History and Structure of the Secular Franciscan Order
The Secular Franciscan Order has existed in the Church for 785 years. Those who wish to enter the Order should learn about its history, the circumstances of its foundation, its service to the Church, its notable members and saints, as well as the present structure, organisation and mission of the SFO.
Circumstances surrounding the foundation of the SFO
The Secular Franciscan Order arose in Italy in the first half of the thirteenth century, in 1221. Its founder was St Francis of Assisi. He first founded the First Order for men and then, together with St Clare, the Second Order for women. The association he founded for laypeople who lived in the world, fulfilled their professional and social responsibilities and sought Christian perfection was therefore called the Third Order of St Francis.
The principal reason for establishing the Third Order was the great religious fervour awakened by the life, preaching and personality of St Francis. The Secular Franciscan Order answered the aspirations of laypeople who desired a deeper spiritual life and apostolic work but could not join the First or Second Order because of professional or family responsibilities.
In 1221 Francis preached in Cannara, Umbria. Afterwards, many men and women from different social backgrounds, wishing to live according to the Gospel after his example, asked him what they should do to draw closer to God. Francis told them to return to their daily responsibilities and promised that he would soon show them the way. The first members of the Third Order are traditionally said to have been the married couple Luchesio and Buonadonna of Poggibonsi near Florence, whom St Francis himself received.
Cardinal Ugolino, later Pope Gregory IX, assisted St Francis in organising the Third Order and giving it juridical norms, namely a Rule. The Rule prepared for the newly established Third Order was approved by the Holy See in 1221 under the title “Memorial for the Brothers and Sisters of Penance.” It remained in force until 1289, when Pope Nicholas IV, himself a Franciscan, revised and approved it. That Rule remained in use for six centuries, until Pope Leo XIII called for its reform in response to the new needs of the Church. The revised Rule, approved in 1883, remained in force until 1978, when, following the Second Vatican Council, Church legislation had to be adapted to the Council’s decisions.
The newly founded Secular Franciscan Order spread rapidly, first throughout Italy and later to other countries reached by the spiritual sons of St Francis from the First Order. In 1921 Pope Benedict XV wrote of Francis’s work, which had endured for centuries: “With the help of God’s grace, Francis was the first to begin putting into practice the idea of making the way of life of an Order accessible to all—something no legislator before him had succeeded in doing.”
2. Mission and Purpose of the SFO
Like those who choose life in a religious order, members of the SFO have two principal aims: the pursuit of holiness and the apostolate in the Church. They are called to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the one Lord of their lives, entrust their lives to his guidance and, following Jesus, journey towards God our Father. The Holy Spirit must be the first one to whom we listen, for he pours into us love for the Father and Jesus and sanctifies us by his grace.
To accept the teaching of Jesus Christ means keeping God’s commandments, living according to the evangelical counsels, faithfully fulfilling the duties of one’s state and work, encountering God in the Sacraments and being guided by the law of love in family and social life. Whoever lives in this way can confidently fulfil the first task arising from membership in the SFO and draw closer to God.
This desire for holiness is beautifully expressed in the prayer of St Francis: “Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, firm hope and perfect charity, wisdom and understanding, O Lord, so that I may carry out your holy and true command.”
The apostolate may take different forms according to the gifts received, personal possibilities, needs and the guidance of the Church. Everyone can pray for the Church’s apostolic works, offer personal suffering for the Church and bear witness through a good Christian life. Other forms may be undertaken according to individual abilities, such as helping poor families, evangelisation—that is, working for the conversion of those who do not believe—and caring for the beauty of God’s house and its surroundings.
3. The SFO’s Service to the Church
Its fruits include growth in the religious life of society, the spiritual renewal of the Church, numerous fruits of holiness, service for the good of society and defence of the Holy See against criticism and hostile persecution. Throughout its history, the SFO has therefore enjoyed the support and confidence of the Holy See.
One historian of the Order writes: “No order, not even a religious order, has received from the Holy See throughout its history as many expressions of trust, praise and gratitude as the Third Order of St Francis during more than 750 years of activity. The Order received such high praise from the Church’s supreme pastors because it always fulfilled the hopes placed in it and realised the ideal of St Francis.”
