The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is a community of Catholic men and women who seek to pattern their lives after Jesus Christ and in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis, the founder of the Order, early in the thirteenth century, was moved to establish the Secular Third Order because of the powerful attraction by married men and women wanting to join the First or Second Order. As St. Francis went about his preaching, and as people saw how he and his disciples’ lived their lives, many men and women were moved to join his group. So powerful was Francis’ preaching of penance and his way of life, that many devout lay persons who had family responsibilities wanted to do more and follow Francis’ and his way of life.
 


The birth place of the Secular Third Order was Florence on December 16, 1221 on the authority of the Papal Bull “Regesta Pontificum”.  There are many early stories about St. Francis and why and how he started the Secular Third Order. One such story is St. Francis preaching to the birds in Saburniano, his listeners were so energized by his message that they wanted to leave the city and follow St. Francis and his friars. St. Francis told them that was not necessary and instead he established the Third Order “for the universal salvation of all people”. St. Francis was concerned about the expansion of his order at the expense of families. He refused married men from entering his order and married women from joining the Poor Clares because he did not want the families to suffer. St. Francis was moved to write a Rule strictly for people like these that wanted to follow in his footsteps. They were soon known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance which also became known as the Franciscan Third Order

The Spirit of the Rule is found in Article 4 and is as follows: “The rule and life of the Secular Franciscan Order is this: To observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to the gospel.”

The Secular Franciscan Order is a public association in the Roman Catholic Church. It is made up of Fraternities at different levels, i.e., local, regional, national, and international. The OFS is under the universal law of the Church, as well as its own statutes: the Rule, the Constitution, the Ritual, and Franciscan Statutes. The interpretation of the Rule and of the Constitution belongs to the Holy See.

Secular Franciscans, once professed, commit themselves to live the Gospel according to Franciscan spirituality in their own secular state. Secular Franciscans personally and diligently study the Gospel and Sacred Scripture to encourage love for the word of the Gospel.

The OFS in the United States is composed of 30 geographic regions which are subdivided into 700 fraternities at the local level, with approximately 14,500 professed members. Each fraternity is guided by an elected minister or president, a council composed of a vice-minister/president, secretary, treasurer and a formation director. Each fraternity also has a Spiritual Assistant, who is usually a First Order, or Third Order Regular, Friar, but could also be a religious, diocesan clergy, or a certified lay Secular Franciscan. The leaders of the fraternity govern according to the Franciscan Rule, the Constitution, and the applicable Statutes.
The OFS is open to any Catholic not bound by any other religious vows to another Religious Order. Secular Franciscans make a public profession; however, they are not bound by public vows as are religious orders living in community.                              

Any Catholic in good standing with the Church and of good moral standing, can apply for membership to the fraternity of their choice. It is recommended that if you are interested in becoming a Secular Franciscan that you first visit the fraternities. As a candidate, you will go through a period of formation that takes you through three stages of formation before reaching the final stage of Profession. There is an Orientation stage, an Inquiry stage, and a Candidacy stage. The Orientation stage is a time for determining a person’s interest, eligibility and disposition to enter into the rest of the process. The Inquiry stage is a time of learning about the Franciscan charism and history. It is an important time of discernment to determine if the inquirer has a vocation to the Order. If a vocation is discerned, both by the individual and the local fraternity, the inquirer is received into the Order. The goal of the Candidacy phase of formation is the candidate’s profession to live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. Profession is a lifetime commitment to follow the Gospel in fraternal relationship with other professed members. This formation journey takes about three years.  The Rite of Profession is a solemn ecclesial act by which the candidate renews the Baptismal promises and publicly affirms his/her personal commitment to live their life in accordance to the Gospel, following the example of St. Francis and following the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. Profession is a life long commitment and formation is a continuous on-going action.

Here's what Saint Anthony Messenger has to say in it's ASK A FRANCISCAN column: Just Click The Link Below: http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Apr1997/Wiseman.asp#F3

Here's what the book, COME AND SEE, by Fr. Lester Bach, O.F.M.Cap. and Teresa V. Baker, O.F.S. states: Franciscans grow accustomed to going to the Bible. We listen without coloring the meaning by expecting answers to OUR problems. The Bible is not an answer book but a conversation between God and us. Controlling the dialogue with our own agenda and looking  for prooftexts tends to fuzzy the communication. Know that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. The better we listen, the more freely the Holy Spirit is able to teach us. The fewer obstacles we have, the better we will hear God's Word and Understand it. It may take persistent time and prayer reading and reflecting, sharing and hearing to capture the meaning of a given text. This open, unhindered listening to God's Word is one way we surrender to God.

Going from gospel to life and life to gospel (OFS Rule, Article 4) invites us to the dialogue. Franciscans choose to surrender to the Word rather than manipulate it. God's Word is, indeed, "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow, it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 - NRSV). We may not always get the point immediately. It may take time. But God invites us to surrender to the Word as fully as we can.

Because we are human, we may go to Scripture to seek answers or consolation or support. But be free to surrender to the Word of God without letting desires hinder your listening. Then God can teach us through his Scripture word.