Monthly Dedication
An ongoing Feature

APRIL

The month of April is dedicated to The Blessed Sacrament
From "Catholic Answers", & "Catechism of the Catholic Church:"

"The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharistein, which means “thanksgiving.” It is the memorial sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood, presented under the form of bread and wine, which is offered to the Father for the forgiveness of sins. After this offering, the Eucharist is consumed, and through this act it transmits sanctifying grace to those who are properly prepared to receive the body and blood of Christ."

"The Catechism goes on to say, “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch” (CCC 1324). The word pasch refers to the Jewish celebration of Passover, and it is no coincidence that the Eucharist commemorates the Passover meal Christ held with his disciples before his Crucifixion. But unlike the old Passover, the Eucharist is our new Passover and represents the sacrifice of the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).  The Catechism explains: “[It is called] the Lord’s Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem. [It is called] the Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper. It is by this action that his disciples will recognize him after his Resurrection, and it is this expression that the first Christians will use to designate their Eucharistic assemblies; by doing so they signified that all who eat the one broken bread, Christ, enter into communion with him and form but one body in him” (CCC 1329).

MAY

MONTHLY DEDICATION

The Month of May 
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
 
“The tradition of dedicating the month of May to Mary began in the 13th century. The naming of May as Our Lady’s Month was an attempt to replace the pagan festivals and to turn them into the worship of the True God and veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus." (From: https://bayoucatholic.org/news/why-is-may-the-month-of-mary A Diocesan news item)

The Virgin Mary is very special to us (the world), and in particular to Franciscans. (See: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2021/11/the-blessed-virgin-mary-and-st-francis-of-assisi/ (This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall Issue #104), written by Fr. Chris Shorrock, OFM Conv., CNSA). Fr. Chris wrote: “According to St. Bonaventure (d. 1274), one of Francis’ early biographers, Francis placed himself and his order under the protection and guidance of Mary for all time.”


Most Franciscans pray a daily Rosary. Many Franciscans in Religious Orders, have a Rosary hanging from their cord (around their waist). When I was in Religious Life (almost five years as a Contemplative monk), there was a Rosary hanging from my belt. This Order followed the Rule of St. Augustine. It is sort of hard to forget it’s there, so we prayed the Rosary daily, as I do now. The following text is from https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/05/what-does-it-take-to-get-to-heaven-five-point-plan-pgs-97-100/ (not a complete quotation).


  • St. Pio said, “Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.” Prayer is the breath of the Spirit; prayer is our communication with God. Like all communication, prayer involves our active listening, clearly and correctly, to God, followed by our active response, appropriately, politely and effectively. We may pray by words, silence, sighs, tears, actions. Prayer comes from God and returns to God.

  • Second, meditation. Most of us probably spend most of our prayer time in one of the recognized forms of verbal prayer. The greatest prayer of the Church is, of course, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We have the Liturgy of the Hours. We have the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, which all serve when we pray the Rosary. Yet meditation takes us deeper, closer to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we pray, we need to meditate on what we are praying, for whom and to Whom we are praying, and why we are praying. When we act, whatever actions we perform, we need to do the same: meditate on what we are doing, to whom and for whom we are doing what we are doing, and why are we doing what we are doing. Prayer may be noisy; meditation should usually be silent.

  • Third, confession. All Franciscans are called to Penance, a turning away from self and sin and a turning toward the Gospel Life. Article Seven of our Secular Franciscan Rule says it so well: “United by their vocation as ´brothers and sisters of penance´ and motivated by the dynamic power of the gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the gospel calls ´conversion. ´ Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily. On this road to renewal the sacrament of reconciliation is the privileged sign of the Father´s mercy and the source of grace.” St. Pio spent hours and hours celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and urged frequent Confession, certainly as soon as possible after the commission of a major sin and as often as needed, at least once a month, since human memory is so short.


  • Fourth, reception. Our Lord Himself said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Again, our Holy Rule, Article Five, guides us: “The faith of St. Francis, who often said, ´I see nothing bodily of the Most High Son of God in this world except His most holy body and blood,´ should be the inspiration and pattern of their Eucharistic life.” Because of the power and efficacy of proper reception of the Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Pio urged frequent, even daily, reception of Holy Communion, if and only if the recipient were properly disposed.

  • Fifth, reflection. St. Pio urged constant, even daily, reflection on “The Four Last Things”: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. He urged that this reflection not be done in a fearful manner because of his quote above to pray, hope and not worry, trusting always in the love and mercy of God. Rather, the reflection on the four last things was to focus our lives. Where are we going? How are we getting there? If the basic purpose of our lives is not to know, love and serve God in this life with our whole hearts, minds, bodies and spirits, then what are we about? What is more important?


Peace and all Good,

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

April 20, 2026


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