February 2024 bro Fred's Reflections

Clothed with Gladness
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

"You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks." (Ps. 30:12-13)
 
Whenever the Lord gives us some joy, we experience a foretaste of Heaven, though for a very short time. I'll give you an example. Abour 20 years back when I was a Postulant with the Franciscans (OFM), in the Midwest, the whole bunch of us (5 plus our Director), sometimes went on an outing. Generally, that meant either a small retreat at their private retreat house or, we went to some public place. I remember one time we went to a place by a lake with a shelter with benches. One of the postulants was asked to read from some text about the early friars in the 14th or 15th Century, and there was some word that got me going. I began to laugh, first a little, then a lot. I could not stop. I must have laughed for 15 minutes. That's very unusual behavior for me. It's not that I'm a sourpuss but one must stick to a certain amount of decorum, particularly when someone is reading to a group. Then of course, other people began to laugh. Why? Because laughter is infectious. People pine for happy moments. In any case, my eyes were red, my throat was sore, but I was very, very happy. Was this a foretaste of heaven? I don't know, but as I look back on it now, I think it might have been.

More than once, I remember at that the OFM Novitiate, in Indiana, sitting in my room, on a comfortable chair wrapped in my own thoughts. I was wrapped in my inner thoughts of contemplating the goodness of Jesus. When I still lived in a world of fewer distractions, it was easy for me to assume this healthy mental state, as it is a gift of God, and then, too, long afterward, I felt great peace and joy. At present (2024), there are fewer such moments.

It is not necessary for people to be in friaries or convents or other very protected places in order to be close to Jesus. In fact, most of us live in this noisy world around us, and we still manage sometimes to make time for God. That, in itself, is sometimes a miracle. It's pretty hard to have your mind elevated in prayer to God while walking down a busy avenue in New York City. Because if you do not pay attention, especially at intersections, cars just about drive over your toes. And, not being alert can lead to having your pocket picked. Don't get me wrong, New York is a wonderful place, but having lived there 30 years, I've had more than enough of big city living.

There are even distractions here in Vero Beach, Florida, where I reside. 

To pray, Our Lord asks us to go into our inner room, as we read in Mt. 6:6, "But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

In other reflections, I've referred to an actual room, a space all your own in your house. It could be a chair by a pool or a sun room of some sort, or even a “walk-in closet”. For folks who live near the woods, such a space could be a chair in the garden or in the woods as you contemplate the greenery and creatures around you. And, certainly in autumn up North, I remember often contemplating the palette of nature, God's magnificent creation when the trees are in their "Fall Foliage" colors. That's certainly a great place to pray, but when Scriptures talk of "your inner room," something else is meant by that: The inner room is our Soul, particularly a Soul of someone close to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints. A prayerful Soul, a meditative Soul: someone who is completely in harmony with God. Is that possible outside of a friary, convent or monastery? Of course it is! Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., (d. 2014) talks about young and old people in Harlem (NY), people who have very little, barely basic shelter, or homeless, but they love God. You see, when you are less burdened with possessions that take up your entire concentration, you have more time for God. You make time for God because it's a wonderful way to speak with Him. Praying is speaking, it is a conversation. And, if it is a meditative or contemplative conversation there are answers. The answers are not heard as if spoken but they are sensed in a most definite way, although usually, one cannot recall much after this intimate time is over. And that doesn't matter, because that sharing in our inner room is a gift of God, and it has nothing at all to do with emotions.

If one desires to have these experiences, one must prepare. How do we do this? We stop committing mortal sins, and we try very hard to stop even venial sins. When I recently mentioned this at one of the evening groups I participate in, a howl of laughter went up - because someone said, "Sin? We all sin!" This statement was uttered with an air of finality as if it would be pointless to even consider daily reform to stop mortal sin. I'm not saying this comes about overnight, but it is more than possible, and it is the only way to be invited by Jesus to meet Him in that inner room. For in that inner room we are clothed with gladness... when we are in deep prayer, unselfish and detached prayer, there is only joy. Now I readily admit that these happy occasions have gone down in number when I left the monastery in 2001 and returned to live among the laity again, with all its distractions of the flesh. (Just turn on the TV and it becomes obvious what I mean by distractions of that nature). But that special joy of Jesus's love in action is worth a lot more than evenings in front of the TV when there are meaningless and potentially dangerous content that unbalance our inner peace. Jesus is waiting for us, he is waiting for us to accept His gift of Life, of Joy, and of prayer.

