Founding the Third Order

After the experience of preaching to the birds in Bevagna, St. Francis went to Alviano and was preparing to preach to the villagers. A huge flock of swallows circled above and were making so much noise that it was impossible to hear. St. Francis commanded the birds to silence and preached to the people. The people became enthused and wanted to follow his way of life. For them, he, inspired by the Holy Spirit, compiled the Third Order or the "Rule of Penance." By observing it, they could, even in the presence of worldly distractions, participate in the advantages of the brotherhood and sisterhood of the Franciscan Order. The Order was designed for married couples to live in the world yet maintain some of the Franciscan ways of life. It was officially recognized in 1221 by Cardinal Hugolin, who became Pope Gregory IX in 1227. The Third Order of the present day was reorganized by Leo XIII in 1883.

Meditation:

St. Francis, by his holy practice of living life dedicated to the salvation of others, evangelized many. His sermons on penance especially aroused the people to amend their lives and inflamed them with a desire to follow the way of the Cross. In the parable of Divine Mercy we have our Lord's words: "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep. I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent." Luke 15:7