Padre Pio Reactivating Fraternity Sponsored by the Brothers and Sisters of St. Francis Region Volume 1, Issue 3 October 2012

BSSF Region Jerry Rousseau, OFS, Saint Francis of ~1182 - October 3, 1226 Minister Paula Zanker, OFS, Transitus of St. : October 3, 2012 DorothyAnn Rowland, OFS from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Area 3 Councilorx A devotion familiar to all that has survived AppointedCouncil Members: the test of the last three decades is the Transitus. Rev Douglas P. Reed, An Invitation Spiritual Asst. Joanne Jacovec, OFS, Minister Eugene Nagy, OFS Vice-Minister Marguerite Zombek, OFS Treasurer Michael Evaniuck, OFS Secretary

"Love the Madonna and pray the for Description: The Reactivating Padre Pio Fraternity of the Secular her Rosary is the weapon against the Franciscan Order invites you to celebrate the Vigil of the Feast of evil of the world St. Francis of Assisi at the commemoration of the Transitus. This is today." the night when Franciscans around the world reflect on the passage ~ St. Pio of St. Francis from life through death into eternal life. The ~ Come join us ~ Transitus includes songs and readings from Scripture and the life of The gatherings Are usually held St. Francis. Light refreshments will be served after the service. We In Trinity Center Top look forward to having you join us. Joanne Jacovec, OFS, Minister floor 4th Sunday @1:30 pm (Subject to change.) Location: St. Michael the Archangel Church , @ St Michael Catholic Archangel Centre Gallery, Church, 804 High House Road, 804 High House Road, Cary, North Carolina. Cary, NC

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The Month of October

October is the month of the Rosary, because of the anniversary of victory at the Battle at Lepanto and the feast of occurring in October. The Battle of Lepanto and the institution of the feast day took place in the 17th century; in the late 1800s, Pope Leo XIII officially dedicated the entire month to devotion to the Holy Rosary. October 7th, 1571, the Battle of Lepanto, was a major turning point in the ongoing conflicts between Europe and the Ottoman Empire. The Holy League credited the victory to the Virgin Mary, whose intercession with God they had implored for victory through the use of the Rosary. Andrea Doria had kept a copy of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe Extramadera given to him by King Philip II of Spain in his ship's stateroom. instituted a new Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate the battle, which is now celebrated by the Catholic Church as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of September 2012

General Intention: New Evangelization. That the New Evangelization may progress in the oldest Christian countries.

Missionary Intention: World Mission Day. That the celebration of World Mission Day may result in a renewed commitment to evangelization. _ (See also www.apostleshipofprayer.net)

Franciscan Saints for October

3 St. John of Dukla, priest, I Ord. 4 Our Holy Father Francis, deacon, Founder of the Three Orders 6 St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, virgin, III Ord. (Although she suffered continuously, our Lord also gave Mary Frances great graces and consolations. She received the marks of the wounds of Christ and was granted the gift of prophecy and of miracles.) 10 St. Daniel, priest, and companions, martyrs [Angelus, Samuel, Donulus, Leo, Hugolinus and Nicholas], I Ord. 10 Bl. Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska, III Ord. (founder of the Felician Sisters). 11 Bl. John XXIII, pope, III Ord. (called the historic Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). 12 St. Seraphin of Montegranaro, religious, I Ord. 13 Bl. Honorat Kozminski, priest, I Ord., 20 Bl. James of Strepar, bishop, I Ord. 20 Bl. Contardo Ferrini, III Ord. (He is known as the patron of universities). 21 Bl. Josephine Leroux, virgin, martyr, II Ord. 22 St. Peter of Alcantara, priest, I Ord. 23 St. John of Capestrano, priest, I Ord. (He is the patron saint of jurists and military chaplains). 25 St. Antonio de Santa Ana (Frei Galvao) 26 Bl. Maria Jesus Ferragut, virgin, and companions, martyrs of Valencia [Maria Veronica Masiá, Maria Felicity Masiá Ferragut, Isabel Claduch Rovira, Milagros Ortells Gimeno], II Ord 26 Bl. of Potenza, priest, I Ord. 31 Bl. Angelo of Acri, priest, I Ord. Page 3 Padre Pio Reactivating Fraternity

Story of the Franciscan Crown (www.prayerfulrosary.com/Franciscan.html)

The story of the Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin dates back to the early 15th century. A pious young man named James had been accustomed to adorning a beautiful statue of Mary with a crown of flowers, which he had picked and woven himself. He later entered the Franciscan Order, but either because of a lack of time or permission, he was no longer able to continue this devotion. Distraught because of this, he decided to abandon the religious life and return to the world. Our Lady then appeared to him and convinced him not to leave the order. She told him that he should not be downcast because he was no longer permitted to adorn her statue, for she would teach him a way to give her honor which was much more pleasing and meritorious. Instead of a crown of flowers, which quickly wither, he was to weave a crown of prayers, and these prayers could be offered at any moment. She then taught him the Rosary of the Seven Joys, adding that these prayers would not only form a more acceptable crown, but they would also yield innumerable graces for himself and others. This simple but beautiful devotion of praying the Crown of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin soon spread over the entire Franciscan Order and was officially established in 1422.

