Summary: The need to discern among the many causes of the present crisis in Religious Orders motivates an empirical research. To this end, a survey has been designed and conducted among Franciscan Provinces in Western Countries in order to ascertain the possible correlation between some internal factors, like strictness, sense of identity, religious activities, doctrinal certainty and forms of prayer, with the levels of vocations. The findings show a complex situation, where the correlation coefficient for all the factors together is quite high, as the so called “New Paradigm” predicts. A theological interpretation of the results is also offered.