By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
Born around 1182, Saint Francis of Assisi was the handsome, witty son of a prosperous merchant. While in the military, imprisonment, illness, and other trials led him to reevaluate his life.
In 1205, he was drawn to the dilapidated chapel of San Damiano outside Assisi. The voice of the Lord told him, “Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis repaired the chapel, giving up all his possessions and his inheritance to follow the Lord. He begged door to door for his food and for building materials, earning ridicule and disgust.
See also: Gift of indulgences offered during Franciscan Jubilee Year
Once the chapel and a number of others in the area were restored, Saint Francis continued to serve the poor and sick. He became known as the little man in a coarse brown tunic who would go about encouraging people to live lives of penance, brotherly love, and peace.
Soon, 11 followers had joined Saint Francis. The saint composed a simple rule for these friars: “to follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” After receiving permission to form a new religious order, Saint Francis expanded his rule with more details, the Regula Bullata (“Sealed Rule.”)
Clare of Assisi sought to live like the brothers, so Saint Francis established the Order of Poor Clares for women. For the faithful who were not called to withdraw from the world, he formed the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance, now known as the Secular Franciscan Order. Today, there are hundreds of Franciscan religious communities around the world, including seven in the Diocese of Lincoln:
Franciscan Apostolic Sisters in Seward
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Imperial
Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Nebraska City and Plattsmouth
Knights of the Holy Eucharist in Waverly, Lincoln, and St. Mary and Tecumseh
Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln in Holdrege, Lincoln, Wahoo, Waverly and Tecumseh.
School Sisters of St. Francis in Lincoln
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Hastings and Lincoln.
Each of these communities follows Saint Francis’ Regula Bullata according to their individual charisms.
Brother Julian Maria, K.H.E., is from Cebu City, Philippines. Drawn to the Knights of the Holy Eucharist charism of fostering Eucharist adoration and Marian devotion, he joined in 2013.
Brother Julian said, “We follow the Rule of St. Francis through our commitment to poverty, chastity, and obedience, and our focus on community life centered on the Eucharist.”
