Where did the idea of the Confraternity of Penitents originate?
Ultimately from the Holy Spirit, our true Founder, Who, in the late twentieth century, was preparing hearts for this call to holiness through a life of penance. It seems to have been the Holy Spirit’s intent to call souls from around the world to live some adaptation of the Rule of 1221. One individual was persistently called to live this Rule and to adapt it to modern life and then to organize into an association for all who were also hearing the call of the Holy Spirit to live the penitential life. Thus, in 1994 this individual answered the personal call and began to live the Rule of 1221. This adaptation of the Rule of 1221 was presented first to a spiritual director for approval, and then, in 1995 to others, and finally to diocesan officials. From this little beginning, the Confraternity of Penitents began.
