Newsletter of the: December 2019 Volume 14, Issue 12 Saint Alphonsa Fraternity

Queen of Peace Region – Secular Franciscan Order Minister’s Message Advent – A Time of Preparation Dear Brothers and Sisters,

INSIDE THIS ISSUE I decided to look up some information about Advent to remind myself of the symbolism and its MINISTER’S MESSAGE 1 importance on the church calendar. We know that Spiritual Assistant Reflections 2 it is a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Formation Assignment 3 Jesus, “Our Messiah”. Celebrating Advent has a very Consecration Prayer 3 long history in our Church. As I read on, I recalled St. Agnes of Assisi 4 that lighting the candles should remind us that Jesus November Meeting Minutes 5-6 is the light of the world. The evergreens represent My God & My All 6 the new life and eternal life we have in Jesus. We use Twelve Days of Christmas 7 four candles – one for each week of Advent. Three 2019 -2020 Calendar 8 are purple and one is rose/pink. We light the pink Patience 8 one on Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete means Prayer Requests 9 “Rejoice”! The three purple candles represent Fraternity Council 10 prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Did you think that Meetings 10 was reserved only for Lent? During this time it is Newsletter 10 important that we set aside time for prayer, reading Treasurer’s Report 10 the scripture, silence, reflection and of course Birthdays 10 participate in the Sacramental life of our Church. Not forgetting the needy among us.

As I reflect on the life of St. Francis it seems to me that he spent a lot of his time mirroring the I believe that we should consider making our hearts behaviors called for during the season of Advent. He a resting place for baby Jesus. This might mean to was always preparing to meet the person of Christ in sweep out the cobwebs of indifference, unforgiveness others and in all of creation and of course for the and sin that are taking up space in our hearts. It is final encounter in heaven. Francis longed to be time to listen and respond to the call of St. John the united with Christ and bring others to him. It was Evangelist to repent. Then when Christmas arrives, Francis who conceived the idea of a live Nativity. He we will have a place for him to lie down his sweet drew from his knowledge of the events at head and we will be able to properly welcome God’s Bethlehem. Candles and torches lit the way that holy only begotten Son, the Savior of the world. night as the people of Greccio processed to the cave in the side of a cliff. The ox and ass were brought in “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast and approached a carved image of the baby Jesus. spirit renew within me”. Ps.51:12 There were no other figures. This was the first time any of them had seen something like this. It was O Come, O come Emmanuel……… enough to fire up the hearts of these people with Peace, greater love for Jesus. Christians today recall this event and set up manger scenes in our churches and Teresa homes and the tradition lives on.

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Spiritual Assistant Reflections:

Dearest Franciscan Brothers and Sisters, When we allow this King to reign in our hearts our whole world changes. Weakness, even our On November 24th we celebrated the Solemnity of own weakness, is treasured. A kind of poverty is Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. On that accepted and embraced. The poor are lifted up. day, we remember that all time and all of creation Our hearts become more tender, more God-like. belong to Him. We celebrate that all of creation And Joy fills our lives and peace permeates them. including every human heart longs for Him. And we We all ache for this! As we close the year and pray that one day He may be enthroned in every make our way into the season of Advent, let us heart, beginning of course with our own. allow ourselves to be drawn in by the humility of God so that Jesus might conquer our aching On feast days like this one, it is important to recall hearts and reign there! what kind of king He is. (You teach me what He is like all the time!) Jesus, as God, reigns as a King- Christ our humble King…. May your kingdom servant. He came to serve rather than to be served! come! As God He makes an eternal pouring forth of His life in humble servanthood. We experience this every Peace and every good, week in the Eucharist! Saint Francis knew this well: “O sublime humility! that the Lord of the universe, Fr. John God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under a morsel of bread. Consider, brothers, the humility of God!” (Letter to all the friars, 115) When we encounter Him, we encounter the profoundest humility and at the same time the greatest glory. Christ our King bows low to us so that we might draw closer to Him.

