Who We ARe
We are a local Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan order, located in San Diego, California.
The Secular Franciscan Order is a community of Catholic men and women who live regular, “secular” lives in their communities, following Jesus Christ in a manner described as “following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.”
The Secular Franciscan Order was established by St. Francis of Assisi himself in 1221. It is a religious order in the Roman Catholic Church, with Fraternities at the local, regional, national, and international level. As a religious order belonging to the Holy See of the Catholic Church, the Secular Franciscan Order is described in Latin as Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, which is abbreviated as “OFS.”
Two Quotes from the Rule
In the OFS, sisters and brothers in Fraternities are not bound by religious vows, but after a period of initial formation, we make a life-long profession to follow the Rule and the Life of the Secular Franciscan Order. Two brief quotes from the Rule provide an introduction:
“Chapter One: The Secular Franciscan Order
(1) The Franciscan family, as one among many spiritual families raised up by the Holy Spirit in the Church, unites all members of the people of God – laity, religious, and priests – who recognize that they are called to follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Chapter Two: The Way Of Life
(4) The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people.
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The Rule and Life of the Secular Franciscan Order
The entire Rule and Life of the Secular Franciscan Order can be found at:
https://secularfranciscansusa.org/the-rule-of-the-secular-franciscan-order/ and much more can be learned about the OFS in the United States at the website for “The National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order – USA” at: www.secularFranciscansUSA.org