The spirituality of the Franciscan Order is at its core like that of Saint Francis, which he lived and bequeathed to his Order. After his conversion, Francis was drawn to remote places where he could pour out his heart to God. He initially lived as a hermit, wearing the garments of a hermit. At this time, the incarnation and passion of Jesus were deeply imprinted on his heart. It was at such moments that he heard the words from the crucifix of San Damiano about his mission. He contemplated the humility of Christ deeply in the incarnation, and the painful suffering and death through which He redeemed mankind. He strove to become more like Christ through penance and fasting.

As Francis had his first companions, who, attracted to his life, came to join him, he taught them his way of life. He says in his testament, “When God gave me some friars, there was no one to tell me what I should do; but the Most High himself made it clear to me that I must live the life of the Gospel”. Francis saw that their way of life would have to be more precisely determined; thus, he set down in simple words the Rule and the Life which is simply based on the Gospel, “to follow the teachings and footsteps of Christ”. After the oral approval by the Pope in 1209, Francis and his eleven companions discussed and agreed on a life of mixed prayer and work for the salvation of souls, inspired by the Gospel, which was central to the way of life of the first community.

The Franciscan Order became institutionalized as it grew rapidly within the first few years. The little community that began around Francis soon spread by missions throughout Italy, parts of France, Spain, Germany, and England. As early as 1217, the Order was divided into Provinces, with Provincial Ministers appointed to oversee them. At the General Chapter of 1220, Peter Catani was elected by Francis as the first Minister of the Order while he resigned from its administration and became its spiritual guide. The Franciscan Order had its definitive Rule in 1223, approved by Pope Honorius III in the Bull “Solet annuere”, on the 29th of November. 

The growth of the Franciscan Order demanded a very highly organized internal structure and discipline, as the Church hierarchy regularly intervened in internal matters since it recognized the Order could serve as a powerful instrument of reform. The Popes gave the friars prominent pastoral roles with several privileges for preaching, resulting in the friars settling in urban residences attached to a Church, as it placed new demands of theological studies on the friars. It, however, produced great masters of scholastic theology like Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. These great theologians shaped the inspiration of Saint Francis into a formal academic and mystical theology for the Franciscan Order, thereby defining the Order’s spirituality.

The development of the spirituality of the Franciscan Order has its roots in the inspiration of Saint Francis, who, through his desire to follow Christ, reached the height of mysticism, buoyed by his life of absolute poverty, penance, and humility. The spirituality of the Franciscan Order finds its basis in the contemplation of the incarnation and the passion of Jesus Christ. It is centered on Christ in the mystery of the child in the manger, his passion on the cross, and the gift of the Eucharist. Minority and poverty, which expresses itself in the radical dependence on Divine Providence, and the humility that seeks to occupy the least place, inclined to serve the least persons, is also a profound way of Franciscan spirituality. Fraternity also holds a special place, as it did for Francis, when he testified that God gave him brothers as gifts to share in his life. Franciscan spirituality recognizes that the life of a disciple is lived within the community, where the Holy Gospel provides a basis for following Christ. 

The Franciscan spirituality encourages the faithful to return to the roots of Christianity, which is becoming Christ through contemplation and action. It helps Christians, especially in their relation with created things, particularly with all peoples. The life of conversion, a daily requirement for the follower of Christ, is what this spirituality inspires with faithfulness to the Gospel, obedience and loyalty to the Church and its magisterium.

In a world where most people seek power and money for the worldly pleasures they offer, these values show dependence on Divine Providence and the right use of wealth for the poor and the marginalized. They encourage men and women not to be overly preoccupied with leading others just for social recognition, but with humble service, and not to be distressed whenever they lose any position. They also inspire various acts of penance and mortification to master selfish desires for a disciplined spirit to be cultivated on a personal and communal basis.

These characteristics are lived by members of the Franciscan family, which comprises of three Orders with numerous pious associations and religious congregations that also adopt these ideals of Francis, which has produced numerous Franciscan saints and has shaped the Franciscan Order for centuries.