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Formation Director Notes: Morning Glory Consecration Prayer

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Penance,

From “33 Days to Morning Glory” by

There is no formal "Ongoing Formation" assignment Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC this month but as a new year begins in this Holy Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of season of Advent, let us make a renewed the B.V.M., Published 2011

commitment to our prayer life in "the Word", with our Lord. Let us make that time commitment (at the same time each day) to spend at least 30 minutes in the "Word" and then journal your experience.

"I thought"

"I Felt"

"I Desired"

"I Sensed in my body"

I, ______, a This journal will be a great treasure to us when we repentant sinner, renew and ratify today in your look back and see the Lord's movement, consolation hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my and healing within us, especially when we Baptism. I renounce Satan and resolve to follow experience desolation. All of our good works will Jesus Christ even more closely than before. Mary, I come from this relationship and time spent with our give you my heart. Please set it on fire with love for Lord. There is nothing more profitable to us than Jesus. Make it always attentive to his burning thirst time spent with our Lord. May you experience the for love and for souls. Keep my heart in your most Love, Joy and Peace of the Infant Christ this Holy pure Heart that I may love Jesus and the members season. of his Body with your own perfect love. Mary, I

entrust myself totally to you: my body and soul, my Advent Blessings, goods, both interior and exterior, and even the +jean value of all my good actions. Please make of me, of **************** all that I am and have, whatever most pleases you.

Candidate Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and Please read note above! merciful hands for bringing the greatest possible ***************** glory to God. If I fall, please lead me back to Jesus.

Inquirers Wash me in the blood and water that flow from his Please read above note! pierced side and help me never to lose my trust in

this fountain of love and mercy. With you, O Also, we will be preparing you now for the Rite of Immaculate Mother — you who always do the will in February. Each of you will be asked to Admission of God — I unite myself to the perfect consecration interview with Fr. John and myself in January and of Jesus as he offers himself in the Spirit to the you will be asked to write a Letter of Intent. I will Father for the life of the world. Amen. send an email with further details to each of you in the near future.

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Saint Agnes of Assisi Agnes matched her sister in devotion to prayer and Saint of the Day for November 19 in willingness to endure the strict penances that (c. 1197 – November 16, 1253) characterized the Poor Ladies’ lives at San Damiano. In 1221, a group of Benedictine nuns in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Ladies. Saint Clare sent Agnes to become abbess of that monastery. Agnes soon wrote a rather sad letter about how much she missed Clare and the other nuns at San Damiano. After establishing other monasteries of Poor Ladies in northern Italy, Agnes Saint Agnes of Assisi’s Story was recalled to San Damiano in 1253, as Clare lay dying. Born Caterina Offreducia, Agnes was the younger Three months later Agnes followed Clare in death sister of Saint Clare, and her first follower. When and was canonized in 1753. Caterina left home two weeks after Clare’s Reflection: God must love irony; the world is so full departure, their family attempted to bring her back of it. In 1212, many in Assisi surely felt that Clare and by force. They tried to drag her out of the Agnes were wasting their lives and were turning monastery, but her body suddenly became so heavy their backs on the world. In reality, their lives were that several knights could not budge it. Her uncle tremendously life-giving, and the world has been Monaldo tried to strike her but was temporarily enriched by the example of these poor paralyzed. The knights then left Caterina and Clare in peace. Saint Francis himself gave Clare’s sister the contemplatives. name Agnes, because she was gentle like a young lamb.

