International Franciscan Conference of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular · IFC-TOR

Periodical PROPOSITUM

Latest Issue  /  2024 N. 1

″The Meaning of Suffering in Their Own Lives and in the World‶

Read the Summary

IFC-TOR General Assembly / 11-15 May, 2025

   SAVE THE DATE

   Council LETTER

FEAST of St. Francis / 4 october

ACTIVITIES

NEWS in the spotlight

The Franciscan Centenary

The Franciscan centenary is a journey that we have decided to begin in order for the entire Franciscan family throughout the world to celebrate together the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’ Easter and the culminating events of the last years of his life. Said Centenary has been divided into 4 Centenaries, respectively spread over 4 years where it will be possible to reflect and contemplate the Rule and Christmas in Greccio (1223-2023), the gift of the Stigmata (1224-2024), the Canticle of the Creatures (1225- 2025), the Easter of Francis of Assisi (1226-2026).

The website centenarifrancescani.org, commissioned by the Franciscan Family through a Commission of the Communication Offices, is the official site for disseminating reflections, themes, official documents and news that will give us the guidelines for experiencing this great Franciscan event together.

Page on the CENTENARY

     Multimedia
Previous
Next

Timeline of the Centenaries

  • Christmas at Greccio / 2023
  • The Rule / 2023
  • Gift of the Stigmata / 2024
  • Canticle of the Creatures / 2025
  • Easter of Francis of Assisi / 2026

Save the DATE

  • May 11-15, 2025 / IFC-TOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • 2025 - 2026 / FRANCISCAN CENTENARIES

Learn more

Letters / Communications

NEWS

Council LETTERS

  • FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS / 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Pace e Bene!
Happy Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis! This Feast, for many of us in the Franciscan Family, signals the beginning of preparation for the Feast Day of our brother, St Francis. In this special year during which we remember the 800th anniversary of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata at LaVerna, we celebrate this reminder of how great the love of Francis was for Christ and how great the love of Christ was for St. Francis.

DOWNLOAD

COMMUNICATIONS Members

  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY Convocation / 2025
At the last Council meeting of IFC-TOR, the Council was able to make more definitive plans for the upcoming General Assembly. We are sending this information now so that you can SAVE THE DATE.
DOWNLOAD

Franciscan Formation

FORMATION

Contribution for FRANCISCAN STUDY

    Resource Manual for the  Study of the TOR Rule

The TOR Manual as a study on the Rule, presents the essentials of a Story that can only be called a “chronicle of grace.” It is the response to the 2009 proposal from the IFC assembly that resources on the Rule “be updated and new ones created, published and made known for initial and ongoing formation.”

Introduction

SUMMARY

  • Information on IFC-TOR | Page 5
  • List of Contributors | Page 8
  • Introduction | Page 9

Penitential Movement

SUMMARY

  • Overview of Penitential Movement | Page 13
  • Louis Secondo TOR, “Why the Name ‘Brothers and Sisters of Penance’?” Edited and adapted from “The Mission of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis in the Modern World.” Analecta, TOR 14.130 (1978): 139-56 | Page 15
  • Elise Saggau OSF, “ The Franciscan Third Order and the Penitential Tradition” with Study Guide. The Cord 61, no. 2 (April/June 2011): 169-86 | Page 17
  • Nancy Celaschi OSF and Bernard Tickerhoof TOR, “The Biblical Language of Penance.” The Cord 33.9 (October 1983): 259-70 | Page 30
  • Clare D’Auria OSF, “Defining Penance.” Franciscan Call Seminar. Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Aston, PA, 1984 | Page 42
  • Raffaele Pazzelli TOR, “Francis Becomes a Penitent.” St. Francis and the Third Order: Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1989: 87-99; 184-92 | Page 43
  • Raffaele Pazzelli TOR, “The Origins of the Franciscan Penitential Movement.” The Assisi Congress on Formation, 1979. Charles M. Henry Printing Co., 1980. 131-46 | Page 65
  • Study Guide: “The Spirituality of the Penitential Tradition.” Kathleen Moffatt OSF. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation Rebirth of the Charism Program, 1997 | Page 82