Peace!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
February 3, 2024
Based on bc135

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Reflection on the Soul
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (See Jn. 6)

A few years ago, I was watching an old rerun of "The Nun's Story," This is a story, based on Kathryn Hulme's best-selling novel by the same name. The lead actress was Audrey Hepburn, who portrays Sister Luke in a Belgian Convent of a contemplative order of nuns. Filmed in 1959, when it was totally out of the question to leave any order after a religious has made perpetual Vows, the movie is the story of a young nun who enthusiastically enters this monastic order, the daughter of a famous Belgian surgeon, goes to the missions in the Congo, to be a Surgical Assistant to the Surgeon (played by Peter Finch) at a local Congolese hospital, and, eventually, leaves the order entirely. The sensation of the movie is that she leaves after having made final profession. If you are a discerning Catholic, you will readily see the real reason why she finds it necessary to leave... she put God second place, after herself. One cannot do this in ordinary life, but in particular in a Vowed life, placing God in second place will douse that flame within: the fire will go out. Having been in a contemplative order (1998-2002), I have experienced the very stumbling block shown in the portrayal of Sister Luke's experiences in religious life. When the bell rang to stop work, she used to go on until finished with a patient. One can't do this in religious life. Similarly, in my experience, when the hour came to start Midday Prayer, I knew intellectually that I had to stop right then, but very often I didn't. That's disobedient for a religious with a Vow of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty. I hadn’t made Vows yet, but the intent was clear. It's a fault that (in the movie) was reported during a Chapter of Faults (where religious gather together and voice their shortcomings). Thus, if a superior becomes aware that a sister commits this same fault day after day, there will be dialogue, and something will be done to help her realize that God comes first.

The life within, in the soul, is a life of strong conviction for some, and a very fragile life for others. Either the flame burns brightly, or it is pinched off by human pride. Pride (ego) is the cause of much evil that goes on in this world. It is also the leading cause that dedicated people leave convents, monasteries, and other orders, or even the church. When that flame burns brightly, all is well, and the relationship between a soul and Our Lord will evolve into a beautiful and holy relationship. When that flame begins to flicker, the relationship will lessen, and, when the flame goes out, there will not be a relationship anymore. When the life of the soul ceases, sin follows almost immediately, because we have lost the continual war with Satan. People have told me, 'oh, he does not bother me'... watch out, that's an attitude of inviting Satan to wreak havoc in your soul. It isn't nice to tell anyone to go to Hell. But do tell Satan to return to Hell and burn to a crisp. In other words, don't let him and his powers and principalities anywhere near your soul - that soul is reserved for a special relationship with Jesus, a strong relationship of total love with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That means God always comes first. And that also means, when the proverbial bell rings, we stop what we are doing and we withdraw into our "secret room" to pay homage to a loving brother and friend, Jesus Christ. If we do this consistently, we will never run out on God and He will reward us, if not in this life, then certainly in the next.

A soul where that flame burns brightly is never without temptations. It takes suffering on the part of most people to maintain this total immersion in obedience, chastity and poverty. It can be a very rocky pilgrimage, on a path strewn with many boulders. God, however, loves a well-fought fight. He does not award spiritual slouching. He looks for dedication, zeal, and the strong will to please Him. He loves conquerors, He identifies with those who will give this fight their 100% effort. God is also a very forgiving Master. When we have erred, we confess our sins, and we promise to do better. We can say we love God, but do we really? Do our actions, our striving to obey Him, indicate willingness to try harder, or is it only a halfhearted effort. The great Saint Bonaventure, in so many words, said ... If you love God, you do not sin. If you still sin, you do not love God enough! That's really what this is all about. It is the nitty-gritty of the matter, not loving God enough. We all sin, some are apt to say. But what are you doing about it... are you trying to sin less, or are you a spiritual couch potato?

Within a strong sense of obedience, it is possible to live in a continual state of Chastity and Poverty. Obedience is the gateway that keeps our will, tainted by Original Sin, out of the equation. People who are nuns, sisters, and monks, brothers or priests living in a religious order, and also, professed members of lay orders (Secular Franciscans), know that living in excess is wrong. It is an attraction to material things that keep our thoughts away from what is happening around us. There is so much suffering, there are so many people away from the Church, who need our prayerful help. A dedicated soul is a valuable commodity, that far outweighs any artificial road to fame, lavish living, or material things as such. And Chastity ... it is easy to understand why this is one of the Evangelical Counsels, but even for lay people, married or single, who belong to Secular Institutes, there is a need for chaste living. The rewards, even in this life, are overwhelming. Being at total peace with God is a happy relationship, a contemplative or meditative relationship, and subsequently those who enjoy this state of the soul, will be beneficial to society, evenly friendly to all, regardless of differences between themselves and others. They will bring into this world, a continual smile, a compassionate heart, and they will be seen as an image of Christ.

