The Order of Friars Minor are a Franciscan Order, generally considered to be the successor to the original Franciscan Order within the Roman Catholic Church, and the largest of the First Orders within the Franciscan family of religious Orders, which includes two others: the Capuchins and Conventuals. The Order of Friars Minor is the result of an amalgamation of several smaller Orders that was completed by Pope Leo XIII in 1897, while ther other two, Capuchin and Conventual, remain distinct religious institutes within the Catholic Church, observing the Rule of Saint Francis with different emphases. Because of thiss, the Order of Friars Minor are often referred to simply as Franciscans, but they may also be known as Minorites, the Seraphic Order, or Grey Friars. The Order of Friars Minor, the Observants, are commonly called Franciscan Friars, while the Capuchins are the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, and the Conventuals are the Friars Minor Conventual. The Franciscan Order itself was started by Francis of Assisi after a sermon that he had heard made such an impression on him that he decided to devote himself wholly to apostolic poverty. Dressed in a rought garment, barefoot, and without even a staff, he began to travel and preach repentance. When the original Rule that disallowed property ownership was relaxed shortly after the Order was established, Saint Clare, under Francis' guidance, founded the Poor Clares in 1212, which remains a Second Order of the Franciscans. After a few splits, the Fifth Lateran Council united the groups that followed the Franciscan Rule in the early 1500s, in which the Observant General was made Minister General of the Whole Order of Saint Francis, and was given the right to confirm the choice of a head for the Conventuals, giving them a level of superiority over the Conventuals, and the other groups were literally united to the Observants.
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Recommended Resources
English Speaking Conference, Order of Friars Minor
One of fourteen Conferences of the Franciscan Order, the English Speaking Conference is made up of Provinces and Custodies in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Malta, and Lithuania. Each Province has its own administration, but they come together to promote common goals and collaboration among its members. Its intellectual tradition, liturgy, and publications are included here.
http://www.escofm.org/
Franciscan Friars, Province of Saint Barbara
The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Saint Barbara, California are part of the Order of Friars Minor, a Roman Catholic religious Order of men from diverse backgrounds and cultures who follow the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi. A history of the Order and its work in California is told, and its community and ministerial life, leadership structure, and information on becoming a Franciscan are included here.
https://sbfranciscans.org/
Vocations within the Order of Friars Minor in Great Britain are highlighted, with detailed information about its formation process, from the receipt of a calling from God to approaching the friars, and on to the steps of Postulancy, Noviciate, and Post-Noviciate formation. Life stories from members of the Order are told, its ministries and missions are outlined, and the life of spirituality led by its members is illustrated.
http://www.friaruk.org/
Order of Friars Minor in Great Britain
Published by the Custody Office of the Order of Friars Minor, headquartered in Essex, England, the site offers an extensive biography of Saint Francis of Assisi and the formation of the Franciscan Order, with an overview of the Order’s ministries and missions, historical and contemporary, as well as its locations and information about becoming a member of the Order of Friars Minor. Contacts are included.
http://www.friar.org/
Known in English as the Order of Friars Minor or, as they are commonly known, the Franciscans, this is a mendicant Catholic religious order of men tracing their origin to Francis of Assisi. Its history, mission, and organizational structure are defined, including general constitutions, vocations, contact data and schedules of special events. The official newsletter of the Order, Fraternitas, may be downloaded in electronic form, and is archived in eight languages as far back as 1998.
http://www.ofm.org/
The Franciscan Friars of the United States are members of the Order of Friars Minor who are living and ministering as brothers across the United States. A history of the Order in North American from the Colonial era to modern times is told, and its membership policies, vocations, and locations are featured, and contacts are offered. Active in political issues, the Order’s issues are identified, and official statements and letters of US members of the Order are available for downloading.
https://usfranciscans.org/
