IN THE FRANCISCAN FAMILY, THE SECULAR INSTITUTE OF THE MISSIONARIES OF THE ROYALTY OF CHRIST

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Peace and good!

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Saint Francis of Assisi was born in the city of Assisi in Italy, around the year 1181. He was the son of wealthy parents, had a normal childhood and a joyful, festive and even vain youth. But slowly the Lord called Francis from the world to a life of holiness and perfection. During a slow process of conversion, he felt called to a simple and evangelical life and attracted companions. He then founded the first Order. The Order of Friars Minor and gave them a rule of life: to live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It didn't take long for Clara, a young woman from the nobility of Assisi, to run away from home and join the evangelical life. Francis then founded the Order of Poor Ladies, known today as the Poor Clares. Francis' contagious example attracted married people who, on the advice of the poor man from Assisi, began a life of penance in their own homes. It was the birth of the third Order, today called the Secular Franciscan Order.

But the Holy Spirit works in the Church seeking to meet the needs of each time. From the Third Order several Franciscan religious orders of consecrated life were born and finally, at the beginning of the 20th century, in response to the new demands of the times that a missionary Church demands, the Secular Institutes were born. These are formed by lay people who live in the world, but who consecrate themselves entirely to the Lord. In 1919, in Italy, the Secular Institute of the Missionaries of the Royalty of Christ was born. They are women who, responding to a special vocation, consecrate themselves to the Lord and live the following of Christ in the spirit of Francis and through the vows of obedience, poverty and chastity. Obedience to God's Plan that is expressed in listening to what He says and asks. Poverty that consists of a sober, simple life, without ostentation and in an evangelical spirit and the option of a life of consecrated chastity gives complete freedom to love everyone and dedicate oneself to the service of the Kingdom.

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Founding date: Started in Assisi, Italy, on November 19, 1919

Founding country: Italy

Name of the founders: Armida Barelli and Fr.Agostinho Gemelli

Canonical status, Approval: Pontifical

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Number of members in Brazil: 44 members.

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Other countries where the Institute is present:

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Germany, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Colombia, Korea, China, Croatia, Ecuador, United States, Philippines France Hungary, England, Mauritius, Malawi, Ireland, Yugoslavia, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand , Poland, Rwanda, San Marino, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, Venezuela.