The Vows entered in by Religious, the Promises entered in by Secular Franciscans, also pertain to other lay people - do you think you are exempted from living chastely, from obedience to God, and from having tons of money that is not properly used for your brother or sister? No. We all have a share in this obligation. So let's honor Our Lord Jesus Christ and do it!

May the Lord bless you and may He show His face to you. May He bless you, and your family.

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
2012; rev. February 4, 2024

(from FR2-600)

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 The Joy of Suffering
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

I was listening to some Lenten reflections: a Good Friday reflection on the topic of Suffering. Good Friday goes along with this topic because our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us, YES, FOR US! He died on the Cross as an act of redemption, to save humankind, to make it possible for us to spend eternity with Him in Paradise. We all suffer to one extend or the other. The human condition is one of suffering. And, nowadays, with the almost systemic loss of family life, suffering begins rather early in life. I need not expound on the whys and hows of suffering, we all know about suffering. And we are mostly in denial about personal suffering. Some people use drugs to hide the suffering from others; this causes additional suffering. Other people try to get as far away from church as they can, because they erroneously think that God causes suffering. He does not. God wishes for all of us only joy, deep lasting Joy!

Of course, critics of my writing will immediately shout: doesn't God cause everything, including suffering? Well, no! God, who is goodness itself, has given us great intelligence (not used in equal portions by everyone!) and a free hand to say yes or no ... and, when we misuse this intelligence to do something that God forbids (remember the Ten Commandments?) then we suffer in one way or the other. God does not wish us harm. We cause the harm, we disobey Him, and ultimately, we will confess to Him our misdeeds and then we will know what we deserve, in that final moment of truth. Courts were quick to hide public displays of the Ten Commandments. One wonders why? Was it that the truth regarding God's love felt threatening? Was it that less emphasis on what God wishes from us, somehow made the commandments go away? Who knows what is in the minds of people? What makes them tick? I really have no idea. Why does one person deny God's existence, and the other is a devoted servant of the Lord? We do not know such things. Only God knows how we will turn out from the moment of conception, to a grown person, how long we will live, whether we will suffer or have lots of joy in our lives. God knows us by name, and He is our creator, one who only wants what is good for us. He has sent to us, His Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, our friend, and most of all, our Savior. That's what the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday) is all about. It is the central most important event in history, one that set Christians apart from everyone else.

It has been my good fortune to know many priests and religious brothers, having been in religious life for about 7 years. I left because I was having health problems and the small Order of monks I was with did not have community health insurance. Those are unfortunate results of the times, and where doors close, our Lord opens other doors. My life hasn't stopped because of this change of venue, and as far as my love for God and for his people is concerned, nothing has really changed at all.

For most people "Heaven" is an unknown. It is through certain saints that we know something about Heaven, and also, people who are at the point of death, sometimes emote about the joy and peace that they get a glimmer of... praise the Lord, we should all have such a peaceful death. That's a good thing to pray for!

People ask: Can I play baseball in Heaven? Will my dog or cat be with me? Of course these are questions I cannot answer, but my gut feeling is that we will be so occupied with God's love, seeing Him for the first time face-to-face, as He really is, that we will lack nothing, and all these other questions about baseball and animals will resolve themselves in an instant. Heaven is something worth shooting for, people; when you think about it, there really is no alternative. The alternative (Hell) is too awful to contemplate. Stay away from there. It will be a place of deep loneliness and constant pain.

Catholics pray at every Sunday Mass, in the Nicene Creed: "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end."

And, the remainder of the Creed: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Lent is just beginning. Please reflect on the meaning of the Nicene Creed frequently. It was put into use in 325 A.D.

May your daily suffering bring Joy
Fred Schaeffer, OFS

(2/13/2024 bc342 revised)

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Disappointments and pain in life: preparation for Heavenly Joy
A reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

So many people, these days, are suffering in one way or another. People pass away every day from cancer, injuries inflicted through other peoples' evil (crime/war). Many, many people go through terrible suffering each day, in physical pain, mental pain (the pain of loneliness or some mental problem), and we do not think much how we can use this suffering for the love of God. But we can, and then the pain becomes a great Grace for our Soul, preparation toward life with God in eternity, and for other people for whom we are praying.

