ST FRANCISST FRANCIS

FOUNDER OFFOUNDER OF

THREE ORDERSTHREE ORDERS

THREE ORDERSTHREE ORDERSCelano: “To all he gave a norm of life.”

FRIARS MINORFRIARS MINOR

POOR LADIESPOOR LADIES

ORDER OF PENANCEORDER OF PENANCE

““TRIPLE ARMY”TRIPLE ARMY”

• Clergy, Religious, LaityClergy, Religious, Laity

or

• Friars, Clares, PenitentsFriars, Clares, Penitents

FRIARS MINORFRIARS MINOR

• Francis lived the lifeFrancis lived the life

• He wrote the Rule (1223)He wrote the Rule (1223)

• Rule sealed byRule sealed by

Honorius IIIHonorius III

POOR LADIESPOOR LADIES• Clare lived the lifeClare lived the life

• She wrote the Rule (1253)She wrote the Rule (1253)

• Rule sealed byRule sealed by

Innocent IVInnocent IV(Francis “established” their form of life)

ORDER OF ORDER OF PENITENTSPENITENTS

THIRD ORDER SECULAR AND REGULAR

• Francis not secular after 1205Francis not secular after 1205

• He did not write the Rule (1289)He did not write the Rule (1289)

• Rule sealed byRule sealed by

Nicholas IVNicholas IV

““FOUNDER” OF FOUNDER” OF HISHIS PENITENTS PENITENTS

Benedict XV (1921):Benedict XV (1921):

““Founder and legislator”Founder and legislator”

Questions:

True and direct Founder?True and direct Founder?

Directed existing movement?Directed existing movement?

““FOUNDER”FOUNDER”Verified by:

Letters of St FrancisLetters of St Francis

Franciscan SourcesFranciscan Sources

LETTERSLETTERS

St Francis wrote to “All the faithful”:

First Letter (1215)First Letter (1215)

Second Letter (1221)Second Letter (1221)

FRANCISCAN SOURCESFRANCISCAN SOURCES Thomas of Celano (1228)Thomas of Celano (1228)

Gregory IX (1228)Gregory IX (1228)

Julian of Speyer (1231)Julian of Speyer (1231)

St Bonaventure (1260)St Bonaventure (1260)

OthersOthers

ORDER OF PENITENTSORDER OF PENITENTSSt Francis was:

Influential in its foundationInfluential in its foundation

Its reference and focal pointIts reference and focal point

Its organizer, teacher, authorIts organizer, teacher, author

Its institutor, father, founderIts institutor, father, founder