Divine Mercy Fraternity●Secular Franciscan Order●Vero Beach, Florida ● August 2021

Our Regular Gathering Fraternity Officers/Council Members (exp. Feb. 10, 2022) Sunday, August 8, 2021, 2-4 PM Minister: Fred Schaeffer, OFS Vice-Minister: Helen Caldarone, OFS Secretary: Jean McGovern, OFS Meeting Agenda Treasurer: Jack Reddy, OFS 2:00 Opening, Reports, etc. Formation Director: Donna Haro, OFS 2:20 Formation Program: Brush up on your Rule. Councilor-at-large: Joanne Giordano, OFS Spiritual Assistant: Dcn. Richard Blake, Please read from Rule 11 to 15 (pgs. 22-26) in your red “The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order” books in advance of the meeting. Please bring your Rule Book to the meeting. We will read the rules and have an open book quiz on what you have read. Discussion to follow if time permits. 3:00 Divine Mercy Chaplet 3:10 Social 3:40 Liturgy of the Hours: Evening Prayer 4:00 Closing prayers, Dismissal Council Meeting follows.

The Seasons of the Soul by Fred Schaeffer, OFS In Florida we haven’t got four seasons, there is great weather with lower humidity in the winter months (November to April/May) and in summer we are hazy, hot and humid, occasionally with tropi- cal storms and hurricanes. “Up north,” they have four seasons, and this Reflection comments on all four seasons. I've spent about 9 years total in religious life, the longest for 5 years in Massachusetts and Florida. My first religious life experience (1.5 years) was with the Capuchins but that’s ancient history (early 1960). I was close to Jesus, but I slacked again until 1984-5 when I said Enough! Then I attempted to live a holy life away from a friary or monastery. We can all do this, as long as we strive not to sin, and attend Holy Mass frequently, pray the Rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours, as Secular Franciscans do (not mandatory). The beauty of this Liturgical Prayer is that the Holy Father, the Cardinals, , priests, deacons and religious pray this Liturgy daily, so every second of the day, in every place on earth, in their own language, people are praying this Prayer of the Church. The idea of associating activities of the soul with seasons came to me when I lived in New England, as a Monk of Adoration, from 1998-2001 in a small place called Petersham. This is a fairly dull town but it has an intrinsic beauty all its own. When the leaves on trees turn from green to yellow to red and various colors in between, the soul seems to be ablaze with zeal, then slowly settles down to an as- cetical bleakness similar to the leaves that have fallen from the trees and the trees are now all bare, and the wind is blowing and it gets nasty outside. And yet there is a quiet beauty in all that. (cont’d p. 2)

Divine Mercy Fraternity gathers monthly, Second Sunday 2:00 PM (May: Third Sunday), St. Helen Church, St. Patrick’s Room in Vero Beach, FL

