«The Secular Franciscans, in these our times,» the letter says, «are precisely called to be witnesses to communion, solidarity, hope and peace, to be men and women capable of ‘courageous choices’ in order to give to the world a radiant face that can only be constructed by beginning again from Christ.»
The letter may be consulted at the Web page of the Secular Franciscan Order, www.ciofs.org.
The Franciscan Third Order, or Secular Franciscan Order, as it is called today, dates back to the time of Francis of Assisi.
Its men of letters, artists and scientists have included Giotto, Dante, Palestrina, Galileo and Christopher Columbus.
