Day Four – The Object (continued)
When Saint Francis encouraged the formation of the Third Order he recognised that many are called to serve God in the Spirit of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in everyday life (rather than a literal acceptance of these principles as in the vows of the Brothers and Sisters of the First and Second Orders). The Rule of the Third Order is intended to enable the duties and conditions of daily life to be carried out in this spirit.
Set free in Lady Poverty's embrace
our Father Francis set us an example
of how to meet the challenges we face;
but living simple lives is rarely simple.
Those raucous sirens, money, sex and power
distract us from the Dove's more gentle voice,
and tempt us to postpone another hour
our promised aim of taking up the cross.
Come down, O Love divine, and help us learn
the beauty of desire set free from lust;
wealth given, wanting nothing in return;
communities of service, built on trust.
Give us anew, most holy Trinity
the spirit of divine simplicity.
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