Seeking Franciscan Perfection
Reflections on the Franciscan Life by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Short Review of Franciscan Spirituality


Along with the entire Franciscan family, the spirituality of the secular Franciscan is intensely Christocentric and focused on Jesus, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, who became one of us in the Incarnation. Franciscan spirituality is primarily focused on Christ’s Incarnation, His Passion, and His Presence in the Eucharist. For secular Franciscans, Jesus is the inspiration and center of our life with God and with people. He is the way to the Father, and the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us. (OFS Rule, Article 4). In His passion, Christ shows us how to embrace the will of the Father and to accept the crosses in our lives. And in the Eucharist we experience the gift of God’s love and the reality that Christ remains among us. In one major respect, secular Franciscan spirituality differs from that of the religious. Secular Franciscans live in the world and their primary sphere of activity and influence is in the ordinary events of daily life: in their families, their communities, their workplaces, and their parishes.  Source: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/franciscan-spirituality/


Also, please read March 2019 PDF - This file was created by bro Fred in 2019 but the original doesn't seem to be on the Internet anymore. I had used it in one of my previous websites. It is a very good paper on Franciscan Spirituality, [Adapted from September 2012, Deacon Digest, pp. 28-30; by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, OFM, STD by Deacon Dave and Therese Ream, OFS., Revised July 2017]


Responsibilities

Comments about OFS Profession by bro Fred

Monthly Dedication

August




Since the 16th century, the Church has dedicated unique devotions every month, to promote a deeper relationship between us and God, His Son, and His Saints.


JAN + FEB + MAR + APR + MAY

 JUN + JUL + AUG + SEP + OCT

NOV + DEC

Some of these months are under construction


Special Decree from the Vatican on the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis

Franciscan Friars Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, shared the address below:

https://friars.us/news-and-media/800-years-of-st.-francis

Franciscan Saints and Blessed

AUGUST
 2 Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula.
3 Bl. Frederic Janssoone, I Ord.
4 St. John Vianney, priest of III Ord..
7 Bls. Agathangelus and Cassian, priests & martyrs I Ord.
8 Holy Father Dominic, priest , founder, Order of Preachers.
9 Bl. John La Verna. priest, I Ord.
11 St. Clare of Assisi, virgin, II Ord..
14 St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest of I Ord..
17 St. Roch, member of III Ord..
18 Bls. John Louis Loir, Protase Bourdon and Sebastian
  françois, presbyters and martyrs of Rochefort (Cap.)
* On this day the Conventuals celebrate Bl. Louis-Armand
   Adam and Nicholas Savouret, priests, martyrs of
   Rochefort, I Ord.
19 St. Louis of Toulouse, bishop of I Ord..
21 St. Pius X, pope, member of III Ord.
23 Bl. Bernard of Offida, religious I Ord.
25 St. Louis IX, king, member & patron, III Ord.




New from Tom DiFeo:


Song of Creation

4:21 Minutes of piano and flute music paired with a great video.

Very relaxing to listen to. [added Aug. 6]


In Spanish:

El Reza - He prays

[added June 18]


Sorry, we have no control over YouTube Commercials

Official Logo of the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region, a.k.a. the Georgia Martyrs
(Please click on this link)

Wonderful News: our Five Franciscan Martyrs will be Beatified in October:


The Spanish Franciscans Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añón, Antonio de Badajoz and Francisco de Veráscola were killed between Sept. 14 and Sept. 17, 1597, after Father de Corpa told a young Indigenous man, Juanillo, who was heir to a Guale chiefdom, that as a baptized Christian he could not take a second wife.

New:

The Diocese of Savannah, GA. announced that the Georgia martyrs will be beatified on October 31, 2026, and Cardinal Frank Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, will preside over the beatification.

The Georgia Martyrs

The Liturgy of the Hours

How the Benedictine Monks pray the Hours (Video)
& Other Explanations

Create A Clean Heart in Me, O Lord

Sometimes, we republish Reflections on topics that needs to be revisited. "Create a Clean Heart in Me, O Lord", is one of those

The TAU CROSS each of us wears daily as our habit is a blessed Cross, a sign to the world of our admission in, and commitment to, the Secular Franciscan Order. At the beginning of each day as you prepare to get into the world, reverently kiss your Tau Cross, saying with St. Philip Neri: "And keep me Lord, this day, from betraying you, as Judas did, with a kiss! Ric Nagle. OFS.  Always wear your TAU Cross!

My Adventures with birds

by Fred Schaeffer, OFS


Also see following Reflections:


Canticle of the Creatures

by Saint Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.


Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.


Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom You light the night,

and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.


Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.


Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your
love, and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.


Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.


Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.


Fred Schaeffer, OFS, Webmaster


Fred Schaeffer OFS, began writing Spiritual Reflections 26+ years ago.
He is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order (32+ years),
now with Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity, Port St. Lucie, Florida

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Images used are in the public domain unless otherwise noted

There is no longer any Fraternity associated with this website. However, we have chosen to retain the Necrology of Divine Mercy Fraternity, so others can pray for these Franciscan souls. This info is found here. Thank You.


Old Canticle data for development purposes