ORDER OF FRANCISCAN HERMITS
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As Franciscan Hermits,
We Work and Pray to “Rebuild the Church” and Promote World Peace.
We Cherish Substantial Silence, Substantial Solitude, Prayer and Penance.
We Focus on what UNITES us as Franciscans and Christians, rather than what Divides us.

​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
  • Spiritual Formation & Direction
  • Prayers, Devotionals & Audio Reflections
  • The Study of Sacred Scripture & Reflection on the Word
  • The Church, Yesterday & Today
  • Living In the World
  • The Cloud of Witnesses​
​
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...
    • St. Angela of Foligno, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Angela Merici, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • ​St. Anthony of Padua - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Bernard of Corleone, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Bernardino of Siena - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Charles of Sezze, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Colette of Corbie, PCC - (Wikipedia)
    • Bl. John Duns Scotus, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Elizabeth of Hungary, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Elzéar of Sabran, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Felix of Cantalice, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Ferdinand III of Castile, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Francisco Solanus, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Gregorio Grassi, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Ignatius of Laconi, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Joseph of Cupertino, OFM Conv. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Joseph of Leonessa, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Juan of Capistrano, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Junípero Serra, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Lawrence of Brindisi, OFM Cap. - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Leonard of Port Maurice, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Margaret of Cortona, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, OFS - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Maria Crescentia Höss, TOR - (Wikipedia)
    • Sts. Martyrs of Gorkum - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Paschal Baylon - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Peter of Alcantara, OFM - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Thomas More, TOSF - (Wikipedia)
    • St. Veronica Giuliani, Capuchin Poor Clare - (Wikipedia)

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
  • Summi Dei Verbum
    Apostolic letter on the Occasion of the Fourth Centenary of the Establishment of Seminaries by the Council of Trent [04.11.1963]
  • Sacerdotalis caelibatus
    Encyclical letter on the celibacy of the priest [24.06.1967]
  • Evangelica Testificatio
    Apostolic Exhortation on the renewal of the religious life according to the teaching of the second vatican council
     [1971]

John Paul II
  • Sapientia christiana
    Apostolic constitution on ecclesiastical universities and faculties [15.04.1979]
  • Redemptionis Donum
    Apostolic Exhortation to men and women religious on their consecration in the light of the mystery of the redemption [25.03.1984]
  • Pastores dabo vobis
    Post-synodal apostolic Exhortation on the formation of priests in the circumstances of the present day [25.03.1992]
  • Vita consecrata
    Post-synodal apostolic Exhortation on the consecrated life and its mission in the church and in the world [25.03.1996]
  • Ecclesia de Eucharistia
    Encyclical Letter on the eucharist in its relationship to the Church
    [17.04.2003]
  • With Great Joy
    Letter to priests for Holy Thursday [28.03.2004]

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...
  • Audio Files
  • Books​​
  • Chronologies
  • Contemplation
  • Divine Office
  • Discernment
  • DVDs and Movies
  • Encyclicals
  • Eremitic Life
  • Formation
  • Franciscan Spirituality
  • Franciscan Studies
  • Minority
  • Monastic Studies
  • Peace and Justice
  • Poverty; (Here's an Excellent Article on Poverty)
  • Rules
    -- Rule of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi
    ---- Resource Manual for the Study of the Third Order Regular Rule
    -- Secular Franciscan Rule "Cards"
  • -- St. Francis' "Rule for Hermitages"
  • Silence
  • Spiritual Classics
  • Spirituality
  • Videos
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  • News
    • Newsletter Submissions
  • About Us
    • FAQs
    • Join the OFH
    • Privacy Policy
    • Receive Our Newsletter
    • Submit a PRAYER REQUEST
  • Resources
    • Books >
      • Audiobooks - St. Francis & St. Clare
      • Children's Books - St. Francis & St. Clare
      • St. Clare
      • St. Francis
      • St. Francis & St. Clare
      • St. Francis & the Environment
      • Franciscan Pilgrimages
      • Franciscan Prayer & Spirituality
    • Breviary
    • OFH Facebook Group
    • OFH Formation
    • Franciscan Websites
    • Rule - Third Order Regular
    • Rule - Resource Study Manual
    • Send Franciscan E-Card
  • Support the OFH
    • OFH Franciscan Cards
    • "Blessing Bags" for the Homeless