The Secular Franciscan Order
Francis made the Gospel, with Christ Crucified at its center, the supreme
norm of life for all his followers. He gave each of his three orders a
written rule, which were summaries of the Gospel and guidelines to its
perfect observance.
But there is a difference between them. The first two are
religious
orders. Their members take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience,
and leave their homes to live in communities. The third is a
secular
order, whose members make promises of commitment, and remain in their
homes. Yet they are motivated and formed by the spirit of Saint Francis to
fulfill the ideals and responsibilities of their state of life within the
faith-community of the Church.
Francis formed his third order because of circumstances that he had not
foreseen. As he preached penance in one place after another, devout lay
persons who were bound by family responsibilities begged to be taught a
more perfect way of life. He showed them how they must lead the Gospel
life at home and at their work, and spread the Gospel teaching by word and
example among their neighbors, in imitation of the poor and suffering
Christ.
These latter formed groups known as "Brothers and Sisters of Penance."
They zealously practiced the lessons Francis had taught them concerning
prayer, humility, peacemaking, self-denial, fidelity to the duties of
their state, and above all: charity. Like Francis himself, they cared for
lepers and outcasts with the greatest compassion. They guided themselves
always by the holy Gospel, which they pondered and prayed over constantly.
These groups, called
fraternities, included Christians from every walk of life: clergy and
laity, men and women, married and single, poor and rich, old and young,
illiterate and learned. So many joined these fraternities that they
wrought wonders in eradicating the great moral and social evils of the
day, especially greed and hatred. Pope Honorius III, in 1221, approved the
Brothers and Sisters of penance as a secular order in the Catholic Church.