The Franciscan Third Order has both Third Order Regular and Third Order Secular
dimensions to it. The Third Order Secular Constitution has for centuries been used
as an effective instrument to establish Third Order Regular Communities of
Franciscans, as well as to establish tertiary hermits who were often supported by
Kings who treasured contemplatives on their land.
The Franciscan Third Order, a.k.a. the Secular Franciscan Order, has produced
over 900 Religious congregations. The Third Order has spawned more new
congregations in the Church than probably any other; a springboard for new religious
communities and those individuals pursuing an eremitical form of Franciscan life.
All this continues the basic tradition of Canon 492 of the Old Code of Canon Law
(which canonically recognized Secular Franciscans living in community, as
Religious). This is one of the main and fundamental traditions of the Third Order of
St. Francis of Assisi. This living tradition, as expressed in Art 6 and Art 8 of the
previous Third Order Constitution is still there in Art 34 and Art 36 of the present
Constitution. This is what allowed Secular Franciscans to become Religious.
Most of the Religious congregations have emerged out of the Third Order Secular;
such provision is still there in the law. It has been left open, throughout the law, so
that the tradition can still happen. Today, Religious life is one of the four forms
of recognized canonical consecrated life.
