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preacher. He was urged to become a member of the Curia and, just as he was illustrious for his life and teaching before in the Order, so now he was so excellent in guidance that he was considered a model for prelates.
140The Second Order founded by blessed Francis is that of virgins and continent married women, whose proposal is to serve God in the enclosure, in perpetual silence, and in mortifying the flesh.a The first member of this Order was the blessed Clare, a most devout disciple of blessed Francis. Seeing them living in a most holy way according to his teaching under the profession of the most exalted poverty, he promised her and the other women professing poverty in a similar way of life his counsel and assistance and that of the other brothers. Blessed Clare and her monastery have always observed this same proposal of poverty up to the present day.
144The Third Order is of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, shared by clerics, laity, virgins, widows, and married couples. Their purpose is to live uprightly in their own homes, to devote their attention to works of piety, and to flee the world's allurements.b Therefore, you might see among them nobles, and even knights, and other people great in the world's estimation, dressed in proper cloaks of black fur,c humble in both their clothing and mounts, so modestly associating with the indigent, that you would not doubt they are truly God-fearing. From the beginning a brother was assigned to them as a minister, but now, in each region, they are released to their ministers, but who, as confreres begotten by the same father, are still encouraged by the brothers with counsel and assistance.d
- Bernard provides an insight into the propositum [purpose] of the Second Order, officially called "the Order of Saint Clare" in a rule given to these women by Pope Urban IV in 1263. (For propositum, cf. FA:ED I 189 d). Their life of serving God, in Bernard's terms, is "to serve God sub clausura perpetuo in silentio et carnis maceratione [in the enclosure, perpetual silence, and starving the flesh]." While sub clausura [under the enclosure] appears in the Rule of Urban, the other phrases do not and seem to be expressions of the author alone.
- As with the Second Order, Bernard now identifies the propositum of the Third Order, now known as the Secular Franciscan Order: in domibus propriis honeste vivere, operibus pietatis intendere, pompam saeculi fugere [in their own homes, to live honorably, to concentrate on works of piety, and to flee the world's allurements].
- A reference to Nicholas IV, Supra montem (1289), Chapter III: "The brothers may also have cloaks or furred coats without an open neck, either sewed or uncut, or at least laced up as decent people should, and the sleeves should be clothed. The sisters should wear a mantle and a tunic made from the same common cloth, or they should at least wear a mantle with a black or white skirt or petticoat, or an ample gown of hemp or linen, sewn without any pleats."
- Ibid., Chapter 15: "Let each member devoutly undertake and faithfully execute the office of minister or any other duty mentioned in this document, when such might be laid upon them." Further information on the background of this expression of government can be found in Raffaele Pazzelli, St. Francis and the Third Order (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1989), 149; Octavian Schmucki, "The Third Order in the Biographies of St. Francis," in Greyfriars Review 6 (1992): 94-6 (hereafter GR).
Liber de Laudibus Beati Francisci, Fontes Franciscani, p. 1283-1284
famosissimus praedicator. 139Qui tractus et coactus ad Curiam, vita et doctrina ut prius in Ordine sic excellenter in regimine fulsit, ut forma Praesulum censeretur.
140Secundus a beato Francisco institutus Ordo est virginum et continentium matronarum, cuius propositum est Deo sub clausura perpetuo in silentio et carnis maceratione servire. 141Prima fuit beata Clara, devotissima beati Francisci discipula. 142Quas videns ipse iuxta doctrinam suam sanctissime conversantes sub professione altissimae paupertatis, ei et aliis in simili conversatione profitentibus paupertatem suum et fratrum consilium auxiliumque promisit. 143Idem paupertatis propositum beata Clara semper eiusque usque hodie monasterium tenuit.
144Tertius Ordo est fratrum et sororum de poenitentia, elericis, laicis, virginibus, viduis et coniugatis communis, cuius propositum est in domibus propriis honeste vivere, operibus pietatis intendere, pompam saeculi fugere. 145Unde videas inter eos nobiles aliquando milites vel alios magnos secundum saeculum viros cum mantellis honestis nigris pellibus involutos, in humili tam veste quam equitatura cum indigentibus sic conversari modeste, ut eos vere Deum timentes non dubites. 146Istis a principio frater assignabatur Minister, sed nunc suis in terra dimittuntur Ministris, ut tamen a fratribus tamquam confratres et eodem patre geniti consiliis et auxiliis foveantur.