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The Community of Saints Francis and Clare is guided by the Nicene Creed, a form of the rule of Third Order Franciscans, and St. Francis's Canticle of the Creatures, which you can read below.
​​A form of the 1969 rule by the Third Order Congress in Assisi
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Inspired by the vision of Saint Francis,
we commit ourselves to the Gospel as our way of life.
Our worldview is centered in Christ;
we see Jesus Christ as the beginning,
the way, and the goal of all creation.
This world vision reveals to us a God
who is Father and a life which is love.
This demands of us a life
as brothers and sisters of all people and of creation.
We are on pilgrimage,
trying to reach our Father,
trying to live a life of love.
We have not yet arrived;
we are sinners, but we are called to be saints.
As sinners, weak human beings,
we must undergo a continuing conversion,
returning always to the Father
as prodigal sons and daughters.
Christ was poor and Christ was crucified;
we seek to share in his poorness and in his suffering.
We further commit ourselves to the service of the poor.
In making our way through life,
we are guided by simplicity, humility, and littleness
rather than by power, prestige, and status.
Like Christ, like Francis,
we seek to become instruments of peace and peacemakers.
Acknowledging the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit,
we declare our loyalty to the Church
in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation
with her ministers and shepherds.
We are conscious of our obligation
to share in the life and mission of the Church.
We are lay apostles
called by Christ to continue his work on earth.
Our life and our spirituality is characteristically secular;
in the world and for the world.
Joy sustains our lives, fulfills our living:
we seek the same for others.
To achieve all of this is difficult;
hence we declare our need for Christ’s Eucharist,
and for personal, communal, and liturgical prayer. Amen!
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Icon depicting Constantine the Great, accompanied by the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea (325), holding the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381.
Nicene Creed
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We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son.]*
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen. of our obligation
to share in the life and mission of the Church.
We are lay apostles
called by Christ to continue his work on earth.
Our life and our spirituality is characteristically secular;
in the world and for the world.
Joy sustains our lives, fulfills our living:
we seek the same for others.
To achieve all of this is difficult;
hence we declare our need for Christ’s Eucharist,
and for personal, communal, and liturgical prayer. Amen!
​
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​St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures
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Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.
