IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! THE RULE AND LIFE OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE REGULATED THIRD ORDER OF SAINT FRANCIS BEGINS

Chapter 1 | Our Identity

1) The way of life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St Francis is this: to observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through a life of obedience (cf. BReg 1, 1), poverty and chastity. (cf. RegKlara 1, 2; 6, 1) Following Jesus Christ at the example of Saint Francis, RegCl 6:1) they are held to do more and greater things in observing the precepts and counsels of our Lord Jesus Christ. And they must deny themselves (cf. Mt 16:24), as everyone has promised the Lord. (BGl II 40) 2) Together with all who wish to serve the Lord God in the holy catholic and apostolic Church, may the Brothers and Bisters of this Order persevere in the true faith and in penance (NbReg 23, 7). They want to live this evangelical conversion of life in a spirit of prayer, of poverty, and of humility. And let them beware of all evil, and persevere in good to the end (NbReg 21:9), for He, the Son of God, will come in glory, saying to all who have known Him and worshiped Him and served Him in repentance, “Come, you blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Cf. Mt 25, 34; NbReg 23, 4) 3) The brothers and sisters promise obedience and reverence to the Pope and the Catholic Church (BReg 1, 2). In the same spirit they are to obey those (cf. RegKlara 1, 3) who are appointed to serve the community of Sisters or Brothers (cf. Breg 1, 3). And wherever they are, or in whatever situation they are in, they should spiritually and diligently show respect and honor to one another (ER 7:15; LR 6:7-8). They should also foster unity and communion with all the members of the Franciscan family.

Chapter 2 | From the acceptance of this life

4) May those who come to us by inspiration of the Lord with the will to accept this life be lovingly received (cf. Test 1). At the appropriate time they should be presented to the leading superiors (NbReg 2, 1), who have the authority to admit them to the community of sisters or brothers. (Cf. BReg 2, 1) 5) The major superiors should make sure that those who apply for admission are truly committed to the Catholic faith and to the sacraments of the Church (cf. BReg 2, 2). If they are suitable, they may be accepted into the life of the community of sisters (cf. RegKlara 2, 2) or brothers. And all that pertains to this life according to the Gospel be carefully set forth to them, especially these words of the Lord: “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give to the poor (cf. Lk 18:22), and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me. (Mt 19:21) And: If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mt 16, 24; NbReg 1, 2-3; cf. RegKlara 2, 3-4) 6) Thus, under the Lord’s guidance, they should begin the life of repentance and know that we all need to be constantly converted. As a sign that they have been converted and consecrated to the gospel life, they should wear ordinary clothes and live a simple life. (cf. NbReg 2, 11) 7) When their initial formation is completed, they are to be received into obedience promising to observe this life and rule always (LR 2:11; FLCl 2:8). Let them put aside all preoccupations and worries. Let them only be concerned to serve, love, honor, and adore, God, as best they can, with a single heart and a pure mind (ER 22:26; Adm 16). 8) They should always prepare in themselves a dwelling place for Him (cf. Jn 14:23), who is the Lord God Almighty (NbR 22:27), the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that they may grow into all-embracing love with an undivided heart and turn continually to God and to their neighbor.

Chapter 3 | Of the Spirit of Prayer

9) Everywhere, in every place, at every hour and at all times, the brothers and sisters should truly and humbly believe in him and hold on to him in their hearts and love, honor, worship, serve, praise, adore and glorify him, the most exalted and supreme eternal God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And let them worship Him with a pure heart, for one must always pray and not slacken (NbReg 23:11); for the Father seeks such worshipers (Lk 15:1; Jn 4:23-24). In the same spirit may they perform the Divine Office in union with the whole Church. (NbReg 22, 29-30; NbReg 23, 8) Those whom the Lord has called to the life of contemplation (Mk 6:31) should make known with daily renewed joy their consecration to God and praise the love that the Father has for the world, he who created and redeemed us and will save us only by his mercy. (NbReg 23, 8) 10) Let the brothers and sisters praise the Lord, the King of heaven and earth (Mt 11, 25) (cf. NbReg 23, 1) with all his creatures and give thanks to him (cf. Sonn 3), because by his holy will and through his only Son with the Holy Spirit he has created everything spiritual and corporeal, as well as us, in his image and likeness.
(NbReg 23, 1) 11) By conforming themselves entirely to the holy Gospel, the brothers and sisters will remember and keep in their minds the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word of the Father, and the words of the Holy Spirit (Jn 6, 63), which are spirit and life. (cf. BrGl II, 3) 12) They should partake of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and receive his body and blood with great humility and reverence, remembering that the Lord says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. (Jn 6:54; NbReg 20:5) They may pay all reverence and all honor, as much as they can, to the most holy body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and His most holy written names and words, in which all things in heaven and on earth have been pacified and reconciled to Almighty God. (cf.
Col 1, 20; BrOrd 12-13; BrKl 1; Test
12) 13) Whenever they commit sin the brothers and sisters, without delay, are to do penance interiorly by sincere sorrow and exteriorly by confession. They should also do worthy deeds that manifest their repentance (Adm 23:3; 2LtF 25). They should fast but always strive to be simple and humble (Adm 19:2; 2LtF 45). They should desire nothing else but our Savior, who offered himself in his own Blood as a sacrifice and victim on the altar of the Cross for our sins, giving us example so that we might follow in his footsteps (ER 23:9; 2LtF 11-14).