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The trees and the leaves worship Jesus perfectly... they do not have temptation to sin. Neither have animals. Once in autumn, maybe in late September, I spotted a flash of orange and black with some yellow. And sure enough, as I came closer, there sat on a thin branch a magnificent Blackburnian Warbler. I still think of it. It made my day, to see such a lovely thing created by the Father. The col- ors, be they from turning leaves or colorful birds, they are the palette of God's creation... Or, once on the way from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Oldenburg, Indiana, in that Southern part of Indiana, I glanced up at a slowly rising hillside which was awash with different colors... all to the glory of God and his unique creation. It is a joy to behold it all and as we think about it, we praise God and love Him more and more. When the leaves fall and the trees empty as days pass, and it becomes gradually cooler, and colder and the winds of winter begin to blow, we also begin to settle down inside, to prepare ourselves for the long haul. I recall making 1-2 hour daily walks, time permitting, in all sorts of weather. One of my favorite walks was through the woods but when the leaves were no longer there, there was nothing to keep the wind back. And yet, with weather raging around me, I felt the warmth of God's presence for we are never alone. And we are not lonely either when Jesus is with us in our soul, keeping us company. And He can be with every person on this earth individually, and He is still able to do more... He is there for the various elements in nature also. His power in heaven far exceeds his car- penter skills while in Nazareth. For He is the Son of God. One God in three persons. God is the mak- er of heaven and earth. Of me, of you, of the trees, and the component parts of a tree, now used as beams in a house, for example. When you think about all that, as you look at those bare trees, your soul continues to be alive. Then comes winter, where a pristine blanket of snow covers every reminder of dirt and grime. It co- vers signs of the slums in big cities, and lays over it a blanket of quiet and cold beauty. Have you ever walked through a small town with a foot of new snow on the ground? It is beautiful. There is a graceful and peaceful quiet. No traffic is heard, in fact, most of the time it is very still. God's example of the stillness of a Soul at peace. Or maybe in Florida, with the sliding glass doors open to 72 de- grees weather with a slight wind, not a sound in late afternoon... as I sit in my recliner without TV or radio on, my soul revels on God's Grace and Beauty. The changing of the seasons, the weather, they help us find those moments of beauty that nourish and give great peace. And when hearing about that Alberta clipper weather movement in the north, I think of a retreat in western Kentucky at the Trappist monastery of Gethsemane, where the outside temperature was 5 degrees... but I felt com- fortable in a down parka with Jesus in my soul. But before long, winter passes and new growth is on the way. First a tiny bud, barely visible to the eye. Then, the leaves on the maples come out, a little at a time, it is a time of regeneration. Father God is at work again, creating and recreating, and our soul comes out of its winter sleep, and we rejoice in the changing of the Seasons once again. Pretty soon some of us will be walking barefoot along the beach, and as we do this, we think of Jesus at the Lake of Gennasaret, cooking for the apostles a little piece of fish. Think of the joy of friendship and brotherhood as Jesus sits with the Apostles and with us, as he breaks the bread and pours the wine, His Body and Blood, and we pray, "We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all the churches in the whole world, and we bless you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.” St. Francis of (cont’d pg. 3)

Divine Mercy Fraternity gathers monthly, Second Sunday 2:00 PM (May: Third Sunday), St. Helen Church, St. Patrick’s Room in Vero Beach, FL

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And even in Florida, in summertime with day af- ter day over 90 degrees, hot, hazy and humid, even a little cool breeze is a gift from God. Even there, when we're dripping all over, God is there too. We are never alone. He is always there. Please let him in? Sometimes our moods also behave in a similar way but be careful. Mood changes are emotional changes whereas changes of the Soul are deeper than that. I pray that you will recognize the changing seasons of the soul as you go through life now and at times to come. Amen. Fred Schaeffer, OFS July 11, 2021 July Franciscan

1 Bl. Junipero Serra, priest, I Ord. Fr. Solanus Casey (OFM Cap) 1870-1957, 4 St. Elizabeth of Portugal, queen, III Ord. served for two decades in several friaries in 7 Bl. Davanzato, , III Ord., 8 Bl. Gregory Grassi, bishop, and comp., martyrs, I New York. His first assignment was at Sa- and III Ord. cred Heart Friary in Yonkers. He was later 9 St. Nicholas Pick, priest, and comp., martyrs, I Ord. transferred to New York City, where he first 10 St. Veronica Giuliani, , II Ord. served at John's Church and later at 12 Sts. John Jones and John Wall, priests, martyrs, I Ord. Our Lady Queen of Angels in Harlem. 13 Bl. Angeline of Marisciano, religious, III Ord. In August 1924, he was transferred to the 15 St. , bishop, doctor, I Ord. Saint Bonaventure Friary in Detroit, where 16 of St. Francis St. Francis Solano, priest, I Ord. he worked until 1945. During this time, he 18 St. Simon of Lipnica mostly served as the porter (doorkeeper). 21 St. , priest, doctor, I Ord. Each Wednesday afternoon, he conducted 23 Bl. Cunegunda, religious, II Ord. well-attended services for the sick, and St. Bridget of Sweden, widow, III Ord. through these services, he became known 24 Bl. Louise of Savoy, widow, II Ord. Bl. Modestino of Jesus and Mary, rel., I O. for his great compassion. People considered Bl. Antonio Lucci, bishop, I Ord. him instrumental in cures and other bless- 27 Bl. of Martinengo, virgin, II Ord. ings. During his time at St. Bonaventure's, 28 Bl. Mary Teresa Kowalska, virgin, martyr of Po- Solanus was involved in the formation of the land, II Ord. Capuchin Soup Kitchen. The soup kitchen Bl. Mattia Nazarei, virgin, II Ord. 30 Bl. Solanus Casey Photo and short bio at right... was founded in 1929 to provide food for De- troit's poor during the Great Depression. Fr. This calendar came out of collaboration between Fr. Pio Ma- Solanus is considered one of the founders of ria Hoffmann, CFR and Fred Schaeffer, OFS. Each of the the soup kitchen, which is still in operation major Franciscan branches has its own calendar. This calen- dar seeks to combine them. On our Fraternity website: today. https://www.dmfofs2.com/saints He played the violin and he loved to play Irish songs for his fellow friars during recre- ation time.

