commit themselves to living a life of community, prayer, simplicity. The third order secular ordo franciscanus saecularis, in latin, known as the secular franciscan order, includes devout persons, both men and women. The general constitutions of the secular franciscan order contain 103 articles within three chapters, covering the practical application and organization of the order under our rule. As such, it takes time for discernment as to whether or not someone is called by god to become a part of the order.