Saint
Francis of Assisi
did much
more than preach to the birds.
God used him to re-Christianise Europe and he did so without splitting
the Church, first by marrying “Sister Poverty” then
embracing
“Sister
Charity” and most of all by recognising her younger sister, as
he called her, “Sister Courtesy”. On the way
he invented the Christmas Crib scene and returned religious symbolism
to
the common people.
The picture relates to a
true story of a young
acolyte who, doubting Francis, followed him when he went off to pray.
He
saw a vision of the Virgin Mary giving Francis her Son to hold.
But here is a summary
The Brothers and Sisters
of the Third Order
are vowed to lifelong Commitment to Christ and bear witness to the
Gospel
of Life in their homes and in the occupations to which they believe God
has called them. They are those, married or single, ordained or lay,
who
though following the ordinary patterns of life, feel called to a
lifelong
dedication under a definite discipline, in accord with Saint Francis’
intention
when he encouraged the first formation of a Third Order, recognising
that
unlike Friars Minor and the sisters who followed Saint Clare, many of
God’s
children are called to serve Him not in a literal acceptance of the
Evangelical
Counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, but in an observance of
their
spirit in the ordinary professions of life.
Third Order Postulants
are helped by their Novice Guardian during the six
month postulancy to formulate own Rule of Life under nine headings the
first
of which is attendance at Holy Communion. Acceptance of their rule
enables
them to make their pledge as a Novice.
After two years they may take their
life vows and become Professed Tertiaries.
The eight other headings are:
Penitence; Self
Discipline; Retreat; Study;
Simplicity; Work and Service; Spiritual Counsel