OUR RULES IN THE

CLOUD

Chapter I. About the foundation of the brothers rule and life. 

Chapter II. About entry into our Order. 

Chapter III. About the spirit of prayer. 

Chapter IV. About a life of chastity for heaven's sake. 

Chapter V. About the Service and the Work.

 Chapter VI. About a life in poverty. 

Chapter VII. About a life in brotherhood. 

Chapter VIII. About the obedience of love. 

Chapter IX. About the Apostolic Life.

To all who love the Lord with all their heart, of all their soul, of all their understanding, and of all their power, and who love their neighbor as himself, who rebuke the body with its sinful desires and desires, which receive our Lord Jesus The Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the altar, which generates the fruits of repentance in abundance: How blessed are the people who do so and endure to the end, for the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon them and dwell in them and abide them. These are the Heavenly Father's children, whose deeds they do. They are the betrothed of our Lord Jesus Christ, His brothers and sisters, and His mother. Yes, we are the faithful of our Lord Jesus Christ if our souls are united with him in the Holy Spirit. We are His brothers and sisters when we do His Heavenly Father's will. We are his mother when we, filled with divine love, with pure intentions, and with a sincere conscience, carry him spiritually in our heart and physically in our body. Then, through good and holy deeds, we can bring him forth to the world, for our good works shall shine as an example to others. How holy, glorious, and great is not the Father we have in heaven! How holy, comforting, beautiful, and wonderful is not Jesus Christ, who has betrothed himself to us in the Spirit! Yes, how holy, gracious, joyful, peaceable, and blessed is not he who enlightens us, our dear Lord and brother, the one we desire, the Son who gave his life for the sheep, prayed to his Father and said: Holy Father, keep in your Names, those you gave to me in this world. They were yours and you gave them to me. The words that you gave me, I have given to them. They have received these words and in Truth believed you sent me. Now I do not pray for the world, but for them. Bless and sanctify them, for for their sake I sanctify myself for a sacrifice, but I pray not only for them, but also for the others, who by their words shall believe in me, that they may be sanctified. I pray that they all will remain one in me as we are one. Father, I want them to be with me where I am, to see my glory in your kingdom.

Or the fruits of the cure and the repentance - the penance of repentance.

CHAPTER I.About the foundation of the brothers rule and life.

1. The brothers must then live their lives, observing the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and living in poverty, chastity, and obedience. Because they want to follow Jesus Christ in the example of Saint Francis, they must understand that they are called upon to make ever greater efforts to comply with Christ's commandments and counsel, and to neglect themselves as they have promised.

Leave a sororum (brothers and sisters who obey this rule).

2. The Brothers of Our Order must persevere in true faith and penance together with all who serve the Lord in the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Since they intend to live a life of daily repentance marked by prayer and poverty in a spirit of humility according to the Gospel of Christ, they must refrain from doing all that is evil and enduring doing all that is good until the end. Then the Son of God, when he returns in his glory, himself shall say to those who confess to him, worship him and serve him in his endeavor to make repentance: repent, who is blessed by my Father, and possess it kingdom that he has prepared for you from the beginning of time.

3. The Brothers have promised the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church obedience and reverence, and the same reverent attitude they will take as they obey their leaders, the brothers who are their servants in the various fraternities of our Order. May they also show concern for each other and eagerly interweave each other under all circumstances and wherever they are. Also, let them promote fellowship and supremacy within all the branches of the great family.

That is in the various fraternities and provinces, and in our Order in its entirety.

CHAPTER II.About entry into our Order.

4. Those who come to us through the Lord's initiation and request entry into this life shall be treated with all kindness. At the appropriate time, in accordance with our order, they shall be presented to those who are responsible for the examination and admission of aspirants.

5. The Order of Our Order * will make sure that aspirants in truth adhere to the Catholic Church and the Protestant Faith and, in accordance with the Church's discipline, diligently use their sacrament. If everything indicates that they are called to this life, they must be initiated into the brothers' way of life and fellowship. That which concerns our living according to the evangelical counsel shall be explained to them in detail, in particular the word of the Lord: If you want to be perfect, go and sell whatever you own and give to the poor; and ye shall receive a treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. And further: If anyone wants to follow me, he must forsake himself, take his cross on him and follow me.

Ministri (servant).

6. Under the guidance of the Lord, novices should begin to cure, aware that we must all, completely, constantly, and again, repent. As an external sign of the will of repentance, and of their devotion to this gospel way of life, they must then be clothed and wear a simple suit * and live in simple conditions.The words costume.

7. After his probationary period novices shall be promoted to the public profession, whereby they shall promise to always adhere to this way of life and this rule of law. Then they put away everything that binds them to the world and draws them, with all the worries and all their worries. May their only endeavor be, in the heart of purity and in purity, love, glory, worship, and worship, and serve the Lord God with all their power.

8. When a brother makes his promises, he must dwell within himself a home and home to the Lord God, the Almighty, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so that he can grow in the universal love of undivided heart as targets both God and man.

