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What is the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-17T23:09:25-04:00

Secular Franciscans, as the name implies, live their lives in the world rather than in religious communities. They may be single or married, women or men, in all walks of life. They live the Gospel in a Franciscan mode co-ordinate to their own Rule which they profess after a period of initial germination. Profession every bit a Secular Franciscan is a lifelong commitment. Germination and profession of the Secular Franciscan takes identify within a local community called a fraternity. Life in fraternity is an essential aspect of the Secular Franciscan vocation. The fraternity is a community of dear, the privileged place for the sisters and brothers to develop their sense of Church building and the Franciscan call. Although a cocky-governing Order, each Secular Franciscan fraternity receives guidance in spiritual matters from a spiritual assistant, unremarkably a friar from one of the other Franciscan Orders. These relationships are particularly strong between Secular Franciscans and the Franciscan friars with whom they share common roots in the Franciscan penitential tradition.

Who is St. Francis of Assisi? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:36:20-04:00

St. Francis of Assisi was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone around 1181 a.m. In his youth, Francis was known for his drinking and partying. He was captured and imprisoned during a boxing between the cities of Perugia and Assisi. Once released, he had an encounter with the Lord when he heard the Jesus say, "Rebuild my church." He abandoned his life of luxury and turned all his attending to service to the Lord. Through his example, he inspired men and women to join him — thus the Franciscan family began. He died on Oct 4, 1226 at the age of 45. Francis is considered the founder of all Franciscan orders and the patron saint of ecologists and merchants.

How do I join the Secular Franciscan Guild? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:12:12-04:00

The process of becoming a professed Secular Franciscan is a journey that involves 3 dissever stages and culminates in a lifelong commitment to live the Gospel following the case of St. Francis of Assisi. This process unfolds in regularly scheduled formation sessions during which the fabric is discussed. The starting time stage, Orientation, provides time for dialogue and developing relationships in fraternity. During the Orientation phase, one is introduced to the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and share in the Franciscan prayer life. Seekers will be given general information about the Secular Franciscan Order. Orientation is a time to discern if the Spirit is calling you to a Secular Franciscan vocation. The period of Orientation is a minimum of 3 months. The second stage, Research, is the first formal menses of initiation. It is a fourth dimension of in-depth study of the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. The Inquiry phase is focused on learning virtually the Franciscan charism and Franciscan history. You will deepen your agreement of what it means to be secular and Franciscan, and go along to discern if the Spirit is calling you to the Secular Franciscan way of life. The period of Inquiry is a minimum of 6 months. If a vocation is discerned, the Inquirer is received into the Order. The 3rd stage, Candidacy, is the final formal period of initiation. It is a time of preparing for permanent delivery by immersion into fraternity life. Central to this stage of germination is Commodity 4 of The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order which states, "The dominion and life of the Secular Franciscan is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ past following Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people." The period of Candidacy is a minimum of xviii months and culminates in permanent commitment to the gospel life. After profession of the Rule and permanent delivery to the gospel manner of life, the newly professed member joins the residuum of the fraternity in "ongoing" formation.

Who can join the Secular Franciscan Gild? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:nineteen:45-04:00

To be a Secular Franciscan i has to be a Catholic of good continuing, single or married (your spouse agreeing). A diocesan priest can also become a Secular Franciscan, indeed a pope can exist a Secular Franciscan. A practicing Catholic is one who attends Mass on Sundays weekly. Being a Secular Franciscan is a deeper delivery to your Cosmic faith equally a single or married person to live a Gospel-orientated life. You must be at least 18 years of age. Conditions for admission are: to profess the Catholic faith, to alive in communion with the Church building, to be of skilful moral standing, and to prove articulate signs of a vocation.

What do Secular Franciscans do? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T19:53:41-04:00

Essentially Secular Franciscans live and do their piece of work as anyone else does, but with a consciousness of trying to live the Gospel values in their lives especially in family and work life. In detail, their daily lives are most normally involved in the life of the parish (serving equally lectors, Boggling Eucharistic Ministers oft taking Communion to the ill, sacristans,  Parish Council members, volunteers with St Vincent de Paul and other charities and where possible promote St Francis and his spirituality (piece of work in soup kitchens, volunteer in hospitals, work for justice, peace and integrity of cosmos).

