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The Rule of Franciscans of Divine Mercy

Rule for the
Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God

I. In the name of the Lord, the life of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God begins.

The rule and life of the brothers and sisters of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy is this: To observe the holy gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ, living in obedience without anything of our own, and in chastity. Brother Francis promises obedience and
reverence to all the Patriarchs canonically elected successors, and to the Old Catholic Church; as the first brothers were obliged
to obey Francis and his successors. Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God look to Saint Francis, our Seraphic Father as
the guide to their living out the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.   St. Francis told his first companions at the end of his earthly
life, “I have done my duty; may Christ teach you yours” (1 Celano, 214). So, Saint Francis says this to us. In seeking our duty, we
turn to Saint Francis who was called by God to “Go and repair my church”. We see ourselves doing our small part in repairing the
Church into a more inclusive Church through a life which announces in word and action the Infinite and Divine Mercy and Love of
Almighty God for all His Children.     It is with this dedication at heart that we follow the example of our holy Seraphic Father in
adopting this as our rule of life.

II. Our foundation

The rule and life of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy is this:
To observe the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, desiring to be “founded on holy Humility, and to imitate pure Simplicity,
holy Prayer and our Lady Poverty” (Speculum Perfectionis, 72). Franciscans of Divine Mercy, as Catholics-in-exile, hold the
Roman Tradition as their own and respect the Pope as the Bishop of Rome, a Patriarch who is first among equals with all the
Patriarchs.   As the first companions were obliged to obey Francis and his successors, so do Franciscans of Divine Mercy oblige
themselves by their commitment to obey the Minister-General and the Bishop of the Independent Old Catholic Church.

III. Concerning those who wish to adopt this life

If someone should wish to adopt this life, he or she must go to the Minister-General to whom alone is granted the right to receive
members. The person should be examined carefully regarding the Catholic faith and Sacraments of the Church as professed
Reformed Catholic Church International (RCCI) Profession of Faith. If they believe all these things, wishing to confess them
faithfully and observe them diligently until the end, then let them make an application to the Order.
Those wishing to commit themselves to the order should submit a letter to the Father General explaining why they desire to
become a Franciscan of Divine Mercy, what qualifications they believe they have to be accepted into the order, and what form of
ministry they feel call to be servants of God in.
Applicants undergo a minimum six-month Novitiate which will include a regimen of prayer, reading, ministry and spiritual
direction under the guidance of a member of the Order.
Should the novice, their spiritual director and the Minister-General all concur in the readiness of the novice to pronounce a
commitment to the Order; a First Profession will be made. This will be the first of two one-year commitments. Should it be God’s
will, Solemn Profession follows and is renewed every three years at the General Chapter of the Order.
Should an applicant be or have been a member of a Franciscan community upon applying to the Franciscans of Divine Mercy,
Upon examination of their prior Franciscan formation and experience, such an applicant may be granted profession without a
novitiate. Such an applicant may also be granted to make Solemn Profession after one year of Profession.

IV. Concerning the divine office and fasting; and how members ought to travel through the world

Clerics are to perform the divine office according to the approved rites of the Church, and may use the THE OFFICE OF THE
PASSION OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS, or the soon to be published book of Franciscan Prayers and
when traveling THE MAGNIFICAT to fulfill their obligation. Lay members may use THE MAGNIFICAT or THE DIVINE OFFICE.
All Members and companions of the order are required to pray the office at least three times a day, Morning, Afternoon, and
Night. All companions should pray for one another, for vocations, and for the needs of the Order, the poor, disenfranchised and
abused children of God.
Companions should fast according to the Church’s the rules of the church and senior members who can fast without causing
danger to their health should also follow the rules of Fasting and Abstinence on all days during Advent and Lent, except for
Sundays. They are not required to do so at other times. They should practice abstinence according to the rules of the Church. In
case of obvious necessity, however, they are excused from bodily fasting and/or abstinence.
I counsel, admonish and beg my companions that, they be gentle, peaceful and unassuming, courteous and humble, speaking
respectfully to all they encounter as brothers and sisters in Christ. Whatever house they enter, they are first to say, “The Peace
and all God’s goodness be with you”
The habit of the Order is a Brown Tunic, Capuche, and Knotted Cincture with the Seven decades of St. Francis rosary suspended
from their cincture on the left side and a San Damiano Cross visible on a simple cord over the Capuche. When this is not practical
or desirable, companions who are clerics should wear clerical attire with the San Damiano Cross on a simple cord around their
neck; they can also wear the San Damiano Cross on a simple cord around their neck over lay attire. Lay companions when not
wearing the habit should wear the San Damiano Cross on a simple cord or as a pin prominent on the outside of their clothing.

V. On their manner of working

Companions whom the Lord favors with the gift of working should do so faithfully and devotedly, to sustain their daily lives and
provide for their personal needs. Companions whose employment situation does not allow for the wearing of any of the religious
attire described in Chapter IV are excused from that provision of the Rule.

