Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Cultivating the Franciscan spirit in the diocese and beyond
Cultivating the Franciscan spirit in the diocese and beyond
The Franciscan roots of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word come from Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A. She founded the community in 1987 to serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angeles Monastery in Irondale. As a Poor Clare of Perpetual Adoration, an order with Sts. Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi as patrons, Mother Angelica had a deep love and reverence for the two saints. This is visible in her TV broadcasts, writings, and the architecture of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, as it resembles the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. Everything about the shrine, which Mother Angelica had built, is an expression of St. Francis’ life and spirituality.
The Franciscan roots of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word come from Mother Mary Angelica, P.C.P.A. She founded the community in 1987 to serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angeles Monastery in Irondale. As a Poor Clare of Perpetual Adoration, an order with Sts. Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi as patrons, Mother Angelica had a deep love and reverence for the two saints. This is visible in her TV broadcasts, writings, and the architecture of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, as it resembles the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. Everything about the shrine, which Mother Angelica had built, is an expression of St. Francis’ life and spirituality.
When the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word was founded, Mother Angelica did so with the intention of it being Franciscan and living the first order rule of St. Francis. At our founding, she was helped by a diocesan priest from Florida. He was the first superior; however, his vision was different from hers. He wanted the community to be more contemplative and to lean towards following the rule of St. Augustine. The first friars of the community wore a blue habit, then black cassocks. The co-founding priest eventually parted ways, and on March 25, 1994, the community officially donned the habit of St. Francis and moved into their current home, the Annunciation Friary. The habit currently worn is brown and resembles a Capuchin Franciscan habit. It has a monstrance embroidered on the front, like one worn on a necklace by the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.
The friars follow the first order rule of St. Francis. Our constitutions instruct us on how to best live the rule. The spirituality of St. Francis is living radically and literally like Jesus. Francis wanted to live like Jesus in every conceivable way, especially poverty and in becoming one with Christ crucified. We wear the habit everywhere we go, imitating St. Francis’ poverty and call to proclaim the Gospel through word and example.
St. Francis had a strong Marian devotion. He approached the Eucharist with love, awe, and reverence. Mother Angelica, in founding the community, said there were to be two pillars: love of the Eucharist and Marian devotion. From the Eucharist we draw strength, perseverance, and inspiration. St. Francis of Assisi thirsted with his whole body and soul after Christ. Drawing hope from his example, the friars are strengthened by our closeness to God. Praying together in common and coming before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we, too, seek to thirst with our whole body and soul after Jesus Christ. Enlivened and united by the celebration of Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are fortified in charity, loyalty, and fidelity to Christ and to each other. As a Franciscan brotherhood, we support one another by communal prayer, serving the Lord side by side, and recreating together.
Our mission is to imitate Jesus in bringing back the stray sheep and in serving them in every spiritual need, by direction, teaching, retreats, and using any form of media. We live by the verse, “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back.” (Ez 34:16) The friars promote Eucharistic devotion through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and catechizing.
Our primary apostolate is serving the spiritual needs of EWTN. We do this through the celebration of live television Mass, serving the pastoral needs of employees, leading devotions, and prayer. Friars also give network tours and sometimes are involved in behind-the-scenes media production. We also provide for the spiritual needs of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery located at the shrine. There we provide visitors with Mass, Confessions, spiritual talks, tours, and healing service Holy Hours.
In 2016, we began providing for the spiritual needs of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word, also based in Irondale, celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions for them and their visitors. In parishes throughout the Diocese of Birmingham, the friars also help covering Masses, hearing Confessions, and assisting with penance services. As missionaries, we give retreats and parish missions throughout the country. In 2011, the community started MFVA media to carry out our own evangelization, to promote vocations, and to train brothers in formation in the fields of mass media. MFVA Media content is available on the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word social media platforms of YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.
To learn more about the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, please visit franciscanmissionaries.com.
