The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi
If you surfed our site, you noticed that Mary often comes:
Let’s talk about us, the Third Order of Saint Francis:
The term third order signifies, in general, lay members of Christian religious orders, who do not necessarily live in a religious community such as a monastery or a nunnery, and yet can claim to wear the religious habit and participate in the good works of a great order. Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism all recognize third orders.
Third orders were a 12th-century adaptation of the medieval monastic confraternities. Members of third orders are known as tertiaries (Latin tertiarii, from tertius, “third”). In some cases, they may belong to a religious institute (a “congregation”) that is called a “third order regular”.
Roman Catholic canon law states: “Associations whose members share in the spirit of some religious institute while in secular life, lead an apostolic life, and strive for Christian perfection under the higher direction of the same institute are called third orders or some other appropriate name.”
The Third Order of Saint Francis is a third order in the Franciscan tradition of Christianity, founded by the medieval Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi.
Francis founded the Third Order, originally called the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, in 1221 to accommodate men and women who, either from already being in consecrated life as hermits or from being married, were ineligible to join the Franciscan First or Second Orders, respectively. In this way, they could live their lives affiliated with the Franciscan vision of the Gospel.
The Order is divided into two different branches, each with its own Rule of Life:
1) the friars and nuns of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Penance, as well as the men and women who live in hundreds of religious congregations worldwide;
2) the Third Order Secular, now called the Secular Franciscan Order, which belongs to local fraternities. These members do not wear religious habits, take promises rather than religious vows, and do not live in a community but gather together in fellowship regularly. They can be married, single, or clergy. These were reorganized and renamed in 1978, with the approval of Pope Paul VI.
The Lutheran and Anglican traditions also have Franciscan Third Orders.
Values
Service to the poor and marginalized, affirmation of each person’s unique worth, appreciation for beauty, reverence for all creation, and faith in a personal and provident God are the values and vision of St. Francis of Assisi.
We are a community sustained by the values of St. Francis, values that remind us to:
- Revere the unique dignity of each person
- Encourage a trustful, prayerful community of learners
- Serve one another, society, and the Church
- Foster peace and justice
- Respect creation
Orthodox Church
Orthodox Christians do not worship Mary
Contrary to popular belief in Protestantism, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not worship the Virgin Mary. Instead, we hold her in high esteem and give her the honour and reverence she deserves as a role model for all Christians and as the bearer of God. Her position as the Theotokos gives her incredible influence. We surely honour her in our services with glorious titles and affirmations, but we would never consider her the fourth Person of the Holy Trinity. Truly, our ultimate worship only goes to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in Essence, and undivided.
The Franciscan Crown (or Seraphic Rosary) is a rosary consisting of seven decades in commemoration of the Seven Joys of the Virgin, namely, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of Jesus, the Adoration of the Magi, the Finding in the Temple, the Resurrection of Jesus, and finally, either or both the Assumption of Mary and the Coronation of the Virgin. Devotion to the seven joys of Mary is found in various forms and communities. It is especially popular with the Franciscans, Cistercians, and the Annunciades of St. Joan of France. Different popes granted the devotion many indulgences, making it the most heavily indulgenced devotion in the Catholic Church. For any associated indulgences to be received, a Franciscan rosary didn’t need to have been blessed or use beads.
The Rosary is attached to our friar’s cincture.
The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi are two of the most revered figures in Christianity, especially within the Catholic Church. Here’s a summary of each:
Blessed Virgin Mary, who is she?
Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, honoured with the title “Immaculate” because she never sinned, immaculately conceived, with no stain of sin, her sinless life (according to Catholic doctrine), and her pivotal role in salvation history.
Key titles and roles:
- Mother of God (Theotokos): Defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, affirming that Jesus is fully divine and human.
- Immaculate Conception: Catholic dogma states that Mary was conceived without original sin.
- Assumption: Catholics believe she was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.
- Queen of Heaven: Honoured in prayer and devotion, including the Rosary.
Significance:
Mary is the ultimate model of faith, obedience, and humility. She intercedes for believers in Catholic and Orthodox traditions and is a powerful advocate. Marian apparitions (e.g., Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe) have inspired millions of pilgrims and devotional practices.
St. Francis of Assisi (1181/82 – 1226). Who is he?
Francis was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher who founded the Franciscan Order (Order of Friars Minor), the Poor Clares, and the Third Order of St. Francis.
Key characteristics and legacy:
- Radical poverty: He renounced wealth and lived in absolute poverty, imitating the life of Christ.
- Love of creation: Known for his deep love for nature and animals. He called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters” (e.g., Brother Sun, Sister Moon).
- Stigmata: He was the first recorded person to bear the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—on his own body.
- Peacemaker: Attempted to end the Crusades by meeting with the Sultan of Egypt in 1219 to promote peace.
- Canticle of the Creatures: One of the earliest works of literature in the Italian language, celebrating God through creation.
Patronage:
Patron saint of animals and ecology (declared by Pope John Paul II in 1979). His feast day is October 4, widely celebrated with pet blessings and environmental events.
Here’s a thoughtful comparison and exploration of the influence and representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi in modern spirituality, art, and literature:
COMPARISON: Mary & St. Francis of Assisi
Aspect Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of Assisi
Role in Christianity:
Mary: Mother of Jesus, model of discipleship, Francis: Radical disciple of Christ, model of gospel living
Primary virtue
Mary: Obedience and humility (“Let it be done unto me…”), Francis: Poverty and joy in suffering
Spiritual symbolism:
Mary: Purity, motherhood, intercession Francis: Simplicity, creation, fraternity
Key devotion:
Mary: The Rosary, Marian consecration, Francis: Franciscan spirituality, Stations of the Cross
Liturgical feast Multiple
Mary: Immaculate Conception (Dec 8), Assumption (Aug 15), Francis: October 4 (Feast of St. Francis)
Connection to Christ
Mary: His mother, bore and nurtured him physically and spiritually. Francis: His imitator bore Christ’s wounds (stigmata) spiritually.