VI. The companions’ living situation; and concerning sick companions

Companions are required to provide for their needs, including lodging for themselves. This will vary according to the living
situations of the companions be they single, married or in a holy union same sex commitment.
Wherever companions meet one another or other religious they are act like members of a common family. Companions are to be
welcoming to each other and seek and assist in the needs of one another. When ever possible the companions and Sisters and
Brothers of the Franciscans of Divine mercy are to offer support to one another, the order and the parent mission of the order
according to their financial condition.
The brothers should go confidently after alms, serving God in poverty and humility, as pilgrims and strangers in this world. Nor
should they feel ashamed, for God made himself poor in this world for us. This is that peak of the highest poverty which has
made you, my dearest brothers and sisters, heirs of the kingdom of heaven, poor in things but rich in virtues. Let this be your
portion. It leads into the land of the living and, adhering totally to it, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ wish never to have
anything else in this world, beloved brothers.
Companions of the Franciscans of Divine mercy are to send 10% of any financial considerations or donations they receive for
services performed like weddings, funerals, Baptisms or memorial masses to the Father General for use in furthering the work of
the order, Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus and the North American Old Catholic Church.
Let all members and companions of the order securely make their needs known to one another, and if one of them should
become ill, let the others serve them as they themselves would like to be served.

VII. On the penances to be imposed on sinning companions

If any of the companions should sin mortally they should recur to the Minister-General without delay if the sin is one of those for
which such recourse is required. The minister, if a priest, should mercifully prescribe a penance for them. If not a priest, they
should see that it is prescribed by others in the Order who are priests or of the Old Catholic Church who are such, as seems best
to them according to God.
VIII. On the election of the Minister-General of this Order; and on the General Chapter
The companions are always bound to have a member of the Order as Minister-General and servant of the entire Order, and they
are strictly bound to obey the Minister-General. The Minister-General is elected by simple majority for a term of three (3) years by
all companions during the General Chapter. The length of term is to be determined by the General Chapter. The General Chapter
should meet every three (3) years or sooner or later if the Minister-General should so ordain.
In the event of incapacitation or death of the Minister-General, the companions are required to elect by simple majority one of
their members as interim Minister-General to function with all the responsibility and authority of a Minister-General until the next
General Chapter.
If at some point it should appear to the companions that the Minister-General is incapable of serving the companions properly,
the companions should, in the name of God, choose someone else. There should be agreement among at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the companions for this to occur. The election itself will require a simple majority.
Besides the General Chapter, the Minister-General may call the companions to a chapter or retreat on alternate years, if he/she
wishes and it seems worthwhile. All companions should feel free to counsel the Minister-General on this matter of growing our
sense of community life.

IX. On preachers

I admonish and exhort the companions that in their preaching their words be studied and chaste, useful and edifying to the
people, telling them about vices and virtues, punishment and glory; and stressing the Divine Mercy and love of God for all His
children. Their preaching ought to be brief, and Gospel centered stressing Christ’s commandment “Love one another as I have
loved you”.

X. On friendship among companions; and the admonition and correction of companions

Companions must make an effort to develop friendship in the Lord among them. This may be done by visits, telephone, letter
and electronic messaging. The sending of photographs is encouraged. Care should be taken to be patient and generous of spirit
with each other.
I admonish and exhort the companions in the Lord Jesus Christ to beware of all pride, vainglory, envy, avarice, worldly care and
concern, criticism and complaint. And I admonish the illiterate not to worry about studying but to realize instead that above all
they should wish to have the spirit of the Lord working within them, and that they should pray to him constantly with a pure heart,
be humble, be patient in persecution and infirmity, and love those who persecute, blame or accuse us, for the Lord says, "Love
your enemies, pray for those who persecute and accuse you" (Mt. 5:44). "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice's
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:10). "He who has persevered until the end, however, will be saved" (Mt. 10:22).

XI. On establishing missions or ministries.

Companions and members of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy are encouraged to form ministries that serve their regions and the
needs of God’s children in that region with the knowledge that these missions or ministries are a part of the Franciscans of
Divine Mercy and subject to monthly reports of their ministry and any financial remuneration the mission/ministry may have
received to the Father General and the orders parent mission of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus under whose corporate umbrella the
order is incorporated. The reports are to reach the Father General on or about the 12th of every month in order for them to be
included in the monthly News Letter of Mission Sts. Sergius and Bacchus with any tithe for the month.

XII. Concerning the relationship to the Church

As an Order within the Old Catholic Church the Order of Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God and her members are
bound to obedience to the Bishops of the Independent Old Catholic Church, The Father Guardian of the Order, so that we
servants will always observe the simplicity, humility and holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which we firmly promised and
continually live a live of love and compassion for all God’s children.

I (Print Name) ______________________________________ have read the rule of the Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God
and fully acknowledge and accept them as a provision to my being accepted into the order as a lay companion or a vowed
religious.

Signature ____________________________________________ Date __________________
Portions of this rule have been taken from The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi, Paschal Robinson, trans, (Philadelphia: Dolphin
Press, 1906).