The OFS (in English: the Secular Franciscan Order) is the lay branch of the Franciscan movement. Its members are people who want to live the Franciscan ideals in their ordinary way of life, in their particular family situation and in their work.
For its members, belonging to this community means, beyond the baptism and confirmation they share with all other Catholic Christians, a further conscious decision for a personal following of Jesus, for a life according to the Gospel inspired by the example of Saint Francis.
Local groups of the OFS exist all over the world. In these groups the members meet regularly for prayer and for conversation about faith and life. Where possible, they serve people who suffer or are disadvantaged and work for peace, justice and the integrity of creation.
The real aim of life in the OFS is to translate Franciscan spirituality into the reality of one’s own life. Work, family life and indeed every area of life are to be shaped in a spirit of helpfulness, modesty and solidarity with the weaker. Possessions are to be seen not as a right but as an obligation towards the good of the community.
It is obvious that one can only ever be on the way towards this goal. Much remains half-hearted, and one’s personal weaknesses and faults cannot, of course, simply be switched off. But Franciscans know that even in failure they are carried by God’s love, and they keep trying to make a new beginning, even if it is at first quite unspectacular.
Franciscan spirituality always unfolds within the Church as a whole, so the groups are not isolated foreign bodies but take part in the life of their parishes. Their involvement is shaped by the wish for the renewal of the Church and by a deep personal bond with Jesus Christ.
The aims and guidelines of a life in the OFS are set out in the Rule of the Order. In simple, clear language it describes the various aspects of Franciscan spirituality and what they mean for the life of lay Franciscans. In doing so it takes account of the very different circumstances of the members’ lives. So the Rule does not regulate everyday life; it inspires and sets goals. After a two-year period of preparation, members can make a promise to observe the Rule and to belong to the Franciscan Community for life.
The worldwide OFS is organised democratically from the grass roots. The local fraternities elect their councils, and these in turn choose the provincial and national councils. At regular intervals the international council meets to discuss questions that concern the OFS as a whole.
Communion with the Franciscan Order as a whole is ensured through what is called spiritual assistance. Each local fraternity is accompanied by a friar or priest from one of the branches of the First Order, who gives spiritual impulses and advises the council.
If you would like to learn more about the OFS and life as a lay Franciscan, you can find further information on the following websites: