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bro Fred's Reflections August 2024
The desire for God is written in the human heart
a Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
The title of this Reflection is from paragraph 27 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which says:
“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
- The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.” (from 2nd Vatican Council)
Over the last couple of months, I’ve encountered a number of people who questioned their belief in God. They were former Catholics, that is, raised in the Catholic Faith but “fallen away” as young adults. This choice is most unfortunate. People who fall away sometimes drift into areas of concern, poor choice of friends, crime, drugs, etc. If you feel uncertain of the road ahead, keep going to church, attending Holy Mass, frequent Confession, pray the Rosary, then your faith will strengthen and you’ll know what to do.
In the Gospel of Mark (10:15), Jesus said: "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." This child-like relationship simply does not allow judgment of others. St. Francis of Assisi knows himself and that his relationship to God is solid. He knows that in his continual spirit of compassion and forgiveness of others, he is obedient to God's Will. He knows he is a son of the Father, as we all are, and this relationship is unbreakable.
Treating every person as the unique human being he or she is, is a paradigm shift for most beginning Franciscans. As I look back on my life to date, treating every person as a unique being, was and still is, one of the most difficult and challenging concepts to embrace. Some people seem to have a natural inborn capacity for loving other people, not for material reasons, but solely because they are who they are: "As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ." (Rule of St. Francis #13, Secular Franciscan Order)
Life is full of missed opportunities. We wanted to do so much, but ended up doing so little. Did we try, at least? Not everyone is born a Saint Francis of Assisi, a Saint Teresa of Calcutta, or a St. Elizabeth of Hungary - all people who excelled in valuing the other person. It takes a lifetime, sometimes, to treat people as we're taught to treat them by these good saints.
So here you are, approaching someone who obviously needs help ... could be an elderly person trying to cross a busy street, or some poor guy who looks miserable and lost. What do you do? It is easy to offer to help the elderly person cross the street, but one is more apprehensive of helping the poor guy, in this very realistic example. Stop thinking that every person who looks poor, slovenly dressed, is looking for a hand-out. That's not important enough to go into an avoidance pattern. Franciscans will go to this poor guy, and ask "How can I help?" and if he holds up his hand for that dollar bill, give him five (if you can). Never mind what he might do with that money. Not our concern. I've heard people talk about this, and say "when they get some money they run to the liquor store to get some cheap wine." That's a non-issue. When you perform charity, it is not important what happens to the gift. What is important is to use that gift to show concern on your part. To tell that poor guy - hey, I care!
Not all encounters with other people happen on the street between strangers. Most happen among people we know, family, friends, members of a prayer group, and yes, people in our Franciscan fraternities whom we consider sister and brother, just as we consider in an ever-widening circle anyone in our Faith community as sister and brother. So encounters or opportunities to be charitable occur close to home.
Many of the people we come into contact with are people of ordinary means, people we don't know personally, but whom we know from sight in our neighborhood. I am not afraid to ask for help, should I really need it, but for most people I know, hell would freeze over before they seek help. We are (we think) very self-sufficient. Wouldn't want to be a bother... right? I used to be more independent then I am now. I ask many people to pray for me. But usually I say "Let us pray for one another," seeing a need in them also. Jesus will sort it all out. How He does that I have no idea! Can you imagine Jesus sitting in Heaven with a ledger trying to sort out who has asked for help and who is still thinking about asking? No way! But He does bring healing and solace to all who ask, and when we're really suffering, His helping hand comes fast.
People seeking help, ask - "Why hasn't God relieved some of my pain?" - to which I might reply - He has! Think back to this afternoon ... surely there was a time that you didn't feel the arthritic pain in your knee - that could be where Jesus brought relief! When we look for the positives in our daily lives, we will find such moments of Grace, and then thanking Our Lord for His help, we build on that. Whole spiritual relationships are sustained on the daily "little miracles" in our lives. Some will respond, "the doctor healed me", or, "I took some pills." Our Lord provides all that. He is the ultimate Creator! Let us offer our little frustrations up to Him, for the healing of others.
