Sr. Rosemary Stets, OSF

Poverty exists first in the heart, or it doesn’t exist at all.

For Francis and his brothers, minority was the one thing necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven

For Franciscans, the focus or gaze is not upward, but rather outward toward ordinary human life, particularly focused on the Incarnation, where God chose to descend into our world to become one with us through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Because they were bound by family responsibilities, Francis encouraged them to begin leading a Gospel-rooted life in their own homes or places of work, thus inspiring a new “third order” for the universal salvation of all people.

Clare’s understanding of her vocation was rooted in a life of great intimacy with Christ and a commitment to complete and unmitigated poverty.