The Secular Franciscan Order (formerly called the Third Order of St. Francis) is the lay people's branch of the world-wide Franciscan Family, the secular expression of that movement and order begun in the Church over 750 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

In a world very much like our own filled with a preoccupation with material gain, power by domination, and destructiveness the Lord called Francis of Assisi to rebuild his Church not with brick and mortar, but with a life style of self-giving love. Through his turning toward the Lord and living for the Lord, Francis manifested in a unique way that life and mission of Jesus Christ from Crib to Cross, from his Resurrection to his presence in the Church. Francis' life was so credible to the people around him that many flocked to him to walk his way.

One group of people, similarly moved by the Holy Spirit, sincerely wanted to live the elements of Christian love that Francis chose to emphasize in his Gospel life. Yet they were already committed to their families and their jobs; they could not become Lesser Brothers (friars) or Poor Ladies (nuns). They wanted to remain in their state of life and live the ideals of the Gospel that Francis made concrete. And so the Order was born.

The special task of the Secular Franciscan Order (or Lay Franciscans, as they are often called) is twofold: to tell the world about salvation by God and to help make a person's faith, hope and love grow stronger and deeper. This twofold task is accomplished by patterning one's life after that of Jesus Christ in the example of St. Francis especially by having a spirit of love which emphasizes common dignity and bond as God's people and liberates from separations, divisions and prejudices. By living in a spirit of moderation, which shows complete trust in God's will and providence and firm faith in human goodness and also liberates people from a slavery to material goods and worldly standards. By showing a will to unlimited service to the Church and all people, bringing salvation and God's Good News to everyone (especially His poor and forgotten) liberating from helplessness, loneliness and despair. This task is enriched and strengthened and woven together through a keen sense of God's presence in the Mass and Sacraments, in Scripture, in prayer, in dialogue with one another, and in witness to the world. The Franciscan Way is a dynamic and prayer-filled life according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and after the example of St. Francis.

The Secular Franciscan Order is not a religious club or an organization like an Altar Society, CYO, Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, or the like. Rather it is a special movement of grace in the very heart of the Church and a specific way of life for Christian living which intensifies a person's faith-life and can give direction to prayer and service. It is a spirituality and a style of life that guides and governs and permeates everything the Lay Franciscan is and does.

Today more than ever the Franciscans provide a successful way to spread God's message and to combat and conquer sin and evil in the world by taking the ideals and values of Gospel living and trying to make them live and work today.

THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

The Secular Franciscan Order belongs to the Franciscan Family and 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 after the manner of St. Francis in their secular state following the Rule approved by the Church" ( Const. 1,3).

"The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the centre of his life with God and people. ... They should devote themselves expecially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel." ( Rule Article 4).

According to the latest Statistics (1-7-1996), the SFO has about 435,000 professed members.

STRUCTURE OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

The Secular Franciscan Order is divided into Fraternities at various levels:local, regional,national and international. Each of these Fraternities is animated and guided by its Minister or President, with the Council.

THE LOCAL FRATERNITY

The local Fraternity is "the basic unit of the whole Order and is a visible sign of the Church, the community of love. This should be the privileged place for developing a sense of Church and the Franciscan vocation and for enlivening the apostolic life of its members" (Rule Article 22).

"The Fraternity must offer to its members opportunities for coming together and collaborating through meetings to be held with as great a frequenc as allowed by the situation and with the involvement of all its members" ( Constitutions 53,1)

"The local Fraternity is animated and guided by a Minister and a Council elected by the professed members of the Fraternity. It is composed of the following offices: Minister, Vice-minister, Secretary, Treasurer, and the person responsible for formation. The spiritual Assistant of the Fraternity forms part of the Council by right." ( Constitutions 49,1-2)

THE REGIONAL FRATERNITY

The regional Fraternity "assures the link between the local Fraternities and the national Fraternity" (Constitutions 61).

"The regional Fraternity is animated and guided by a Minister, or President, and by a Council who are duly elected" (Constitutions 61,3).

THE NATIONAL FRATERNITY

"The national Fraternity is the organic union of local Fraternities existing within the territory of States or of national entitities" (Constitutions 65,1).

"The national Fraternity ... is animated and guided by a Minister or President and by a Council who are duly elected" (Constitutions 65,3).

THE INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY

"The international Fraternity is constituted by the organic union of alll the Catholic Secular Franciscan Fraternities in the world. It is identical with the SFO ( Constitutions 69,1).

"The international Fraternity is guided and animated by the Minister or President with the International Council (CIOFS), that has its seat in Rome (Italy)" (Constitutions 69,2).

"The International Council meets in the SFO General Chapter with legislative, deliberative and elective powers" (Constitutions 70,3).

CIOFS PRESIDENCY

"The Presidency of the International Council SFO is constituted within the International Council of which it forms an integral part" ( Constitutions 70,2).

"The duties and tasks of the Presidency are ... to coordinate, animate and guide the SFO at the international level ... to attend to the resolution of urgent problems" ( Constitutions73).

For more details on the Secular Franciscan Order, read the Statutes Of The National Fraternity.