CHAPTER III.About the spirit of prayer.

9. In every convention, or wherever they are, every day, and in all seasons, the brothers shall honor, love, promise, bless, glorify, and serve our Most High and Eternal God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with a true and humble faith, and with a pure heart, worship him. It is the Father's will that we should pray continually without being disturbed. In this spirit, the brothers must pray their time prayers in conjunction with the universalChurch.

The brothers are called by the Lord to a life that will hold the pondering and inner prayer. ** Let the brothers express a dedication to him who is without worry and keep worship with renewed joy, daily celebrating his love for the world.Or contemplation. Illi quo Dominus ad vitamin contemplationis ..."Which is the only thing necessary" - is implied.

10. May the brethren praise the Lord, the King of heaven and the earth with all created beings, and may they thank Him, who, according to His own holy will, created everything visible and invisible, and who made us humans to His own image and likeness.

11. Because Christ Himself is the WORD of the Father, and since the brothers in everything want to submit to His Holy Gospel, they shall hide His words in their hearts and ponder them. May they also learn the words of the Holy Ghost throughout the Holy Scriptures, for these are Spirit and Life."All Holy Scripture" is implied.

12. The brothers will diligently participate in the Holy Mass, which is the sacrifice service of our Lord Jesus Christ, and receive His Body and Blood with great humility and devotion. They will think of what the Lord said: He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. Yes, they will show the greatest possible reverence for the Holy Name, JESUS, for his words in the Holy Scriptures, and for his body and blood, for through these things reconciliation with God, the Almighty, and peace, has been prepared for all as in heaven and earth.

13 When one of the brethren commits a sin, he shall begin the inner punishment without delay and proclaim sincere remorse * in his heart, to carry out the external penalty by confessing a priest. They must also undertake the works that are truly the fruits of repentance. They must fast and strive for a simple and humble life. Nothing else should they desire than our Savior Himself, for He sacrificed His own blood for the sake of our sins on the altar of the cross, and gave Himself as an example, so that we could follow in His footsteps.

Contritio. One must strive for complete repentance, which is completely rooted in the love of God, despite the fact that complete repentance rooted in the fear of the punishment of sin suffices to be able to repent of a priest and receive redemption. Oral confession before a priest, however, is a requirement even if one believes that the repentance is complete.

CHAPTER IV.About a life of chastity for heaven's sake.

14 Let the brethren reflect on the dignity of the Lord God. He made them into his own likeness according to the spirit * and to his beloved Son's image according to the flesh. Yes, he created them through Christ and in Christ they have chosen this way of life, which is based on what he, our Redeemer, has said and done."According to the Spirit," does not refer to the Holy Spirit of God but to the immortal soul of man.

15. By a promise to live in chastity * for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, the brothers have announced their intention to devote themselves only to the things of the Lord, and they shall not engage in anything other than to do the will of the Lord and please him. Let their love for God and for all mankind permeate everything they do.That is live in sexual abstinence, which is the responsibility of all believers who are unmarried. Here, however, is meant those who are called to lifelong celibacy. Believing men and women who are part of marriage live chastely as they live in lifelong sexual fidelity to each other.

16. The brothers should often remind them that they have been called by God and received a special gift of grace in order to reveal in their lives the great mystery of love by which Christ has joined his church as a bridegroom with his bride.

17. The brothers shall continually keep the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God Mary, and our Lord Jesus Christ as exemplary. They may think of the call of the Holy Church as highly revered Mary, our Holy Wife and Queen, for Christ's Church originated in Mary's virginity. May they always remember that Virgo, who was immaculate in sin, and whose example they are to imitate, called themselves the servant of the Lord.

CHAPTER V.

About the ways of service and work.

18. May the brothers consider themselves as small people whom the Lord has given grace to serve others, not least through the work of their hands. May they do this faithfully and conscientiously. They shall flee the idleness, which is the enemy of the soul, but they shall not be so busy with their work that the spirit of the holy prayer and the holy worship be extinguished, for prayer and worship are more valuable than anything else on earth.

19. For their services and their work, the brothers receive what is needed for their temporal needs. They will receive what they receive in a humble way, as they should, for they are the servants of God and the disciples of the Most Holy Poverty. Everything beyond what the brothers need to be handed over to the needy.

May the brothers never strive to stand over others. Instead, let them beservants and see themselves as subordinate to every man.

20. May the brethren be gentle, peaceful, modest, gentle, and humble, and may be courteous to every man according to his calling. Wherever they are, or wherever they travel throughout the world, the brothers must be careful not to quarrel or to be arguing, nor should they be convicted of others. Let them be truly joyful in the Lord, and good-natured, which is appropriate. When they greet each other, they will say: The peace of the Lord is with you.CHAPTER VI.About a life in poverty.

