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Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi —Secular Franciscan Order— by Anne Tschanz

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Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi —Secular Franciscan Order— by Anne Tschanz Holy orders For lay PeoPle Following in the Footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi —Secular Franciscan Order— By Anne Tschanz hen St. Francis of Assisi em- Wbraced his penitential life, people from all walks of life desired to follow in his footsteps. Many of these people were married or had other obligations that prevented them from entering religious life, but this was no obstacle to personal sanctifca- tion as envisioned by the great saint. Francis presented to them a way of life that was Franciscan in spirit and promoted his ideals for Christian 7). Francis’ biographer, Thomas of Franciscan Order itself for it traces its perfection. “All who love the Lord Celano, said: “He furnished a norm foundation to around the year 1221, with their whole heart, with their to live by and unerringly mapped out just twelve years after Pope Innocent whole soul and mind, with all their the way of salvation for them in their III approved the regula primitive of the strength, and love their neighbors as various stations of life.” Franciscans. Originally known as themselves and hate their bodies with This way of life for the laity was the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, their vices and sins, and receive the formalized into what we now call these men and women did not have Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus the Secular Franciscan Order, or penances imposed upon them, rather Christ, and produce worthy fruits of Franciscan Third Order (members they chose to live a penitential life, fol- penance, how happy and blessed are are sometimes called Tertiaries, from lowing in the footsteps of Jesus Christ these men and women when they do the Latin tertiaris, meaning “third”). and the Apostles. these things and persevere in doing In the Franciscan family, there is the Francis was not raised in these them, because ‘the spirit of the Lord First Order (Conventual Franciscans humble circumstances. Rather, he will rest upon them’ (cf. Is 11:2).” [OFM COnv.], Capuchin Francis- was born in 1182 to a wealthy mer- There was the mindset at the time, cans [OFM Cap.], and Franciscans chant family, and was known as a like today, that the truly apostolic life of the Leonine Union [OFM]) as well light-hearted, generous and popular was for monks in monasteries not as the Second Order (Poor Clares). young man, with the heart of a chiv- men and women with families and oc- As an aside, individual tertiaries who alrous knight. Saint Bonaventure cupations. Francis believed otherwise were living in common were eventu- said that he “was nurtured in vanity and proclaimed that the apostolic life ally given their own Rule as Third among the vain sons of men,” as was the way of the Gospel for all peo- Order Regular Franciscans (T.O.R.), evidenced by the lavish feasts and fne ple to “conform their thoughts and as distinguished from the Third Or- clothing he reveled in. deeds to those of Christ by means of der Seculars. However, his time as a prisoner of that radical interior change which the The Secular Franciscan Order is war followed by serious illness caused Gospel itself calls conversion” (Rule almost as old as the foundation of the him to ponder the feeting nature of Religious Life March/April 2018 13 3-12 MarchApril2018.indd 13 3/12/18 12:36 PM things. When heading of to partici- pate in more battles, Francis heard a voice asking him why he was follow- ing the servant instead of the master. Gradually, he left his old life behind and became more solitary, leading to the famous moment in 1206 when Francis, kneeling before the wooden crucifx in the dilapidated chapel of San Damiano, heard these words of Jesus: “Francis, go repair My house, which as you can see is falling into ruin.” spirit of the Lord shall rest upon all acquaintances, he rejoiced. When Francis took this command liter- those who do these things and who they asked Francis how they might ally and for two years worked on the shall persevere to the end, and He lead a life more pleasing to God, restoration of the church, leading shall make His abode and dwelling in he presented to them the secular an eremitical life with other young them, and they shall be children of the Franciscan ideal and they asked to men who joined him. In 1210, he Heavenly Father.” join immediately. The husband and gained Pope Innocent III’s approval The Memoriale propositi of 1221 wife died on the same day in 1260. for a “fraternity of itinerant preach- with subsequent changes over the Whether they were indeed the frst ers.” He “went about the towns and next several years is considered the tertiaries, they are a model for them, villages, announcing the Kingdom frst Rule for the Tertiaries. It shows because of their lives of simplicity, of God, preaching peace, teaching that following Francis required one’s generosity and poverty of spirit as salvation and penance unto the remis- whole heart and soul, with fasting followers of Saint Francis. sion of sins.” He used “no words of and abstinence, prayer and frequent The turmoil that afected religious fattery nor seductive blandishments. reception of the Sacraments, and communities throughout the inter- Men and women, clerics and religious recitation of the Divine Office or vening centuries wrought havoc on hastened to see and to hear the holy other suitable prayers. the Third Order as well. In the 19th man of God.” The people organized in fraterni- century, Pope Leo XIII, a secular There are two letters addressed to ties which usually met monthly in a Franciscan himself, issued a new Rule penitents in which Francis conveys his local Church, with religious providing that was less rigorous and more suited ideals and hopes for people seeking spiritual encouragement for their to modern times. He believed that the direction from him. “Whoever follows penitential life and works of mercy. Third Order was necessary for the them,” he wrote, “will fnd life and In 1289, Pope Nicholas IV, the frst revitalization of Christian society, for salvation.” In a letter written in 1215 to Franciscan Pope, issued the Bull Supra Francis had placed before the world All the Faithful, he states: “(God) wishes Motem, which was the approbation of “the complete model of Christian that we should all be saved by Him and the Rule for the Third Order. One perfection.” that we should receive Him with a notable stipulation was that the visita- This brotherhood, he said, admits pure heart and a chaste body. But there tors and directors should be members “all ranks, all ages, both sexes, and are few who wish to receive Him and of the First Order. yet in no way necessitates the rupture to be saved by Him, although His yoke There is a tradition that the frst of family or social ties. For its rules is sweet and His burden light.” A true Franciscan tertiaries were Bl. Luche- consist only in obedience to God and follower of the Lord is one who loves sius Modestini and his wife, Buon- His Church, to avoid factions and God and neighbor, confesses their sins adonna. At some point, they had a quarrels, and in no way to defraud and receives the Holy Eucharist. “Let conversion of heart, gave their wealth our neighbor; to take up arms only us then have charity and humility and to the poor and decided to live simply. for the defense of religion and of let us give alms because they wash When Francis came to town and saw one’s country; to be moderate in food souls from the foulness of sins….The the change in these former business and in clothing, to shun luxury, and 14 March/April 2018 Religious Life 3-12 MarchApril2018.indd 14 3/12/18 12:36 PM to abstain from the dangerous seduc- there were also the Friars Minor, Inquiry period, candidates study the tions of dances and plays.” there were the Conventuals; but it is lives of Francis and Clare and the A post-Vatican II Rule was pro- always Saint Francis, whether dressed Franciscan charism. If the fraternity mulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1978, in black, dressed in white or dressed and the individual discern that they and in 2000, Pope John Paul II of- in brown,” he recalled. “Everywhere indeed have a Franciscan vocation, cially approved new Constitutions for we turn, we fnd this dear Saint, who then the person is accepted in the the Secular Franciscan Order (abbre- is the refection and image of Our Order. In Candidacy, they prepare viated as O.F.S.). He reminded them Lord Jesus Christ . we Franciscan for their lifelong commitment in that the family is “the primary setting tertiaries try to draw near to his spirit fraternal relationship with other in which to live your Christian com- and want to remain there.” professed sisters and brothers, which mitment and Franciscan vocation, Other secular Franciscans include is “to observe the Gospel of Our fnding time for prayer, for the Word artists (Michelangelo), poets (Dante), Lord Jesus Christ by following St. of God and for Christian catechesis… scientists (Louis Pasteur), statesmen Francis of Assisi, who made Christ doing your utmost to make every life (St. Thomas More), priests (St. John the inspiration and the center of his respected from its conception and in Vianney); martyrs (St. Joan of Arc) life with God and people.” every situation until death.” and royalty (King St. Louis IX of “The Church expects from the Secular Franciscans are divided France and St.
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