Brief History of the Secular Franciscan Order

Pre-Franciscan Period

Obligations of the Penitents

Today it is difficult to reconstruct the situation of the Order of Penance in the period before Francis of Assisi and his companions. We can say that there were bishops who spoke of the Penitential Movement and other personages who had a great influence on the spirituality of the Penitents. These persons will help, at least in part, to bring about the Gregorian Reform. Through preaching and the practice of poverty after the manner of the Apostles, they will give to the Christian people a form of gospel life.

We can summarize the obligations of the penitents in these few lines.

- the habit: simple, of wool only, not expensive and dark in colour, characteristic of penance or of a hermit, often with the sign of the TAU on the mantle or hood; a staff, a haversack and sandals;

- the profession: made with the clothing of the habit; a written document was requested

- the tonsure: the public sign of the penitent; they could not cut their hair and they wore beards; a special penitential blessing was recited over the women;

- prohibited: public spectacles, banquets, commercial work (for fear of fraud and

speculation) ; exercise of administrative or juridical public functions; military service;

- fasts and abstinence, twice or three times a week, in the feriae legitimae,

- participate in the Eucharist, especially on the solemnities of Christmas, Easter and

Pentecost;

- dedication to the works of charity in hospitals, hospices for pilgrims and also leprosariums;

repair of churches and voluntary help in building cathedrals.

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