Franciscans are very much aware of this, because St. Francis in his teachings instructed his followers to take “Suffering and pain, fatigue and disappointments, service unrewarded, and humiliations as part of every life. All Christians should accept them patiently. St. Francis [of Assisi] has shown us, however, that they are to be seen as opportunities to share an intimacy with Jesus in his mission of salvation.” True penance must be filled with a spirit of gratitude and joy, not pessimism, through the cross we all share in Christ’s resurrection. And the opportunity to partake in Christ’s suffering is seen as a privilege he grants to those he loves. It is a means of making reparation for our sins, because it was for sin that Christ died. Hence a life of penance (suffering = penance) calls for frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so we can keep strong our awareness of God’s Mercy. It keeps us ‘turned toward God’ (conversion) and prompts us continually to make reparation for our sins.” (cf. bc087)

His “Mission of Salvation” is still in progress. God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that beautiful love between Father and Son transcends all time as we know it. So this Mission of Salvation is with us until the end of time, and so we have the opportunity to make all our pain and inconveniences count, bear fruit, and become useful in mitigating all the wrong that goes on. First, however, we must begin with ourselves, cleansing our soul from blemishes that obscure our relationship with God. When that is done, or at least "in progress" (Life in Christ is always in progress, sometimes we do good and at other times we fail), our suffering can be a beautiful thing. The way St. Francis is depicted in art, holding Jesus in his arms while Jesus is on the Cross, is a beautiful example of the very thing we are talking about. Francis is suffering with Jesus, and Jesus in this gesture of love recognizes Francis as His brother in his cause of Salvation for all people.

Suffering is penance. And true and worthy penance must be borne with patience and gratitude for the opportunity to serve God in this way. One sees beautiful examples of this. I recall, in a restaurant, a man, weak, pale, on a respirator, almost no hair so typical of chemotherapy or radiation. His family were making a great fuss about him, as any family of sick people do. But the sick man just sat there calmly taking it all in. I didn't have to know the man, to realize that he was suffering with patient endurance. Such people are a Gift of God to the world because they are living examples of the simplicity of accepting the inevitable, and then taking this Gift (Yes, suffering and pain is a Gift, because it can be used to be a part of Creation), and offering it to Our Lord Jesus Christ, for peace in the world, for healing of a friend, a group of people, or any intention of which we (the sick) draw no benefit ourselves.

Our sins in our lives, as well as our complicity in Original Sin, demand from us a certain vigilance and Faith. We know in Faith, that penance will help eradicate in us the effects of sin. Through our example, we live the Gospel, we intensify the example our Lord gave us by His suffering, so that other people may benefit from His suffering then, 2000 years ago, and now, through our suffering we continue what Jesus began. In Holy Scripture, we find the following words: "For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps." (1 Peter 2:19-21)

We are here to complete what Jesus began. In St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 5:1-5: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." We should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and if we must suffer, then at least allow this suffering borne patiently to be an opportunity to share an intimacy with Jesus in his mission of salvation. There are beautiful examples of this in the world today. May your suffering become a joy here on earth and bring you to Heaven. 

God bless you today and always.
 

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
2/21/2024 (see bc305)

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If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

The title of this talk, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts," is the main antiphon during Lent which alternates with each verse of Psalm 95 or others Invitatory psalms, said before the first hour of the Liturgy of the Hours that one begins the day with. For some, this is usually Morning Prayer, and for those who are obligated to pray the whole daily office, it would be the Office of Readings or "Vigils." An antiphon is simply, a short liturgical text spoken or sung before and after a psalm or canticle.

The Antiphon implies that during the Season of Lent, we should really be attuned to His presence in our lives. He reaches out to us constantly, desires us to love Him as He loves us, and so often we do not give Him a second thought. For example, someone I knew called me one day and complained that Jesus did not answer his prayers. I asked a few questions to find out what had been happening in his life, and so he told me that he had both knees replaced. So I asked him if he thought Jesus answered his prayer to lessen the pains that made the replacements necessary. Mmmm. He had not thought of that, but still was too hard-necked to admit this to me. Doesn't matter. I try to lay seeds, so that later, when he or the receiver of some of my comments, is by him or herself - that somehow the truth will be accepted. Maybe a dozen years ago, I gave a talk at a parish. That was before I went into religious life from 1996 to 2002. The talk was on the Presence of the Lord in our lives. I had talked about forms of prayer, formal prayer, conversational prayer and contemplative prayer. At the time, I probably had no right to talk about contemplative prayer, since the only similar prayer I had experience with was Father Keating’s centering prayer, which is something altogether different. In any case, I had mentioned that if one prays deeply and intensively, Jesus would be there. And certainly, He told us that where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there amongst us. (Mt. 18:20)

