Is Christ calling you to walk in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi?
As practising Catholics we sometimes feel the need, or an inner urging, to do a little more than just attend Mass and be a good parishioner.
If our faith is to be truly meaningful, we want it to shape our whole life — who we are and what we do.
Or perhaps, for years, you have felt an affinity with St Francis. He seems to pop up all around and you just don’t know why.
If you feel this way, God could be calling you to deepen your spirituality and add a new dimension to your life.
He could be calling you to walk in the footsteps of one of the most outstanding saints of the Church, St. Francis of Assisi.
Getting to know the Secular Franciscans may be a way to determine if you have a vocation.
WHO ARE THE SECULAR FRANCISCANS?
We are part of a world wide Franciscan family founded by St Francis of Assisi over 800 years ago.
St. Francis of Assisi was a thirteenth century saint who, hearing the words of the gospel, turned from a comfortable and individualistic life to one of absolute simplicity and service.
He gathered many men around him and had the Rule of his First Order of friars (“little brothers”) approved by the pope.
St. Francis also gave a Way of Life to lay people who wished to follow him; thus inspiring his Third Order, now called the Secular Franciscan Order — the OFS.
WHERE DOES THE JOURNEY TAKE US?
As Secular Franciscans, we try to journey through life guided by the Rule of the Order, which states:
The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan 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.
We live and work in society according to our calling. No matter what that calling is, we try, as St. Francis did, to live all aspects of our life in accord with the spirit of the gospel. In this way, by our example, we proclaim the primacy of Christ to the world.
HOW DO FRATERNITIES WORK?
Local fraternity members meet monthly to pray and to develop their Franciscan vocation together. They read Scripture, study the life and writings of St. Francis, and discuss their apostolic works. But most importantly, members of the fraternity become a spiritual family.
