The Second Order of St. Francis (i.e., the Poor Clares) are specifically a contemplative order!
There are some orders of women contemplatives (e.g., Carmelites, Franciscans, Benedictines…) that began as contemplatives and later had religious congregations with active apostolates form using their original rule in a revised manner. So we now have active congregations of men and women who are Carmelites, Franciscans, etc.
But to say that the Franciscans are not a contemplative order is to completely ignore the Poor Clares, the second order of Franciscans! If you are speaking solely about the first order (Friars Minor) you didn’t indicate that, so please forgive me if I misunderstood your comment.
Gertie
