Rule of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis : English version approved by the very reverend provincials in the United States. National Constitution of the Third Order of St. Francis in the United States as amended October 5, 1926 paapsHErareif RULE Ks^OFTHE Cbfrd Order Secular of St. francis English Version Approved by the Very Reverend Provincials in the United States T National Constitution OF THE Cbfrd Order of St. francfs (n the United States As Amended October 5, 1926 Published by THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: 1615 VINE STREET Wmm-- CINCINNATI* OHIO A€ lO H ‘-M RULE OF THE Cbtrd Order Secular of St. francts English Version Approved by the Very Reverend Provincials in the United States National Constitution OF THE Cbtrd Order of St. francts in the tlnited States As Amended October 5, 1926 Imprimi Potest: Fr. EDMUNDUS KLEIN, O F. M. Min. Prov. Cincinnati, November 11, 1926. , Nihil Obstat: H. GRIMMELSMAN, Censor LI. November 15, 1926. Imprimatur: * JOHN T. McNICHOLAS , Archbishop of Cincinnati November 15, 1926. :HV7 3 J ;• DesdMti itul? of tij? utytrii <©rfor Bandar of &L Jffrattria Promulgated May 30, 1883, by Pope Leo XIII. CHAPTER I. Reception, Novitiate and Profession. 1. Only those may be received as members who have completed their fourteenth year, and are of good char- acter, peace-loving, and above all of tried fidelity in the practice of the Cath- olic Faith and in loyalty to the Roman Church and the Apostolic See. v 2. Married women may not be re- ceived without the husband’s knowl- edge and consent, unless their confes- sor judges otherwise. 3. The members shall wear the small scapular and the cord as pre- scribed; if they do not, they deprive themselves of the rights and privileges of the Order, " ' 0 4. All who enter the Order must pass the first year in probation ; then they shall duly make their profession upon the Rule of the Order, pledging 3 themselves to observe the Command- ments of God and of the Church, and to render satisfaction if they have failed against their profession. CHAPTER II. Rule of Life. . 1. In all things let the members of the Third Order avoid extremes of cost and style, observing the golden mean suited to each one's station in life. 2. Let them with the utmost cau- tion keep away from dances and shows which savor of license, as well as from all forms of dissipation. 3. Let them be temperate in eating and drinking, and devoutly say grace before and after meals. 4. They shall fast on the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception and on that of St. Francis; they are to be highly commended who, according to the original Rule of the Tertiaries, also either fast on Fridays or abstain from fleshmeat on Wednesdays. 5. They shall approach the Sacra- ments of Penance and of the Holy Eu- charist every month. 6. Tertiaries among the clergy, since they recite the Divine Office daily, shall be under no further obliga- 4 tion in this regard. Lay members who recite neither the Canonical Hours, nor the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, shall say daily twelve Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorys, unless they are prevented by ill health. 7. Let those who are entitled to make a last will and testament, do so in good time. 8. In their daily life let them strive to lead others by good example and to promote practices of piety and good works. Let them not allow books or publications which are a menace to virtue, to be brought into their homes, or to be read by those under their care. 9. Let them earnestly maintain the spirit of charity among themselves and towards others. Let them strive to heal discord wherever they can. 10. Let them never take an oath except when necessary. Let them never use indecent language or vulgar jokes. Let them examine their con- science every night whether they have offended in this regard; if they have, let them repent and correct their fault. •11. Let those who can do so, attend Mass every day. Let them attend the monthly meetings called by the Pre- fect. 5 12. Let them contribute according to their means to a common fund, from which the poorer members may be aided, especially in time of sickness, or provision may be made for the dignity of Divine Worship. 13. Let the officers either personal- ly visit a sick member, or send some one to perform the services of charity. In case of serious illness let them re- mind and urge the sick person to ar- range in time the affairs of his soul, v 14. At the funeral of a deceased member the resident and visiting Ter- tiaries shall assemble and say in com- mon five decades of the Rosary for the soul of the departed. Moreover, let the priests at the Holy Sacrifice and the lay members, if possible, having received Holy Communion, pray with fervent charity for the eternal rest of the deceased. CHAPTER III.' 4 Offices, Visitation, and the Rule Itself. 1. The offices shall be conferred at a meeting of the members. The term of these offices shall be three years. Let no one without good reason re- fuse an office tendered him, and let no one discharge his office negligently. 