| Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi - TOR |
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| Written by Admin |
| Tuesday, 08 December 2009 14:16 |
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The Third Order movement began in the autumn of 1211, expanding during the spring of 1212 and enjoying a prodigious growth in both area and numbers over the next ten years. The Rule of Evangelical Life Francis offered his followers a Rule of evangelical life, giving the Tertiaries three precious documents: The First Letter to the Faithful Penitents in 1215; the Second Letter to the Faithful Penitents in 1221 and the "Memoriale Propositi" in 1221. In 1289 the First Franciscan pope, Niccolò IV, wanted to recognise the Third Order of San Francis in an official way. He gave explicit approval to the Order of Penance, which had already been commended by many Popes, and reissued the "Memoriale Propositi", the Rule of 1221 in a more juridic form. Those Penitent Fransiscans who remained in their homes (marrying or not) and who held a professional post constituted the Secular Third Order (TOS), which since 1978 has been called the Secular Fransiscan Order (OFS). Towards a more perfect life Not to be forgotten is the fact that, at the same time, a particular phenomenon was developing. From the time of St. Francis onwards there were some Tertiaries, men and women, who manifested the desire of a greater commitment towards a life of Christian perfection. They began to live in communities and in time decided to profess the gospel or evangelical counsels, that is, the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Some Tertiaries had a preference for the contemplative life, which they expressed by living in hermitages or in voluntary seclusion, far from earthly distractions, their hearts focussed entirely on the mystery of God. Many began helping in hospitals and caring for the sick and aged. Some provided shelter for pilgrims or other travellers. Others established reception centres for homeless women and school for the education of young people. Soon the friars began working in the parishes and offered the ministries of teaching, preaching, catechesis, as well as scientific and religious publications. Later a commitment to missionary work arose and developed with great intensity both in the past and in recent times. The fraternities of Tertiary Regulars, which had been founded spontaneously and all over Italy, increased in number and diffusion, especially during the 14th Century. Soon they began to unite, both in order to be more effective and also to better cope with the many difficulties they faced. Approval The devotion to a life in community was demonstrated over the centuries by the numerous autonomous congregations of monks and nuns. Towards the end of the 13th century the Tertiary Regulars had many friaries in different cities. On July 11, 1295, Pope Boniface VIII promulgated the "Cupientes Cultum" Bull which granted to the Tertiary Regulars the right to have a proper place for worship. In so doing he approved the style of community life of the Tertiaries and the pastoral ministry they offered to the people. Now let us concentrate on the male Third Order (TOR), which dates back to the time of St. Francis of Assisi and gas continued without interruption ever since. Pope John XXII by the "Altissimo in divinis" Bull dated November 18, 1323, renewed the Church's approval. He praised the community life that the Tertiary Franciscans were living and declared that it was in accordance with the intentions of Saint Francis. Centralisation and Organisation On July 20, 1447, by means of the "Pastoralis officii" Bull, Pope Niccolò V approved the union of the Tertiary Fraternities of Italy and established it as an independent Order under one general ministry and council. In Italy, the Order spread out and developed in 15 Provinces with a total of 256 convents and about 2000 friars. (The Italian Congregation exists without interruption from St. Francis of Assisi to this day). In several countries there was a gradual development of national Tertiary Orders. Today, the Third Order is present in 16 countries: Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Germany, USA, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Perù, Sweden, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Some Orders disappeared due to government suppression or war, while others amalgamated with the Italian Congregation in one single entity which today is called the Regular Third Order of Saint Francis. |
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