OCTOBER 2018
ST CLARE FRATERNITY 241 St. Clare Drive Crowley, TX 76036 http://www.stclareofs.com ht
FRATERNITY OFFICERS
Minister: Carmine Esposito, OFS 817-455-5077 (cell)
Spiritual Assistant:
Fr. Joe Janiszeski, TOR [email protected]
Thank you lunch for Fr. Bob Sieg – Sep 19 – Godspeed & Blessings Fr. Bob Vice Minister: Chuck Brewer, OFS MINISTER’S MESSAGE 682-304-2272 [email protected] October is not only the Month of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but it is also 40 Days for Life when we pray for the Secretary: 60,000,000 unborn children aborted since Roe vs. Wade and to pray for Rex Watkins, OFS 817-249-0101 an end of abortion, respecting life from conception to natural death. [email protected] Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners…
Treasurer: If you have an opportunity, perhaps you can take some time (any time Bob Frank, OFS 817-980-5282 during the day or night) in October to stand in front of the Planned [email protected]
Parenthood facility in Ft. Worth, (off Harris Parkway) and pray the Rosary. Formation Director: Bob Evart, OFS
817-578-1808 (cell) October is also the month of the Transitus of our brother St. Francis. [email protected] My favorite quote from St. Francis in the Transitus presentation is “I have done what is mine to do; my work is finished; may Christ teach you to carry out yours”. May we all trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be open to his will.
All Peace and All Good, Carmine
Regular Meetings - Second Sunday of the Month – Starting at 2 pm in the St Francis Village Chapel Please feel free to bring a snack – if you are not able – come anyway as there is always plenty. Council Meetings – Second Sunday of the Month – Starting at 12:30 pm in the St Francis Village TV Room Formation Meetings – Second & Third Saturdays of the Month – Starting at 10 am in St Francis Village Dining Room
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FOCUS FOR THE MONTH – THE TRANSITUS Franciscan Connections NATIONAL FRATERNITY SFO “The Sending of Sister Death” Transitus of Saint Francis https://secularfranciscansusa.org/
How many times have we placed ourselves with others of the world-wide Franciscan Family to remember the death of our brother, Francis of Assisi? So often, and rightly so, we ‘cling to’ the LOS TRES CAMPAÑEROS REGIONAL final words, expressions and actions of our dying loved ones. Has this gathering, this prayer, http://lostrescompaneros.org/ this ritual, this reading become ‘what we do,’ merely a practice? How does this ‘dying’ connect with our living and doing the Gospel, truly our work as followers of the poor Francis?” We image Francis, weak, frail, struggling for one breath … and another … then his request that the INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY Gospel of John 13 be read, beginning with the words, “Six days before the Passover…” http://www.ciofs.org/
Tonight, I chose to open the text of the way Francis died using ‘midrash’ a Hebrew word, using a story as a way to open up the text. In so doing, new insight comes and often a ‘fresh’ FRANCISCAN RULE perspective. We, humans, tend to focus on what is right before us, as if that is all there is. https://secularfranciscansusa.org/the- However, as this drama of the Transitus of Francis was unfolding in Assisi, there is another vast reality on ‘the other side of the veil’ – unseen but real and true – ! rule-of-the-secular-franciscan-order/
The conversation might be like this … “The Sending of Sister Death” The Angel Sister Bodily GENERAL CONSTITUTIONS
Death could no way call Francis home, could not gather Francis’ blessed soul. Francis was https://secularfranciscansusa.org/the- ready it seemed, but not yet. Francis had given the final message, now he would turn over his general-constitutions-of-the-secular- Life Word. God said to Francis, “You have been the message without words. Your very life franciscan-order-2000/ spoke like gentle thunder.” Then God said, “Gabriel, my messenger, go and fetch Francis home.” Gabriel said, “Ever-living One, how could I presume to snatch such a soul which weighs much more than sixty legions of ordinary spirits? This is beyond an angel’s strength.” NAFRA STATUTES
https://secularfranciscansusa.org/wp- Then God said to Michael, prince of all the angels, “You go and bring Francis home.” With tears Michael begs release, he’d rather bend low in homage of this man of God for Francis was so content/uploads/2017/12/OFS_Nationa like Jesus, following in word and deed, there was none like unto Francis. Then Satan asked for l_Statutes_FINAL_07_24_13_OFS_withSi leave to collect the man. Girding with great cruelty, wrapping in wrath and rage, the wicked gnatures.pdf one came upon Francis, lying naked with seraph marked wounds shining bright. Suddenly the brightness was so bright, beyond bright. The splendor shining through a Cross was bathing all with love. Francis’ words came forth from inner light, “Begone, Satan. I will not give my soul to NAFRA JPIC you.” https://secularfranciscansusa.org/jpic/ So, the Living God comes to do the death, with Gabriel, the peace messenger angel. Then with tender love God glances on the wounds and smiles in the remembering of Jesus – how those TAU – USA (SPRING 2018) wounds healed. Then God spread the sheets, and smoothed the softness of the pillow flat. Francis having come from God, surrenders. Then the ever-bending over One, the Creator of all https://secularfranciscansusa.org/wp- that is – God – bent low and kissed Francis upon the mouth and sucked Francis’ soul into God’s content/uploads/Tau_USA_094_spr_18. own self. pdf