Do Secular Franciscans take vows? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:18:28-04:00

No, merely Religious in the Church take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Secular Franciscans make a public profession to live the OFS Rule, usually during a Mass. This profession is a lifetime commitment.

Are there any Secular Franciscan saints? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:41:52-04:00
Who is St. Clare of Assisi? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:37:16-04:00

St. Clare was built-in on July 16, 1194. Her baptismal name was Chiara Offreduccio. She is i of the commencement followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Social club of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious club for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the starting time set of monastic guidelines known to take been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her award as the Club of Saint Clare, ordinarily referred to today equally the Poor Clares. She is the patron saint of heart disorders and tv. She died August 11, 1253. Secular Franciscans consider St. Francis as spiritual male parent and St. Clare as spiritual female parent.

Can I meet your society and see how y'all live your lives? Lee Potts, OFS 2021-x-24T11:52:18-04:00

Yeah, indeed. This is the best way to learn near the Secular Franciscans. Phone call 1-800-FRANCIS or send an eastward-postal service indicating your interest and location to info@secularfranciscansusa.org. Your information will be shared with members of the closest fraternity to your location. There y'all tin can meet Secular Franciscans, get to know united states and discern if you lot are a Franciscan at eye.  You tin also review the list of local fraternities.

What does the Church say near the Secular Franciscans? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:31:34-04:00

The church accepts the Secular Franciscan Guild as part of the Franciscan family. Secular Franciscans are directly nether the Pope. A number of the Popes, Pius 9 (Papacy 1846-1878); Leo Thirteen (1978-1903); Pius X (1903-1914); Benedict XV (1914-1922); Pius Xi (1922-1939); Pius XII (1939-1958) to Saint John XXIII (1958-1963), belonged to the Secular Franciscan Lodge. Starting time with Pope Leo XIII the Franciscans and especially the Secular Franciscan Order was seen as the best way to contribute to the transformation of the world by teaching Saint Francis' vision of universal brotherhood and peace.

Do you have any young people in your guild? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:xxx:47-04:00

Yeah, nosotros do. The Secular Franciscan Order is open to young people above the age of 18 years. Young adults cull to participate every bit Franciscan Youth, known as YouFra. This group gives the immature person the opportunity to learn virtually Francis, savor the fun and camaraderie of people their ain historic period. In time, some choose to make a life-time commitment every bit Secular Franciscans.

What if I discern that I am not called to be a Secular Franciscan? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:29:33-04:00

You are free to leave the discernment process at any time. Should you discern this later on you have been professed, there is a process to withdraw.

Do I have to motility from where I live to exist closer to a local fraternity? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:28:24-04:00

Information technology is not necessary to move. There are hundreds of local fraternities in the Us and, usually, there is a fraternity relatively close where you can attend the monthly meetings and other fraternity activities.

Exercise I have to live with a group of Secular Franciscans in a convent or monastery? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:21:31-04:00

No, Secular Franciscans alive in their ain homes. As such the Secular Franciscan way of life is an authentic fashion of life founded by Saint Francis for those who did not wish to become religious brothers and sisters living in a convent or friary. The commitment to prayer and fraternity are the same in that Secular Franciscans usually encounter in one case a month in a church building hall or elsewhere to exist strengthened past the fraternal community.

How are the Secular Franciscans different from other Secular Orders? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:16:42-04:00

Secular Franciscans follow the way of life and spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi – the way of seraphic love. Saint Francis gave the Church building a new Religious Order. In fact he founded three Orders, The Guild of Friars Minor, Poor Clares and the Secular Franciscan Lodge (Third Order). Each had its own Rule of Life. Saint Francis was non the first person to begin a Third Social club for lay people. In that location were already groups of lay people approved by the Holy See before the Secular Franciscans. Much afterward the Dominion of the Secular Dominicans was approved in 1285 and the Secular Carmelite Rule in1415. These were canonical as Orders because they were seen as an extension of the Spirit and way of life of these Orders.  Each Society follows the detail charism of the founder.  Secular Franciscans focus on spreading the peace and love of Christ through peacemaking and serving the marginalized.

