Paul Alexander TSSF

A good question with a very muddled, convoluted potential answer. I joined so long ago I can’t remember when or precisely why. In retrospect half of my answer is probably fanciful. I joined because I had met two Franciscans at my school. Br Douglas was one of them. I was impressed by them because they joined in our weekly cross country run and were happy to have a nip of whiskey that we’d secreted in a hedge on route. I cycled to Hilfield Friary for a weekend and was caught up in the atmosphere of the place. When I had started out as a young actor I became very low being out of work and hitch hiked to Hilfield Friary. I thought maybe I had a vocation but was put right by Brother Jonathan who said I had a vocation as an actor. Through meeting Brother Michael and probably, almost certainly, Brother Edward, I joined the Third Order. I thought it would give me an anchor for my chaotic life style. That was some forty odd years ago and the anchor is just beginning to hold me together now.

So, ‘ What does this involve and why?’ Well, it involves a rule of life freely enjoined and worked out to fit one’s needs along certain spiritual guidelines. It involves being a member of a community of hopefully like minded people and it involves following certain Franciscan principles viz humility, love and joy. .’Why?’ Because it makes sense. Do we want to lie selfish, unhappy lives or do we want to live liberated, sharing, caring and joyful lives? It’s a no brainer.