And for a moment, the veil is broken open upon us, each one called and God exhaled and Francis’ spirit is alive again in us, and the words chosen by Francis splatter like sparks over us, VOX FRANCISCANA (WINTER 2017/18) moving deep within us: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you http://www.ciofs.org/portal/images/Cir should also do, I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have c_PDF/VoxFranciscana/EN-Vox- love for one another.” Let us go, be and do the Gospel with our lives! Franciscana-Winter-2017-2018.pdf
Reflection Oct. 3, 2011 - Sr. Patricia Fritz, OSF Rochester, MN Transitus, October 2011 THE FRANCISCAN ARCHIVE Excerpt http://www.franfed.org/index_htm_files/Transitus_S%20PAT_FRITZ_2011.pdf https://franciscan- archive.org/index2.html
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MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. According to an account by fifteenth-century Dominican, Alan de la Roch, Mary appeared to St. Dominic in 1206 after he had been praying and doing severe penances because of his lack of success in combating the Albigensian heresy. Mary praised him for his valiant fight against the heretics and then gave him the Rosary as a mighty weapon, explained its uses and efficacy, and told him to preach it to others. "Since the prayers of the Rosary come from such excellent sources — from Our Lord Himself, from inspired Scripture, and from the Church — it is not surprising that the Rosary is so dear to our Blessed Mother and so powerful with heaven. "If we consider the power of the Rosary as seen in its effects, we find a great abundance of proofs of its wonderful value. Many are the favors granted to private individuals through its devout recitation: there are few devoted users of the Rosary who cannot testify to experiencing its power in their own lives. If we turn to history, we see many great triumphs of the Rosary. Early tradition attributes the defeat of the Albigensians at the Battle of Muret in 1213 to the Rosary. But even those who do not accept this tradition will admit that St. Pius V attributed the great defeat of the Turkish fleet on the first Sunday of October, 1571, to the fact that at the same time the Rosary confraternities at Rome and elsewhere were holding their processions. Accordingly, he ordered a commemoration of the Rosary to be made on that day. Two years later, Gregory XIII allowed the celebration of a feast of the Rosary in churches having an altar dedicated to the Rosary. In 1671, Clement X extended the feast to all Spain. A second great victory over the Turks, who once, like the Russians, threatened the ruin of Christian civilization, occurred on August 5, 1716, when Prince Eugene defeated them at Peterwardein in Hungary. Thereupon Clement XI extended the feast of the Rosary to the whole Church. "Today, when dangers far greater than those of the ancient Turks threaten not only Christianity but all civilization, we are urged by our Blessed Mother to turn again to the Rosary for help. If men in sufficient numbers do this, and at the same time carry out the other conditions that she has laid down, we have the greater reason for confidence that we will be delivered from our dangers."
-- Mary in our Life by Fr. William G. Most
EXCERPTS FROM https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm
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The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of October 2018
Evangelization – The Mission of Religious: That consecrated religious men and women may bestir themselves, and be present among the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.
THE ROSARY AND THE LITURGICAL YEAR
The Rosary had its origin in the liturgical mentality of former ages. Even at the present time it is called "Mary's Psalter." There still are Catholics who consider the 150 Hail Marys a substitute for the 150 psalms for those persons who neither have the time, the education, nor the opportunity to pray the Hours of the Divine Office. Thus "Mary's Psalter" is a shortened, simplified "breviary" — alongside the common Hour-prayer of the Church. — The Church's Year of Grace, Dr. Pius Parsch
The Rosary is Christocentric setting forth the entire life of Jesus Christ, the passion, death, resurrection and glory. Of course, the Rosary honors and contemplates Mary too, and rightly so, for the same reason that the Liturgical Year does likewise: "Because of the mission she received from God, her life is most closely linked with the mysteries of Jesus Christ, and there is no one who has followed in the footsteps of the Incarnate Word more closely and with more merit than she"142 (Mediator Dei). Meditation on this cycle of Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries makes the Rosary not only "a breviary or summary of the Gospel and of Christian life,"(Ingravescentibus malis) but also a compendium of the Liturgical Year. Therewith the Rosary stands revealed as a dynamic teacher and nurturer of Christian faith, morality, and spiritual perfection, fostering in various ways faith, hope, charity, and the other virtues, and mediating special graces, all to the end that we may become more and more like unto Christ. — Mariology, Juniper B. Carol, O.F.M.
