Secular Franciscan Order
About the Order
Who We Are
Laypeople Living
the Franciscan Way
The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is one of the oldest lay movements in the Catholic Church, founded in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century. We are not religious — we are ordinary laypeople: teachers, parents, retirees, workers — who have heard a call to live the Gospel more fully in the midst of daily life.
United by a common Rule approved by the Holy See, Secular Franciscans around the world share a commitment to ongoing conversion, fraternal community, and service to the poor — all in the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi.
Our Patron
Saint Francis of Assisi
Born in Assisi around 1181, Francis Bernardone was a merchant's son who renounced wealth and comfort to follow Christ in radical poverty. He rebuilt crumbling churches, cared for lepers, preached to birds, and founded three orders — the Friars Minor, the Poor Ladies (now Poor Clares), and the Third Order for laypeople living in the world.
Francis received the stigmata — the wounds of Christ — two years before his death in 1226. He was canonized just two years later. His greeting, Pax et Bonum — Peace and All Good — remains the hallmark of the Franciscan family to this day.
"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart."
— Saint Francis of Assisi
How We Live
The Pillars of
Franciscan Life
Prayer
Secular Franciscans are called to a life of prayer — daily, personal, and communal. The Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, and lectio divina are woven into our rhythm of life.
Simplicity
Following Francis, we seek to hold the things of this world lightly — living simply, giving generously, and finding God in what is small and overlooked.
Fraternity
We do not walk alone. Monthly gatherings, shared formation, and mutual support bind us together as brothers and sisters on the same journey of conversion.
Service
Moved by the love of Christ, we serve the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten — not as a program, but as a way of seeing the face of God in every person.
Our Guide
The Rule of the
Secular Franciscan Order
The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, approved by Pope Paul VI in 1978, is the living document that guides our way of life. It calls us to read the Gospel, to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, to serve the poor, to work for justice and peace, and to care for creation — all as expressions of our baptismal vocation.
Members of the Order make a permanent profession — a solemn commitment to live the Rule for the rest of their lives. This profession is preceded by a period of inquiry and a formal time of formation, during which candidates discern their call and deepen their understanding of Franciscan spirituality.
Explore FormationCurious About Franciscan Life?
We welcome anyone who feels drawn to learn more. Come to a meeting, ask a question, or simply sit with us in prayer. There is no obligation — only an open door.
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