The Secular Franciscan Order is a public association in the Church. It is divided into fraternities at various levels: local, regional, national, and international. Each one has its own juridical personality within the Church.
Canon 303 of the Code of Canon Law defines third orders:
"Associations whose members live in the world, but share in the spirit of some religious institute, under the overall direction of the same institute, and who lead an apostolic life and strive for Christian perfection, are known as third orders, or are called by some other suitable title."
(The General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order Chapter 1 Article 1.) The SFO is governed by the universal law of the Church, and by its own: the Rule, the Constitutions, the Ritual, and the particular statutes. The Rule establishes the nature, purpose, and spirit of the SFO. (Ibid. Article 4)
The Secular Franciscans commit themselves by their profession to live the Gospel according to Franciscan spirituality in their secular condition. They seek to deepen, in the light of faith, the values and choices of the evangelical life according to the Rule of the SFO: in a continually renewed journey of conversion and of formation; open to the opportunities that come from society and from the Church's life situation, "going from Gospel to life and from life to Gospel"; in the personal and communal dimensions of this journey. (Ibid. Chapter 2 Article 8) The spirituality of the Secular Franciscan is a plan of life centered on the person and on the following of Christ, rather than a detailed program to be put into practice. The Secular Franciscan, committed to following the example and the teachings of Christ, must personally and assiduously study the Gospel and Sacred Scripture. (Ibid. Article 9) Mindful that the Holy Spirit is the source of their vocation and the animator of fraternal life and mission, Secular Franciscans should seek to imitate the faithfulness of St. Francis to his inspiration. They should listen to the exhortation of the Saint to desire above all things "the Spirit of God at work within them". (Ibid. Article 11)
