WELCOME! THE FRANCISCANS The Franciscan order is one of the four great mendicant orders of the church, and its members strive to cultivate the ideals of poverty and charity. The Franciscan motto is pax et bonum , which means peace and all good . Franciscan theology can refer to a wide range of principles; Franciscan spirituality generally aligns with the teachings of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Three orders were founded by the Italian saint Saint Francis of Assisi . They include three independent religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor being the largest contemporary male order), an order for nuns known as the Order of Saint Clare , and the Third Order of Saint Francis , a religious and secular group open to male and female members. Congregations of these religious men and women are numerous all over the world, and the Franciscans are the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. Sources:...