The following are resources recommended for Initial and Ongoing Formation

 

1- Holy Scripture

2- The Catechism of the Catholic Church

3- TOF Rule of 1883 promulgated by Pope Leo XIII, available here.

4- Constitutions of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis, available here.

5- Statutes of the Franciscan Tertiaries of the OFM Province of the Immaculate Conception, available here.

6- Call to Commitment in the School of St. Francis, by Gervais Aeby OFM Cap et al.  Currently out of print, occasionally available online for purchase.

7- New Catechism of the Third Order, by Marion A. Habig, OFM. Currently out of print, occasionally available online.

8- Handbook of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis of Assisi, by B. Gummermann, OFM Cap.  Available on pdf format here.  Reprinted edition available for purchase here.

9- The Admonitions of St. Francis of Assisi, by Lothar Hardick, OFM. Currently out of print, occasionally available online for purchase.

10- Treatise on The Office of the Paters, available here.

11- The Seraphic Order: A Traditional Franciscan Book of Saints, by Marion Habig, OFM.  Available online for purchase.

12- Biographies on St. Francis of Assisi:

• The First Life of St. Francis of Assisi, by Thomas of Celano.  Available online for purchase.
• St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography, by Omer Englebert.  Available online for purchase.

13- The Mirror of Perfection, by Brother Leo of Assisi

14- Mystical Theology, by Dionysius the Areopagite, on Christian mysticism, available here.

15- Spiritual Theology, by Jordan Aumann, OP, available on pdf format here.

16- Olivier Messiaen, Honorary Franciscan, paper on Oliver Messiaen, renowned 20th-century composer, by Stephanie Susberich, TOF.  In this paper, written to fulfill a requirement for her doctorate in music composition, Stephanie discusses Messiaen’s opera, “Saint Francoise d’Assise,” while dwelling on essential topics on the spirituality of Il Poverello- his love for the Cross, perfect joy and the imitation of Christ, among others.  She makes the case that Messiaen might be considered an honorary Franciscan.  A great resource for ongoing formation, available here.