Here are several statements by popes from the last century, from Leo XIII to John Paul II:
Leo XIII: “As soon as this institution—the Third Order—flourishes, faith, piety and the Christian spirit will flourish with it.”
Benedict XV: “We are convinced that the spirit of the Third Order, imbued with the wisdom of the Holy Gospel, will improve personal and social conduct. It would be our desire that there should be no city, parish or even settlement without a considerable number of members of the Third Order.”
Pius XII: “St Francis achieved his purpose because the Third Order fulfilled a great mission both in the life of the Order and in society. The Third Order, a faithful division in the peaceful army of the laity, now more than ever deploys its ranks to defend and spread Christ’s Kingdom on earth.”
John XXIII: “The Third Order has a holy foundation. It is the power through which great spiritual achievements are realised in life. It is enough to look attentively at that host of people who, while living in the secular state, experience so deeply the atmosphere of the altar and the Gospel, and understand clearly and precisely what it means to live a Christian life.”
Paul VI: “We wish to express to you the joy that fills our heart when we think of your well-organised ranks, filled with the spirit of peace and spread throughout the world. It may confidently be said that the tertiaries formed the first vanguard of the Catholic apostolate, arising from authentic holiness, profound love of God and neighbour and great zeal for the salvation of souls, drawn from meditation on Christ’s Passion. St Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, prepared this holy ground by his life.”
At the tomb of St Francis, John Paul II prayed: “St Francis, help us to solve every problem with the key of the Gospel, so that Christ himself may be for the people of our time the Way, the Truth and the Life. The present age awaits Christ with great longing.” Receiving the General Council of the SFO at a general audience, he said: “Thanks be to God that there are Franciscans in the Church.” On another occasion, addressing Secular Franciscans, he said: “The Church needs your activity, through which the world can rediscover the primacy of spiritual values.”
The growth of religious life is also evident in the new congregations founded in the Church according to the Rule of the Third Order of St Francis, and in the many saints, blesseds and candidates for beatification who came from its ranks. In time, some members of the Third Order began living in community after the example of other religious orders while following the Third Order Rule. Thus arose the Third Order Regular, which has its own superior. Cloistered orders and other congregations developed in a similar way.
The fruits of holiness are a sign of the Third Order’s religious vitality: saints and blesseds, as well as faithful servants of God. The Church has canonised 112 people from the ranks of the Third Franciscan Order; another sixty died with a reputation for holiness and their causes of beatification are under way. The canonised include people of many states of life: popes, including St Pius X; kings, including St Louis IX of France; royal women, including St Elizabeth of Hungary and St Elizabeth of Portugal; and other saints, including St John Vianney, St Roch and St Margaret of Cortona.
By founding hospitals, members cared for sick people neglected by the authorities. By establishing community funds and interest-free banks, they helped free poor people from debt. Today the SFO no longer works in all those same areas, but it remains a large and strong body on which the Church relies—people devoted to her who uphold and defend the principles of the faith and Christian morality.
4. Notable Members of the SFO
The SFO may take pride in notable people whose authority influenced society or whose activity served the common good.
They include popes—Leo XIII, St Pius X, Pius XII and John XXIII; monarchs—St Ferdinand, King of Castile, and St Elizabeth of Portugal; famous explorers—Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama; and notable artists, poets, writers and political figures—Giotto, Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Cervantes, Thomas More and others.
