March 23, 2026 update to a recent blog “Servant of God Adele Brice & Our Lady of Champion (WI, USA)”

From: https://championshrine.org/timeline/

Adele and her companions form a community of Third Order Franciscans and begin to stabilize their missionary work in a farmhouse not far from the wood frame Chapel. Later in the year a school and convent are built of wood frame construction.

Update:

Based on a more complete biography of Adele Brice from the records at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, we have confirmation that Adele & her group of “Sisters” were not canonically established as a religious Order but were a group of lay/secular women living a Franciscan life.  According to the terminology of that period in history, they were “Third Order” (our current Secular Franciscan Order).

Some Third Order/Secular Franciscan History:

In A Short History of the Third Order by Marion Habig, OFM & Mark Hegener, OFM (1963), Part 2 addresses the history of the Third Order of St. Francis in the USA from approximately the early 1900’s through the mid-1960’s.  In the Introduction to the book, the author cites two ancient philosophers concerning the importance of knowing one’s history: Cicero called history the “teacher of life” and Dryden rephrased this concept as “the most pleasant school of wisdom”.

1. The authors frequently use the term Tertiary or tertiaries which is just a shortened form of “Third Order member(s)”.  The term Tertiary is still used but only rarely.
2. While it’s probable that some Third Order Franciscans came to America when Franciscan friars traveled with the early explorers, the Third Order had little organization, uniform practices or recorded history till the late 19th – early 20th century.  What little they did have was predominantly in the hands of the friars & developed during a few national Congresses or Conventions under Franciscan friar leadership & then distributed to the Third Order fraternities.
3. The General Constitutions of 1957 and new Ritual helped to facilitate this necessary unification. But along with this unification came a sense of being 2^nd class Franciscan religious.  Although they didn’t take vows, Tertiaries were expected to practice the evangelical virtues of faith, hope and charity in a heroic way, have a regulated prayer life, take religious names (called each other Sister or Brother [chosen name]) & wear a “habit” daily which, over the years, went from a modified religious habit to a scapular and cord.
4. The Second Vatican Council (early 1960’s) and Popes John XXIII and Paul VI (both of whom were Third Order Franciscans) encouraged all religious & lay Orders to “look to your roots” as a means to revitalize their Orders. These factors were the impetus for the Franciscan friars to encourage & support the lay Third Order leaders to honor the sacredness of their lay vocation; to assume responsibility for updating their governing documents to meet the needs of the times and to discern “what is ours to do” (which included changing the name of our Order to “The Secular Franciscan Order”).
5. Frs. Habig & Hegener closed Part II with “the Third Order was founded to ‘satisfy a thirst for heroism’ in the hearts of people”.

Do you feel called to “satisfy a thirst for (personal spiritual) heroism”?  Are you living in such a way that you inflame a thirst for spiritual heroism in others?

Terri Leone, OFS

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2026  Issue #118)

By Anne Hope Mulqueen, OFS • National Formation Commission

Faith is a gift from God and a grace-filled relationship with the Almighty. As we grow in faith, we are challenged to discern what God expects of us. True faith leads to action, and that action may vary depending on God’s unfolding purpose for each person’s life. In the Letter of James, he reminds us that faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:14).

True faith deepens our relationship with God and attunes our actions with his will. It is a form of surrender to the divine. It is a theological virtue through which we accept as true all that God has revealed to us through Scripture and the Church. As the apostle John wrote, let us not love only with words, but with action and in truth. (1 John 3:18).

Our father Francis exemplifies faith in action. His radical decisions to renounce wealth and social status demonstrated complete faith and trust in God’s providence. Perhaps the most remarkable example of Francis’ faith-driven actions was his care for lepers. Through compassionate service to lepers, faith became visible and changed the lives of those he served. Love expressed through action is the beating heart of faith.

Not to be overlooked is the example of St. Clare. Led by the Lord, she resisted her family’s expectations and, believing it was God’s will for her life, sought the privilege of poverty. Through her strong leadership, she lived faith in action, inspiring her Poor Ladies to serve the poor with humility and love.

Our patron saints, St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Louis of France, also show us the way. Elizabeth and Louis, in their own unique ways, dedicated themselves to helping the poor and sick of their countries through acts of mercy. This is our heritage. This is our legacy. This is an example of how to live our faith every day.

Now is the time for us to do what we believe is right. Our faith should shape not only our attitudes but also our actions. Faith and action are intertwined.

In our Rule, Article 15 clearly states the connection between faith and action.

Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justive by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives.  Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith.

As Secular Franciscans, our faith in action primarily focuses on our families, workplaces, and communities. This does not mean that efforts toward peace, justice, ecology, and other good works are not worthwhile. We are expected to advocate for all that is good and just. However, as secular persons immersed in the world, we have the greatest influence in these three areas.

In these areas and in all active engagement with the world, we are called to approach our ministry and apostolates through prayer. Prayer aligns our intentions with our faith. We are to bring the values of Christ – especially love, truth, mercy, and forgiveness – to those who desperately need to experience them.

Jesus summarizes faith in action by saying, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). Love is the hallmark of faith-filled action and discipleship. Love does what it can to make the world a place where all experience “… conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.” (OFS Rule, Article 13). Loving actions make faith visible.

When we finally meet our maker, may we hear these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. …” (Matthew 25:21). What you did for the least, you did for me. (Paraphrase of Matthew 25:40).