Francis of Assisi received formal approval from Pope Innocent III for his new way of life. Francis wanted his followers to imitate the humility of Christ and to minister to the least in society. In 1517, the Franciscan Order was divided into autonomous branches, each professing a valid perspective of their observance of his Rule. The "Conventual" followers of St. Francis chose to minister in the h
eart of the cities rather than in more remote hermitages. Franciscan Conventuals emphasize fidelity to the Catholic Church, the Holy Father, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and stress the importance of fostering strong fraternal communities. The novitiate of St. Francis was the moment in time during which he fell in love with Jesus Christ and consequently embarked on a life-long journey of love and service following in the footsteps of his loving Lord. Through the ages countless men from every corner of our wonderful world have desired to love and serve Christ as the Poverello of Assisi by becoming members of the Brotherhood he founded. They too took a first step in following Christ, beginning their own journey in "the year of probation" - their novitiate. It is the purpose of the Novitiate of the Conventual Franciscan Friars to help the novice develop a deeper love and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ through formal instruction and a lived experience of prayer and fraternity. The novitiate provides an atmosphere wherein each novice can serenely explore the grace active in his life and endeavor to develop and embrace a way of life based on the ideals of Francis of Assisi as found in the "way of life" he wrote and the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. Having begun his journey of conversion during the postulancy each novice is called to deepen his response to Christ's invitation according to the example of Francis of Assisi. Consequently, he must move towards:
- a deeper understanding of God's call in his life
- a change of heart and mind according to the spirit of Francis
- a growth in his personal love and surrender to God
- an acceptance of a new way of living in fraternity
- an honest assessment of the stability of his desires
- a sincere appraisal of his own abilities and capacities
- a clarification and purification of his own motivations
- a clear understanding of the Franciscan Charism and its demands
This page was created to keep people informed about the activities of the current Novitiate class throughout the year, to share photos and reflections, and to reach out to those who perhaps may feel called to the Franciscan way of life. Please be sure to take the time to look at our official website: franciscandiscipleship.org