Saint Alphonsa Fraternity Page 5 Fraternity Meeting Minutes: Formation: We will be renewing our Consecration to Jesus through Mary on December 8, 2019 for those St. Alphonsa Fraternity Meeting Minutes for who have previously done the Consecration and November 17, 2019 doing an initial Consecration for those who have not yet had the opportunity to Consecrate themselves to The St. Alphonsa Fraternity meeting was held Jesus through Mary. This involves reading and Sunday, November 17, 2019 in the Charity Room of studying either “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Fr. Epiphany Catholic Church in Coon Rapids, MN. Michael Gaitley or “True Devotion to Mary” by Louis de Montfort from November 5th to December 8th. Present were Shirlann Biser, Ellen Drasin, Jean McGinty, Linda Loes, Cathy Maloney-Hills, Susan Jean McGinty had us divide into small groups to Myers, Kharen Serra, Carol Schiebold, Ray discuss our reading assignment from the Omnibus, Schelonka, Jeanette Schelonka, Ron Stenerson, pgs. 1021 to 1050. She instructed us to discuss our Gordon Walker, Teresa Walker, and Joyce Weiskopf. thoughts, feelings, desires, and what we sensed in our bodies as we did the readings, especially if any Excused were Fr. John Bauer, Teresa Isenor, Laurie particular story spoke to us. Lacina, Mark Urick, Patti Urick, Janet Uhlir and Charlene Amato-Geib. Kathy Weissman was absent. Business: Teresa W. then started the business Fr. Michael Rudolph could not attend due to Parish portion of the meeting by asking Shirlann to talk activities. about upcoming dates and times for volunteering at Feed My Starving Children. Dates are November 30th Minister, Teresa Walker, ofs opened the meeting at from 1 – 2:30 pm and December 14th from 11 – 12:30 2:17 PM by leading the Opening Prayer for Fraternity pm. She intends to book dates for the first 6 months meetings from the Ritual. Linda Loes read the of 2020. reading from page 72 of the Ritual, verses 22 27-31. The fraternity paused to reflect on the reading. Teresa W. reminded us that our next meeting is on December 8th at our usual meeting time from 2 to We prayed the Memorare for Priests, Seminarians, 4pm. We will sing Christmas Hymns. Teresa has Sisters and religious vocations. A Hail Mary was song books. We will do scripture readings, discuss prayed for our deceased members; Rick Isenor, Jim favorite memories of the Creche, and enjoy Malisheski, Donna Green, Jeanne Page and Trisha Christmas treats. Our Re-consecration to Jesus Swanson wife of member Jerry Swanson. An Our through Mary will happen during our meeting using Father was said for the ailing members of our the prayer from “33 Days to Morning Glory.” Carol Fraternity and for those listed on our prayer list. A asked Shirlann to bring the Our Lady of Fatima second Our Father was prayed for those working on statue. Carol will type up and make copies of “The the Synod for guidance and direction. Morning Glory Consecration Prayer” and will bring them to the meeting. Teresa W. informed everyone that today is the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungry who is the Patron Saint of Jean had us pick names for our Prayer Angels. We the Secular Franciscan Order. She read a short will pray for our special person through the entire biography from The Liturgy of the Hours for today. month of December and identify ourselves at the January 2020 meeting. Jean McGinty led Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer, Week II, which was preceded by singing “Oh A Notification Chart draft was passed around for Christ, You Are the Light of Day.” Shirlann Biser everyone to check their information and make any recited the Reading and prayers. needed changes. The intent is to be able to notify

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everyone of a meeting cancellation in case of bad weather. The chart will be updated and emailed to Secretary Report: Carol requested articles for the members. December Newsletter be sent to her on or before th November 25 so she can send the Newsletter out Treasurer’s Report: In Teresa Isenor’s absence, the first week of December since our meeting is so Teresa W. read the Treasurer’s report for October early in the month. She passed around the Prayer 2019. The beginning of the month balance was Request notebook for the December newsletter. $2,717.78. Common fund donations were $360.00. th Expenses were $55.49 for a month end balance of Ellen brought up that December 6 has been $3022.29. declared a day of fasting, adoration and penance “for the purpose of driving out any diabolic influence Teresa W. then read the list of additional charitable within the Church that has been gained as a result of donations proposed by the Council for final approval recent events.” (from Catholic Register). Carol has a from the Fraternity: Our Lady of Peace Hospice link to the Catholic Register article and will send it ($50), St. John Vianney Seminary ($100), Byrne to Fraternity members. Residence ($50), Poor Clares ($100), Net Ministries ($50), Franciscan Brothers of Peace ($100), Pro-Life Closing: The closing prayer from p.39 of The Ritual Action Ministries ($50) and Prenatal. Partners for was said. The meeting ended at 4:00 pm. We then Life ($50) and a stipend for Fr. John Bauer ($100.00) socialized and had treats. for a total of $650.00. The Fraternity approved these donations by a show of hands. We have already Submitted by, donated $900.00. With the above additional donations our total for the year of 2019 will total Carol Schiebold, ofs $1550.00. Teresa thanked everyone for their generosity.