We are never quite alone when we pray, are we? Jesus is always there, to those who constantly are with Him, not so much in actual thought as in doing everything we do in His name. So He becomes a part of our life, because our life is dedicated to Him and to our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbor, and also to the strangers who cross our paths. All of us, myself included, experience dry spells in prayer. Days where we just cannot find the right stimulus to pray. Happens to everyone. Of course that is when we are weak, and when we are that is when Satan tries to take advantage. We get these little and sometimes not so little temptations, and you hear this little sharp voice that says "taking a cookie out of the jar is not a sin." - I use this example because in Nijmegen, the Dutch town I was born in, there was a parish priest by the name of Fr. J. Rubbens, SJ. He was a character, and his sermons could be fire and brimstone, but more often than not, he acted out scenes to make his point. He was so famous, that there is a book about him: "Het ' jungske ' uit de Molenstraatskerk." (Daniels. Archivaris - Archeoloog - Nijmegenaar)

You see, there was "Jantje" (little Johnny) who had been told by his mother that the cookie jar during Lent was not to be touched or even looked at. Of course you and I know when we tell a child that, that is like issuing a dare which invites mischief right away. Anyway, up he went, when his mother was not looking - from a chair he climbed onto the kitchen counter, and from there he could touch the cookie jar, even open it a little. In the meantime, Fr. Rubbens crouched in the pulpit, and when Johnny’s hand reached out for the jar, Fr. Rubbins trying to imitate the devil, with his nose just above the edge of the pulpit rim, said in a high child-like voice, "That's alright Johnny, taking one cookie is not a sin." Of course, at that point, the parishioners exploded with laughter. But the homily met it’s mark. I have never forgotten that the devil is always lurking about waiting for us to fall into his evil trap. That was in 1948, when I was 8 years old when I sat with Mom and Dad in the Molenstraat Kerk in Nijmegen. Jesus must have rocked with laughter, too! Jesus is like us in every way except sin - so I think we can dare to assume that he loves a good story once in a while, don’t you think so?

Praying the prayers of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours, for example is a very noble habit, because we know that we are praying the same prayers that are said all over the world by every priest, deacon and religious brother and sister, even by the Holy Father. All text in the vernacular are translations from the original Latin texts. So one can see there is a lot of solidarity in these type of prayers. But also, inherent in these beautiful prayers is the depth and the beauty of the prayer life of the Church, and some of these prayers, as for instance the Psalms in the Old Testament (sometimes referred to as the Gospel of the Old Testament) date back even before Christ. King David ruled from about 1005 to 965 before Christ. So these psalms as prayers are almost 3000 years old.

A monk once told me that uttering a prayer is not as important as your willingness to pray, but when people race through the prayers without giving the words any thought, that just doesn’t wash with me either. Why? Because if you want to make prayer, which is a conversation with God, a true conversation, we have to pause after sentences, right? Say a Psalm even a verse, and pause. Likewise, after a Hail Mary, pause and rest. In your mind’s eye, place yourself in the room with Our Lady when the Angel Gabriel gave her the message of joy of the Annunciation. Or when reading a psalm, imagine yourself walking through the Red Sea when Moses parted it in the name of Yahweh (the Lord). What an awesome feeling that must have been. I wouldn't be surprised that the Israelites must have been very anxiously wondering if those walls of water would close in on them, and happily relieved, when they didn't. Such a miracle!

When you're done thinking or meditating about this, just relax and tell Jesus that you, his servant, is waiting, and just listening. Be silent and give Him the opportunity to reach your heart. To open the door of your Soul. And when He does open that door, you will find you are resting interiorly, for what seems a blessed moment or two, in the palm of His hands. But if you have no recollection afterward whether He visited with you or not, don't worry about it... the nature of contemplation is such that what goes on in the depth of your Soul you will not feel with your senses. If you do, it most likely wasn't contemplation.

Prayer is a gift from God. I encourage you to pray every day, as most of you are doing already. Pray to curtail sin in your lives and in the lives of others. Pray for peace on earth, and forgive those, who consciously disturb the peace of God, be it on the battle field or in more sinister places. Frequent prayer keeps Satan away from us. There will come that time that we will all hear His voice. And when you do, harden not your hearts but embrace our Lord, in the name of His Son, as Father and Son embraces us through the Holy Spirit, the love between them and us. What an awesome thought, isn’t it?

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

2013 Revised 2/25/2024

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