Comparison of Rules Secular Franciscan Order & Third Order Regular Presented by Joseph Koh, OFM

Comparison of Rules

Secular Franciscan Order&

Third Order Regular

Presented by

Joseph Koh, OFMMaryfields 2005

ContentsContents

Brief HistoryBrief History OriginsOrigins ComparisonComparison

Overview Overview ChaptersChapters ArticlesArticles

ConclusionConclusion

Brief History…Brief History…

• Initial ‘nucleus group’ of “Penitents” formed Initial ‘nucleus group’ of “Penitents” formed around St Francisaround St Francis

• 1212thth Century, Century, Order of MonksOrder of Monks & & Order of Order of ClericsClerics joined by joined by Order of PenitentsOrder of Penitents

• Francis and Companions known as Francis and Companions known as “Penitents of Assisi” before Papal approval “Penitents of Assisi” before Papal approval of Ruleof Rule

• Existing groups placed under the direction Existing groups placed under the direction of monasteries or new institutes e.g of monasteries or new institutes e.g Humiliati forming “Third Order” of married Humiliati forming “Third Order” of married and celibate laityand celibate laity


• Lay Penitential movements revitalized by Lay Penitential movements revitalized by Francis and CompanionsFrancis and Companions

• Letter to St Agnes of Bohemia (1238):Letter to St Agnes of Bohemia (1238):– Three orders founded by FrancisThree orders founded by Francis– Friars Minor, Enclosed Sisters, PenitentsFriars Minor, Enclosed Sisters, Penitents

• Francis the Founder?Francis the Founder?


• 19571957 – Third Order's Third Order's General Constitutions General Constitutions by decree of by decree of

the Sacred Congregation for Religious the Sacred Congregation for Religious – Stressed Secular nature of vocationsStressed Secular nature of vocations

• Vatican CouncilVatican Council– Emphasized lay person's vocation in the Church Emphasized lay person's vocation in the Church – set lay organizations committed to the Christian set lay organizations committed to the Christian

apostolate on the road to gradual independence apostolate on the road to gradual independence – necessary to recognize the autonomous nature necessary to recognize the autonomous nature

of the Franciscan Third Order. of the Franciscan Third Order.


• 19731973 – World Council of the Franciscan Third World Council of the Franciscan Third

Order was established Order was established

How it came about…

SFOKnown as the "Third Order of Saint Francis."

(TOSF) Holy See’s approval of the revised Rule of the

Secular Franciscan Order by means of Apostolic Letter Seraphicus Patriarcha, dated June 24, 1978


Abrogates and takes the place of the preceding rule of Pope Leo XIII.

Renames TOSF to be the Secular Franciscan Order by Pope Paul VI.


TOR International Franciscan Conference of the

Institutes of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis

Established in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council which called for all religious families to renew and update themselves by returning to the source of their foundation.


New draft of the text of the Rule was approved and presented to Pope John Paul II

Promulgated on 8th December 1982 in the brief Franciscanum vitae propositum.

Comparison OverviewSFO (1978) TOR (1982)

Document Name

Seraphicus Patriarcha

Franciscanum Vitae Propositum

Date of Issue 24 June 1978 8 December 1982

Papal Approval

Paul IV John-Paul II

Comparison Overview

SFO (1978) TOR (1982)

Number of Chapters

3 9

Number of Articles

26 32

Comparison Overview

SFO Rule Many aspects

taken from the Vatican II vision, especially from Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes & Apostolicam Actuositatem

TOR Rule RnB & RB Includes writings

of Clare

Origin of Quotations & Indirect References:-

Comparison Overview

SFO TOR

Vatican Document

18 Nil

Francis’ Writings 21 92

Clare’s Writings Nil 12

Papal Letters 3 Nil

Canon Law 6 Nil

Scriptures 5 42

Previous Rules 3 Nil

Chapters Comparison

SFO Prologue Chapter

1 – The Secular Franciscan Order

2 – The Way of Life3 – Life in Fraternity

TOR Prologue Chapter

1 – Our Identity2 – Reception into

the Way of life3 – Spirit of Prayer4 – Life of Chastity

for the sake of the Kingdom of God

Chapters Comparison

TOR 5 – Way to Serve and

Work 6 – Life of Poverty 7 – Fraternal Life 8 – Obedience of Love 9 – Apostolic Life

A closer look…

Articles Comparison

Rule and Life Fraternity Poverty Obedience Chastity Work & Service

Rule and Life…

SFO– To observe the gospel of

our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St Francis of Assisi (#4)

TOR– To observe the gospel of

our Lord Jesus Christ, by living in obedience, in poverty and in chastity…by following the example of St Francis of Assisi

– Promised God to deny themselves (#1)

Rule and Life…

SFO– Devoted to careful

reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to gospel (#4)

TOR– Keep in mind and

meditate on the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, which are spirit and life (#11)

Rule and Life…

Striking similarities in term of observing the Rule of Gospel.

