Introduction to Secular Franciscan Formation: [1]
Our model is St. Francis who “was a man in permanent formation: “Let us begin, brothers and sisters, to serve the Lord our God .… [2] He was a master of Gospel life and through his example, his rule and his teachings: ”He gave a Rule of life to all and indicated the way of salvation to each one according to his own situation’,[3]
“To form” means to give form to, to mold something or some person according to a model or vision, using the necessary and suitable means to attain that purpose. In our case, “to form” concerns a person as a being, perfectible up to the end of his life, by means of education, teaching and example. Formation includes “transformation” which is allowing the Holy Spirit, the actual formator, to transform our lives to become an “altus christos” or another face of Christ to others.
In this context, formation is to help brothers and sisters to discover the novelty and vitality in their own call as a gift of the Spirit in following Jesus in the manner of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Ongoing Formation
Ongoing Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order is lifelong and continuous, with the purpose of offering Secular Franciscans an ever growing richer and intensive spiritual life, accompanying them in their faith path, to consolidate their Franciscan discipleship, updating it continually in line with the teaching of the Church and to allow it to evolve in the daily interchange with our Society.” Ongoing formation takes place at all levels of the Order: the local fraternity, the regional fraternity, the national fraternity and the international fraternity.
[1] The Presidency of the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order, “Guidelines for the Formation of the SFO,” Rome, 2001.
[2] LM 1, 1.
[3] lC 37.
- The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
- The General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order (2000) – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
- Statutes of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States of America
- Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order – 2020 Updated Translation in English & Spanish
For Up to Now: Foundational Topics for Initial Formation (FUN Manual)
On the FUN Manual page, you will find these resources:
- Reflections on Formation Topics in the FUN Manual by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
- FUN CD Contents
- Various Other FUN-Related Documents
- Ordering Information
A sample provided by Franciscans of the Prairie Region.
- June 24, 2018 letter from our General Minister and brother Tibor Kauser (en español)
- CIOFS video: Forty Years of the ‘New’ Rule: A Treasure for the OFS
- “Celebrate the Rule” cards
- OFS Holy Half Hours on the Rule – Kathy Taormina OFS on Prayers, Prayer Services & Ceremonies
- Formation on the Rule – Mary Bittner OFS at Franciscans of the Prairie Region
- Being Franciscan Today! Sharing Your Dream: Communal Visioning – LaVerna Region
- Ongoing Formation on the Rule – Lady Poverty Region
- The Words of Our OFS Rule – Kathy Taormina OFS
- The OFS Rule – We Hold a Treasure – Troubadours of Peace Region
- Initiatives – OFS-USA
Wonderful articles for Ongoing Formation on the Rule from CIOFS, written for the 40th Anniversary of the Rule in 2019.
- The Pauline Rule of the Order of Franciscan Penitents – Summary History – Benedetto Lino, OFS
- Implementation of the Pauline Rule – Current Challenges – Encarnacion del Pozo, OFS
- Spiritual Features of the New OFS Rule – Michèle Altmeyer, OFS
- The Secular Franciscan Order – Living Memory Of The Early Franciscan Preaching – P. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
Pope Francis’ Encyclical Fratelli Tutti (PDF – English)
Papa Francesco – Enciclica Fratelli Tutti (PDF – Espanol)
Overview of Fratelli Tutti prepared by the Vatican
Summary of Fratelli Tutti prepared by the Vatican
Fratelli Tutti Study Guide from Franciscan Media
Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, Reflection on Fratelli Tutti, Franciscan Family Forum, 12/16/2020
Fratelli Tutti Study Guide from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Come and See Digests
- Regional Formation Director Handbook
- Origins of the Peace Prayer – on Peace Prayer of St. Francis
- Care and Feeding of Fraternity Councils
- Notes on Cangialosi’s Profession in the SFO (from May 2011 Forming the Formators workshop)
- 2017 General Chapter Conclusions