Chapter 4 | On Living Chastity for the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven

14) Let the brothers and sisters consider what great dignity the Lord God has invested in them, having created and formed them in the image of his beloved Son in the body and in his likeness in the spirit. (Adm 5:1; Col 1:16) Created through Christ and in Christ, they have chosen that way of life which is grounded in the words and examples of our Savior. 15) By professing chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 19:12), they are concerned about the Lord’s cause and are obliged to do nothing other than follow the Lord’s will and please him. (1 Cor 7, 32) And may they do everything in such a way that love for God and for all people shines out from their works. (NbReg 22, 9) 16) Let them remember that they are called by an extraordinary gift of grace to make manifest in their lives that marvelous mystery by which the Church is united to Christ, the divine Spouse.
(cf. Eph 5:22-26) 17) Above all, may they keep before their eyes the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. They should do this according to the instruction of St. Francis, who especially venerated St. Mary, the Lady and Queen, she who was made the Virgin Church (GrMar 1). And they should remember that the immaculate Virgin Mary called herself the handmaid of the Lord (Lk 1:38). Their example may be followed.

Chapter 5 | The way we serve and work (NbReg 711)

18) The brothers and sisters to whom the Lord has given the grace to serve and to work should, like the poor, work with faithfulness and dedication in such a way that they exclude idleness, which is the enemy of the soul, but do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion; the rest of temporal things must serve it. (BReg 5, 1-2; cf. RegKlara 7, 1-2) 19) But as for the wages of labor, let them accept for themselves and for their brothers and sisters what is necessary for their bodily sustenance, and let them do so humbly, as befits servants of God and followers of the most holy poverty. (BReg 5, 3-4) And they should be concerned to give everything that is spared to the poor. And they must never long to be above others, but rather be the servants and subordinates of every human creature for God’s sake. (cf. NbReg 2, 4; 9, 8; 1 Pet 2, 13; BrGl II, 47) 20) Let the brothers and sisters be mild, peaceable and modest, gentle and humble, and let them speak decently to everyone, as is fitting. And wherever they may be or go through the world, let them not quarrel, nor engage in verbal quarrels (cf. Breg 2:17; 3:10-11), nor judge others. Rather, they should show themselves to be those who rejoice in the Lord and are cheerful and kind (cf. Phil 4:4). And as a greeting they should say: The Lord give you peace. (NbReg 7, 16; Test 23)

Chapter 6 | From living in poverty

21) Let all brothers and sisters strive to follow the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 8:9), who, though he was rich beyond measure (Phil 2:7), himself chose poverty in the world with the Blessed Virgin Mary, his mother (NbReg 9:1), and emptied himself. (BrGl II, 5; cf. RegKlara 6, 3) And they should remember that, as the apostle says, we have need of nothing from the whole world (NbReg 9, 1) except food and clothing; with these let us be content.(1 Tim 6, 8) And they should be very careful about money. (BReg 5, 3-4; NbReg 8, 11) They must also rejoice when they associate with common and despised people, with the poor and the weak and the sick and lepers and beggars by the wayside. (NbReg 9, 2) 22) Those who are truly poor in spirit follow the Lord’s example and do not appropriate anything for themselves or take it from anyone, but live in this age as pilgrims and strangers. (cf. Adm 14; cf. Mk 10, 27-29; cf. I Pet 2, 11; BReg 6, 1-2; 4-6) This is that sublimity of supreme poverty which has made us heirs and kings of the kingdom of heaven, poor in possessions and goods, ennobled by virtues. (cf. NbReg 7:13; cf. Jas 2:5; cf. Ps 142:6) This is to be our portion that leads to the land of the living. Adhering to it completely, we must forever seek nothing else under heaven for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 7 | Of Sisterly and Brotherly Life

