Our Heritage
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St. Francis
Saint Francis’ life speaks to the world today in so many ways. Il Poverello, the little Poor Man of Assisi, whom the world knows and embraces as Saint Francis, is known and loved across cultural, religious, and socio-economic lines. He is invoked as the patron saint of animals, zoos, ecologists, environmentalists, families, fire, merchants, and the country of Italy.
In 1181, Saint Francis was born to Pietro and Pica Bernadone in Assisi, in the region of Umbria in Italy. Assisi was a relatively unknown town, fraught with the same problems as other mountain towns in Italy at the time. The struggle for survival from the land, the emergence of a merchant class, and the warring factions from town to town were the background of Francis’ youth. From these humble beginnings, through the grace of God, came a man who would change the face of the church and of religious life.
Francis was baptized in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore at Assisi. As a child, he studied in th
e little schoolhouse adjoining the church that was dedicated to the warrior-saint, George. Francis learned to read and write. He learned Latin in school, as well as French at home. He was educated in the Catholic faith and witnessed that faith lived at home. From his father Francis learned about the cloth trade, and he was exposed to buying, selling, and handling money in his father’s shop. Having a friendly and generous nature, he was well liked, polite to customers, and generous with his friends. One of the stories about the young Francis places him working in his father’s shop when a beggar came in asking, in the name of Christ, for alms. Being busy, Francis dismissed him, but immediately was overcome with remorse. He thought to himself, “If that beggar had asked for something in the name of some great lord of this world, I would surely not have turned him away, but he asked in the name of Christ, the Lord of all.” From this happening, Francis determined never to turn away anyone who asked anything from him in the name of Christ. This story helps us to realize that, even before his conversion, Francis knew and loved the Lord, and tried to reach out to His people wherever he encountered them.
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St. Clare
For centuries the life of Clare of Assisi was unknown. Today through the efforts of modern scholarship she takes her place in history as the first Franciscan woman. This reflection focuses on the early life of Saint Clare and the world into which she was born.
Chiara di Favorone Offreduccio, or Clare of Assisi, was born in 1193 into a wealthy family. She was the eldest of three daughters. Her father, Favorone, was one of several powerful knights in his family. Clare’s mother, Ortolana, was of noble birth. She was known for her holiness, works of mercy, and in giving service to the poor. Ortolana had a strong and positive influence on her daughter. It was from her that Clare was formed in her faith.
Clare, whose name means light, was given this name by her mother. During her pregnancy, Ortolana prayed for a safe delivery due to the dangers of childbirth. While praying before a crucifix in this regard, she heard a voice telling her not to be afraid, for she would give birth to a light which would greatly illumine the world. When the baby was baptized in the Cathedral of San Rufino she received the name Clare.
Clare’s education was directed by her mother in the home as was the custom at that time and within her class. Here she learned to read and write. There is evidence of this in Clare’s writings which remain with us today. Clare was exposed to the music and literature of the era. She learned to sew and to do needlepoint. At a later time in her life she made altar linens for the churches in the area of Assisi.
Clare was born during the Middle Ages at a time when class system unequally separated people. She and her family were among the ‘majores’, the noble and wealthy citizens of Assisi. Clare lived within the confines of wealth, power and privilege. Yet from her earliest years, she grew in grace developing qualities of austerity, a deep desire for prayer and a love for the poor of the region. These qualities were to deepen within her as she drew closer to God living within the house of her father.
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TAU Cross
The TAU Cross is a symbol that is beloved and significant to all Franciscans. Saint Francis adopted the Tau Cross as his standard. He had such love of this symbol that he used it as his signature in later years. The Franciscan Sisters of Peace wear the Tau Cross as their official community symbol. Associate members also wear a version of the Franciscan Tau.
The Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The earliest reference to the Tau is from the prophet Ezekiel 9:4: “Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a Tau on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” In 1215, Pope Innocent III opened the Fourth Lateran Council by saying: “We are called to reform our lives, to stand in the presence of God as righteous people. God will know us by the sign of the Tau marked on our foreheads.”
Francis was present for part of the Fourth Lateran Council, and perhaps his devotion to the Tau came from that call of Pope Innocent. But more personally, it came from his involvement with the lepers in areas around his home in Assisi. The Antonians were a community of men that existed in Francis’ time, whose chief ministry was the care of lepers. On their habit they wore the Tau Cross, representing their fidelity to the passion of Christ and their devotion to serve the least of his brethren. Francis worked with the Antonians in caring for lepers and this was probably his first introduction to the Tau. In Francis’ mind and heart devotion to the Tau was devotion to the cross and to the person of Jesus. It was a symbol of conversion and redemption; and so it remains today for both vowed and secular Franciscans throughout the world.
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Our Rule and Life
One of the great strengths of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis down through the centuries has been its amazing diversity. In every age and in varied lands and cultures, new congregations embracing the Third Order Rule of Saint Francis have been founded to meet the needs of the people or the Church of that time and place. This vitality flowing from the ideals of Saint Francis is still evident. Today there are more than 430 Institutes of contemplative or evangelical life following "The Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular". The witness of some 200,000 Franciscan men and women is surely a tremendous sign of Christ's love for His Church.
On December 8, 1982 Pope John Paul II confirmed the revised Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis. He then authorized the promulgation of the Rule with the letter Franciscanum Vitae Propositum, "The Franciscan Form of Life." In this letter the Pontiff indicates the unique nature of this Rule which was inspired through the discernment of members of the Order and achieved by a massive collaborative effort involving the more than four hundred congregations that comprise it.
The opening words of the Rule are the following:The form and life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis is this:
To observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
living in obedience, in poverty and in chastity.
Following Jesus Christ after the example of Blessed Francis
let them recognize that they are called to make greater efforts
in the observance of the precepts and counsels of our Lord Jesus Christ.Top of Page
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