TERZIARI FRANCESCANI DELLA SANTA CROCE. – They were founded by Brother Giacomo Wirth (1830–72), who was the first superior general, and Brother Antonio Weber (1829–1910).
Both already professed members of the Third Order, in 1855 they began to lead a common life, opening their house near Waldbreitbach (Trier) for the poor and orphans. In 1869 they were approved by the bishop of Trier and, having been aggregated to the Franciscan Order in 1907, by the Holy See in 1910. They devote themselves to various works of charity, including the care of the mentally ill. They now number 276 religious in 26 houses.
BIBL.: A. Sinningen, Katholische Männerorden in Deutschland, 2nd ed., Düsseldorf [1934], pp. 142–46; anon., Breve storia della Congregazione dei T. Franc. della S. Croce, Rome, (n. d.). Cesario van Hulst