Roman Catholic
Saint Joseph’s Hermitage Charter
Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Charter # 072519-2
Ecclesiastical Affiliation Charter
Date of Charter: July 25, 2019
Roman Catholic
Saint Joseph’s Hermitage
Sons of Saint Francis (SSF)
Friar David Elijah, SSF
Minister General | Founder
Very Reverend Michael Cuozzo+, OFE, MA, MDiv, DD, STD, PhD
Guardian
Saint Joseph’s Hermitage
Sons of Saint Francis (SSF)
Friar Elijah, SSF, is minister general and founder of Saint Joseph’s Hermitage, also founded the Sons of Saint Francis (SSF).
Saint Joseph’s Hermitage is nothing other than your place of residence. Saint Francis forbade any permanent place of residence and told his friars “wherever you take your bodies, that is your monastery, friary, convent or home.” Hermitages were common and a good place to “flee” community life in order to be wholly absorbed in “God alone.” When I envision the Sons of Saint Francis (SSF) as a respective and potential “Order,” I envision them living an eremitical existence formed by the Holy Spirit and ready to reap the harvest of souls.
Mission
Our mission as Sons of Saint Francis involves reformation of our Franciscan Order in particular, restoration of the Church in general; and the renewal of the world as a whole.
Charism
The nature of our charism as Sons of Saint Francis goes back to the original charism (gifts) and spirituality of our holy seraphic father, Saint Francis. We do not claim to be “official Friars Minor as such, but carrying on the primitive spirit and tradition of our founder, Saint Francis, we claim spiritual adoption as his sons.
Rule of Life
The Rule of Life of the Sons of Saint Francis is to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without property, and in chastity. Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to his holiness Pope Honorius and his lawfully elected successors and to the Church of Rome. The other friars are bound to Brother Francis and his successors.
Saint Joseph’s Hermitage Charter
Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Charter # 072519-2
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