Divine Mercy Fraternity gathers monthly, Second Sunday 2:00 PM (May: Third Sunday), St. Helen Church, St. Patrick’s Room in Vero Beach, FL

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When you read your Canticle, you’ll find I for- Lord will evolve into a beautiful and holy rela- got to list the Franciscans Saints for August, tionship. When that flame begins to flicker, the in addition to those of July. Here they are: relationship will lessen, and, when the flame goes out, there will not be a relationship any- 2 Our Lady of the Angels at the Portiuncula more. When the life of the soul ceases, sin fol- 3 Bl. Frederic Janssoone, priest, I Ord. lows almost immediately, because we have lost 4 St. John Vianney, priest, III Ord. the continual war with Satan. People have told 7 Bls. Agathangelus and Cassian, priests & me, 'oh, he does not bother me'... watch out, that's martyrs, I Ord. an attitude of inviting Satan to wreak havoc in 8 Holy Father Dominic, priest, founder, your soul. It isn't nice to tell anyone to go to Hell. Order of Preachers But do tell Satan to return to Hell and burn to a 9 Bl. John of La Verna, priest, I Ord. crisp. In other words, don't let him and his pow- 11 St. , virgin, II Ord. ers and principalities anywhere near your soul - 13 Bl. Mark of Aviano, priest, I Ord. that soul is reserved for a special relationship 14 St. , priest, I Ord. with Jesus, a strong relationship of total love with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spir- 17 St. Roch, III Ord. it. That means God ALWAYS comes first. 18 Bls. John-Louis Loir, Protase Bourdon and Sebastian François, priests, martyrs of A soul where that flame burns brightly is never Rochefort, I Ord. without temptations. It takes suffering on the part 19 St. Louis of Toulouse, bishop, I Ord. of most people to maintain this total dedication to 21 St. Pius X, , III Ord. God, whether by religious vows, or the life of a spiritually healthy lay person. It can be a very 23 Bl. Bernard of Offida, religious, I Ord. rocky pilgrimage, on a path strewn with many 25 St. Louis IX, king, Patron of the Third O. boulders. God, however, loves a well-fought 27 The Seven Joys of Our Lady fight. He does not award spiritual slouching. He From: https://www.dmfofs2.com/saints looks for dedication, zeal, and the strong will to please Him. He loves conquerors, He identifies (Might as well use the room left over…..) with those who will give this fight their 100% effort. God is also a very forgiving Master. When Life of the Soul we have erred, we confess our sins, and we by Fred Schaeffer, OFS promise to do better. We can say we love God, The life within, in the soul, is a life of strong but do we really? Do our actions, our striving to conviction for some, and a very fragile life for obey Him, indicate willingness to try harder, or is others. Either the flame burns brightly, or it is it only a half-hearted effort? The great Saint Bon- pinched off by human pride. Pride (egotism) is aventure, in so many words, said ... If you love the cause of much evil that goes on in this world. God, you do not sin. If you still sin, you do not It is also the leading cause that dedicated people love God enough! That's really what this is all leave convents, monasteries, and other orders, or about. It is the nitty-gritty of the matter, not lov- even the church. In a similar way people who ing God enough. We all sin, some are apt to say. leave the Roman (for whatever But what are you doing about it... are you trying reason) may have placed God second or third in to sin less, or are you a spiritual couch potato? their lives, but of course each person's situation is different. When that flame burns brightly, all is Peace! well, and the relationship between a soul and the

Divine Mercy Fraternity gathers monthly, Second Sunday 2:00 PM (May: Third Sunday), St. Helen Church, St. Patrick’s Room in Vero Beach, FL