'My God and My All!'

Unless one truly believes in God, one is incapable of genuinely celebrating God. An observer once watched as Francis prayed throughout the length of an entire night. To his amazement, Francis spent the whole time simply repeating, over and over, “My God and my all! My God and my all!” This simple act, so undramatic, so seemingly modest, in fact was an incredibly intense celebration. Francis truly believed that God was all, and he realized that the only celebration worthy of God is wonder-filled and grateful acknowledgment of God’s allness. Pageantry and pomp and circumstance aren’t needed to celebrate the living God. All that’s required is the heartfelt conviction that nothing—absolutely nothing—is more real or important. When we reach this point (if we reach this point) our belief in God is a simultaneous celebration of God. Which is exactly how things should be.

—from the book Perfect Joy: 30 Days with Francis of Assisi by Kerry Walters

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'The Twelve Days of Christmas' The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Nonsense or Religious Reality? The five golden rings represented the first five books The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is an of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior. Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to

practice their faith openly. Someone during that era The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of

wrote this carol as a catechism song for young creation. Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface

meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold members of the Church. Each element in the carol gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, has a code word for a religious reality which the Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, children could remember. To fit the number scheme, and Mercy. when you reach number 9, representing the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, the originator combined 6 to make The eight maids a-milking were the eight 3, taking the 6 fruits that were similar: the fruit in beatitudes. each parenthesis is the that was not named

separately. There are actually Twelve Fruits of the Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy

Holy Ghost. Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience

[Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity]. smitten boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because

truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The partridge The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten in the pear tree also represents Him because that Commandments. bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary, to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven predators. faithful Apostles.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed. CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS: Original Source: Fr. Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, The two turtle doves were the Old and New Nebraska Testaments catholicnewsagency.com/resources/advent/custo The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and ms-and-traditions/the-history-of-the-twelve-days- love. of-christmas

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2019 – 2020 CALENDAR "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience All dates in bold type indicate required with joy." (Colossians 1:11). attendance by our Rule. Red = special event.

"My brothers, when you have fallen into various

trials, consider everything a joy, knowing that the December 8 – Sunday – 1:30 Adoration 2:00 pm – Christmas Party proving of your faith exercises patience, and patience 12:30 – 1:30 Council Meeting brings a work to perfection, so that you may be perfect and whole, deficient in nothing." (James 1:2- January 26 - Sunday – 1:30 Adoration 4) 2:00 pm – Meeting 12:30 – 1:30 Council Meeting HEROES' WORDS "Patience is the companion of wisdom." -St. February 23- Winter Retreat at IHM (TBD) Augustine

"Patience is the root and guardian of all the virtues." March 29 - Sunday – 1:30 Adoration -Pope St. Gregory I 2:00 pm – Meeting 12:30 – 1:30 Council Meeting "The virtue of patience is the one which most assures April 26 - Sunday – 1:30 Adoration us of perfection." -St. Francis de Sales 2:00 pm – Meeting 12:30 – 1:30 Council Meeting "If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, May 17 - Sunday – 1:30 Adoration patiently endured." -St. Colette 2:00 pm – Elections 12:30 – 1:30 Council Meeting MEDITATION Fruit of Patience – A form of the moral virtue of

fortitude. It enables one to endure present evils

without sadness or resentment in conformity with VIRGIN MOST MERCIFUL, PRAY THAT WE the will of God. Patience is mainly concerned with RECEIVE THE FRUIT OF PATIENCE bearing the evils caused by another. The three grades

of patience are – Lowest: to bear difficulties without GOD'S WORD interior complaint, Middle: to use hardships to make

progress in virtue, Highest: to desire the cross and "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, afflictions for Christ's love, to have something to encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be offer up, and to accept them with spiritual joy. (Fr. patient with them all." (1 Thessalonians 5:14) John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a Contributed by Ron Stenerson. cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with Source: https://usgraceforce.com/ patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

