Sarah Mitchell
The Order of St. Francis, also known as the Franciscan Order, is a Catholic religious order that follows the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Order is comprised of three branches: the Friars Minor, the Poor Ladies or Clares, and the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. The Friars Minor, or First Order, was founded in 1209 and is the oldest of the three branches. The Second Order, the Poor Ladies, was established in 1212 by St. Clare of Assisi, who adopted the manner of life instituted by St. Francis. The Third Order, originally known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, was founded in 1221 to accommodate those who were ineligible to join the First or Second Orders due to marriage or other commitments. The Franciscan Order is known for its commitment to living a life of poverty and serving the less fortunate. Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, is known for his empathy and advocacy for the poor, migrants, and refugees, which are aligned with the values of the Franciscan Order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | St. Francis of Assisi |
| Date of founding | 1221 |
| Purpose | To promote Christian perfection, to spread far and wide among the peoples of Christendom, and to serve as models of Christian life for the imitation of others |
| Membership requirements | Above the age of 14, in good character, peace-loving, and above all of tried fidelity in the practice of the Catholic Faith and in loyalty to the Roman Church and the Apostolic See |
| Membership restrictions | Married women may not be received without the husband's knowledge and consent, unless their confessor judges otherwise |
| Number of orders | Three: the Friars Minor, the Poor Ladies, and the Brothers and Sisters of Penance |
| Number of Saints or Blesseds | Enormous |
| Current rule | Given by Pope Paul VI in 1978 |
| Pope | Pope Francis, the first Jesuit elected to serve as the head of the Catholic Church |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Francis was the first Jesuit Pope
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, was the first Jesuit Pope. He was elected on March 13, 2013, and served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State until his death on April 21, 2025.
Pope Francis was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
As a Jesuit, Pope Francis emphasised certain core beliefs and values, such as respecting differences, valuing independent thought, and caring for others. He was known for his commitment to serving the poor and advocating for migrants and refugees, which were priorities throughout his ministry. He steered away from "clericalism", which focuses on priestly status and authority, and instead promoted an ethic of service, stating that the church's shepherds must have the "smell of the sheep", always staying close to the People of God.
Pope Francis also drew on the practice of ""Ignatian contemplation", often asking Catholics to use their imagination and empathise with the lives of others by envisioning themselves in gospel scenes. This "Jesuit imagination" was key to both his preaching and his invitation for Catholics to identify with those on the "peripheries".
In addition to his focus on social issues and contemplation, Pope Francis altered the culture of the clergy by questioning the status quo and listening to new perspectives. He met with people who historically felt marginalised by the Church, such as the divorced and remarried, and changed the papacy's approach towards these groups.
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Jesuits are known for their commitment to education
Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, are known for their commitment to education and their members have the initials "S.J." after their names to mark their religious order. Jesuits are contemplatives in action who use rigorous scholarship and sustained intellectual inquiry to engage with the world's most pressing challenges. They are committed to seeing God in all things and learning to distinguish between choices that lead to God and those that don't.
Jesuit education involves a commitment to the concept of Magis (Latin for 'more'), which challenges students to go beyond what is expected and interact with the world with generosity, excellence, and empathy. It emphasizes teaching "the whole person", including their mind, body, and spirit. Jesuit schools aim to produce students who are "open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice." Service and justice are key priorities of Jesuit education, and it cultivates a critical awareness of social and personal evils while pointing to God's love as more powerful.
The Jesuits were founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, and he emphasized improving the world through education, advocacy for the poor, and missionary work. The first Jesuit school opened in 1548 in Messina, Sicily, and today there are 3,730 Jesuit schools worldwide, with 27 colleges and universities and 62 high schools in the United States alone. These schools offer high-quality education and charge little to no tuition, reflecting the Jesuit mission of advancing faith through the promotion of justice.
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The Franciscan Order has three branches
The Franciscan Order, founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi, is a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church. It is one of the four great mendicant orders of the church, with its members cultivating the ideals of poverty and charity. The Franciscan Order has three branches, namely the first, second, and third orders.