History and Development

SUMMARY

  • History and Development of the 1982 TOR Rule | Page 87
  • Paul McMullen TOR, “The Development of the New Third Order Regular Rule.” Resources for Study of the Third Order Regular Rule. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation, 1994. Ed. Kathleen Moffatt OSF | Page 89
  • Study Guide: “The Evolution of the Rule of the Third Order Regular.” Kathleen Moffatt OSF. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation. Rebirth of a Charism Program, 1997 | Page 109
  • Margaret Carney OSF, Suzanne Kush CSSF, Jean François Godet-Calogeras, Ph.D., eds., “Introduction” to the History of the Third Order Regular Rule: A Source Book. St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2008. 13-35 | Page 113
  • Study Guide: “The Rule Project: Metanoia and Mercy.” Kathleen Moffatt OSF. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation. Rebirth of a Charism Program, 1997 | Page 136
  • Roland Faley TOR, “Genesis . . . The 1982 Rule — A Personal Remembrance.” The Cord 42, no. 9 (September 1992): 225-8 | Page 145

Rule and Franciscan Spirituality

SUMMARY

  • Rule and Franciscan Spirituality | Page 149
  • Thaddeus Horgan SA, “The Third Order Regular Rule and Franciscan Spirituality.” The Cord 42.9 (1992): 246-50 | Page 151
  • Bernard Tickerhoof TOR, “Francis’ Volterra Letter: A Gospel Spirituality.” The Cord 29.6 (June 1979): 164-75 | Page 156
  • Thaddeus Horgan SA, “The First Letter to All The Faithful.” The Cord 35.10 (1985): 303-10 | Page 164
  • Study Guide: “The Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis PROLOGUE.” Kathleen Moffatt OSF, Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation. Rebirth of a Charism Program, 1997 | Page 172
  • Roland Faley TOR. “The Letter to All the Faithful — Recensio prior” from A Biblical-Theological View of Penance and Its Present Day Expression. The Assisi Congress on Formation, 1979. Charles M. Henry Printing Co., 1980. 85-90. (See also Resources for the Study of The TOR Rule, Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation, 1994) | Page 179
  • Roland Faley TOR, “Recapturing A Vision: Conversion.” History of the Third Order Regular Rule: A Source Book. St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2008. 451-8 | Page 182
  • Suzanne Kush CSSF, “Walking in the Footprints of Jesus.” Felician Retreat Journal. Felician Sisters of North America, 2011 | Page 190

Commentary on the 1982 Rule

SUMMARY

  • Commentary on the 1982 TOR Rule | Page 195
  • Margaret Carney OSF and Thaddeus Horgan SA, “The Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis” (Original Commentary). History of the Third Order Regular Rule: A Source Book. St. Bonaventure NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 2008. 340-60 | Page 197
  • Study Guide: “Key Concepts of the Third Order Regular Rule,” Guidebook on the Third Order Regular Rule. Joanne Brazinski OSF, Nancy Celaschi OSF, Kathleen Moffatt OSF and Christa Marie Thompson OSF. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation, 1984 | Page 218

Ten and Twenty-Five Years Later

SUMMARY

  • Ten and Twenty-Five Years Later | Page 225
  • Margaret Carney OSF, “A Decade of Development” — The Cord 42.9 (Sept. 1992) 235-40 | Page 227
  • Margaret Carney OSF, “In Nomine Domini” — The Cord 57.4 (2007) 365-77 | Page 233

CD — Four Values of the Rule with sheet music

SUMMARY

  • CD — Four Values of the Rule with sheet music | Page 247

Comprehensive Bibliography

SUMMARY

  • Comprehensive Bibliography | Page 255

Third Order Saints

SUMMARY

  • Third Order Saints | Page 263
  • Reflections on the lives and spirituality of the followers of Francis of Assisi. Created by Thomas Bourque TOR, Province of the Sacred Heart, Loretto, PA | Page 265