TOR included the three vows and are bound to deny themselves.

Both stressed the reading and meditation on the Word

Fraternity (Family)

SFO– Brings love into family

life.– “in their family, they

should cultivate the Franciscan spirit of peace, fidelity and respect for life” (#17)

– “by living the grace of matrimony…joyfully accompany their children on their human and Christian journey” (#17)

TOR– Through love show that

they are family.– “whenever they meet

each other, they should show that they are members of the same family”. (#23)

Fraternity (Family)

Fraternity is a sign of love for both TOR elaborates on showing how to love,

which includes caring for the sick within the fraternity.

TOR also includes admonition as a form of fraternal love

The Spirit of Lady Poverty…

SFO– “Christ chose for himself

and his mother a poor and humble life… let (them) seek a proper spirit of detachment from temporal goods by simplifying their own material needs” (#11)

TOR– “All must strive to follow

the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ… choose poverty in this world as did his mother… we are to have nothing of this world except food and clothing… they should be profoundly suspicious of money” (#21)


Both SFO and TOR seek to follow Jesus in choosing a poor and humble way of life, adopting the spirit of detachment.


TOR– “as a sign of conversion and consecration to the

gospel life, they are to wear poor clothes and lead a simple life” (#6)

– “the truly poor in spirit…neither possess nor defend anything as their own. They live in this world as pilgrims and strangers… which makes us heirs of the kingdom of heaven.” (#22)


TOR has an approach of deprecating money, thus promotes simple life as a sign of conversion and a consecration to the gospel life.

Holy Obedience…

SFO– “unite themselves to the

redemptive obedience of Jesus, who placed His will into the Father’s hands, let them faithfully fulfill the duties proper to their various circumstances of life” (#10)

TOR– “remember that they

have renounced their own wills for God’s sake…no one is to have power or dominate over others…through love all should serve and obey another willingly. This is the true and holy obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ” (#25)

Holy Obedience…

Different understanding of obedience: SFO through union with Christ TOR has elements of renunciation of self-will

and minority

An Undivided Pure Heart…

SFO– “obliged to acquire purity

of heart because of the vocation they have embraced, they should set themselves free to love God and their brothers and sisters” (#12)

TOR– “with undivided hearts,

they grow in all-embracing love, as they turn without ceasing towards God and their neighbor” (#8)


SFO– “acquire purity of heart”

(#12)

TOR– “professing chastity for

the sake of the kingdom of heaven, they should be solicitous for the things of the Lord… so that love for God and everyone in the world may shine forth in all that they do” (#15)


Though different in the profession of chastity, (which only the TOR professes) the purpose is similar, i.e. freedom to love God and neighbor.

Work & Service

SFO– “let them exercise their

responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service” (#14)

TOR– “should serve and work

faithfully and devotedly” (#18)

Work & Service

SFO– “esteem work both as a

gift and as a sharing in the creation, redemption and service of the human community” (#16)

TOR– “should serve and work

faithfully and devotedly. Let them beware of idleness…should not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion” (#18)

Work & Service

TOR– “in return for their work

they may accept what is necessary for their material needs…what they have over they should give it to the poor…” (#19)

Work & Service

Both see work as a gift and a sharing. SFO adds the attribute of competence in

service. TOR includes that work is the opposite of

idleness, thus must not be a hindrance to prayer life.

TOR mentions that wages in excess must be given to the poor.

ConclusionConclusion

Similarities in spiritualities in both Similarities in spiritualities in both SFO and TORSFO and TOR

Seek to follow Christ in the footsteps Seek to follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisiof Saint Francis of Assisi

Dissimilar in approaches in certain Dissimilar in approaches in certain focusesfocuses

That’s All FolksThat’s All FolksThank YouThank You

Documents

Comparison of Rules Secular Franciscan Order & Third Order Regular Presented by Joseph Koh, OFM