Excerpt: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The feasts in October also include two of the most popular, time-honored devotions of Catholics, the devotion to the Holy Rosary (October 7) and the Guardian Angels (October 2). In October 2002 our Holy Father John Paul II wrote the Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (the Rosary of the Virgin Mary)." This letter introduced five new mysteries, called the Luminous or Mysteries of Light, which are (1) Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan, (2) Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana, (3) Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with the call to conversion, (4) the Transfiguration, and (5) the Institution of the Eucharist. Try to make a more concerted effort to pray the Rosary together as a family during the month of October, read the Apostolic Letter to understand the beauty of this devotion more deeply, and pray the new Luminous mysteries. October 16 is known as "Pope Day" on which we celebrate the gift of the papacy and our current pope.
Every person has a guardian angel assigned to them, and October 2 the Church celebrates the role of these Guardian Angels. We should show devout gratitude to God for placing these angels at our service. Having a guardian should give us confidence during all of life's difficulties. Every Catholic should know the Angele Dei (Angel of God) prayer and pray it often. The Directory on Popular Piety suggests that families pray it at morning and evening prayers or after the Angelus.
Excerpt: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10.cfm
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Franciscan Calendar – October – Holy Rosary 01. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux 02. Feast of the Guardian Angels 03. Saint Theodora Guérin Transitus of St Francis – 7 pm Chapel 04. Saint Francis of Assisi 05. Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska 06. Saint Bruno 07. Our Lady of the Rosary 08. Saint John Leonardi 09. Saint Denis and Companions 10. Saint Francis Borgia 11. Saint John XXIII 12. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos CANDIDATES (GRP #2) 13. Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher // 100th Anniversary of Fatima The Inquirers first formation class will Formation Meeting – Dining Room @ 10 am be Sat October 13, at 10 AM in the 14. Saint Callistus I dining room. We will be starting with Council Meeting – TV Room @ 12:30 pm Chapter 16 (page 176), When to Pray Fraternity Meeting – Chapel @ 2 pm in Franciscan Journey. 15. Saint Teresa of Avila 16. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque 17. Saint Ignatius of Antioch3 CANDIDATES (GRP #1) 18. Saint Luke The Candidates next formation class 19. Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions will be Sat October 20, at 10 AM in the 20. Saint Paul of the Cross dining room. We will be reviewing Formation Meeting – Dining Room @ 10 am Chapter 33, page 319, Fraternity Life in 21. Saint Hilarion the Franciscan Journey. 22. Saint John Paul II
23. Saint John of Capistrano 24. Saint Anthony Mary Claret 25. Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão 26. Saint Peter of Alcantara 27. Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza 28. Saints Simon and Jude 29. Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem 30. Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez 31. Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg
Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness in our minds. Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity, so that we may always and SAVE THE DATE in all things act according to Your Holy Will. NOV 3RD – RETREAT WITH Amen - St. Francis FR. LESTER BACH, OFM CAP
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PRAYERS FOR ““Our labor here is brief, but the THE MONTH reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the Please remember world, which passes like a all of our fraternity shadow. Do not let false delights members in your of a deceptive world deceive prayers; for all those you.” ― St. Clare of Assisi that are sick; for all those are in need; for all those that are traveling for a safe journey there and back; for all those that may be conversing with Sister Death; for all those that are dealing with crisis and suffering in their The Admonitions of St. Francis lives; for all of the Translated from the Critical Latin Edition, edited by Fr. Kajetan Esser, O.F.M. intentions we hold deep within our Chapter XXIV. On true love hearts; for all our Blessed (is) the servant, who would love (dilectio) his own brother as much, when he loved ones and for all is infirm to the point that he cannot repay him, as when he is a healthy (brother), the souls in who can repay him. purgatory; for our communities; True humility - Here Francis asks us to go beyond roles, to never lose relationships country and our of brotherhood despite what offices we may have or not have. Part of being faithful to Penance is the desire to be amended. Recognition of one's fault must be total. world – may we add How is this shown in this text and what is the way this can be realized concretely? these to our prayers throughout the month.
Love God, serve God; everything is in that. – St. Clare of Assisi