The first order, also known as the Order of Friars Minor, is the largest contemporary male order. It comprises three separate bodies: the Friars Minor (OFM), the Friars Minor Conventuals (OFM Conv.), and the Friars Minor Capuchins (OFM Cap.). The Friars Minor, also known as Observants or Franciscan Friars, are the parent stem founded in 1209. The Friars Minor Conventuals, or Minorites, were formed in 1517 and are sometimes referred to as Greyfriars because of their habit. In Poland and Lithuania, they are known as Bernardines. The Friars Minor Capuchin, or Capuchins, were founded in 1520 or 1525 and became the third branch of the First Franciscan Order in 1619.
The second order, commonly called Poor Clares in English-speaking countries, consists of one branch of religious sisters. The order is called the Order of St. Clare (OSC) and was founded by St. Clare in 1212 under the guidance of St. Francis. Prior to 1263, they were called "The Poor Ladies", "The Poor Enclosed Nuns", or "The Order of San Damiano".
The third order, known as the Third Order of Saint Francis, has many male and female members. It is further divided into two main branches: the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), whose members try to live the ideals of the movement in their daily lives outside of religious institutes, and the Third Order Regular (TOR), whose members live in religious communities under traditional religious vows. The Secular Franciscan Order was originally known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance or Third Order of Penance. The Third Order Regular, officially the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance, operates the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is present in 17 countries.
In addition to these three main branches, there are several smaller Franciscan orders within the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Church, as well as some small communities within Continental Reformed Churches.
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The Third Order of St. Francis is an ecclesiastical association of the laity
The Third Order of St. Francis, also known as the Franciscan Tertiaries, is a secular or ecclesiastical association of the laity. It was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1221, originally called the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. The order is divided into two branches: the Third Order Secular, now called the Secular Franciscan Order, and the Third Order Regular.
The Secular Franciscan Order is comprised of members who do not wear a religious habit, take promises instead of religious vows, and do not live in community. They gather together in fellowship on a regular basis, belonging to local fraternities. The Third Order Regular, on the other hand, is made up of religious congregations that follow a common rule approved by Pope Leo X. This branch is present in 17 countries, including Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, and the United States.
The purpose of the Third Order of St. Francis, as proclaimed by Pope St. Pius X in 1912, is "that its members put into everyday practice the precepts of Gospel perfection and serve as models of Christian life for the imitation of others". Members strive for perfection by observing the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and living in community according to their Rule.
Candidates for the Third Order must be above the age of fourteen, of good character, peace-loving, and of tried fidelity in the practice of the Catholic Faith and loyalty to the Roman Church and the Apostolic See. The Order is not indiscriminately open to all, and there is a period of probation before one can be professed for life in the Order.
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Franciscans are the official custodians of the Holy Places
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations within the Catholic Church, founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. The group includes three independent male religious orders (the Order of Friars Minor being the largest contemporary male order), an order for nuns known as the Order of Saint Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis, which is a religious and secular group open to both men and women.
In 1333, Robert d'Anjou, King of Naples, and his wife, Sancia of Majorca, bought the Cenacle from the Sultan of Egypt and gave it to the Franciscans. In 1342, Pope Clement VI, by the Papal bulls Gratiam agimus and Nuper charissimae, declared the Franciscans as the official custodians of the Holy Places in the name of the Catholic Church. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land is still in force today.
The mission of the Custody of the Holy Land is to guard "the grace of the Holy Places" of the Holy Land and the rest of the Middle East, sanctified by the presence of Jesus, as well as the pilgrims visiting them, on behalf of the Catholic Church. The friars have been the “guardians” of the stones and places to preserve their value, but their mission has also been to make them “living stones” so that they speak to the heart and mind of all those who embark on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
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Frequently asked questions
The Order of St. Francis, also known as the Franciscan Order, is a Catholic religious order. It is commonly believed that St. Francis founded three orders: the Friars Minor, the Poor Ladies or Clares, and the Brothers and Sisters of Penance.
The three Franciscan First Orders are the Order of Friars Minor, the Conventuals, and the Capuchins.
The Third Order of St. Francis, or Franciscan Tertiaries, is the third order of the Franciscan tradition of Christianity. It was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1221 to accommodate those who were unable to join the Franciscan First or Second Orders.
