These preferred emphases are what make up each particular spiritual system. Frater is the root of other English words such as fraternity. The Franciscans live the Gospel in poverty, to work for their daily meals, to offer all they have for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. The Franciscan Order (and similar orders that sprang from it like the Sisters of St. Clare) concerns its spirituality with that of their mentor. ... Rate this definition: Franciscans. Franciscan spirituality, then, is that spirituality which comes from St. Francis and evolved within the Franciscan order. The word “friar” comes from the Latin word “frater,” meaning brother. One of the rules laid down by their pious founder was that the brethren should always be clad like the poorest of the poor. Originally the Grey Friars, their habits are now brown. Now, for those of us Secular Franciscans in English-speaking countries, we used to list the English abberviations -- "SFO" for " Secular Franciscan Order " -- after our names. The various lesser foundations of Franciscan friars following the rule of the first order, which once enjoyed a separate or quasi-separate existence, are now either extinct, like the Clareni, Coletani, and Celestines, or have become amalgamated with the Friars Minor, as in the case of the Observants, Reformati, Recollects, Alcantarines, etc. St. Francis founded the Secular Franciscans in 1212 for those who do not live in a religious community, yet desired to follow the Franciscan way of life. Unlike the Dominicans or Jesuits that have very clearly defined modes of theology, the Franciscans tend to be very experiential and personal, meaning that naming it is about as allusive as catching an electron: we know it’s there, and it’s certainly important, but there is just no way of fitting it neatly into a box. When St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan Order, he used the word “friar” because he intended its members to live as brothers without distinction of rank, title, or education. Friars of the Order of St Francis of Assisi. The official web site of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States of America. They are called also Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit. In fact it embodies so much inner meaning that practically everything that is Franciscan transcends mere outward appearances. That way, everyone, regardless of country/language, has the same acronym, which emphasizes the universality of the order and has the side benefit of reducing confusion. Meaning of Franciscans. The Franciscan Order abounds in symbolism. The various lesser foundations of Franciscan friars following the rule of the first order, which once enjoyed a separate or quasi-separate existence, are now either extinct, like the Clareni, Coletani, and Celestines, or have become amalgamated with the Friars Minor, as in the case of the Observants, Reformati, Recollects, Alcantarines, etc. It has its own unique emphasis which characterizes it as “Franciscan”. A general schema for Franciscan spirituality would look like this: 1. The Secular Franciscan Order is an Order within the Roman Catholic Church, and was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. What does Franciscans mean? A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. 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