Franciscans

The Franciscans are a group of the Catholic Church founded by St. Francis of Assisi. In 1209 he
founded the First Order, for friars, in 1212 the Second Order, for nuns, and by 1221 the Third
Order, for laymen.

The first religious order that arrived in America was the Franciscan one; they settled in these
lands together with the first ones advanced.

In 1565 the Franciscan provinces of: San Francisco de Quito, in Ecuador; San Antonio de los
Charcas, in Bolivia; the Holy Trinity, in Chile; Santa Fe de Bogotá, in Colombia; and Holy Name
of Jesus, in Guatemala. Later, they created the provinces of San Jorge de Nicaragua (1575) and
Santa Elena de la Florida (1611).

The Franciscans were the first friars to arrive in New Spain between the years of 1523 and
1536. Their main concern was to evangelize the natives of these new territories, they were the
first to be interested in introducing new knowledge. Thus they elaborated and began to
implement an educational project, whose main objective was aimed at contributing to the
social reorganization of the indigenous peoples, ensuring their economic self-sufficiency, as
well as their social and political autonomy. His ideal of conquest was to win souls among the
Indians, according to the ideological return to a primitive Christianity for which they had
fought in Europe since the thirteenth century and now presented the occasion to carry it out in
the New World.

At present in Bolivia the Franciscans are dedicated:

 Disseminate the historical knowledge of the Franciscan Order

 Carry out historical research and publish their results
 Train and accompany researchers
 Carry out courses and collaborate in the formation programs of the San Antonio
Missionary Province of Bolivia
 Receive and accompany thesis students and researchers interested in the history of
the Franciscan missions

Franciscan symbols

The Franciscans wear the habit to the waist with the Franciscan cord with three or five knots.
In the first portrait of Saint Francis he wears a cord with three knots. Subsequently, the
tradition has given the three knots the meaning of the vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience, while the five knots would be the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ. Minor conventual
Franciscans wear a gray or black habit, while minor Franciscans and capuchins wear a brown
habit.

The Franciscan Tau and the Christ of San Damián are also Franciscan symbols.
Mission:

The whole Fraternity is missionary and participates in the mission of the Church, in accordance
with the example of Saint Francis and his will expressed in the Rule. Each Brother, conscious of
his own responsibility, assumes the part that corresponds to him in the missionary work.

Rules

I.IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! BEGIN THE LIFE OF THE LITTLE BROTHERS!

The rule and life of the Friars Minor is this: to observe the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
living in obedience, without anything of its own and in chastity. Brother Francis promises
obedience and reverence to Mr. Pope Honorius and his canonically elected successors and to
the Roman Church. And the other Brothers are obliged to obey Brother Francisco and his
successors.

II. OF THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE THIS LIFE.

If some would like to take this life and come to our Brothers, send them to their provincial
ministers, to whom only and not others are granted authorization to receive brothers. And the
ministers diligently examine them of the Catholic faith and of the sacraments of the Church.
Bolivian Catholic University” San Pablo”

Franciscans
ENGLISH 4

Names:

Cecilia Arce Bozo

Marian nirvana Lange Lenz

Diego Alejandro Rocha Romero

Date: 17/05/19