He Leads, I Follow. P. Lothar Hardick, O.F.M.

instruction, education, and development of youth, especially poor, neglected and orphaned children.”

      The Franciscan way of life is also expressed thusly: “The Sisters live according to the Rule of holy Father Francis as approved by Pope Leo X for the Third Order Regular with the exception of those changes appearing in the Constitution.” Historically, it is not quite correct to call the “Leo-Rule” the Rule of St. Francis. Does not this very point in its formulation betray the great joy of really belonging to the family of St. Francis? That the statutes deviated from the “Leo-Rule” was caused by necessity owing to the character of that Rule. Some of its regulations were no longer observed in the nineteenth century, for example, those regarding the divine office and the reception of the sacraments. The rule of fasting needed to be modified although the Olpe statutes had endeavored to adhere strictly to the “Leo-Rule.” Through personal experience the Sisters realized that a change had to be made and the severe rule mitigated. The “Leo-Rule” was not formulated for an active apostolate of charity, but for the contemplative orders. The effect of all this was that in 1927, the church gave a new rule to the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, more in keeping with the character of an active apostolate.

      Also, the mention of the three vows is entirely in keeping with the character of St. Francis: Poverty without property, chastity, and obedience. The addition “without property” to poverty indicates the wish of the poor man of Assisi.