June 2026 Latest Additions
- Corpus Christi
- THE SIMPLE LIFE: Making More Time for God upd. 6/5
- Difficult Moments - Seek God upd. 6/6
- Be a Eucharistic Person rev. 6/7
- Treasure in Heaven rev. 6/8
- The Clean of Heart rev. 6/9
- Our Sanctuary 6/10 [new to this website]
- Saint Anthony of Padua was a gifted speaker (reread!)
Special
Beautiful Music by Mr. Thomas DiFeo
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
TAU USA (Eng.) link for Spring 2026 issue just published (#119)
bro Fred is a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity, Port St Lucie, FL
Seeking Franciscan Perfection
Reflections on the Franciscan Life by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
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:
JUNE
2 St. Felix of Nicosia, Religious of I Ord.
8 Bl. Nicholas of Gèsturi, Rel., I Ord.
12 Bl. Jolenta, Religious of the III Ord..
Bl. Florida Cevoli, Religious of I Ord.
Bl. Antoninus Bajewski, priest, and companions, martyrs
[Pius Bartosik, Innocent Guz, Achille Puchala, Herman
Stepien, priests; Timothy Troianowski, Boniface
Zukowski, religious], I Ord
13 St. Anthony of Padua, priest, doctor, I Ord.
16 Bls Anizet Koplin, priest and Comp., [Henry Krzystofik,
Florian Stêpniak, Fidelis Chojnacki, Symforiam Ducki],
I Ord. Martyrs of Nazi persecution in Poland.
Bl. Guy (Guido) Vignotelli, priest, I Ord.
17 St. Albert Chmielowski, III Ord.
22 St. Thomas More, martyr of the III Ord.
with St. John Fisher.
23 St. Joseph Cafasso, III Ord.
26 Bl. Andrew Hyacinth Longhin, Bishop, I Ord.
30 Bl. Raymond Lull, martyr of III Ord..
JULY
1 Bl. Junipero Serra, priest of I Ord..
4 St. Elizabeth of Portugal, III Ord..
8 Bl. Gregory Grassi, bishop, & comp., mar. I and III Ord.
9 St. Nicholas Pick, priest, & companions, mar. I Ord..
10 St. Veronica Giuliani, virgin of II Ord..
12 Sts John Jones and John Wall, priests & martyrs, I Ord.
13 Bl. Angeline of Marciano, religious, III Ord.
15 St. Bonaventure, bishop & doctor, I Ord.
16 Canonization of St. Francis
St. Francis Solano, priest of I Ord.(July 14 outside USA)
21 St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest & doctor I Ord..
23 Bl. Cunegunda, religious of II Ord..
23 St. Bridget of Sweden
24 Bl. Louise of Savoy, Widow, II Ord.
Bl. Modestino of Jesus and Mary, religious of I Ord..
Bl. Antonio Lucci, Bishop, I Ord.
27 Bl. Mary Magdalene of Martinengo, virgin of II Ord..
28 Bl. Mary Teresa Kowalska, martyr of Nazi persecution,
Poland. II Ord.
Bl Mattia Nazarei, Virgin II Ord.
New from Tom DiFeo:
Here's one in Spanish, and it's great!
[added June 18]
Older compositions from Tom DiFeo:
Enjoy my quiet meditation song with this beautiful flute/piano arrangement by Xavi Navarro and flute by Alba Valero.
It's really beautiful! /Fred
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.
Official Logo of the Five Franciscan Martyrs Region, a.k.a. the Georgia Martyrs
(Please click on this link)
God creates beauty around us
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
It doesn't take a long search to find something of beauty around us. There is beauty in people, in the animals one finds across the world, birds, reptiles, fish. There are hundreds of tropical fish species that are very colorful, that are seen in fish tanks and by people who go diving in our Southern waters. There is even beauty in the paleness of winter (not where I live in Florida), when trees are bare and nothing seems to grow, but many people have no appreciation for this drab habitat.
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.
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
General Formation material
1. How did I become a Secular Franciscan?
2. What do Secular Franciscan do at their monthly Gatherings
Both by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
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!
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
Images used are in the public domain unless otherwise noted