So you've helped someone in a direct way. You will find out gradually, how you can best help others. But don't dwell on this too much, because we want to be spontaneous, guided by the Holy Spirit, so we don't stop and wonder "Now what did I do with this other fellow who had a similar problem, last month?" - each person is unique, each person has unique problems, which demands a special custom-made answer. Even if it's only a smile, a handshake and a hug, or even a tear. Showing compassion often involves tears - that, folks, is not a sign of weakness. Not at all. Any emotion is a reflection of our level of concern, compassion, empathy, and more than that: Faith in God's Providence for yourself or for the person who has asked for help.
Every human being is unique. The Father knows us by name, a special name given us by a loving Shepherd of souls. As Franciscans we should be more aware than most that we have agreed by our Rule to the obligation to treat each and every person with dignity as all are precious in the sight of God.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
July 5, 2024; Based and revised “sfpperson.html” 2012
© 2023-2024 All Rights Reserved | Frederick S. Schaeffer OFS
Get in touch:
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Joanne Giordano OFS offers the following about spirituality in America:
I want to mention something about the spirituality debate in America right now. You don't believe in God? Fine. But Why is it so important for some to mock those of us that do? If we're wrong, what have we lost when we die? Nothing! How does our believing in Jesus bring any harm? You think it makes me stupid? Gullible? Fine. How does that affect you? I would rather live my life believing in God and serving Him, and find out I was right, than not believing in Him and not serve Him, and find out I was wrong. Then it's too late. There's no shame in my game! I believe in Jesus Christ. He said deny me in front of your friends & I will deny you in front of my Father (Matthew 10:33-35). HE'S COMING BACK...Greatest man in history, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. His name is Jesus.
If you're not ashamed copy to your page. I will never be ashamed. I am a believer of Jesus Christ... Thank you Jesus. For all you've given me... I love you...
Stay Blessed!
Reflections on Prayer
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Saint Augustine says that "when we practice faith, hope and charity with continual desire, we pray always." At the same time, we also should set aside specific times for explicit prayer to God. "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." (Phil. 4:6) Although God knows everything about us as well as what needs we have, we continually desire to place ourselves in the presence of God.
It is not strictly necessary to pray with words; most people do pray in various ways using words. All are effective as long as the strong desire is there to be in God's presence when asking for a particular petition to be granted. It is, for example, highly commendable to pray the Rosary daily and thus petition the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us, to ask her beloved Son, Jesus, to grant the request. For some people it is not possible to pray the Rosary during their work or while driving the car and so other means of prayer could be used.
It is useful to memorize a number of short prayers that can be said anywhere either aloud or as mental prayer. Examples of such short prayers are: "Jesus I love You", "Jesus meek and humble of Heart make my heart like unto Thine", and, "Dear Jesus, please be with me always." You can address Jesus or Mary or your favorite Saint in the way you are accustomed to. Perhaps you might like to, at the beginning of the day or at Holy Mass, in prayer, state the intention for all prayers of that day.
In a family circle, with spouse and children there are possibilities for prayer as well. As the Rosary priest, Father Patrick Peyton, O.S.C. said, "the family who prays together, stays together!" I know of a family where they come together at a specified time and read from Holy Scripture or some other spiritual text and then the family will meditate silently on the subject of the reading for 20 minutes. Meditation is a different type of prayer than short prayers or the Rosary. People who wish to meditate usually read a passage of Scripture or some other spiritual text. Then they think about it for 10-15 minutes. If the reading is on the Passion of Christ, they could meditate on this by imagining themselves at Calvary in the crowd.
Whether in a family circle or single people at prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours is yet a different form of prayer and one that is highly recommended by the Church because it is the Prayer of the Church. Priests, deacons and many religious have a daily obligation to pray these beautiful prayers. Secular Franciscans may also pray these prayers of the Church. Actually, any Catholic can. And perhaps we should, because then, united with the Holy Father, with Bishops and Cardinals and many thousands of priests we share a unity in prayer.
Another method of prayer is "Conversational Prayer." This form of prayer is just what the title implies—the person praying tells everything to Jesus in a conversational style. Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Mat 18:3-4) God exhorts us in prayer to pray as children do. Conversational prayer is one way to do just that. I located an interesting book, "More Ideas for Prayer" by Dom Hubert Van Zeller, O.S.B. (1967, Templegate Publishers). This book, written by Dom Hubert, a widely known English monk, scholar, author and sculptor, contains 200 suggestions which may prove useful for those who find prayer tedious or seemingly impossible.
