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The Rule of Franciscans of Divine Mercy

Rule of Order for
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
Reformed Catholic Church International; 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 Abbot
Bishop of the RCCI.

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 RCCI.
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 RCCI 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 Reformed Catholic Church International the Order of
Franciscans of Divine Mercy and Love of God and her members are bound to
obedience to the Archbishop of the RCCI as governor, protector and abbot 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).