Vespers at my parish church
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

The first two paragraphs are from previously published reflections. They evoke in me a great sense of peace and joy.

1. Dusk settled over the gardens. Birds swarmed toward their nightly roost. I slowly walked along the path in the Friary garden*, oblivious to other people, meditating on the Evening Chant of Vespers. It was quiet and Jesus walked with me. He was in my thoughts. The beauty of the moment touched me, then and now.
Recollections are wonderful. Special feelings, emotions, felt them come flooding back, bringing me closer to Jesus, and to the Angels and Saints.

2. A similar scene also comes to mind. In the Netherlands, when I was about 10 or 11, I took long bicycle rides on days off from school. I remember being somewhere south of Nijmegen, in the fields. It had snowed that morning, and there was a mist over the fields that stretched very far. Then I heard a lonely bell, a tiny sound, and indeed, a small steeple was visible... the bells rang at the Consecration of Holy Mass - a wonderful custom. I knew Jesus was with us, as He was with me in the Spiritual Communion I whispered.



Then, just yesterday, I came early for 5:00 PM Sunday Mass at my parish, and Vespers (4-5 PM) was still in progress. The cantors and organist used a special Vespers tone ( to them perhaps ordinary). It landed me right back into one of my peaceful experiences in the past, 20-30 years ago. It amazes me sometimes how this happens. Sounds and sights, remembered from many years ago, pop up in current memory as if it was yesterday, in full bloom, full stereo sound, too. It is so beautiful, so rich, so heavenly, so joyful.

And so it goes. Peace and Good,
bro. Fred, 12/23/24

[*] St. Lawrence Friary, Milton, Ma. I spent a year there in 1959-1960 as a Capuchin Novice, but never completed the year.

 Other short reflections will follow in this space