St. Thomas Aquinas says that "no gift that is given us is for our own exclusive use." That is certainly true with prayer also. Prayer is a gift of God. Thus we do not pray only for ourselves but for other people and for every need. We also pray to thank God for all He has given us. Sometimes our prayer is very dry and unexciting but nevertheless our prayer is valuable. Dom Van Zeller says, "Prayer needs preparation. It is necessary to acquire the habit of recollection, the good use of leisure and solitude, the avoidance of deliberate imperfection. Obviously the man who lets entertainment, conversation, physical fitness dominate his day will find himself at a loss when he comes to the set times of prayer." Although you'll probably think that Dom Van Zeller is addressing himself to monks and nuns, he writes for all people. Given the frenetic pace of the working man and woman these days, or that of a mother with three or four kids at home, it is necessary to relax, to unwind from the workplace before one can pray without mental interruptions or distractions.
One needs to settle in for prayer, to slow down the mind. At the same time, people should also pray when they are moved to pray and then ask the Holy Spirit to guide them. Mentally relaxing before the start of Holy Mass is very valuable, and it is unfortunate that there tends to be too much talking by people waiting for Holy Mass to begin. If there was silence in Church, there would be more prayer and reflection and when Mass commences, we’d be ready to fully participate and follow every action and word by the priest.
What I haven't yet touched upon is how most people pray. They pray the "prayer of petition." They ask Jesus and Mary to protect Aunt Sophie, and Uncle Ralph, and their children, their parish priest and maybe another dozen different people. Some people think poorly of their own prayer but they shouldn't. It should never be a concern what they get out of the prayer, the main thing is to pray. God will do the rest.
Dom Van Zeller also quotes an old axiom "Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not." There is a danger in pretending to leave God free to work His will in us by not praying or praying very little. Love is expressed in prayer, in conversation with Him. Prayer is the lifting of our minds to God. Other prayers, apart from the Holy Mass, are the Rosary, Novenas, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Stations of the Cross and various invocations to Saints. When you pray without words, the soul may express devotion to Jesus, to the Blessed Virgin Mary or to Saints also. That would be mental prayer. Meditation is a form of prayer too.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Written Jan. 2003. Slightly revised 2013, 2024
Prayer is an Expression of Love
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
In the many Convents of sisters, He is called "My Beloved." In Friaries and Monasteries, God is the Master and those following Him, the Servants. And, to the rest of us, living in less austere and hallowed ways, He is God, and we are His children, and we love Him most of the time. If we do, we make a sincere effort to sin less, and if we do not, now's the time to repair that relationship.
Prayer is, and always has been, a gift of God. Prayer is an expression of His Love for us. For people who steadfastly tell others that they cannot pray, there is something that blocks the relationship between themselves and God. God only loves, He wishes what is good for us, and He continues to encourage and bring us hope. If there is something wrong in our relationship to God, it is never God's fault. People who really think they cannot pray, go seek advice, go open up to someone, and most of all, just ask God to help you. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mat. 7:7-8)
Franciscans, and indeed all who pray the daily prayers of the Catholic Church, that is, the Liturgy of the Hours, are really participating in an expression of Love for God. Those Church Orders who are obliged to pray these prayers will do so in the manner prescribed by the rubrics. These are found at the beginning of Volume I of the 4-volume Liturgy of the Hours, and in other places. There are slight varieties between convents, monasteries and friaries. The Benedictines, for example, often chant this Liturgy in Latin. And for those using the vernacular, there are usages by tradition that are common to some houses and not to others, but by and large, everyone follows either the 4-volume or the single volume "Christian Prayer". Priests who are not members of religious orders almost always use
the 4-volume edition and a good number of lay people do also. Lay people, for the most part are not obliged to use these prayers.
Likewise, Secular Franciscans are not obliged to say the Liturgy of the Hours but the Order highly encourages us to do so. And, many differences have crept into the use of the Liturgy between groups of fraternities, and even, individuals. It depends, largely, of who taught whom. Many of us get really bent out of shape when someone enters our fraternity with prior experience with these prayers, and tells us that we are doing it all wrong. Right?
