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Agenda and Schedule for meeting: 1:30 pm Initial formation sessions Refreshments Committee: Drinks: Caroline DiGennaro Remember to include in your prayers: All our members, especially those whose health, work or family duties make it difficult to be at our monthly meetings. Our meetings have become like a big close-knit family gathering - while rejoicing at being together, we are always aware of the empty seats at the "family table". From the Minister= s Desk: Gene and I and Fred Schaeffer are looking forward to attending the Annual
Regional Fraternity Meeting at San Pedro Center in Winter Park. It is always
such a joy! We meet in the beautiful Chapel on the grounds for Morning Prayer before Breakfast, for Mass before Lunch, for Evening Prayer after Dinner, and for Night Prayer before retiring. The rhythm of the days is all too short. Fr. Tom Murphy presents several Ongoing Formation talks during the general meetings and as homilies at Mass. The theme Fr. Tom selects each year is always based on Scripture, requiring extensive historical and theological research. I will take notes so that I can A "replay" them for you during the Ongoing Formation time at our June meeting.
Saint Maria of Jesus was a discalced Franciscan nun who was born in 1602 and died May 24, 1665. We also know her as Maria de Agreda, from a small town on the borders of Aragon in Old Castile. It is believed that she made a Vow of Chastity when she was eight and she and her mother entered the convent in 1619 at the same time that her father and two brothers became Franciscan friars. When she became 25 she was named Abbess and remained a superior all her life. She died with a saintly reputation and the cause for canonization followed after seven years. Saint Maria of Agreda is well known for her book(s): "Divine History of the Mother of God." This book is still in publication today as it enjoys a degree of popularity. But during the life of this great Franciscan nun there was much controversy about her and her writings. Franciscan Saints and Blesseds in May
Totus Tuus – Totally Yours A few years ago, I found a nice book "A Year with Mary" written by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. This is a book of daily meditations. Once in a while I look at it when the well runs dry and I need some inspiration. Pope John Paul's coat-of-arms is a blue field with a gold cross on it, and in the lower right area there is a gold letter "M" (for Mary.) Usually the words "Totus Tuus" are associated with this emblem because the Holy Father considers himself "Totally Yours" in relation to Our Lady. Our Lady is the Mother of all people and of us as individuals. Not just
Catholics but the human race! Mary is also the first of the There is a sublime union between Mary and the Holy Spirit. In order for us to contemplate this, we need to call on the Holy Spirit. In the Second Vatican Council document Lumen Gentium: "The Mother of Jesus shines forth on earth before the pilgrim People of God as a sign of sure hope and consolation." (#63) And, "He has created her through His Holy Spirit… and has poured her out upon all His creation." (Sir. 1:9ff) Mary makes it possible for us to understand Her Son’s love. She introduces us to His Love. She is the Mother of the Word, the Word made Flesh. Jesus was carried in Mary’s arms as an Infant, a Youngster, and as He was taken off the Cross He was laid in His Mother’s arms. Mary enables us to hear the voice of Her Son. She makes this possible for us at Lourdes, Fatima, and all the "approved" apparition sites, and for those who want to believe at Medjugorje and other sites that are not as yet approved. Her message is simple: Pray the Rosary daily. Make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Receive Holy Communion frequently, in other words, repent and love My Son! Mary was assumed into Heaven. At the end of her earthly life she was assumed into Heaven Soul and Body. This was a Dogmatic definition rendered by Pope Pius XII in 1950. "The Assumption signifies a definitive union with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit…" (Pope John Paul II) and all this was made possible through Our Lady’s unerring obedience, her YES given to God without hesitation at the Annunciation and at the foot of the Cross. Let us also give our YES to Her by doing what she asks of us, namely, to love Her Son, Jesus, and to love other people as we do ourselves. Prayer is requested of us. Especially now, we need to pray, pray for world peace and pray to Holy Mary, the Mother of God, as individuals, to guide us closer to Her Son. Fred Schaeffer, SFO (Spiritual Essay #63)
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Redeemed. She was
conceived without Original Sin. This is a matter of Faith. For us, Mary is a
sign of hope. "Hope," is not hoping to get rich on material things but it is the
desire to spend eternity with Mary and Jesus for all ages to come. Through
Mary's intercession we'll get there. Mary was chosen before the world began. She
accepted this choice with humility "I am the servant of the Lord." (Lk. 1:38).