Let us begin with the Order itself.
The Secular Franciscan Order is a branch of the worldwide Franciscan Family. We are single and married, and some of us are diocesan clergy. We work, worship, and play in the community where we live.
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The Order was established by St. Francis of Assisi more than 800 years ago. Its members—men and women—are called to bring the Gospel to life where they live and work. Members look for practical ways to embrace the Gospel and help others do the same.
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Not Quite Monks, Not Quite Nuns
When we hear the word “Franciscan,” our thoughts usually turn to a short, round monk in a brown robe with a rope tied around his waist. This makes sense as the first Order of Franciscans, the Order of Friars Minor, is usually the most visible. They wear brown habits and a rope cincture (cord) around their waist, tied in three knots representing their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These men are religious brothers and priests, members of this first order started by St. Francis.
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Secular Franciscans are not monks.
The second order of Franciscans, founded by St. Francis and St. Clare over 800 years ago, is the Poor Clares. These women are religious sisters. They, too, wear a brown habit with a rope cincture. They also wear a white headpiece and a black veil and take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
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Secular Franciscans are not nuns.
Secular Franciscans are men and women, married and single, living in secular life. We have jobs, homes, cars, hobbies, and families.
Francis founded our third order with the intention of creating men and women who could evangelize, pray, and serve in everyday life.
Our secular place in life puts us in unique positions to lead by example, offer spiritual counsel, and serve the people of God.
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We do not take vows as part of our profession to the Order. Instead PROFESS to live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, a way of life preaching the Gospel by the example of our daily lives.
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I like to describe a Secular Franciscan as someone who is—to a monk or a nun—what a deacon is to a priest: a person with formal religious formation who has one foot in and one foot out.
The OFS Rule
The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans are to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and center of his life with God and people.
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Let Us Pray
The primary daily prayers for the Order are the Liturgy of the Hours; morning and evening prayer each day.
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Franciscan Life is Habit-Forming
While we don’t wear robes or veils, we do wear a habit: the Tau Cross. We wear this cross as a pendant, ring, pin, or even embroidery on a shirt or jacket.
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While most Secular Franciscans wear only the Tau, other religious garb may be involved. Those who do apostolate work in the Liturgy as masters of ceremonies, altar servers, or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may wear a white alb, as spelled out in the Liturgical Documents and General Instructions for the Roman Missal. This applies to anyone serving in such a capacity, not just Secular Franciscans.
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Poverty? Chastity? Obedience?
The first and second Orders (Order of Friars Minor and Poor Clares) and many other consecrated religious communities take vows or make promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This is both commonly known and commonly misunderstood.
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There are two major misunderstandings of these vows or promises: (a) That every priest takes these vows, and (b) that Secular Franciscans take these vows. Neither do.
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Poverty, chastity, and obedience are part of any religious community and vocation, but they don’t always come in the form of promises and vows. For example, priests who are members of Religious Orders such as the Order of Friars Minor, the Dominicans, the Jesuits, etc., take these vows as part of their profession to the Order.
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However, most of the priests we encounter in our parishes are diocesan. They are not affiliated with an Order and report to the diocese's Bishop. These men promise chaste celibacy and obedience to the Bishop and his successors. There is no promise of poverty for these men. They get a salary and are responsible for their own expenses outside housing.
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Regarding the Secular Franciscan Order, we are secular people with jobs, homes, and families.
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We are servants. For Secular Franciscans, our profession to the Order does not place us above anyone. The result of years of work and education prepares us to serve as the least among the most.
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How Secular Franciscans Serve God’s People
Let them individually and collectively be at the forefront in promoting justice through the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives, especially in public life; they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith. Secular Franciscan esteem works as a gift and a sharing in the creation, redemption, and service of the human community. (Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, 2.15-16)
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Secular Franciscans serve the people of God in various ways. We each have our apostolate work in our parishes and communities that align with our talents and interests. We work in religious education and parish life. We work with the sick, dying, hungry, and homeless. We work for the welfare of all God’s creatures, including animals.
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The advantage of this type of work is that our Order is everywhere. We’re all doing different tasks and bringing the Franciscan charism of service to God’s people in many places.
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