This is a Franciscan website for Spiritual Reflections.

For more info see "About Us"

A Prayer before a crucifix

by St. Francis of Assisi


Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant unto me a right faith, a certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding, Lord, so that I may accomplish Thy holy and true command.

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



Lent begins on Ash Wednesday  

 February 18, 2026

Links in above (3) boxes are for reflections of special interest.

bro Fred is a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity,  Port St Lucie, FL

Franciscan Saints and Blessed

 February

   1 Blessed Viridiana de Attavantis (d.1242)

   4 St. Joseph of Leonissa 1556-1612
   6 Sts Peter Baptist, & Companions d. 1597 

   7 St. Colette 1381-1447   

  15 Transfer of the Body of St. Anthony of
        Padua   

  19 St. Conrad of Piacenza 1290-1351

  22 Margaret of Cortona (d.1297)

March

 02 Blessed Agnes of Prague

 09 Saint Frances of Rome

 18 Profession of Saint Clare and Bl. Gerard
        of Villamagna (d.1242)

 20 Blessed Hippolytus Galantini (d.1619)   

 24 Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz

 28 Blessed Jeanne-Marie de Maillé (d.1414)

New from Tom DiFeo:

Enjoy my quiet meditation song with this beautiful flute/piano arrangement by Xavi Navarro and flute by Alba Valero.

Song of God's Creation 

It's really beautiful! /Fred  

Note that we are not responsible for YouTube advertising

June 12, 1226
Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Jesus made twelve promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

They are described in above reflection.

The Liturgy of the Hours

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

Eye of the Needle

by Fred Schaeffer, OFS


NOTES


Wonderful News: our Five Franciscan Martyrs will be Beatified soon:

See:   https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/pope-clears-way-beatification-georgia-martyrs

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

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!

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

Home


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