5. Reorganisation of the SFO after the Second Vatican Council
Following the decisions of the Second Vatican Council, which called all Church institutions to adapt their legislation and activity to the new needs of the time, the SFO revised its Rule and renewed the relevance of its mission and work.
a) The New Rule
The general and provincial assistants, working with other elected representatives, prepared a renewed Rule for the SFO. Pope Paul VI approved it on 24 June 1978. Since then it has been the binding juridical document according to which Secular Franciscans form their spirituality and serve the Church. Alongside the Gospel, members should frequently read the Rule, reflect on it and seek to put it into practice.
b) The New Constitutions
The next juridical document of the SFO is the new General Constitutions. They were approved at the Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order held in Rome from 5 to 15 June 1988.
c) The New Ritual
The new Ritual, prepared by appointed commissions, was approved by the Holy See. It contains liturgical provisions for services and celebrations observed in the Secular Franciscan Order. Statutes adapting apostolic activity to the specific needs of a particular country may also serve as governing documents.
d) Governance of the Secular Franciscan Order
The new Rule contains an important provision that establishes the SFO as an autonomous Order within the Church, with its own leadership. The international fraternity is guided and animated by the Minister General together with the International Council of the SFO, whose headquarters are in Rome. A national fraternity is guided and animated by the National Minister together with the National Council of the SFO. Ministers and councils are elected at a Chapter.
e) Spiritual Assistance from the First Order
Pastoral care of the SFO is provided by general assistants, friars of the First Order and members of the Third Order Regular.
f) The Local Fraternity
The basic unit of the Secular Franciscan Order is the local fraternity, canonically established at a monastery or parish church. Its valid establishment requires the written consent of the diocesan bishop and a decree of establishment signed by a superior of the First Franciscan Order or another duly authorised priest.
Leadership of the fraternity
The fraternity is led by a council. For the first term, the council is appointed by the authority establishing the fraternity; for subsequent three-year terms, it is elected by the professed members of the local fraternity. The council includes the minister, vice-minister, secretary, formation director and treasurer. Other members may be elected to additional offices if necessary. The council should meet once a month to plan and discuss the fraternity’s formation and apostolic work.
Local spiritual assistant
Under the General Constitutions of the SFO, every local fraternity must have a spiritual assistant who works with the council in serving the fraternity and caring for the proper spiritual life both of individual members and of the fraternity as a whole.
Required formation
The local fraternity consists of people who have been admitted by its minister.
Postulancy
During postulancy, which lasts approximately twelve months, a candidate learns about the life of St Francis, the history and structure of the Secular Franciscan Order, its purpose and mission, governing documents and liturgy. After completing postulancy, the candidate is admitted to the novitiate.
Novitiate
During the twelve-month novitiate, candidates study the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order and the fundamental principles of Franciscan spirituality at formation meetings.
Profession
After completing the novitiate, candidates are admitted to profession—first, second and third temporary professions over three years. During this period they become actively involved in the Order and continue their formation in spiritual growth through religious instruction.
Ongoing formation
Further formation, called ongoing formation, takes place through monthly services and fraternity meetings. Everyone admitted to profession and received into the local fraternity is required to take part. This is a very important duty that must be remembered. Professed members should pray in community and participate in catechesis and conferences dealing with the basic principles of Christian spirituality and forms of apostolate. Those who, without serious reason or through negligence, do not attend monthly meetings not only lose an opportunity for spiritual enrichment but also fail to understand the essence of their vocation and miss the opportunity to develop it more fully.
The knowledge acquired about the history and structure of the Secular Franciscan Order should strengthen us in our decision to enter an Order that has stood the test of time, has such a remarkable history, has supported the Church and has produced numerous and splendid fruits of holiness. All this should fill us with the noble thought that we too may belong to it. We should also be strengthened by the personal spiritual benefit that comes from this membership.
Through membership in the Secular Franciscan Order, we enter into a spiritual bond with the First and Second Franciscan Orders and share in their privileges and graces, in their merits and in the prayers of the whole great Franciscan family, both during life and after death. In churches where a fraternity is active, at the members’ request, Holy Mass is celebrated on one Sunday each month for God’s blessing upon the living members, and on another appointed day for the deceased.
It is a joy to know that the Holy Church and my brothers and sisters pray for me during my life and will pray for me after my death. May all this strengthen our firm desire to belong wholeheartedly to this fraternity, to be a valuable part of it and to serve the Church generously.
Formation materials for postulancy approved by the Council of the Central-Eastern Region of the SFO, 1999. History and chronological development of the Secular Franciscan Order.
Zhytomyr
HISTORY OF THE FRANCISCAN MOVEMENT