FOUNDER OF THREE ORDERS ST FRANCIS FOUNDER OF THREE ORDERS
THREE ORDERS Celano: “To all he gave a norm of life.” FRIARS MINOR POOR LADIES ORDER OF PENANCE
“TRIPLE ARMY” Clergy, Religious, Laity or Friars, Clares, Penitents
FRIARS MINOR Francis lived the life He wrote the Rule (1223) Rule sealed by Honorius III
(Francis “established” their form of life) POOR LADIES Clare lived the life She wrote the Rule (1253) Rule sealed by Innocent IV (Francis “established” their form of life)
ORDER OF PENITENTS Francis not secular after 1205 THIRD ORDER SECULAR AND REGULAR Francis not secular after 1205 He did not write the Rule (1289) Rule sealed by Nicholas IV
“FOUNDER” OF HIS PENITENTS Benedict XV (1921): “Founder and legislator” Questions: True and direct Founder? Directed existing movement?
“FOUNDER” Verified by: Letters of St Francis Franciscan Sources
St Francis wrote to “All the faithful”: LETTERS St Francis wrote to “All the faithful”: First Letter (1215) Second Letter (1221)
FRANCISCAN SOURCES Thomas of Celano (1228) Gregory IX (1228) Julian of Speyer (1231) St Bonaventure (1260) Others
ORDER OF PENITENTS St Francis was: Influential in its foundation Its reference and focal point Its organizer, teacher, author Its institutor, father, founder