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 center of his life with God and people.... They should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel." ( Rule Article 4).
According to the latest Statistics (31-12-2002), the SFO has about 400.000 professed members.
The sign of the Secular Franciscan Order is the Tau cross. Francis often told his brother friars that their religious habit was in the same shape as the tau, meaning that they were called to be walking "crucifixes"
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 Council and a Minister or President.
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)
Saint Francis of Assisi
baptized as Giovanni di Bernadone
b. 1182 -- d. 1226 A. D.
The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
