"Note: St. Francis called his friars, or brothers, 'lesser' to locate them in society among the little people, the poor and lowly, who were called 'minores,' 'lesser ones,' in medieval Italy. The more affluent, or the nobility, were called 'majores,' or 'greater ones'.""....The Rule and Life of the Lesser Brothers is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without anything of their own, and in chastity." --St. Francis, Rule of 1223, Chapter 1
This "Rule and Life" doesn't just apply to friars. All who are called into a relationship with Christ must live in obedience to Him, and while we may possess much, we are to live as though we do not own it. Everything comes from God and belongs to Him. As for chastity, these men were to devote their entire lives to God and therefore not marry. Chastity was part of that. But we who are married must also be chaste in our relationships outside of our marriage relationship.