6 2. The Visitor, who is charged with the supervision of the Order, shall dili- gently investigate whether the Rule is properly observed. Therefore it shall be his duty to visit the Fraternities every year, or oftener if need be, and hold a meeting, to which all the of- ficers and members shall be summoned. Should the Visitor recall a member to his duty by admonition or command, or impose a salutary penance, let such member meekly accept the correction and not refuse to perform the penance. 3. The Visitors are to be chosen from the First Franciscan Order or from the Third Order Regular, and shall be appointed by the provincial or local superiors when requested. Laymen cannot hold the office/ of Visitor. 1 1 \ : : : b ; ' 4. Disobedient and harmful mem- bers shall be admonished of their duty a second and a third time ; if they do not submit,, let them be dismissed from the Order. : i : .. . . . ‘ * . i •, v . ,f \v jrji ’ \ • > * :] _ _ .... . > . . * 1! 6 . 5. Those who offend against any provision of this Rule, do not incur the guilt of sin unless in so doing they also transgress thq Commandments of God or of the Church. * 7 6. Should a just and serious cause prevent a member from observing any provision of the Rule, such person may be dispensed therefrom, or the regula- tion may be prudently commuted. For this purpose the ordinary superiors of the First and the Third Order Regu- lar, as also the aforesaid Visitors, shall have full power. NOTE. The above translation of the Rule was approved by the Very Rev. Provincial Min- isters of all the English-speaking Provinces of the Franciscan Family in the United States during the Second National Conven- tion of the Third Order of St. Francis, held October 3-6, 1926, in New York City. The following were present. The Very Rev. Martin Strub, O.F.M., St. Louis, Mo.; the Very Rev. Benvenutus Ryan, O.F.M., New York City; the Very Rev. Turibius Deaver, O.F.M., San Francisco, Cal.; the Very Rev. Ferdinand Mayer, O.F.M., Syracuse, N. Y.; the Very Rev. Seraphin Schlang, O.M.C., Louisville, Ky.; the Very Rev. Benno Aichinger, O.M.Cap., Detroit, Mich.; the Very Rev. Henry Kluepfel, O.M.Cap., Pitts- burgh, Pa. The Very Rev. Edmund Klein. O.F.M., Cincinnati, O., and the Very Rev. John P. M. Doyle, T.O.R., Loretto, Pa., not present, also gave their approval. It is the expressed wish of the Very Rev. Provincial Ministers that this translation be considered as the standard in the United States and that for the sake of the uniformity it be ex- clusively used. 8 NATIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE Spirit (Mrr of 3franria ttt tlj? llttttpJi Elates Article 1—Name. This National Tertiary Organization shall be known as the Third Order of St. Francis in the United States. For brevity’s sake, it is in this Constitution also called the “Na- tional Organization.” Article 2—Objects. The objects of this National Organization are to further the full observance of the Rule of the Third Order, i. e., to promote a truly Christian life according to the spirit of St. Francis, notably: 1. To foster National union and co- operation among the Tertiary Provinces, the Fraternities, Directors and members of the Third Order. 2. To co-operate in augmenting religious, charitable and social work of the Fraterni- ties. Article 3—Government. The National Organization shall be pre- sided over by two Boards of Officers, called the National Directive Board and the Na- tional Executive Board. 9 Article A—The National Directive Board. All Provincials and Commissaries of the three branches of the First Order and of the Third Order Regular constitute the National Directive Board. No new measure of concerted action of the National Organization shall be adopted without the previous approval of the Na- tional Directive Board. Article 5—The National Executive Board. The members of the National Executive Board shall be as follows: 1. Three members of the First Order, namely, one Friar Minor, one Friar Minor Conventual, one Friar Minor Capuchin, and one member of the Third Order Regular —of whom one shall receive appointment as Chairman, one as Vice-Chairman, and one as Secretary, by the National Directive Board. 2. Three Consultors, namely one secu- lar Tertiary priest and two Tertiary lay- men, who shall be elected at each National Convention. At the first session of the Board thus elected one of the number of Consultors will be elected National Treasurer. Article 6—Duties of the Executive Board and its Officers. It shall be the duty of the National Ex- ecutive Board to promote the good and welfare of the National Third Order Or- ganization, to guide the National Conven- tion, and to co-operate in carrying out the program of action that will be adopted at such National Convention. 10 The Executive Board shall also attend to all business that may arise when the Na- tional Convention is not in session. The Chairman shall call the meetings of the National Executive Board and preside thereat. The Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman. The Secretary shall — 1. Keep minutes of the meetings of the Board; 2. Keep records and statistics of the Tertiary Provinces and Fraternities belong- ing to the National Organization; 3. Urge non-affiliated Fraternities by correspondence to affiliate with a Tertiary Province of their choice and to enter the National Organization; 4. Send reports of the meetings of the National Executive Board to all Provincials, Commissaries and Directors of the Third Order as also to the press in as far as it may be to good purpose. 