Appendix

SUMMARY

  • Appendix | Page 285
  • Papal Approbation | Page 287
  • Cardinal Pironio’s Letter | Page 288
  • Ann Marie Slavin’s Poem | Page 289
  • Extra Resources | Page 291

    Guide for the Study of the Encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI

The guide is a cooperative venture of several Franciscan organizations. It can be used with small or large groups and for personal reflection. You are free to print it for others who prefer a printed text and to share the URL where you found the guide. This guide is free and serves as an overview to the chapter featured but cannot in the space available do justice to the richness of each chapter.

AUTHOR

  • Pat McCloskey, OFM

TITLE

Summary and quotes from the Encyclical

AUTHOR

  • Caryn Crook, OS

TITLE

Dark Clouds A Closed World – Summary and quotes from the Encyclical

AUTHOR

  • Fr. William Hugo, OFM Cap

TITLE

A Stranger on the Road

AUTHOR

  • Mary Esther Stewart, OFS

TITLE

Envisaging and Engendering an Open World

AUTHOR

  • Margaret Carney, OSF

TITLE

A Heart Open to the Whole World

AUTHOR

  • Michelle Balek, OSF

TITLE

A Better Kind of Politics

AUTHOR

  • Charlie McCarthy, OFM Conv.

TITLE

Dialogue and Friendship in Society

AUTHOR

  • Margaret Magee, OSF

TITLE

Paths of Renewed Encounter

AUTHOR

  • Fr. Jim Puglisi, SA

TITLE

Religions at the Service of Fraternity in Our World

Franciscan Spirituality

PUBLICATIONS

Periodical PROPOSITUM

Latest Issue  /  2024 N. 2

″Praised Be You, My Lord Care for Our Common Home‶

Summary

  • PAGE 1 / Propositum Letter / Sr. Frances Marie Duncan
  • PAGE 3 / "A CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND ALL CREATION" a contribution by Sr. Mariella Erdmann, OSF (Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Manitowoc) / WI, USA
  • PAGE 5 / "CANTICLE OF CREATION PICTURES" a contibution by Sr. Jo Goolish, OSF (School Sisters of St Francis - USA Province) / USA
  • PAGE 8 / "LAUDATO SI’: OURS TO PRACTICE AND TO PREACH" a contribution by Sr. Elise Saggau, OSF (Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls) / Minnesota, USA
  • PAGE 10 / "PHOTOS" a contribution by Sr. Janice Burns-Watson (Sisters of St. Francis) / Tiffin, Ohio, USA
  • PAGE 13 / "THE CANTICLE OF CREATION ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI" a contribution by Sr. Marianne Saieg, OSF (Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate) / Joliet, Illinois, USA
  • PAGE 15 / "CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES" a contribution by Sr. Gudrun Schellner (Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother) / Vienna, Austria
  • PAGE 16 / "ART WORKS" a contribution by Claudia Leonor (Wührl Berchtesgaden/Upper Bavaria Studied art and art therapy at Steinbeishochschule Berlin Studio at the motherhouse of the Oberzell Franciscan Sisters, Zell am Main) / Germany
  • PAGE 18 / "LIVING THE MESSAGE OF LAUDATO SI’ – AN OUTFLOW OF THE CANTICLE OF CREATURES" a contribution by Sr. Shirley Aeria (Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood) / Godalming, Surrey, UK
  • PAGE 20 / "THE CALL OF THE COSMOS TO ITS CARETAKERS" a contribution by Sr. Stella Jees, FCC (Franciscan Clarist Congregation) / India
  • PAGE 23 / "LAUDATO SI’: CALLING ALL FRANCISCAN CONGREGATIONS" a contribution by Sr. Renée Mirkes (Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity) / Manitowoc, WI, USA
  • PAGE 25 / "CARE FOR CREATION" a contribution by Sr. Delores Wisnicky, OSF (Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity) / USA
  • PAGE 26 / "ST. FRANCIS IN MY SOUL AND ENVIRONMENT" a contribution by Sr. Bupe Salome Chileshe (Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi) / Zambia
  • PAGE 28 / "A ONCE MORE WAKE UP CALL TO LISTEN TO THE CRY OF THE EARTH" a contribution by Sr. Dorothy Odundo (Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna) / Kenya
  • PAGE 30 / "WATER, LIFE AND MISSION" a contribution by Sr. Carmen Lúcia de Almeida (Sisters of Saint Francis of the Providence of God) / Óbidos, Brazil
  • PAGE 33 / "THE CANTICLE OF CREATION - IN LIGHT OF LAUDATO SI’" a contribution by Sr. M. Leonarda Rakhiba (Franciscan Sisters of Siessen Assisi Mission) / Fort Savage Farm, Marseilles, South Africa
  • PAGE 35 / "ALL MY LIFE IS THIS" a contribution by Sr. Barbara Ann Webster, OSF (School Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis - USA Province) / USA
  • PAGE 36 / "ART WORK" a contribution by Sr. Gemma Fenbert (Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Charity) / Tiffin, Ohio, USA
DOWNLOAD  /  Issue 2024  N. 2

