Religious Habit and Training
The friars wear a gray religious habit with a hood, a cord, and sandals. Beards are also characteristic for members of the order. The rope worn as a belt around the waist symbolizes being girded with Christ and is tied in the three characteristic Franciscan knots which signify the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience which are taken upon becoming a member of the community.
Those interested in becoming members of the community go through various stages: postulancy lasting six months, followed by a year-long novitiate after which simple vows are taken. The newly-professed members then spend a year or more living in one of the friaries. Final vows (life-time) are not made until a person has been a member of the community for at least five years. Those who feel called to the Ministerial Priesthood pursue their studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers; during this time, the students live in a nearby friary.
Read more about this topic: Franciscan Friars Of The Renewal
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