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Please Pray For: • Conversion to the Catholic faith for our • To live in Him & He in me so that it is no families and loved ones longer I who live but Jesus & Mary in me • All of us and our families to have a blessed, • Jennifer’s healing holy Advent and come to love the Lord, Jesus • Those who are looking for jobs or are • My 3 grandchildren that are in college, for unemployed right discernment to what they are being • John & Sarah to save their homes taught by liberal professors • John’s family of origin • Mental health for those who suffer especially • Cassie & Nick Andre • An end to senseless street violence and • Katie & Jim Vanderheyden for peaceful school shootings deaths • Andrew • Healing for Janet U., Teresa I., Mark U. and • An end to abortion, infanticide and Carol S. euthanasia • In thanksgiving for being cancer free for 26 • In thanksgiving for my Mother’s strong will years (breast cancer survivor since 1993.) and strong Catholic faith when family and • Brian for successful recovery from open heart doctors insisted that she abort me due to her surgery poor health in a time when abortions were • Jennifer that her treatment will bring her not done platelets back up as they were at 11,000.

Prayer for Our Country Our Lady of Divine Providence House of Prayer

Holy Trinity, One God, we bow before you and praise Your majesty. We thank you for your loving, providential care of our Country. We come once again pleading for mercy for the United States of America that is in such need. Bless our vital institutions of family, education and church. Revitalize the legal, Medical and entertainment professions with grace that heals And upholds your people. Send your Angels to nullify evil perpetrated by factions. Give us the grace to stand strong against the forms of Evil present in our culture that deny You, work against life and threaten the gift of marriage. May Your Holy Presence fill our homes, schools, media and our courts. Fill our leaders with your wisdom and great fortitude. Allow every citizen to truly believe that it is in You that we trust. As patroness of our country, Mary our mother, Pray with us and for us. Amen

Submitted by Shirlann Biser, ofs

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Saint Alphonsa Fraternity Council FRANCISCAN

Minister: Holy Hour Teresa Walker, OFS 763-553-1343 Franciscan Brothers of Vice Minister & Co Infirmarian: Peace Mark Urick, OFS 763-754-3062 Queen of Peace Friary Formation Director: 1289 Lafond Avenue Jean McGinty, OFS 763-494-8693 Saint Paul, MN 55104

Secretary:

Carol Schiebold, OFS 763-323-4930 Treasurer: Every First Friday at 7:00 PM Teresa Isenor, OFS 763-757-4037 Adoration & Franciscan Crown Rosary Spiritual Assistant: Chanted Compline & Benediction Fr John Bauer, OFS 612-208-5713 Refreshments and Fellowship follow. Co-Infirmarian:

Janet Uhlir, OFS 953-8325-4406

Treasurer’s Report: The beginning of the month balance for October 2019 was $2,717.78. Common fund donations were $360.00. Expenses were $55.49 Meetings: for a month end balance of $3022.29.

All are welcome to our monthly meetings which are held in the Charity room at Epiphany Catholic Church, 2:00 PM the last Sunday of each month. FMSC – JPIC: The next date for volunteering at Meetings are preceded by Adoration beginning at Feed My Starving Children is December 14th from 11 – 1:30 PM in the chapel. Fraternity Council meetings 12:30 pm. Shirlann intends to book dates for the first precede the regular meeting. Call Teresa Walker if 6 months of 2020. More information to come. you are interested in attending. Next meeting day is

December 8, 2019 at 2 PM. This is our Christmas Party! December Birthdays:

12.3 – Carol Newsletter Articles: 12.8 – Jerry 12.23 – Kharen The Newsletter of the Saint Alphonsa Fraternity is 12.26 – Patti published monthly. We seek to follow traditional 12.27 - Jean conventions of journalism. For example; articles are ended with the symbol, author name and/or source. Deadline for articles is typically the 7th of the month. Articles should be sent to: Visit our Website: Carol Schiebold, Secretary www. [email protected] http://queenofpeaceregion.org/c oon-rapids-st-alphonsa

Webmaster needed!!!!