When this happens, it is really, really important to remember why we are praying in the first place. To honor our Lord! Yes, we are praying this wonderful expression of Love, to honor and praise Our Lord Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Having stated that, it really isn't all that important how we pray in the first place, as long as we're all doing it the same way in community. Whatever we do privately, whether we say Psalm-Prayers or not, repeat the Antiphon after the Psalm is over, or not, substitute Psalms or not, and so on, the form becomes less important than the intent of the prayer. Let us pray, for sure, but don't argue about form. It's not that important. It is far more important that we love our Lord God and that we love all other people as we do ourselves.
When we come together to pray, and we are in the middle of prayer, do not begin a discussion about the format of that prayer. Do that before or after the prayer, but not during. Also, when making an Intercessory Prayer for someone, make it short and to the point. For example, "Dear Lord, please heal (name) who is suffering from cancer, let us pray to the Lord" (and we answer, God hear us, or similar). But do not begin to tell the group that this person is in the hospital, and how many kids he or she has, or about that trip she got sick on, etc., etc. - that may be very interesting but is not pertinent to the prayer requests.
Prayer is a conversation between us (i.e. the persons praying) and God. We ask God to help us and others, but not before praising Him. That is why the Intercessions are toward the END of the "Hour" of these prayers. The Psalms, and all that follows before the Intercessions is the praise we are giving to God. In a similar way, when praying privately for someone's need, always express your love for God. It is an expression of kindness, of intimacy in prayer between the servant and his or her Master, and our prayers are as those of children to the Father. In addition, let us not forget that Franciscans have a legion of Saints and Blesseds in our big family who have gone before us, beginning with the Queen of the Seraphic Order, the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Let us always ask for her Intercession in our prayer life. Our Holy Father, St. Francis of Assisi, and some of our personally favorite saints, ask them to intercede for us in prayer. And lastly, our many fraternities have one or more people who are deceased, who have gone before us, and we can ask them for a favor once in a while, too. They have completed the good fight, and they are with the Lord. Let us not forget them since they will always be our sisters and brothers in the Fraternity and in Eternity.
May the Lord bless you, and keep you!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
March 2021 (in April 2021 Canticle); repub. 7/20/24
Yes Lord, I will do your will
A new Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Thanks to our Lord, and to EWTN, it was possible to view the entire National Eucharistic Congress on TV, without going to Indianapolis. My eyes were glued to the television for the whole 4.5 day presentation. Praise the Lord! I think I needed this revival, and I embrace it with enthusiasm. I hope you will too. I hope my joy, the Joy of the Lord, will reflect in my writing. Lately my reflections have been a bit sour, even I was dissatisfied with them. With the help of the Holy Spirit we go forward! I am not important in all this, but HE IS.
I would like to begin by talking about Eucharist and Real Presence. At the Consecration during Mass, the priest says “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood” - what does that mean to us? Read Matthew 26:26-28: “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Yes, Jesus said it first, and commissioned his Apostles to do the same. Priests still to the same when they offer Holy Mass. Yet there are so many Catholics who don’t attend Holy Mass, and who do not believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Jesus IS present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. For more information see: https://www.usccb.org/resources/mystery-eucharist-life-church
One of the greatest experiences in the life of St. Francis of Assisi occurred when God told him: "Francis go and repair my Church which you see is wholly in ruin."¹ Francis took this to mean the little Church of San Damiano, which was indeed in need of repair. But Our Lord meant the general state of the Church. Not the building but the Body of Christ. And, we are still broken. The Eucharistic Congress that ended this morning, convinced me there is constant need to "Repair My Church." Now it is our turn as Franciscans to seek to repair His Church! That can be done through strict adherence to the Rule of St. Francis and the laws of the Catholic Church. Christ is the Soul of the Apostolate.
What should we do? Christianity is spread by the Holy Spirit. Tell people what is true and good. Do not deal in negatives or innuendo. If you have nothing worthwhile to say, don't say anything. Many people excel in needless conversation, in the minutia of personal lives. Explain beliefs and practices of the faith to those who ask.