21. Because our Lord Jesus Christ was exceedingly rich, but blotted out for our sake, and as His Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, chose a life of poverty, so all the brethren dedicated to his poverty and humility. Let the brothers own the same mind about the use of the good of this world as the Apostle, for he said: If we have food and clothing, we shall be satisfied. May the brethren be on their guard with money and joyfully live among rash, mediocre, weak, despised, oppressed, and distressed people.

22. Those who, according to the Lord's example, are truly poor in spirit, live in this world as pilgrims and strangers. They are not eager to own anything, and they do not guard the things they have. Spiritual poverty is the highest poverty, for it makes us the heirs and rulers of the kingdom of heaven. It leads to a lack of material things, but to a wealth of virtues. May the path of spiritual poverty become our way, for it can bring us to the land of the living where we have our fair share. Let us stick to this path for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and never want anything else as our lot under heavenCHAPTER VII.About a life in brotherhood.

23. Because God loves us, the brothers will love each other. The Lord says, "My command is this, that you should love one another as I have loved you." May the brothers allow their love to work in their deeds. Whenever they meet, it should be noted that they all belong to a single family. They must make their needs known to each other. Blessed are those who show love for a brother who is sick and does not seem to be of any use as well as for a brother who is healthy and can be of service. In health or illness they shall only request that God's will be done. Whatever happens to them, they must thank their Creator.

24. If discord arises among the brethren by word or deed, one with humility and of the heart shall immediately ask the other for forgiveness, and this before the sacrifice of prayer shall be made. If any of them violates the common way of life that they all have joined, they in our Order must admonish him or others who know about it. Let those who admonish do their duty without talking about him or shame on him. One must pay close attention to the self-righteousness that causes discomfort or anger, for discomfort and anger hinder the work of love.

CHAPTER VIII.About the obedience of love.

25. According to the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who fully associates his will with the Father, the brothers should remember how necessary it is to deny their own will in their pursuit of God. As they gather in chapters and in all their deliberations, they will first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and urge each other to observe this rule of conscience more and to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let no one be powerless or try to rule over the others, but each one in freedom and with love must serve and obey each other. This is the true and holy obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26. In every fraternity *, the brothers always have one among them as the director. This one is called to be their servant. Everyone is strictly obliged to obey the director of everything that does not conflict with conscience and this rule of law, for so they have promised the Lord.

27. The brethren's rulers, who have authority among them, will indeed act as servants. They should socialize with everyone and encourage and exhort everyone with humble love. Should there be any of the brothers who doubt that he can comply with this rule of law in the right spirit, let him acknowledge this to himself and turn to the director who has the duty to watch over the different fraternities. May this man treat such a brother with love and kindness and treat him as a righteous foreman treating his workers. Then the brethren's servants shall go astray.

28. No one shall seize any office or service as if its possession were a personal right. Anyone who holds an office or service shall willingly leave his place for another when his time has expired.CHAPTER IX.About the Apostolic Life.

29. The brethren shall love the Lord with all their heart, with all their soul, with all their understanding, and with all their might, and with their neighbor as themselves. May they glorify God in all that they do, for he has sent them out into the world for them to testify by word and deed according to his command and preach to all that the Lord alone is God.

30. When the brothers proclaim peace with their lips, they must ensure that they have peace in their hearts. They should not offend anyone or cause anger at anyone, but induce peace, good will and mercy in others through their gentleness. Let the brothers heal the wounded, connect the injured, and return the lost. May they always remember to deny themselves and leave themselves completely in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. In their love for Christ, they must be prepared to reveal themselves to every enemy, visible or invisible. * The Lord says: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness, for they belong to the kingdom of heaven.The devil and his followers.

31. All brothers, whether living a concealed life in prayer * or serving others through acts of mercy, or doing body work, should be humble and hold fast to love, because God is love. They must not seek their own glory. They must never be complacent or proud of any good deed or good word that God has spoken through them. Wherever they are, and under all circumstances of life, they must confess that all good comes from our Most High Lord, who rules over everything, and they must continually thank Him, for He is the source of all goodness.In an eremitage.

EPILOGUEThe Catholic and Protestant Church admonishes their followers and their blessings.

32. May the brothers always possess this mind, namely, that the Holy Spirit of God may act in them. Rooted in the Catholic and Protestant Church beliefs, they must subordinate themselves to the Catholic and Protestant Church of our Holy Mother, in a life of poverty and humility, and must obey the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as they have solemnly promised. Those who strive to observe these things shall be abundantly blessed in heaven by our Most High Father, and upon the earth they shall be blessed by the beloved Son of God and the Holy Spirit our helper, and by all saints, that they may be fulfilled with all virtue. And I, our Jesus, your little brother our help when serving, as far as I can, affirm this high holy blessing upon your inner and outer man

Prayer of the Holy Francis of Assisi before the crucified Christ:You Supreme and Honorary God, enlighten the darkness of my heartand give me a right faith, a firm hopeand a perfect love, and insight into your holy will for me,and make me affectionate, that I may fulfill it.Through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.