Franciscan TORs
The Third Order Regular of St. Francis, (known as Franciscans, TOR), is a religious community of Catholic priests and brothers dedicated to God. 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. Over the last 800 years, the Third Order Regular of St. Francis has become an international religious community serving people in many ways, especially through education, the sacramental life of the Church, and caring for the poor.
About 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?", "Who is God and what is He to me?"
He was born in 1182 into a middle class Italian family. He was educated and respected by the people of his hometown, Assisi. Like any young person in his early twenties, Francis began to ask how to live a meaningful life. He wanted recognition and fame, yet after several unsuccessful attempts to discover the purpose of his life, he was shaken in his worldly aspirations.
The conflict that inflamed his heart led him to the deserted church of San Damiano in Assisi. While praying there, Francis heard a command from Jesus. "Francis," the voice told him, "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 worldly values of society and set him apart from others, even family, friends, and many of his own age. Yet, he found that despite opposition and hardships, Jesus offered a life filled with lasting joy that even 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 may be difficult. We draw our strength from Jesus Christ and and find our home in His Church. We experience the joy of the Lord that Jesus gave to 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. At the Fresh Anointing we encourage the Church to always be renewed by the active work of the Holy Spirit within and among us.
Praise was part of St. Francis' way of life as well. The Fresh Anointing has inherited from the Franciscans a gift of praise. In praise, we meet God, love HIm and receive His love for ourselves and to share with others.
The Fresh Anointing also draws from the Franciscan influence in how we trust God's Providence which we see at work in what He is doing in and through us. St. Francis and his companions and spiritual descentants were "mendicants," which means they lived on the gifts that people gave them, such as food and resources. This is a powerful witness of trust in divine providence. The Fresh Anointing has also 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 that He would lead us in His will. They did not know how God would use the Fresh Anointing to pray with many for Baptism in the Holy Spirit and guide people in discovering and learning to use the charismatic gifts. This abandonment to Divine Providence characterized St. Francis and St. Clare, who undertook new endeavors and were willing to suffer as they trusted in the will of God. What God started through them 800 years ago continues to bear fruit around the world. Another Franciscan, Mother Angelica, explained that what is so attractive in these Franciscan 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.
