Franciscan TORs
The Third Order Regular of St. Francis, (known as Franciscans, TOR), is a religious community of Catholic priests and brothers. Their beginnings can be found in the penitents of the Middle Ages who sought holiness in daily life. One of these penitents was St. Francis of Assisi who gave this movement a new direction. For 800 years, the Third Order Regular of St. Francis has served all over the world, especially through education, the sacramental life of the Church, and caring for the poor.
Saint Francis
As a young man torn by the enticements of society, Francis searched for answers to important questions such as "Who am I?", "What am I to do with my life?", and "Who is God?"
He was born in 1182 in a middle class Italian family. He was educated and respected by the people of Assisi, his hometown. Like any young person, Francis asked how to live a meaningful life. He wanted recognition and fame, yet did not find his life's purpose through them.
This search led him to the deserted church of San Damiano. During prayer, Francis heard Jesus say, "Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you see, is falling completely into ruin." Francis learned that living a Christian life would place him in opposition to the world's values. He found that Jesus offered a life with joy and fulfillment that the world could not offer.
At the Fresh Anointing, we continue in St. Francis' example by encouraging one another to live a holy life, even when it is hard. Our strength is in the Lord, who brings us into a deep relationship with Himself through the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit. We experience the joy of the Lord that Jesus gave St. Francis, especially when we gather together to praise and worship God with joyful song. We "repair the Church" by restoring people's lives with the Good News that Jesus has come with salvation and healing, and has built a home for everyone in the Catholic Church.
Praise
Praise was part of St. Francis' way of life. The Fresh Anointing celebrates with the gift of praise. In praise, we meet God, receive His love, and overflow with God's love for others.
Evangelization
Evangelization is also close to the heart of the Fresh Anointing. Everyone can evangelize, especially though a holy example. St. Francis gave an example of evangelization motivated by the love of God. Pope Leo XIII described this in 1882, writing, "With the love of the cross, an ardent charity penetrated the heart of St. Francis, and urged him to propagate zealously the Christian faith." (Auspicato Concessum, Encyclical on St. Francis.) At the Fresh Anointing when we praise God, pray for each other, and fellowship together, our love for God grows and overflows for the lives of those we meet and invite into a loving relationship with God through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Faith
The Fresh Anointing also draws from the Franciscan influence in how we trust God's providence. As "mendicants," St. Francis and his companions lived on the generosity of others. This is a powerful witness of trust in divine providence. The Fresh Anointing has trusted God's provision since our beginning when a dozen people first prayed together on Pentecost/Mother's Day 2008, without knowing how God would multiply the group, but trusting He would lead us. They did not know how God would use the Fresh Anointing to pray with people for baptism in the Holy Spirit and help many discover the charismatic gifts.
Abandonment to divine providence characterized St. Francis and St. Clare, who undertook new endeavors and were willing to suffer as they trusted in God's will. What God started through them 800 years ago continues to bear fruit around the world. Another Franciscan, Mother Angelica, said that what is so attractive in these saints is, "their absolute dependence on the providence of God. They saw Him in all. And what they undertook was not planned by them, but through their love and detachment they fit into whatever was happening in the present." The Fresh Anointing experiences this in our day as well, and looks forward to many unplanned blessings, as did St. Francis, St. Clare, and Mother Angelica.
