pointed by the Rule. Let all the other Brothers be equally obedient to their Superiors, and say Office regularly according to the Rule. And should any be found who either neglect or wish to make changes in it, or who are not good Catholics, let such be delivered over to the Father Rector and kept close prisoners until given up by him to the Cardinal of Ostia, who is the Master, Protector, and Corrector of the Brotherhood.

Let not the Brothers or Sisters imagine this is another Rule; for it is but a memorial, a warning, an exhortation, in fact, my will, which I, Brother Francis, your very humble servant, address to you, my Brothers, so that with the blessing of God we may observe the Rule with greater fidelity, as we have promised our Lord to do.

The Father General and other Superiors of the Order are commanded under obedience to add nothing to these words, and to retrench nothing. Let this my will be added to the Rule, and when Chapters are held and the Rule is read, let them equally read these my words.

I forbid positively, in virtue of obedience, any of the Brothers, whether priests or laymen, to gloss over the Rule or my will, and say, "These words are to be understood in such or such a sense;" but as our Lord has given me the grace to write the Rule and these words clearly and simply, so let our Brothers under

stand them with equal straightforwardness and simplicity, and put them in practice unto the end.

Whoever shall observe these things shall be filled with the heavenly benediction of the Father Most High, of His dearly-beloved Son, and of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, together with the virtues of the Saints. And I, Brother Francis, your poor and humble little servant, confirm, as far as I can, this holy benediction within you and without you. Amen.

CATECHISM

OF THE

RULE OF THE THIRD ORDER.

IN order to make the Rule easier of comprehension to those who are seeking to enter it, we have arranged it in the form of "Question and Answer," according to D'Ozieri's method for postulants.

Q. What is the meaning of the Third Order of Penance?

A. It is a religious order for persons living in the world.

Q. Who was its founder?

A. St. Francis of Assisi.

Q. Why is it called the Third Order?

A. Because it is the third Order founded by the holy Patriarch.

Q. What are the two others?

A. That of the Friars Minor and of St. Clare.

Q. Are there many branches in the First Order?

A. Yes; three. The Friars Minor Conventual, Observantins, and Capucins.

Q. Have each of these branches the power

to admit persons into the Third Order, and to form them into a congregation?

A. Yes.

Q. Should Tertiaries, if admitted by different branches, be considered to belong to different Third Orders?

A. No; they form but one and the selfsame Order, living under the same Rule, and participating in the same privileges and indul

gences.

Q. Is the Third Order itself divided into different branches?

A. Yes; several. They are:

1. The regular Tertiaries of both sexes living in strict enclosure under the Rule of Leo X.

2. Tertiaries living in community with simple vows.

3. Tertiaries living in community without

VOWS.

4. Secular Tertiaries living in the world,

Q. Are there not different branches of secular Tertiaries?

A. Yes; there are :

1. Secular Tertiaries who have taken the solemn vow of chastity, and have permission to wear publicly and habitually the habit of the Third Order.

2. Those who belong to a congregation but have not taken the vow.

Those who live separately without benging to any community.