23) For the love of God, brothers and sisters should love one another, as the Lord says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12) And they should show the love they have for one another (cf. Jas 2:18) in works. And trustingly let one reveal his need to the other, so that he may seek out and provide him with what he needs (cf. I John 3:18). (NbReg 11:5-6; cf. TestClara 18; NbReg 9:10). Blessed are those who love others when they are sick – which they cannot repay – just as much as when they are well and can repay them. (cf. Erm 24) And for everything that happens to them (NbReg 10, 3) , they should give thanks to the Creator, and they may demand to be as the Lord wills them, healthy or sick. 24) If it should happen that at any time, by word or sign, there should be occasion for agitation between them, let one humbly ask forgiveness of the other (cf. Mt 5:24) before offering the gift of his prayer before the Lord. If a person seriously transgresses the way of life to which he has committed himself in his profession (cf. Mt 18:35), he should be admonished by his superior or by others who are aware of his guilt. But these must not shame him, nor belittle him; rather, they must have great mercy on him. But all must carefully guard against becoming angry and confused because of the sin (cf. BrMin 15) that someone has committed (BReg 7:3); for anger and confusion prevent love in themselves and in others. (cf. RegKlara 9, 3-4).

Chapter 8 | Of Loving Obedience (Erm 3, 6; cf. GrTug 3)

25) Following the example of the Lord Jesus, who submitted his will to the will of the Father, the brothers and sisters should be mindful that they have renounced their self-will for the sake of God. In all the chapters they keep, they should first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, encouraging one another (cf. BrGl II, 10; BReg 10, 2; Mt 6, 33), so that they may better observe the rule they have promised and faithfully follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. NbReg 18, 1; cf. Test 34; cf. RegKlara 10, 2). They must not hold positions of power or rulership, especially among themselves. Through the love of the Spirit, they may voluntarily serve and obey one another. And this is the true and holy obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. Gal 5:13; NbReg 5:9, 14-15) 26) They should always have a leading superior to serve the community of sisters or brothers (cf. BReg 8:1) and should be strictly obliged to obey him in everything they have promised to keep to the Lord and which is not against conscience and this rule.
(BReg 10, 3; cf. RegKlara 10, 1) 27) Those who are superiors and servants of others should seek them out and admonish and strengthen them in humility and love (NbReg 4, 2). And wherever there are brothers and sisters (cf. RegClara 10:1) who should know and realize that they are not able to observe the Rule in the spiritual sense, they should and can turn to their superiors for assistance. But they should receive them lovingly and kindly and treat them with such warmth that they can speak and deal with them as masters do with their servants. Because that is how it must be, that the superiors are the servants of all. (BReg 10, 4-6; cf. RegKlara 10, 3; cf. TestKlara 19) 28) And no one may claim an office intended for service as his own, but at the appointed time he himself should willingly give up his office. (cf. NbReg 17, 4).

Chapter 9 | Of the apostolic life

29) Brothers and sisters should love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (cf. Mk 12:30; cf. Mt 22:39; cf. BrGl II:1) and should love their neighbor as themselves. They are to glorify the Lord in their works; for to this end he has sent them into all the world, that by word and deed they may bear witness to his voice, and make all know that none is almighty but he. (cf. Tob 12:6; cf. Tob 13:4; cf. BrOrd 8-9) 30) As they proclaim peace with their mouths, so let them carry it in their hearts. Let no one be provoked to anger or offense by them; rather, let all be called to peace, goodness and harmony by their mildness. For brothers and sisters are called to heal the wounded, bind up the broken, and call back the lost. (cf. 3-Dog Leg. 58) And wherever they are, let them remember that they have given themselves over to the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendered their bodies to Him. And for the sake of His love they must expose themselves to enemies both visible and invisible; for the Lord says: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5, 10; NbReg 16, 10-12) 31) In the love that God is (1 Jn 4, 16), all brothers and sisters, whether they pray or serve or work, should strive to humble themselves in everything, not to boast, not to be complacent, nor to exalt themselves inwardly because of good words and works, nor at all because of anything good that God sometimes does or speaks and works in them and through them. (cf. NbReg 17, 5-6) In every place and situation, they shall acknowledge all good things as belonging to the Lord, the most exalted and supreme God, the Ruler of all things; and to him they shall give thanks, from whom all good things proceed. (cf. NbReg 17, 17).

REMINDER AND BLESSING

32) All brothers and sisters should be concerned that they strive above all to have the Spirit of the Lord and his holy work. And always subject to the holy Church, steadfast in the Catholic faith (BReg 10, 8), they are to observe poverty and humility and the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which they have firmly promised. (cf. RegKlara 10, 7; BReg 12, 4; cf. RegKlara 12, 11). And whoever observes this, let him be filled in heaven with the blessing of the Most High Father, and let him be filled on earth with the blessing of His beloved Son in communion with the Most Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and all the powers of heaven and all the saints. And I, the very little brother Francis, your servant, confirm to you, as much as I can, inside and outside, this most holy blessing. (Test 40-41)