Hello Sr Clare. What a beautiful family! I am Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption. I'm in Louisiana. I am hoping someday we will meet on a retreat. I have been a professed third order for 14 yrs and was one of the originals to join Friar Anthonys third order. I found that going on a retreat is the most helpful to inspire living our rule day to day. Trying to balance living in the world but not being of it is our greatest difficulty and our greatest gift being third order Franciscans. Keep up the struggle girl and you will be an example to those in your family and surroundings. I will keep you in my prayers. In Francis and Mary, Sr Mary Magdalene of the Assumption (Kami)

ps. are you the one who will be at the seminary in New Orleans? If so, can't wait to meet you and hoping you can come to our monthly third order meetings on the North Shore. Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Congratulations Brother Columba. God is good!!!!!! Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Congratulations Brother Thomas. This makes my heart happy! Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Welcome Brother Maximillian Mary!!! Best name ever! I will pray you live up to it!! Congratulations on joining St. Francis to convert the world!!!! Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Amen!! Congratulations!! Vested on one of my favorite feast days- welcome to the family. Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Praise God and welcome to the family!!! Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Congratulations Sister Joan! Bless you. Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Congratulations Brother John!!! So blessed you are part of the third order family. In Francis, Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption

Praise God. It warms my heart to see so many new vested third order members. May Francis lead you to complete holiness and charity. In Francis, sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption.

Amen. Welcome brothers and sister. So happy you are officially part of the family!! May St Francis guide you to perfect holiness and charity. Sending my love, ster Mary Magdalene of the Assumption.

Amen. Welcome family!! I am so happy and excited for you. May St Francis continue to build you in holiness and charity. Love, your sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption.

I have seven children. While visiting the shrine in Mexico city I saw a most comforting image. It was a painting of St Francis preaching. He had a crowd gathered at his feet and a women holding an infant who had her back turned to him tending to the child. I had my baby with me. It touched me so much, because I knew she would want to be listening to Francis but she was serving and honoring God by taking care of her child. In Francis, Kami

I would say one could and should do both. Montfort is geared toward your personal consecration to the Blessed Mother, whereas, Maximillian Kolbe is joining the army with Our Lady to crush the head of the serpent. To enter the MFM order everyone is required to consecrate through Maximillian Kolbe before entering. Friar Anthony does a beautiful job of going through each line of the consecration and its meaning on the last three days of the nine day novena on the website. In Francis, Sister Mary Magdalene of the Assumption.

I would encourage your friends to do the consecration through Maximillian Kolbe. They can use the format of the nine day novena on the MFM website. You can tell them the difference between this consecration and St. Louis De Montfort is the difference between a more personal consecration to Our Lady and joining up with an army of Our Lady's to crush the head of the serpent.

This would be a question for friar Anthony. I had read once that professed third order Franciscans could not join another third order, but I can't seem to find it in the rule.

Hi Joanna- Great questions. For now the Tao is considered the habit to wear at all times. We are working on having cords that we can wear undergarment. The scapulars and cords we received at the vestiture we will wear to our monthly meetings. We are not obligated, but some of us have decided as a witness to wear the scapular to mass on Franciscan feasts and holy days. Later we will receive a full habit to be worn at our burial. The brown skirts and white tops are just what we chose to wear for the day of vestiture. In the future, I am sure the members coming in on their day of profession, will also wear the full habit. In Francis, Kami

Congratulations! Home birth! whoop whoop! And what adorable children ya'll make!!! Plus - what a beautiful name.... God Bless little Philomena!!!

Amen!

Amen!