5. At the expiration of his term of office transfer to his successor all records, books, documents and official correspondence. The Treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the National Organization, giving a receipt therefor. He shall keep an account of all monies received and disbursed. He shall annually or whenever called upon by the Executive Board submit a detailed financial statement. He shall give such security as the Direc- tive Board may require and at the expiration of his term of office deliver to his successor all monies and property belonging to the National Organization. 11 The Consultors will co-operate with the other officers in carrying out the purpose of the National Organization. Article 7—Meetings of the National Executive Board. A meeting of the National Executive Board must be held at least once a year. In case of inability of one of the Board to attend the meeting, the respective Provin- cial shall appoint a substitute. Each Province of the First Order or the Third Order Regular not represented on the National Executive Board by a member, may appoint a representative to attend all the meetings and sessions of the Board in an advisory capacity. Article 8—Vacancies. A vacancy in any office caused by death, resignation or otherwise among the mem- bers of the Executive Board of the First and Third Order shall be filled by the re- spective Provincial; a vacancy among the Consultors shall be filled by the Executive Board at their next meeting. Article 9—Membership. The National Organization consists pri- marily of the Tertiary Provinces of the United States. Fraternities not attached to a Tertiary Province, but in good standing, are also eligible to membership. A Fra- ternity is in good standing if it is canonical- ly erected, regularly has its meetings and its canonical visitation. Admission to membership in the National Organization shall be made by diploma is- sued to each Fraternity by the National Executive Board. 12 Article 10—National Meetings. (a) Every five years a National Conven- tion of the Third Order of St. Francis in the United States shall be held at the time and place designated by the National Directive Board and communicated to the National Executive Board within twelve months after the last Convention. The Convention shall be under the auspices of a different Pro- vince each time. (b) If the National Directive Board finds it advisable to change the time and place of the Convention, such change shall be an- nounced at least one year in advance of the time previously designated. (c) A National Convention shall not be called in a city without the previously ob- tained consent of the Ordinary of the city and the Provincials concerned. (d) After consultation with the respective Provincials, the National Executive Board selects the Reverend Chairman, Vice-Chair- man, and at least three members of the local Convention Board, and a Convention Secretary, who shall be chosen from the Province which has- charge of the Conven- tion. (e) The National Executive Board shall arrange the general plan, select subjects and speakers, supervise the meetings and de- termine the number of votes to which each Fraternity represented in the Convention is entitled. Every Fraternity may have as many rep- resentatives in the Convention as it chooses, who shall have a voice in the deliberations. But each Fraternity shall be entitled to only one voting delegate for every one hun- dred members or fraction of this number. Furthermore, each member of the hierarchy and each prelate present, each member of 13 the National Directive Board and of the National Executive Board, each Fraternity Director present, shall be entitled to one vote. (f) The Local Convention Board shall at- tend to all local arrangements according to instructions given by the National Executive Board. Article 11—Sectional Meetings! j Annual conventions in various local cen- ters and sectional meetings of members of the Third Order at frequent intervals are strongly recommended tend the National Executive Board shall co-operate with the various Provincials to foster and systematize such meetings. Article 12—Autonomy. In furthering the objects of the Third Order of St. Francis in the United States, the National Organization shall not in any way interfere with the government, or dis- turb the autonomy of any Third Order Fraternity, or group of Fraternities. In the case of Fraternities aggregated to a Tertiary Province, the National Execu- tive Board shall send reports of its meet- ings directly to the Directors, but shall re- ceive the statistics and collect the financial dues through the Tertiary Province head- quarters. * ’ * - • • " i ,( *; ' • V j Article 13—National Finances. In order to carry on its work, the Na- tional Organization shall receive an annual contribution of two cents per capita from each Tertiary Province and from the isolated Fraternities which are affiliated to the Na- tional Organization. After every National Third Order Con- vention, the monies not expended shall go to the National Third Order Treasury. 