Influence on Modern Spirituality
Blessed Virgin Mary
- Popular devotions: Millions pray the Rosary daily; Marian processions, feasts, and pilgrimages are major Catholic events.
- Marian consecration: A growing movement where individuals entrust themselves entirely to Jesus through Mary (e.g., St. Louis de Montfort’s method, or Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory).
- Feminine spirituality: She embodies a perfect model of femininity, maternal care, and interior strength. Feminist theology often wrestles with and reclaims her image.
St. Francis of Assisi
- Environmental awareness: Widely embraced by religious and secular communities as a patron of ecology.
- Pope Francis chose his name to signal a mission of humility, peace, and care for the poor and planet (Laudato Si’ draws heavily from Francis’ Canticle).
- Peacebuilding: His approach to interreligious dialogue (e.g., meeting the Sultan) influences modern Christian-Muslim dialogue.
Representation in Art and Literature
Mary
- Art: Mary is the most depicted woman in Western art, from Byzantine icons (e.g., Theotokos) to Renaissance masterpieces by Michelangelo and Raphael.
- Symbolism: Often shown in blue (symbol of purity and heaven), with a lily, or cradling the Christ Child (Madonna and Child).
- Literature: Featured in medieval hymns, Dante’s Divine Comedy, and more modern works like Rilke’s Marien-Leben.
St. Francis
- Art: Commonly shown in a brown habit, with birds, animals, or receiving the stigmata (Giotto’s frescoes in Assisi are iconic).
- Symbolism: Emblematic of peace, humility, and joy in suffering.
- Literature: His life inspired countless biographies (e.g., St. Bonaventure’s Legenda Major) and even modern works like Nikos Kazantzakis’ Saint Francis or G. K. Chesterton’s biography.
Shared Themes
- Both are icons of radical trust in God.
- Their simplicity and humility appeal to modern seekers disillusioned with materialism or institutional religion.
- They bridge traditional Christianity and contemporary values: Mary through tenderness and compassion, Francis through social justice and ecology.
Here’s a prayer, a quote, and a famous artwork reference for the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi.
🌹 Blessed Virgin Mary
Prayer: The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
That never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come, before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Quote:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”
— Luke 1:46-47 (The Magnificat)
Marian Consecration: The Quickest Way to Sainthood
St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Saint John Paul II have all cited the Marian Consecration as a transformative moment in their journey. Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is the “surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means to becoming a saint.”
Holidays and observances
Our Lady of the Rosary
Roman Catholic Feast Days of Mary / and feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church
- January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
- January 8 Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- February 2 Presentation of the Lord
- February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes
- March 25 Annunciation / The Annunciation. The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord (Ancient Greek: Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God, marking the Incarnation. According to Luke 1:26, the Annunciation occurred in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. Many Christians observe this event with the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March, an approximation of the northern vernal equinox, nine full months before Christmas, the traditional birthday of Jesus. The Annunciation is a key topic in Christian art in general and Marian art in the Catholic Church, having been especially prominent during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. A work of art depicting the Annunciation is sometimes itself called an Annunciation.
- May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
- May 31 Visitation
- June 27 Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- August 15 Assumption /The Dormition of the Theotokos. The Dormition of the Mother of God is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches (except the East Syriac churches). It celebrates the “falling asleep” (death) of Mary the Theotokos (“Mother of God”, literally translated as God-bearer), and her being taken up into heaven. The Feast of the Dormition is observed on August 15, which, for the churches that use the Julian calendar, corresponds to August 28 on the Gregorian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Dormition not on a fixed date, but on the Sunday nearest 15 August. In Western Churches, the corresponding feast is known as the Assumption of Mary, except the Scottish Episcopal Church, which has traditionally celebrated the Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15.
- August 22 Queenship of Mary
- September 8: Birth of Mary / The Nativity of the Theotokos. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Mary, Marymas or the Birth of the Virgin Mary, refers to a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus. The modern Biblical canon does not record Mary’s birth. The earliest known account of Mary’s birth is in the Gospel of James (5:2), an apocryphal text from the late second century, with her parents known as Saint Anne and Saint Joachim. In the case of saints, the Church commemorates their date of death, with Saint John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary as the few whose birth dates are commemorated. The reason for this is found in the singular mission each had in salvation history, but traditionally also because these alone were holy in their very birth (for Mary, see Immaculate Conception; John was sanctified in Saint Elizabeth’s womb according to the traditional interpretation of Luke 1:15). Devotion to the innocence of Mary under this Marian title is widely celebrated in many cultures across the globe in various prayers and hymns such as the Novena in Honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- September 12, The Most Holy Name of Mary
- September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
- October 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
- November 21 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary / The Presentation of the Theotokos. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known in the East as The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, is a liturgical feast celebrated on November 21 by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Anglo-Catholic Churches. The feast is associated with an event recounted not in the New Testament, but in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James. According to that text, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God. Later versions of the story (such as the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary) indicate that Mary was taken to the Temple at around the age of three in fulfillment of a vow. Tradition held that she was to remain there to be educated in preparation for her role as Mother of God. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this is one of the days when women named Mary (Μαρία in Greek) and Despoina (Δέσποινα) celebrate their name day.
- December 8, Immaculate Conception
- December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe