Franciscan Order Of The Divine Compassion
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Welcome
Historically, Saint Francis of Assisi was called by God to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, and so "build up the Church, which was spiritually falling into decay".
Saint Francis recognized that many people living in the world were not called to a literal observance of the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, but were called to a life lived in the spirit of these evangelical counsels. He encouraged the formation of the Third Order to enable men and women to follow Jesus Christ amid their duties in everyday life under the promises of simplicity, purity, and fidelity to the love of God and their neighbor.
The Franciscan Order of the Divine Compassion is an Anglican Catholic Third Order for laity and clerics, who are single or married men and women. It is rooted in the tradition formally established by St. Francis when he blessed Lechesio and his wife, Bonadonna, a married couple from the city of Poggibonsi, Italy, in the year 1221.
Like all Religious Orders, the Franciscan Order of the Divine Compassion possesses an official Rule, modeled after the approved Rule of St. Francis, put forth by Franciscan authority and interpreted by its Constitution. The order has a system of organization, government, and discipline under the direction of legitimate authority. We maintain a traditional formation program for postulancy, novitiate, and professed status for its membership. We invest our members with an authorized religious habit while conferring on its members many spiritual benefits associated with a dedication to a disciplined religious vocation.
Throughout history, the Franciscan Third Order members have produced many great saints and servants of God. It is our hope that these pages will help you to better discern and respond to God’s call in your life. If you are questioning a vocation for yourself, read our inquirers page and contact us via the learn more link at the bottom of the page.