We are a Contemplative Community living within the environs of the inner­city ghetto where we bring the presence of our Prayer Life and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

HISTORY AND SPIRIT — Founded in the Archdiocese of Boston in 1970 and approved by the Cardinal­Archbishop, the Community enjoys the fraternal blessing of the Franciscan Minister General in Rome. Although autonomous in government and formation program, we are under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Order of Friars Minor.
The Little Brothers follow the Rule for Regular Communities of the Third Order of Saint Francis and a set of unique guidelines for a Way Of Life patterned after Saint Francis' rule for Religious Life in Hermitages. We strive to imitate and experience the three great loves of Saint Francis: 1) Eucharistic Adoration and Liturgical Prayer, 2) Ministry to the "lepers" of our society, and 3) Actual poverty like Christ and His Apostles.

LITURGICAL PRAYER LIFE — Participating in the Church's official liturgical prayer, we regularly chant the Divine Office in common. We allow in our daily schedule for periods of silence, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration for one hour each day, meditative-reading and personal prayer. From the end of Night Prayer until after Mass the following morning, we observe "Grand Silence" to hear and to be responsive to the call of God. We place special emphasis on personal holiness, acquired in communal life through Penance and encounter with our Divine Lord in His true humanity: Tender in the Manger, sorrowful in His Passion and joyfully in His Resurrection.

Photo by Maureen Cotton (More of Maureen's photos of our community)

APOSTOLIC MINISTRY — To the poor ones of our city streets who together share a common loneliness and rejection by a materialistic and impersonal society, we bring the healing love of Jesus in our "evangelical street ministry." We listen to their individual problems and share with them the happiness of the Gospel message, thereby giving them hope. We dedicate our lives to Christ in a service of love to our poorer brothers and sisters. We see our vocation to the Brotherhood as a sign of the humility and obscurity that characterized the life of the Holy Family at Nazareth.

POVERTY AND VOWS — Obedient to the Church, our Holy Father the Pope, our Superiors, and submissive to the Will of God in our lives, and as a means of true conversion, we embrace humility and actual Poverty. Obedience and Celibacy free us from the tyranny of self-centered impulse to totally consecrate our lives to Christ, Who is the Light of the World. We seek to be consumed in His flame — to be the hands of Jesus to the poor and the smile of Jesus to the whole world.

THE HABIT — We wear a blue denim habit of Traditional Franciscan style with Cord and Franciscan Crown Rosary.

DAILY LIFE

	4:30 am	Rising
	5:00	Lectio Divina, Personal Prayer
	5:45	Angelus, LAUDS (Morning Prayer)
	6:15	Communal Meditation
	7:00	Daily Liturgy of the Eucharist
	7:45	Breakfast
	8:15	Household chores, classes, or assigned ministries
	12:00 noon	Lunch
	1:00 pm	Quiet time, solitude in cells for Lectio, Study, Reading, Prayer, etc.
	3:00	Mid-Day Prayer
	4:00	EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
	5:00	Free Time
	5:30	Angelus, VESPERS (Evening Prayer)
	6:00	Dinner, Scripture Reading
	7:00	Recreation
	8:00	Examine, COMPLINE (Night Prayer), SALVE, Grand Silence, Study, Retire
Schedule varies on Saturdays, Sundays, Solemnities and Summer. FORMATION PROGRAM Observership — three to six months Postulancy — six months Novitiate — one year Final Profession — follows three to six years of temporary vows Application may be made for week­long "Come and See" visit. For further information, please contact: Little Brothers of Saint Francis 785 - 789 Parker Street Boston, Massachusetts 02120 - 3021 617-442-2556 Links: Photos — Bro. James, Pro Fidelitate et Virtute Award Recipient Maureen Cotton's photos of our community Institute on Religious Life — how to discover your vocation Home Page