TAU Series

Number and Theme of the Publication

Full List of Published Issues

  • 1 / The Volterra Letter: The First Letter to All The Faithful · Thaddeus Horgan, SA
  • 2 / Presentation of the Text of The Rule · Thaddeus Horgan, SA
  • 3 / Key Concepts of the Third Order Regular Rule
  • 4 / The Rule Project - Metanoia and Mercy
  • 5 / The Evolution of the Rule of the Third Order Regular
  • 6 / PROLOGUE The words of St. Francis to his followers Epistola ad fideles: RECENSIO PRIOR 1:1-19
  • 7 / “The Letter to All The Faithful - Recensio prior” from A Biblical-Theological View of Penance and Its Present Day Expression · Roland J. Faley, T.O.R.
  • 8 / Evangelical Identity, Chapter 1 · Thaddeus Horgan S.A. & Margaret Carney OSF
  • 9 / The Franciscan Aspect of the Penitential Movement · Raphael Pazzelli TOR
  • 10 / Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis ORIGINAL COMMENTARY · Margaret Carney OSF and Thaddeus Horgan SA
  • 11 / The Spirituality of Franciscan Sisters · Raphael Pazzelli TOR
  • 12 / The Franciscan Third Order and The Penitential Tradition · Elise Saggau, OSF
  • 13 / Franciscan Evangelical Life and the Third Order Regular Charism · Clare Andrew D’Auria OSF
  • 14 / KNOW, ADORE, SERVE: The Path to Conversion
  • 15 / “Of God’s Fullness” Franciscan Evangelical Life: A 21st Century Dialogue
  • 16 / The One Thing Necessary Seeing Chapter IX of the Third Order Regular Rule through the Lens of the Teachings of John Duns Scotus · Mary Beth Ingham CSJ
  • 17 / Give an Account of the Hope That Is Within You · William J. Short OFM
  • 18 / The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition Initiative A Language of God-with-us · Joseph P. Chinnici OFM
  • 19 / Christ Our Teacher: Love’s Wisdom Reflection · Anthony Carrozzo OFM
  • 20 / The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition: Study Document · Ilia Delio OSF and William Short OFM, 2001

General Assembly

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2022

Visit Page

2017

Visit Page

2013

Visit Page

2009

Visit Page

FRANCISCAN REFLECTION

Prayer before the Crucifix

“Most high, glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart
And give me righteous faith,
certain hope and perfect charity,
wisdom and ability to understand
And serve your will.
Amen.”

DONATE NOW

Support the IFC-TOR making a free donation

IFC-TOR

General Office
Piazza del Risorgimento, 14
00192 – Rome, ITALY

E-mail
secretary@ifc-tor.org

Telephone
(+39) 06 3972 3521

GPDR (EU) Compliance

   Privacy Information

English Page Stats