Prayer and Contemplation – OFS Rule Article 8
Contemplative prayer can be a gift. But even when it is a gift, it is a discipline, of heart, of mind, of disposition.
God’s Mercy Revealed – OFS Rule Article 7
God in his infinite mercy, understands that we will fall short, we will sin - but he does not leave us in that sin. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can be restored to love and friendship with God and receive the grace to mend our relationships with each other.
Our Mission: OFS Rule Article 6
On the night of my Profession, I realized how blessed I was to have had excellent formators, true witnesses of our faith and the Order. They taught me well because I knew that I would forever be more intimately united with the Church and her mission because of my Profession.
Secular Franciscans Seek Encounter with Jesus Christ
Our OFS Rule Article 5 reminds us that the heart of our vocation is encounter. As Secular Franciscans, we are called to seek the living and active presence of Christ in our brothers and sisters, in sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in the liturgy. This is not an abstract ideal but a daily way of seeing and loving.
Our Foundation – OFS Rule, Article 4
In early December 2025, one of the daily gospel readings was from Matthew 7:24-25 “…like a wise man who built his house on rock…it did not collapse because it had been built solidly on rock.”. Article 4 of our Rule, placed at the beginning of Chapter 2, The Way of Life, is, to me, that rock, that foundation of what it means to live our Rule.
OFS Rule #3 – Adapting St. Francis’ Rule to the needs and expectations of the Holy Church in the conditions of changing times
It is appropriate that Rule 3 addressing the changing conditions of our world follows Rule #2. Kathleen Molaro’s article in Voices of Gospel Living last month included a reflection on our Order’s description as an “organic union.”
We Are an Organic Union
As a young mom, I often felt overwhelmed with the myriads of daily tasks … everyday responsibilities that seemed to squelch my ability to connect my deepening faith with real life. I felt alone and detached from any understanding of what the priest meant about being Eucharist in the world!
We Are Family! OFS Rule Article 1
How large is your family? The size of my family has varied over the years. Biologically speaking, I was raised in a large family (seven children). Lots of cousins on both sides. In contrast, as an adult, my immediate family has only two.
¡Somos una familia! Artículo 1 de la Regla de la OFS
¿Cuántos miembros hay en su familia? El tamaño de mi familia ha variado a lo largo de los años. Desde el punto de vista biológico, crecí en una familia numerosa (siete hijos). Tengo muchos primos por ambas partes. Por el contrario, como adulto, mi familia inmediata solo tiene dos miembros.
Favorite Article, Scripture or Story : Compilation by NEC Members
At the last National Executive Council meeting, minister Jane De-Rose Bamman asked members to share either their favorite article of the Rule, scripture quote or story about St. Francis. This is a compilation of their sacred thoughts.