Frequently Asked Questions about the Secular Franciscan Order

Our Work

When was the Secular Franciscan Order Founded?

St. Francis founded three orders during his lifetime: first, the Order of Friars Minor (OFM); second, the Order of St. Clare (the "Poor Clares"); and finally, the Third Order of St. Francis (OFS). The Third Order and its Rules were approved by Pope Honorius III in 1221. Collectively, members of these three orders are known as Franciscans. The Franciscans are one of the four great mendicant orders of the Church, where members advocate for the poor and perform works of charity. While the First and Second Orders of Friars Minor and St. Clare were created for those who wished to live in monastic communities as friars and nuns, the Third Order was created for, and at the request of, lay people. These lay people consisted of both married and unmarried followers who could not leave their families, homes, and jobs, yet still wished to practice the teachings of Francis. They wished to live a radically Christ-like life, living in the world while striving to be "not of this world." Essentially, the whole world would become their monasteries. Originally called "Brothers and Sisters of Penance," members of this Order were later called Franciscan Tertiaries or Third Order Franciscans and, today, Secular Franciscans. The Order's international and Latin name is Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, abbreviated OFS. The Third Order of Secular Franciscans now consists of both religious and laity who follow St. Francis by performing works of teaching, charity, social service, and care for the environment.

How Do I Join the Secular Franciscan Order?

Anyone with a call to Franciscan spirituality may attend meetings at a local Secular Franciscan Fraternity. To become a member of the Order, we ask: Are you over the age of 18? Are you a practicing Catholic, lay or religious, either male or female, who has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist/Reconciliation, and Confirmation? If married, would your spouse be comfortable with you joining a religious order? Are you active in your church but feel called to do more, to lead a different kind of life grounded in spirituality while still living and working in the "real" world? If so, we welcome you to learn more about the Order during an Orientation period. Here, you will meet with us monthly and begin a period of Formation in which you will learn more about the Order and the teachings of St. Francis and St. Clare. If you and the Fraternity decide that it's right for you to continue, you will then begin a period of Inquiry with more study and discernment. After this, should you and the Fraternity continue to believe that this is a good step for you, you will be welcomed into Candidacy, where you will receive the Rule of the Order and the habit of the Order, the Tau Cross. You will begin to live the Franciscan Rules in your daily life now. Should you continue to feel called to the Order, you may request to make Temporary Profession in which you fully live the life of a Secular Franciscan for at least one year. Should you and your Fraternity discern that this is the right life for you, you may then request to make your Final Profession. Here, you will make a public profession of lifetime commitment and receive consecration at a special Mass of Profession.

What is Life Like for Those Who Join the Order?

Secular Franciscans attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. They go to Confession regularly and work to live a life based on the Gospel. They pray both Morning and Evening Prayer from the Divine Office. They commit to a daily examination of conscience. They attend monthly Fraternity meetings and continue their ongoing spiritual formation. Lay Secular Franciscans own their own homes and property, including cars, families, and pets and, unless retired, work at various jobs and careers. Lay Franciscans do not take oaths of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Rather, they strive to be charitable and assist the poor, be loving and loyal to their spouses, and discern God's will for them.

How Do I Know if I'm Called?

Secular Franciscans are called by the Holy Spirit to this Order and lifestyle. Often, they feel that something is missing in their lives--something that money, success, and Earthly security do not fulfill. They are searching for meaning in a deeper, spiritual way. They want to know more, do more, and serve more. They might also desire the company of other spiritually-minded seekers and mentors as well as faith formation beyond what they've learned in the religion or catechism classes of their youth. Does this sound like you? If so, please keep reading.

After your first six months of attending monthly Fraternity meetings, called Orientation, you should have a feel for Secular Franciscan spirituality and its way of life, including how to see others through the eyes of Christ and care for God's Creation.

The Holy Spirit guides us in our discernment process, and we are also helped by paying attention to the Gospel and the writings of St. Francis and St. Clare. We listen and feel in our prayer life, while also studying the Franciscan Rule. Here, we then listen and learn in Sisterhood and Brotherhood in Fraternity, which is the lived charism of Franciscan spirituality. If this suits your own way of living and thinking, then you can formally ask to be admitted into Formation. The first stage of Formation is called Inquiry, which lasts approximately 6 -12 months, with the final stage being Candidacy, usually two or more years in length. There are monthly lessons to complete during your Formation process which will help guide you on the way to Profession.

However, if at any time you decide that the Secular Franciscan Order is not for you, you are free to leave the discernment process. In fact, before making Temporary Profession, the Candidacy stage focuses heavily on discernment to help you and us discover how suited you are to the Order.