14 Extraordinary expenses shall not be made without the consent of the National Direc- tive, Board. . ; < On travel to and from meetings of the National Executive Board mileage only will be refunded to its members from the Na- tional Third Order Treasury. Article 14—Emergencies. In case of any financial or other emer- gency, the National Executive Board shall apply for instructions to the National Di- rective Board. Article 15—Change of Constitution. Any proposed amendment to this Consti- tution must first be submitted in writing to the National Executive Board at least six months before a National Convention. After due consideration, the National Ex- ecutive Board shall report on the proposed amendment to the National Directive Board at least three months before said Conven- tion. If the National Directive Board approve thereof, the amendment shall be submitted to the National Convention for final de- cision. BY-LAWS Article 1. The National Tertiary Organization is placed under the special protectorate of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of Mary Im- maculate. Every year within the month of the Sacred Heart, the Reverend Third Order Directors will have their Tertiaries publicly renew their consecration to the Sacred Heart. 15 Article 2. The order of the meetings of the Na- tional Executive Board shall be as follows: 1. Call to order and prayer; 2. Roll call; 3. Reading of the minutes; 4. Remarks by the Chairman; 5. Report of the Secretary; 6. Financial report; 7. Reports of the Fraternities; 8. Reports of Committees; 9. Reports of instructions from the Na- tional Directive Board; 10. The good and welfare of the National Tertiary Organization; 11. Recommendations of Commissaries and Directors; 12. Unfinished business; 13. New business; 14. Appointments of Committees to re- port at the next meeting; 15. Closing prayer and adjournment. Article 3. The Directors of Fraternities not aggre- gated to a Tertiary Province shall annually fill out a report blank furnished them by the Secretary of the National Executive Board. Article 4. A bond of at least $5,000.00 shall be fur- nished by the Treasurer of the National Executive Board and the premium shall be paid out of the National Treasury. Article 5. Any amendment, change or revision of the by-laws shall be subject to the require- ments of Article 15 of this Constitution. National Organization of The Third Order of St. Francis in the United States. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD: REV. BEDE HESS, O.M.C., Seaside Park, N. J., Chairman. REV. DENNIS ENGELHARD, O.F.M., Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: 1615 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Reverend Father: Kindly accept the enclosed little pamphlet, which is sent you in pursuance of a resolution adopted at the Second National Third Order Con- /ention held October 3-5, in New York City. If you have occasion to quote the Rule of the Third Order in English, the National Organiza- tion requests you to use the new version presented herewith, it having recently been approved by the Very Reverend Provincials. Our Board begs leave to invite your earnest co- operation and lively interest in the Third Order. '‘There must be a reason” for the repeated ur- gent calls of the Supreme Pontiffs of our times to the hierarchy and clergy to promote the Third Order everywhere. Information concerning reception into the Third Order, and establishment of Fraternities, as also additional copies of the pamphlet—single copies, five cents; two or more copies, the low cost price and postage—may be obtained from the Dfffce of the Secretary. With St. Francis wishing you “Pax et bonum/’ Very sincerely yours, REV. D. ENGELHARD, O.F.M., Secretary. I- A - iA * • . , V < • J > There must be a reason: * + POPE LEO XIII. “Let us propagate, and propagate, and propa- gate the Third Order. Would that the Tertiaries were multiplied tenfold, twenty-fold, yea> a hun- dred thousandfold! Yes, we wish that all faith- ful followers of Christ would become Tertiaries, but above all do we wish that the seraphic spirit spread ever3'where.” (To the Tertiaries of Lom- bardy, February 18, 1888.) POPE PIUS X. “What more can we desire than to witness the growth and prosperity of an institution which pos- sesses the latent power to instill into modern so- ciety a spirit of wisdom and Christian discipline ?” (To the Third Order of Ragusa, March 12, 1910.) POPE BENEDICT XV. “It is desirable, therefore, that every town and village and hamlet should have members of the Order—not indeed slack members, content with the mere name of Tertiaries, but active and eager for their own and their neighbor’s salvation. Why should not the numerous and various associations of } roung people, of workmen, of women, existing ever3 rwhere throughout the Catholic world, join the Third Order, and inspired with St. Francis’ zeal for peace and charity devote themselves per- sistently to the glory of Christ and the prosperit 3r of the Church?’’ (Encycl. Sacra propediem, Janu- ary 6, 1921.) POPE PIUS XI. “Urge those who have not yet entered this dis- tinguished militia, to do so this year; and let those who are too young, become Cord-bearers of St. Francis, so that even the children ma3r grow ac- customed to the life.’’ (Encycl. Rite expiatis, April 30, 1926.)