Manual

The Manual SSF

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Official Texts
(see section below for the Principles)

• Constitution SSF cover.pdf
• Constitution SSF 2001.pdf
• Constitution FO cover.pdf
• Constitution FO 2002.pdf
• Rule of Life.pdf
• Formula of Profession.pdf
• Policies, Norms & Precedents.pdf

Walking in the Footsteps of Christ - The Historical Documents of the Society of St Francis

1. Cover (recto)
2. Cover (verso) and Contents
3. Reconstruction of the 'Primitive' Rule of St Francis
4. Earlier Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance
5. Later Rule of St Francis
6. Testament of St Francis
7. Testament of St Clare
8. Rule of St Clare
9. Provisional Rule and Constitution of the Brotherhood of St Francis of Assisi
10. Principles and Rule of LIfe of the Christa Prema Seva Sangha

I'm sorry these are not formatted in the most convenient way for reprinting the original book. If necessary you can print each page, cut it to A5 size, paste them on A4 sheets so that they will form the right sequence when subsequently photocopied. If I have the time in the future I'll try to make these as a unified docuement.

The Manual - Order of St Francis, Brazil (Portugese Text)

1. Sociedade de São Francisco - Ordem Primeira - Manual
2. Sociedade de São Francisco - A Constituição
3. Sociedade de São Francisco - Primeira Ordem - As Fórmulas de Profissão
4. Sociedade de São Francisco - A Constituição da Primeira Ordem
5. Primeira Ordem da Sociedade de São Francisco - Normas de Política e Precedentes
6. Sociedade de Sáo Francisco - Província Americana - Estatutos Provinciais - 2001
7. Sociedade de São Francisco - Província Americana - Normas Provinciais e Política -2001
8. Uma Reconstrução da “Regra Primitiva” de São Francisco - 1210
9. Custódia Franciscana da Divina Providência - Estatuto
10. Sociedade de de São Francisco - Primeira Ordem - Princípios
11. Testamento Clarissas
12. Regra não Bulada
13. Testamento
14. Regra bulada
15. Sociedade de São Francisco - Província das Américas - Manual - Capa indice
16. Apresentacao

Other Versions of the Principles

The official version, and therefore that which forms part of The Rule of the First Order, remains that authorised by the Joint Meeting of the Chapters of the First Order in 1996. This uses NRSV biblical texts and the third person plural ("brothers and sisters"). This version should be the one in your Manual.

This is the version in the 2010 Daily Office - SSF.

A "Controlled English" version has been authorised for trial use. It can be downloaded here in various formats - Microsoft Word A5 page - and PDF A4 sheets imposed  - and the same for PDF Letter size sheets imposed - in order ready for booklet printing.

It is recognised that the 1984 version (as printed in the older edition of the Daily Office - SSF) although superseded in 1996 may, for reasons of convenience, still be used.

In 1993 an alternative text based on the 1984 version (using the first person plural - "we") was also authorised for use.

In 2003 a "modest revision" of the Principles which removed many of the "musts", "oughts", and "shoulds" so as to better reflect a ""Covenant Theology' in which our desire to live a godly life is motivated not by anxious energy as we struggle to meet God’s conditions and expectations, but by a response of gratitude" was commended by the Ministers for trial use until the Joint Meeting of the First Order Chapters 2005 when it will be reviewed. (see Minute 13a, Joint Meeting of Ministers, 2003)

There was also in existence a paraphrase in simple English, originally made by Brian for use in the Pacific Islands. An inclusive langauge version of this was published by the Stroud hermitage in the early 1990's under the title "Bound in Love".