Be of good cheer, setting a good example. As you grow as a Franciscan, you will find great joy at doing the little favors to people every day. We are not holy or elite, we are just ordinary people. But we are striving to become worthy of the biggest reward of all, meeting our Lord in person and seeing Him in all his glory. And then we will also meet that little friar, our beloved Father, Saint Francis, and all the other Franciscans. It is in Heaven where we shall find true Brotherhood, but we've got to start here and now.
Go in Peace,
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
July 21, 2024
(1. Notes from “Seeking Franciscan Perfection” SFP8)
Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the Word and I shall be healed. (See Mt. 8:8)
Jesus is totally present in the Tabernacle, in the Chalice, in the Ciboria, and on your tongue. He is present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession." (CCC #1378)
Then how is it possible that many do not realize what they are doing when receiving Jesus in Holy Communion?
Jesus is giving us His Life, and His inestimable love...
Do we even give this a second thought?
In His wisdom and love our Lord devised a way of remaining with us. While He remains in glory at the right hand of the Father, He is also with us in the Blessed Sacrament. The relationship He desires to have with us and we desire to have with Him is that of the tenderest mother and the most loving child. The Blessed Sacrament is the gift of Jesus Himself. He gave this Gift to us the night before he died. "And whatever you ask in my name, I will do…." What a wonderful gift!!! But what does this statement imply? It implies that we love God. If people sin they do not love God. If people sin they cannot ask what they desire in His Name except forgiveness. Sinning and desiring to have prayers answered is a contradiction in terms. It is a breakdown in love!
People who do not sin often have a growing desire to be with Jesus. Those are the people who seek Him in the Blessed Sacrament and who will sit or kneel in front of the Tabernacle every day. They are the people who attend daily Mass (unless a very weighty reason prevents them from doing so.) They know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is really, truly, actually present in the Blessed Sacrament. Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. He is truly present, in a sense far transcending that of the divine power and grace which operates in the other sacraments. He is truly and really present! That’s why we speak of the Real Presence. He was just as present as He stood among His disciples after His resurrection as he was in the glorified condition at the Transfiguration.
He is present in the Tabernacle all day. He is our Brother, our Friend, Counselor and Teacher. But often he is, like a prisoner in solitary confinement, when there is no one who comes to the church to be with Him for an hour, even for just a half hour. Suppose that Pope St. John Paul II would come to our town…. Wouldn’t you do all that is possible to go see him? Sure, you would! Then why is it that so many people do not make an effort to attend daily Mass, or just make a 10-minute visit? I pray that everyone reading this writing be blessed with His grace and that you may find great desire to go often to pay Jesus a visit. God bless you!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Stay Close to Jesus and Mary
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Our Seraphic Father, St. Francis of Assisi, was drawn to the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. From his relationship to Christ in the Eucharist, Francis grew closer to all other Christians whom he regarded as his sisters and brothers on an equal level to himself. Franciscans, therefore, give first place in their daily lives to the Mass and to receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Always stay close to Jesus, and to Mary, our Mother and of course, to our Seraphic Father. There are many illustrious Saints whose lives have been a witness for God. Their lives give us inspiration and strength to live in like manner, building on the strong points in their holy lives, to enrich our own life of the soul. The life of the soul, that inner life that forms the core of our relationship to Jesus, and through Jesus to our sisters and brothers - all that we do should turn around Jesus, and the examples He set for us while on earth. Isn't it wonderful that Jesus' public ministry gave us a well-documented structure of what is expected of us, as Catholic Christians and as Franciscans. That's why we, and all Catholics should renew this memory of Jesus by frequently reading Holy Scripture.
Stay close to Jesus, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that unassuming and humble woman we know from Nazareth, who never ceases to contemplate her Son, who sits at the right hand of the Father, is Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is surely our strongest intercessor and help in our daily life. "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 969). Our Mother in Heaven, Mary, is very powerful and she has her Son’s ear.
St. Francis of Assisi, had a deep devotion to Our Lady, because he knew she would lead him to her Son, Jesus. Thank her often for her Fiat - for saying, "Yes" to the message of the Angel. That act of obedience and humility has shaped the course of history and grace in our lives.
So many people are undergoing tough suffering as a result of cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Let us ask Our Lady, and her Son, to heal the people we hold dear, who are suffering.
May the Lord bless thee and heal thee!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
7/28/24 (cf. file bc319)