The Franciscan Crown Rosary is a Rosary consisting of seven decades with each decade describing a particular joy from the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Seven Joys are:

1) The 2) The Visitation 3) The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ 4) The Adoration of the Magi 5) The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple 6) The Appearance of Christ to Mary after the Resurrection 7) The Assumption and Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven

How to Pray the Crown Rosary

The Franciscan Crown Rosary begins quite simply by stating the first Mystery and then praying one Our Father and ten Hail Marys while meditating upon it. This same procedure is then followed for the other six Mysteries. Even though it is common practice nowadays to add the Glory Be at the end of each decade, and even the Fatima Prayer, these are not required. It is customary to finish by adding two Hail Marys in honor of the 72 years that Our Lady is said to have lived on earth, and one Our Father and for the intentions of the Pope.

A Thank You

We thank inquirer, Suzie Nelson for inviting us to her home for a “tea party” on September 7th. It was a great chance for us to get better acquainted with each other.

Presentation by Kenneth Himes, OFM

Date: Sunday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. Location: Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi, Raleigh, NC. Website: www.stfrancisraleigh.org

Encouragement of the Month Recently Frank Massey OFS, Vice Minister of the BSSF Region met with our council. There was quite an interesting discussion on Franciscan theology and spirituality as compared to St. Thomas Aquinas and other Catholic theologians. We encourage you to read and reflect on writings by St. Bonaventure, OFM of Bagnoregio, Blessed John Duns Scotus, OFM of England as well as contemporary Franciscan theologians and scholars including Friar William Short OFM and Sister Ilia Delio, OSF. There are numerous Franciscan resources, books, CDs and DVDs listed in the FUN Manual and on Franciscan websites. The following is an example: Padre Pio Reactivating Fraternity Page 4 of 4

Dates to Remember Encouragement Continued John Duns Scotus and the meaning of Love October 3, 2012 - Taken from a article by Seamus Mulholland OFM Transitus of St. Francis “Franciscan Spirituality sees the Incarnation as the guarantee of union with God. (6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.) It is not something to be hoped for or to be looked forward to – it is something, which is Archangel Centre Gallery happening NOW. God is Love and that Love is our redemption and redemption is not primarily being saved from sin, but is rather the gift of the possibility of openness to the October21, 2012 experience of the divine Other in our life. How can it be otherwise when we put forward Presentation by the notion of the divine and human in Jesus? Kenneth Himes, OFM Scotus’s doctrine of the absolute center of attention of Love is both timely and See info on previous page profoundly needed by our world. Men and women cry out for an experience of hope in a world which has lost direction – in the teaching of Duns Scotus, Franciscan Spirituality November 17 – 18, 2012 has within its hand that hope-filled experience and the end of that longing. For if God – Regional Visitation for willed the Incarnation from all eternity, then it was always his intention to become part of Reactivating Padre Pio sinful creation – sin determines the manner of that becoming, but it does not determine the Fraternity fact that it was going to be.” Also, Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, wrote, "The key to Francis' transformation into love, December 8, 2012 – his secret of making wholes out of the scattered fragments of life, was compassion. He (9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) – learned compassion as the art of healing broken hearts by collecting the tears of the Fraternity Retreat at Avila forgotten, the frightened, and the lonely in his hands and holding the wounded as his kin. Retreat Center, Durham, Francis entered the world of the stranger and made the stranger into a brother. He learned NC to love what was weak and fragile, and he learned to care for what the world discarded."

“The deeds you do may be The Moo Poo at St. Francis of the Springs Prayer Center the only sermon some persons will hear today” Two of our fraternity members attended this special day in honor of Jane - St. Francis of Assisi Sullivan Farris OFS at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC. Bea Sanford, inquirer said, “We could just feel Jane’s presence on Saturday as approximately 30 people Editor: gathered for the dedication of the Gazebo donated by Tommy Farris in Jane’s Frank Peluso, OFS memory. Here is a photo of Father Louie as he spoke to the group and shared memories of Jane and her indomitable spirit that helped to create the prayer center. No surprise that she was such an instrumental person in reactivating our own fraternity.”

10/10 Mary Ann Baichan, OFS The center also had a Moo Poo, which is a fundraiser where a field is divided Stan Driscoll into one foot by one-foot squares throughout the entire field. Then, selling raffle tickets for each of the squares. Next, renting a cow (moo) and having everyone feed the cow until it “poos”. If the cow poos in your square, you win the prize. Jane Sullivan Farris OFS, and the late former minister of our fraternity, encouraged the event. Father Louis Canino OFM at first refused; however, while visiting with Jane in the hospital, Father Louis promised to do it. Jane’s husband, Tommy Farris, was the winner. He purchased four squares and because of his “luck” decided not to put his name on the squares. Instead, he listed Jane and her #15 was the winner! The prize of $300 worth of steaks was donated to Madonna House, a nonprofit organization supported by Jane and Tommy.

I love you this much!