vita evangelica
The Gospel as the Franciscan
“form of life”
Francis, Testament

No one showed me how we were to live,
but the Most High himself revealed to me
that we should live according to the form
of the Holy Gospel.
vita monastica

Francis said, “Do not speak to me of the
Rule of Benedict, or the Rule of Augustine
or the Rule of Bernard, for the Lord has
called me to be a new fool in this world.”
Monastic Life
Example of Jerusalem Church, Acts 2)
 Property in common Stability of place
(movement discouraged)
 Abbot as father (abba)
 Sharp separation of sacred sphere from
secular sphere

vita apostolica
This was applied earlier to life of monks
(based on Acts of the Apostles)
 In 11th c. more identified with “clerics
regular” (Rule of St. Augustine)
 Urban community of clerics
 Property in common
 Preaching ministry
 Sacred in the midst of secular sphere

vita evangelica
Example of Jesus, Mary & disciples (esp.
in Matthew, Mark, Luke)
 Movement is encouraged (itinerancy)
 No property in common

– “sell what you have and give to the poor”
– “take nothing with you on the journey”

Sphere of the sacred is the secular
 “The whole world is our cloister” (Sac. Comm.)