Franciscan Zoom Lecture by Darleen Pryds, PhD

“Franciscan-hearted People and the So-Called “The Fourth Order:” The Tradition of Lay Franciscans
by Darleen Pryds, PhD

Lay People have been an integral part of the Franciscan tradition from the beginning. This talk will trace the history of that lay participation in the earliest decades and see how it can inform our understanding of lay participation today. I’ll give particular attention to what has been called “Fourth Order,” or the many people who self-identify as “Franciscan” without claiming any official membership in one of the traditional three orders of the Franciscan Family. I’ll conclude with some reflections on the future of the Franciscan charism in the 21st century.