St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) founded three orders: the Order of Friars Minor, which is now divided into three branches (Franciscans, Conventuals, Capuchins), the Order of Poor Ladies or Poor Clares, and--for people living in the world--the Order of Penitents or the Third Order Secular of St. Francis. Out of the latter grew the Third Order Regular, comprising numerous congregations of priests, brothers, and sisters, as well as a fourth religious order of friars (priests and brothers).

The first simple rule of the Third Order written by St. Francis was put into legal language by Cardinal Ugolino in 1221 and orally approved the same year by Pope Honorius III. In 1289 Pope Nicholas IV revised the rule and solemnly confirmed it by a papal bull. Pope Leo XIII adapted this rule to modern conditions in 1883; and in 1957 Pope Pius XII gave the Third Order general constitutions which explain the rule more fully.

"The Third Order Secular of Saint Francis is an association of the faithful who strive to achieve Christian perfection in the world, under the direction of the Franciscan Order and according to its spirit, but in a manner suited to life in the world. This they do according to the rule drawn up for them by the Seraphic Father Francis, as approved and interpreted by the apostolic see.

"The life of the Franciscan tertiaries is this: to observe the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ while living in the world, and this in such a way as to be an example for others; to seek out the glory of God by sanctifying themselves and their neighbors, to which they are bound by virtue of the profession they made before the Church; to live faithfully in the spirit of penance, by observing the rule with care in their individual and social life" (Constitutions, arts. 1 and 2).

All good Catholics who have completed their fourteenth year have been urged again and again by the Holy See to join the ranks of the Third Order. This has been done expecially by the Supreme Pontiffs of the past century from Pius IX to Pius XII, both by word and example. The Third Order Secular of St. Francis has members in every part of the worls; and their total number is more than two million.

    RULE OF THE THIRD ORDER SECULAR OF ST. FRANCIS

Promulgated May 30, 1883, by Pope Leo XIII. The English text of the rule is the text prescribed as the standard version by the Very Rev. Provincials of the United States at the Second National Congress of the Third Order, New York, October 3-6, 1926.

                                            Chapter I

                        Reception, Novitiate, and Profession

1. Only those may be received as members who have completed their fourteenth year, and are of good character, peace-loving, and above all the tried fidelity in the practice of the Catholic Faith and in loyalty to the Roman Church and the Apostolic See.

2. Married women may not be received without the husband's knowledge and consent, unless their confessor judges otherwise.

3. The members shall wear the small scapular and the cord as prescribed; if they do not, they deprive themselves of the rights and privileges of the Order.

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 themselves to observe the Commandments of God and of the Church, and to render satisfaction if they have failed against their profession.

                                              Chaper 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 caution 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 flesh meat on Wednesdays.

5. They shall approach the Sacraments of Penance and of the Holy Eucharist every month.

6. Tertiaries among the clergy, since they recite the Divine Office daily, shall be under no further obligation 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 practiceso piety and good works. Let them not allow books or publications that 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 conscience 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 Prefect.

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 personally visit a sick member, or send someone to perform the services of charity. In case of serious illness let them remind and urge the sick person to arrange in time the affairs of his soul.

14. At the funeral of a deceased member the resident and visiting Tertiaries shall assemble and say in common 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

                          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 refuse an office tendered him, and let no one discharge his office negligently.

2. The Visitor, who is charged with the supervision of the Order, shall diligently investigate whether the Rule is properly observed. Therefore it shall be his duty to visit the Frternities every year, or oftener if need be, and hold a meeting, to which all the officers 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.

4. Disobedient and harmful members shall be admonished of their duty a second and a third time; if they do not submit, let them be dismissed from the Order.

5. Those who offend against any provision of this Rule, do not incur the guilt of sin, unless in so doing they also transgress the Commandments of God or of the Church.

6. Should a just and serious cause prevent a member from observing any provisions of the Rule, such person may be dispersed therefrom, or the purpose the ordinary superiors of the First and the Third Order Regular, as also the aforesaid Visitors, shall have full power.

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