Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular |

Chapter 1
Constitutions

THE CHARISM OF THE THIRD ORDER REGULAR
OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

TITLE I:
OUR IDENTITY

They wish to live this evangelical conversion of life in a spirit of prayer, poverty and of humility. (TOR Rule, Art. 2)

1. The Third Order Regular of Saint Francis is an evangelical fraternity which has its historical and spiritual origins in the Order of Penance, the penitential movements and in Saint Francis of Assisi.

It traces itself back to the Seraphic Father because he proposed to the penitents desiring a deeper conversion a "form of life" which brought the Order to the state of a regular institute.

The Third Order Regular of Saint Francis is enumerated by the Church among the clerical institutes of pontifical right. (CN 588,2; 589; 593).

2. The members of this Order strive to realize their vocation to holiness, initiated at Baptism, which they have in common with all Christians. Their example is Saint Francis of Assisi who chose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ by living the Gospel Way in continual conversion. Like Saint Francis they freely bind themselves to live in fraternity, to observe the Gospel counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. They dedicate themselves to contemplation, to the apostolate and to the works of mercy, giving special attention to the poor.

3. All the friars of the Order have the same rights and fully participate in its life and works. Depending on their ministerial state, however, the obligations of some of the friars may differ.

4. The members of this Order, in imitation of our Seraphic Father who was always prepared for constant renewal, seek to persevere in true faith and penance. Promising obedience and reverence to the Pope they endeavor to spend themselves in building the Kingdom of God in the world in accord with the mind of the Church and the needs of the people of God.

5. As sons of the same Father, they are united in a special way with the members of the entire Franciscan family. In particular, they have a special relationship with the other institutes which profess the same Rule as well as with the Secular Franciscan Order.

The friars shall love and faithfully observe all that constitutes the nature of the Order and after the example and teaching of Saint Francis, respect the teaching of the Holy See and the sound traditions of the Order.

6. The Third Order Regular of Saint Francis is placed under the protection of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, its heavenly patron. The friars also venerate as their patrons, Saint Louis, King of France and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

Led by the Lord, let them begin a life of penance, conscious that all of us must be continually and totally converted to the Lord. (TOR Rule, Art. 6)

7. Called by the Lord to follow Jesus Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, the friars consecrate themselves to Him by means of the public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.

The evangelical counsels are truly a divine gift which the Church has received from Jesus Christ and which she preserves.

8. This consecration is a gift for life. Through the charism of daily conversion this consecration is deepened until the friars are fully united to Christ in charity.

9. The evangelical counsels invite us to live more perfectly united to the Paschal Mystery of Christ, so that by dying more radically to sin, we live more fully the new life in the Spirit wondrously manifested in the resurrection of Jesus.

The profession of these counsels is a response to a call to conversion to Gospel values which challenges the friars to go beyond external observance of the precepts and laws in order to achieve an inner harmony with the law of charity and peace.

10. The faithful observance of the evangelical counsels has a special witness value in our time which gives testimony that this world is not a lasting home. Therefore as pilgrims and strangers, the friars seek only Christ and the establishment of his reign.