The origins of the Third Order can be traced back to the 6th century Penitential Movement within the Catholic Church. At the time, ordinary people--known as Penitents--sought intentional ways of growing in holiness through their daily lives and work. This desire for holiness assumed many forms, such as pilgrimages to holy sites; constructing, repairing and rebuilding churches; and caring for the poor and sick.

The first Franciscans were, in fact, known as "Penitents of Assisi." Men and women who were attracted by Francis' way of life, but could not leave their homes and families to become wandering preachers or cloistered nuns, banded together. Thus, the Third Order was born.

Early on, small groups in the Third Order formed more structured communities, publicly professing the Church's traditional religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and often uniting around specific works of charity or common prayer. Since then, numerous congregations of lay people and consecrated religious have developed throughout the world. In each instance, the call to conversion and simplicity of life animates the members. In the Secular Franciscan Order, men and women follow the way of Francis, but are not vowed religious living in community. The Third Order Regular, on the other hand, is an international community of priests and brothers who emphasize works of mercy and on-going conversion to the Gospel.
The Third Order Regular is also known as the Franciscan Friars, TOR. This branch of the Franciscan family was originally founded in 1447 by a papal decree uniting several groups of Third Order hermits. Today, the TORs are a thriving religious community serving God's people across the world.

With Francis, the TORs have accepted Our Lord's challenge to "rebuild my Church" in areas of high school and college education, parish ministry, church renewal, social justice, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincies, foreign missions, and other ministries in places where the Church is needed. And, in imitation of our founder, we pray to be instruments of peace, pardon, and hope in a world yearning for the good news of Jesus Christ.

The Rule of Life and the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis. (1982, 1997). American-English Commentary written by Margaret Carney, OSF and Thaddeus Horgan, SA. Washington, DC: Franciscan Federation

Our Franciscan community based in Loretto, PA has engaged in an active educational ministry since our earliest days, even pre-dating the foundation of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saint Francis University (previously Saint Francis College) was founded in 1847. It is the oldest Franciscan college in the United States and one of the oldest Catholic colleges there as well.

On October 30, 1942, a terrible fire swept through the Old Main building on the campus. This building was the main center of the college and also housed our monastery, chapel, seminary, library, and food resources. Though no lives were lost, the fire was a terrible blow to the college and to our community.

Through the grace of God, however, this event was not the fatal blow to our ministry in Loretto that it might have been. Earlier that same year, a group of dedicated alumni had purchased at auction the nearby estate of the late steel magnate, Charles M. Schwab, and given it as a gift to the Province. Because of this very fortunate circumstance, our community was able to quickly relocate into the building, resume our ministries, and start rebuilding.

While searching through the ruins of our old chapel, workers found a piece of stone which had been a part of a statue of the Sacred Heart. The fragment was in fact the image of the Heart itself, and was the only recognizable piece of the statue that could be recovered. We recognized that this was a sign from God that, through the workings of His Sacred Heart in the hearts of our friends and benefactors, our community had been saved from what could have been a much more terrible blow.

We have preserved that Sacred Heart fragment ever since, honoring it as a token of God’s love and protection. It is currently housed in our chapel at Saint Francis Friary in Loretto to remind us of God’s providence and mercy for the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.