How exercise I know if I am existence called to be a Secular Franciscan? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:14:08-04:00

Later attending a local fraternity coming together for nigh iii months, you will have some idea if a Franciscan way of life and spirituality suits you lot, and if you retrieve it does, and so you tin can ask to exist admitted to the formation program.

Exactly how does one live the Gospel values of Secular Franciscans in the world? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T20:07:26-04:00

The "motto" of the Secular Franciscan Order is  "…going from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel." This is a process whereby Secular Franciscans utilise the Gospel to discern how to human activity in existent terms during life situations. Past developing a deep human relationship with the Lord through prayer and reading the Gospel, so Secular Franciscans experience a modify in mental attitude and thus become more aware and able to discern and deed with dear and pity.

How is the Secular Franciscan Order structured? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T19:56:06-04:00

The Secular Franciscan Society is an Order inside the Roman Catholic Church. It is divided into fraternities at various levels: local, regional, national, and international. The OFS is governed by the universal police force of the Church building; and past its ain Rule, Constitutions, Ritual, and statutes. The estimation of the Rule and of the Constitutions belongs to the Holy Run into. The interpretation of the Constitutions belongs to the General Chapter of the OFS. The clarification of specific points which require a timely decision is the competence of the Presidency of the International Council of the OFS. The International Council of the OFS has its own statutes canonical by the General Chapter of the OFS and confirmed by the Union of the Franciscan Ministers General. National fraternities accept their ain statutes canonical by the Presidency of the International Council of the OFS. The fraternities at dissimilar levels are animated and guided by the government minister or president, with the council, in accordance with the Rule, the Constitutions, and their ain Statutes. These offices are conferred through elections.

What does information technology hateful to exist a Secular Franciscan? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-18T19:51:34-04:00

Secular Franciscans commit themselves to live the Gospel according to Franciscan spirituality in their secular condition. The Secular Franciscan must personally and assiduously written report the Gospel and Sacred Scripture to foster love for the word of the Gospel as it is proclaimed by the Church with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Secular Franciscans, chosen in before times "the brothers and sisters of penance", advise to live in the spirit of continual conversion. Secular Franciscans should pledge themselves to live the spirit of the Beatitudes and, in a special mode, the spirit of poverty. Evangelical poverty demonstrates conviction in the Father, affects interior freedom, and disposes them to promote a more but distribution of wealth. They pledge themselves to reduce their own personal needs so equally to exist improve able to share spiritual and fabric goods with their brothers and sisters, especially those virtually in need. They should take a business firm position against consumerism and confronting ideologies and practices which prefer riches over human and religious values and which permit the exploitation of the man person. They should dear and exercise purity of middle, the source of true fraternity.

How did the Secular Franciscan Social club begin? Lee Potts, OFS 2018-04-17T23:fourteen:xviii-04:00

The Secular Franciscan Order began with Saint Francis of Assisi. From the very beginning of his ministry building Saint Francis establish people who desired to follow his mode of life and spirituality — yet were married or did not desire to go religious. Saint Francis responded by writing "The Starting time Letter to all the Faithful" around 1215. And so many people wanted to follow Saint Francis that the Rule of the Secular Franciscans was canonical in 1221 — at that time, they were call the Brothers and Sisters of Penance afterwards called the Third Order of St. Francis. One of the earliest Secular Franciscans was Lady Jacoba de Settesoli who was present when Saint Francis died in 1226.  From this Order the 3rd Guild Regulars (T.O.R.) emerged in the 15th century. The Lodge continued as the 3rd Social club of St. Francis, Secular. In 1978, its name was inverse to the Secular Franciscan Club (SFO). In 2011, the acronym inverse from SFO to OFS (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis or Lodge of Secular Franciscans).

Are in that location any well-known or famous Secular Franciscans? Lee Potts, OFS 2022-01-25T11:01:41-05:00

Yes, at that place are many well-known Secular Franciscans:

POPES

  • Innocent III – 1198-1216
  • Honorius Iii – 1216-1227
  • Gregory 9 – 1227-1241
  • Bl. Gregory X – 1271-1276
  • Nicholas Iii – 1277-1280
  • Celestine V – 1294 –
  • Martin V – 1417-1431
  • Sixtus IV – 1471-1484
  • Alexander VI – 1492-1503
  • Leo X – 1518-1521
  • Sixtus Five – 1585-1590
  • Innocent XII – 1691-1700
  • Clement XII – 1730-1740
  • Pius IX – 1846-1878
  • Leo Thirteen – 1878-1903
  • St. Pius Ten 1903-1914
  • Benedict Xv – 1914-1922
  • Pius XI – 1922-1939
  • Pius XII – 1823-1829
  • John XXIII – 1958-1963

DOCTORS OF THE Church

  • St. Francis deSales

CARDINALS

  • Charles Central Borromeo
  • Henry Edward Key Manning
  • Herbert Cardinal Vaughn
  • John Fundamental Fisher
  • BISHOPS (Note that all Cardinals were formerly Bishops)
  • St. Francis deSales. PRIESTS
  • St. John Vianney (Cures of Ars) Patron of Diocesan Priests
  • Fr. Edward Flanagan Founder of Male child'due south Town
  • St. Joseph Cafasso Diocesan Priest and St. Don Bosco's Teacher.

FOUNDERS (who were Secular Franciscans earlier founding a religious lodge)

  • St. Angela Merici – Ursulines
  • Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini – Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Center
  • St. John Bosco – Salesians
  • Bl. Peter Julian Eymard – Blessed Sacrament Fathers
  • St. Vincent Pallotti – Pallottine Fathers
  • St. Michael Gariscoits – The Auxiliary Priests of the Sacred Centre
  • St. Mary Joseph Rosello – The Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy
  • St. Bridget of Sweden – The Guild of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines)
  • Bl. Mary Frances Schervier – Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis.

ROYALTY

  • Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Kingdom of spain
  • St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary Patron of the Secular Franciscan Gild
  • St. Elizabeth Queen of Portugal
  • Louis IX King of France, Patron of the Secular Franciscan Order.  STATESMEN
  • St. Thomas More

Family MEMBERS OF SAINTS

  • Parents of St. Therese, the Little Bloom
  • Parents of St. Maximilian Kolbe
  • Mother of St. Maria Goretti
  • Mother of John Bosco
  • Blood brother of St. Bernadette Soubirous.

STIGMATIST

  • Marie Rose Ferron

CORDBEARERS

  • St. Bernadette Soubirous
  • St. Bridegroom Joseph Labre, Patron Saint of Beggars
  • St. Francis deSales
  • St. Joseph Calasanz.

MUSICIANS

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  • Franz Lizst
  • Charles Gounod
  • Sebastian Temple.

POETS

  • Dante Alighieri, Coventry Patmore.

PAINTERS/SCULPTORS

  • Giotto di Bondone
  • Michaelangelo
  • John Cimabue
  • Bartholomew Murillo
  • Raphael

EXPLORERS

  • Christopher Columbus.

SCIENTISTS

  • Louis Pasteur
  • Andre & Marie Ampere

LAITY

  • St. Joan of Arc
  • St. Roch of Montpellier, Patron Against Contagious Diseases
  • St. Catherine of Genoa, housewife.

HERMITS

  • St. Conrad of Piacenza.

PILGRIM Ragamuffin

  • St. Ceferino.

BUSINESSMEN

  • Blessed Peter of Sienna, Rummage manufacturer
  • Blest Luchesio, merchant and dock worker
  • Matt Talbot