The Franciscan Orders

The First Order

For men whom God calls to walk exactly in St. Francis’ footsteps, there is the First Order…The Capuchins, Conventuals and Friars Minor.  In these, thousands of Priests and Brothers are cheerfully wearing the rough habit and sandals, and living without any money of their own.  Like St. Francis, they specialize in serving the poor and the forgotten, and in speaking joyfully to all men of the peace that comes from Christ.
 

The Second Order

For women there is St. Francis’ Second Order, the Poor Clares.  The spiritual daughters of Clare Scifi leave the world not because they hate it, but because they love the people in it.  They spend their lives behind cloister walls so that they can give all their time and strength to begging God’s mercy and His blessing on men and women everywhere. They are the strictest of the cloistered Orders, and the happiest.
 

The Third Order Regular

For men and women who wish to follow the spirit of St. Francis as religious in community life, but not in the First or Second Order, there is the Third Order Regular.
 

The Third Order Secular Known As “Secular Franciscan Order” or "Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis (OFS)"

The Third Order Secular gives the religious life to men and women, who feel called by the Holy Spirit to follow Christ in the “Spirit of Francis,” but cannot leave their home and family for Monastery or convent.  It offers to people of all occupations and conditions a rule that makes their life rich and peaceful by centering it around God.  It fills them with the charity of St. Francis, which flows out into help and comfort for all their neighbors.
 
From the days of its founding, over 800 years ago, the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscan Order) has been the inspiration to many and at present there are over 4 million members worldwide.
 
You are invited to join a Franciscan Fraternity in your area… please call
1-800-772-6910 or 1-800-FRANCIS.