application in different areas and at the various levels of the Order, belongs to the General Chapter of the OFS. The clarification of specific points which require a timely decision belongs to the Presidency of the International Council of the OFS. The International Council of the OFS statutes are approved by the General Chapter of the OFS and confirmed by the Union of the Franciscan Ministers General. National fraternities have their own statutes approved by the Presidency of the International Council of the OFS. The regional and the local fraternities may have their own statutes approved by the council of the higher level. The fraternities at different levels are animated and guided by the minister or president, with the council, in accordance with the Rule, the Constitutions, and their own Statutes. These offices are conferred through elections. NAFRA reports that in the United States there are currently 30 regions, 700 fraternities, and 14,500 professed members. In 2002, the CIOFS reported a worldwide membership of 400,000 professed members. The International Fraternity is constituted by the organic union of all the Catholic Secular Franciscan fraternities in the world. It is identical to the OFS with its own juridical personality within the Church, organized and in conformity with the Constitutions and its own Statutes. The International Fraternity is guided and animated by the Minister or President with the International Council (CIOFS), which has its seat in Rome, Italy. Spirituality Franciscan spirituality Francis's spirituality was simply to "observe the Gospel." Pope Pius XII stated in 1956: As a summary of the elements of Franciscan spirituality, a Franciscan should live: in communion with Christ poor and crucified, in the love of God, in brother/sisterhood with all people and all of creation, participating in the life and mission of the Church, in continual conversion, in a life of prayer – liturgical, personal, communal, as instruments of peace. St. Bonaventure Bonaventure, the seraphic doctor, is regarded as deeply penetrated and imbued with the mind of Francis of Assisi. Étienne Gilson has said that in reading Saint Bonaventure, one receives the impression that it is if Saint Francis has been raised up and is philosophizing. Bonaventure sought to know God in Him in order to love and serve Him. Besides his popular writing, Bonaventure has written works of pure spirituality in strict dependence and vital application on Christ, because he felt that all knowledge that is not founded