Four General Ministers Rule by Holy See
LETTER OF THE FOUR MINISTERS GENERAL OF THE FRANCISCAN FAMILY
To the Brothers and Sisters of the Secular Franciscan Order
on the occasion of granting the Rule, approved for them by the Holy See
It is with joy that we inform you that the Holy See, by means of the Apostolic Letter
Seraphicus Patriarcha dated 24th June, 1978, and “under the ring of the Fisherman”, has
approved the revised Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, which abrogates and replaces
the preceding Rule of Pope Leo XIII. It is Pope Paul VI to whom we are indebted for this
splendid gift, which he bestowed shortly before he departed this earth.
He loved you. Indeed, he demonstrated his love for the Secular Franciscan Order, and
addressed you with unforgettable words, as in June 1968 and in 1971, on the occasion of
the 750th anniversary of the Memoriale propositi.
Since 7th March, 1966, when the Sacred Congregation for Religious granted permission to
begin to bring up to date legislation for the Secular Franciscan Order, the journey has
been long and arduous. We wish to underline the work of the brothers and sisters and of
fraternities, both through the publication of various forms of life, of Way of Life and
Journeys, and through the tireless work of the Presidency of the International Council
since it was established in 1973.
Such work has been of major importance in seeking the ways of the Spirit and most
efficacious in making known the presence and the vitality of the Franciscan charism to
the People of God in our day.
Not only is the Rule that we present to you today the fruit of this work. The Church
commends it to you as a rule of life.
Attend first and foremost to its evangelical content; welcome the Franciscan message that
it contains and the guidance it offers you in living according to the holy Gospel. A
cornerstone of the renewal that we hope for, is to return to the origins, to the spiritual
experience of Saint Francis of Assisi and of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, who
received their inspiration and guidance from him. This is the intention behind the
inclusion of the Earlier Admonition and Exhortation (rescensio prior) as the Prologue, and
in the constant references to the teaching and example of Saint Francis. Another
cornerstone is openness to the Spirit in the signs of the times.
Supported by these two cornerstones, you should be able to put into practice the invitation
of the Rule to be creative and to exercise co-responsibility. In some cases, this creativity
should find expression in the form of statutes. Indeed, the Rule, Article 3, states as a
general norm: “Its application will be set out in the General Constitutions and particular
Statutes.”
We, the Franciscan Ministers, together with all our friars are ever ready and open to offer
you all our assistance so that we may walk together in the way of the Lord.
With these sentiments we are pleased to present the revised Rule of the Secular Franciscan
Order to the Presidency of the International Council, and, through this Council, to all
Secular Franciscans who will receive it as a rule and life.
Rome, 4th October 1978
Fr. Costantin Koser
General Minister OFM
Fr. Vitale M. Bommarco
General Minister OFM Conv.
Fr. Pasquale Rywalski
General Minister OFM Cap.
Fr. Roland Faley
General Minister T.O.R.
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