OFH Formation

As Associates and Members of the Order of Franciscan Hermits, we are all encouraged to participate in Initial and Ongoing Formation in the Spiritual Life. This should be centered on a balanced understanding of Sacred Scripture, Church Teachings, Spiritual Writings of the Church Fathers and Mothers, and Franciscan Studies. All Members are expected to spend some time each day in religious study. One of the greatest disservices to yourself would be to neglect your personal formation program.

It is our hope that you will use our OFH Facebook Group to reach out if you have questions, or feel if you need help in your Franciscan Spiritual growth. There are MANY books, documents and articles on our website that will help you learn more about Franciscan Spirituality, Franciscan Studies, Monastic Studies, various religious Rules etc. If you visit our News section, there are MANY Topics of interest down the right hand side of the page.

Where Should I Start?

Read our OFH Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any questions about the OFH, please email BrPaul@FranciscanHermits.org.
Read our OFH Mission Statement
Regularly participate in our OFH Facebook Group which is part of our Ongoing Formation

Get to Know St. Francis...

Watch the following Videos...
---- "Franciscan Spirituality: exploring the spirituality of St. Francis that has captured the pope's heart" (Video)
-------- Franciscan Prayer, Ilia Delio OSF (Book Mentioned in Video)
-------- The Reluctant Saint, Donald Spoto (Book Mentioned in Video)
---- Brother Francis - Portrait of a Saint by Br. Vincent Cole (Video)
---- Francis of Assisi with Dolores Hart & Bradford Dillman (Video)
---- G. K. Chesterton's Francis of Assisi by Br. Vincent Cole (Video)
---- St. Francis - The Evolution of a Saint by Br. Vincent Cole (Video)
---- Reluctant Saint - Francis of Assisi (Video)
Read the following Books...
---- FREE BOOKS on St. Francis of Assisi - (Wikipedia)
---- "Life of St. Francis of Assisi" by Paul Sabatier - Free Kindle Edition
---- "The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi" by Father Candide Chalippe - Free Kindle Edition
Get to Know the Third Order...
---- Read the Rule of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi
---- Third Order of St. Francis (Wikipedia)
---- Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance (Wikipedia)
---- Use the Resource Manual for the Study of the Third Order Regular Rule provided by the IFC-TOR - International Franciscan Conference of the Sisters and Brothers of the Third Order Regular
Read Important Franciscan Publications
---- "St. Francis of Assisi - a man transformed in prayer" by the Capuchin Franciscan General Minister, Br. Mauro Johri. This is an an important document for all Associates and Members of the Order of Franciscan Hermits to read, embrace and enact. Although we do not typically live in Community, we should be first committed to our prayer life so that we may continue to carry out the good works of the Gospel in our lives. It is recommended that you read this document regularly as a reminder of the importance of prayer to our vocation as contemplative Franciscans.
---- "Listen and You Will Live" - Guidelines for the Establishment of a Hermitage Fraternity or a House of Prayer - Order of Friars Minor Document
---- "Discernment: purification of the gaze, of the heart, and of the will" - Order of Friars Minor Document
---- "Ite, nuntiate... Guidelines for the New Forms of Life and Mission in the Order" - Order of Friars Minor Document
Read our posts on...
-- OFH - Contemplative Franciscans
---- Contemplation
-- Franciscan Spirituality
-- Franciscan Studies

Franciscan Document Sources
- Capuchin Publications

Capuchin Writings and Sources
Capuchin Creative Commons - a collection of high-resolution material, made available for free by our
brothers and sisters for use in the creation of websites and publications.
Capuchin Digital Archive - all the documents of the Order are available in a professional digitized version.

- Complete Early Franciscan Sources at https://www.franciscantradition.org/

Franciscan Spirituality
- "Franciscan Spirituality: exploring the spirituality of St. Francis that has captured the pope's heart" (Video)
----- Franciscan Prayer, Ilia Delio OSF (Book Mentioned in Video)
----- The Reluctant Saint, Donald Spoto (Book Mentioned in Video)
- Franciscan Spirituality Course Bibliography taught by Br. John-Allen Green, ofm

The Journey into God - Cirino A. & Raischl J.
Care of Creation – A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth - Delio, Warner & Wood
Quantum Shift in the Global Brain - Lazlo, Ervin
The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order - Ramos, Conelio Moto
Poverty and Joy – The Franciscan Tradition - Short, William J.

- Book List about Contemplation and Christian Mysticism - By Sister Catherine Levison, OFH - This is a comprehensive list of classical books that are recommended to help you grow in your Spiritual Development.
- "Monk Dynasty" Series by John Michael Talbot - Thorough review of Christian Monasticism
- "The Jesus Prayer" Series by John Michael Talbot

Spiritual Classics

MANY at: http://www.traditionalcatholic.co/free-catholicbooks/
MANY at : http://www.ccel.org/
St. Francis de Sales
-- Meditations from the Introduction to the Devout Life
St. Teresa of Avila
-- The Life of St. Teresa of Avila (Autobiography) - Free Audiobook
-- The Way of Perfection - Free Audiobook
-- The Interior Castle - Free Audiobook

- Discerning Hearts Podcasts

FREE Franciscan Books...

- Want to be a Saint??? See how our Franciscan Sisters and Brothers Became Saints by downloading the following Free Books On Google Play (Various Languages) and/or read about them on Wikipedia...

(NOTE: Some books may appear in the search that do not relate to the Saints listed as this is an automated search on Google Play.)

St. Francis of Assisi - (Wikipedia)
St. Clare of Assisi - (Wikipedia)
St. Bonaventure - (Wikipedia)
Other Franciscan Saints & Blesseds...

Documents of the Catholic Church on Formation
Second Vatican Council

Perfectae caritatis
Decree on the adaptation and renewal of religious life [28.10.1965]
Optatam totius
Decree on priestly training [28.10.1965]

Code of Canon Law (1983)

Canon 641-661
The admission of candidates and the formation of members

Paul VI

John Paul II

Benedict XVI

Sacramentum caritatis
Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation [22.02.2007]
Message for the 47th world day of prayer for vocations [25.04.2010]

Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

Religious and human promotion
Document [25.04.1978]
Mutuae relationes
Directives for the mutual relations between bishops and religious in the church [14.05.1978]
The contemplative dimension of religious life [07.03.1980]
Essential elements in the church’s teaching on religious life as applied to institutes dedicated to works of the apostolate [31.05.1983]
Directives on formation in religious institutes [02.02.1990]
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Fraternal life in community [02.02.1994]
New vocations for a new Europe
Final Document of the Congress on Vocations to the Priesthood and to Consecrated Life in Europe [08.12.1997]
Inter-institute collaboration for formation [8.12.1998]
Starting afresh from Christ: a renewed commitment to consecrated life in the third millennium [19.05.2002]

Other Topics...

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​OFH Formation

OFH Formation