Just a simple blog of a Secular Franciscan trying to live with a Franciscan focus. (And one of these days I'll fix the template and add a Search feature. :-P)
Our Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Thérèse
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I keep a pile of books I'm reading next to my side of the bed (usually about 4 or so). The other night, when I looked over at it, I started laughing when I realized that I had these two autobiographies stacked one on the other.
Yep. Ozzy and St. Thérèse. Like peas 'n' carrots.
\m/
(Side note: In case you're wondering, I've got Zoya "Ginni" on my nails.)
With All Saints Day coming up in a few weeks on 1 Nov. (and All Saints of the Franciscan Order on the 5th), I thought it'd be fun to share my absolute fave saints -- my Saintly Circle, in Google+ parlance, if you will -- and a little bit as to why I like them.
There are loads more saints that I love, like St. Anthony of Padua, St. Dominic, and St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort to name a few. But if I included all of them, you'd nod off and start drooling on your keyboard, and drool + keyboard = possible electrocution. So, in the interest of public safety, I present My Top 10 Saints.
1 & 2. Joseph and Mary
These two pretty much go without sayin', but ... I'm saying 'em anyway. :-) For Joseph, how can you not admire someone who answers to "Terror of Demons"? And Mary's the Mother of God. 'Nuff said.
3. St. Francis of Assisi
Bein' that I'm a Franciscan, this should also go without saying. One of the things I love best about Francis Bernardone was his wholehearted embrace of living the Gospel sine glossa, "without gloss". Sadly, in our time, he's become sissified into a Birkenstock-clad, Tree-huggin' Birdman. But in reality, Francis was as tough as nails and took a no-holds-barred approach to sin.
"See, you who are blind, deceived by your enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, for it is pleasant to the body to commit sin and it is bitter to make it serve God because all vices and sins come out and 'proceed from the heart of man' as the Lord says in the Gospel. And you have nothing in this world and in the next, and you thought you would possess the vanities of this world for a long time."[1]
That sound like a nambly-pambly "anything goes" guy? Didn't think so.
The other half of the Franciscan Wonder Twins. (Franciscan powers, activate! Form of ... a Tau!)
No, she's not a biological twin of Francis, but Clare Offreduccio is Francis' arse-kicking spiritual twin. Born of nobility, she was inspired by Francis' example of uncompromising Gospel living and left it all behind to do the same. She eventually came to found the Poor Clares, the Second Order in the overall Franciscan Order.
Even though she was of frail health, Clare twice saved San Damiano and her sisters from invaders: In 1240, she repelled hordes of Saracen mercenaries by holding aloft the Eucharist while praying for her sisters and the city of Assisi. She did it again in 1241 against the troops of Vitalis d'Aversa. Don't mess with Mama Clare.
Named the "Apostle of Divine Mercy", Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska was graced with numerous visions of Christ Himself, in which He instructed her to make widely known the depths of His mercy to an aching and broken world. She heroically lived her life with childlike simplicity and trust in God, and faithfully obeyed God, her spiritual director, and superiors in all things.
Because of her obedience, we have the magnificent Divine Mercy devotions, such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Divine Mercy image, and more. Faustina said nothing new -- the Lord has always been a Lord of mercy -- she simply reminded us of God's unfathomable mercy and communicated deeper ways of contemplating it.
Plain-spoken, direct, and full of compassion for the average schmoe striving for sanctity, St. Francis wrote -- among others -- An Introduction to the Devout Life, which I find enormously helpful and inspiring in its practical advice. With a complete collection of his writing/sayings spread in front of you, ya could close your eyes, randomly plop your finger down, and find a gem. Ev'ry time. For example:
"A spirit of mockery is one of the worst imperfections of the mind, and displeases God greatly, so that He has often punished it most severely. Nothing is more hurtful to charity, and still more to devotion, than contempt and derision of our neighbor, and such is inevitably found in mockery."[2]
Bam! (And ouch -- it's so easy to fall into mockery, isn't it?)
I absolutely adore Ignatius' vivid imagination, and his advice on how to use our own imaginations while praying, as well as in everyday situations, like eating:
"While one is eating, let him imagine he sees Christ our Lord and His disciples at table, and consider how He eats and drinks, how He looks, how He speaks, and then strive to imitate Him. In this way, his mind will be occupied principally with our Lord, and less with the provision for the body. Thus he will come to greater harmony and order in the way he ought to conduct himself."[3]
Every time I read anything of his, it's like being doinked upside the head by Moe of the Three Stooges. Not that I'm sayin' Josemaría is a stooge, just that he has a way of walloping ya back in line. Such as:
"Don't succumb to that disease of character whose symptoms are inconstancy in everything, thoughtlessness in action and speech scatter-brained ideas: superficiality, in short.
"Mark this well: unless you react in time -- not tomorrow: now! -- that superficiality which each day leads you to form those empty plans (plans 'so full of emptiness') will make of your life a dead and useless puppet."[4]
Not only am I inspired by his firm devotion to Our Lady, but his heroic self-sacrifice never ceases to humble and amaze me:
"In 1941, the Nazis imprisoned Father Maximilian in the Auschwitz death camp. There he offered his life for another prisoner and was condemned to slow death in a starvation bunker. On August 14, 1941, his impatient captors ended his life with a fatal injection."[5]
Because of this, I think of him as "Iron Max" -- it truly takes a will of iron to offer up your own life for another ... just like Our Lord.
There's so much to love about Padre Pio Forgione of Pietrelcina! His cheerful good humor! All the miracles attributed to his intercession! And oh, those zingers! My two faves are:
"Bring me my weapon!" (When asking for his Rosary.)
"Pray, hope, and don't worry." (I say this to myself on a regular basis.)
And when folks talk about being humble even in the face of false accusations, he's always invoked as a prime example of patient endurance.
"Concerning Those Who Do Not Do Penance", from "Prologue: Exhortation of St. Francis to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance" in the SFO Rule. The "Brothers and Sisters of Penance" is what the Secular Franciscan Order was originally named. So, this is an exhortation from St. Francis directly to all Secular Franciscans, in all ages. Booyah!
Part Third, Chapter 27: "Modesty in Conversation, and Becoming Reverence", from An Introduction to the Devout Life.
One of my Secular Franciscan sisters has a devotion to St. Anthony, and so I decided to make chaplet for her. I actually didn't know if such a chaplet existed beforehand, but figured I'd do a search and lo! It does indeed! Thank you, Interwebs! So I figured I'd share back with the Interwebs. Here's a picture of the chaplet I recently knotted up, along with information on how to pray it.
Make It!
I made this with solid brown twine, and finished it with a spiffy St. Anthony medal. As for the amount of twine used, it was about 3/4ths needed for a standard 5-decade Rosary (19-1/2 to 20 feet), which works out to about 15 feet.
Pray It!
At the start of each set of beads, announce and meditate on the following petitions. Then, on each bead recite the following:
1st Bead: One "Our Father"
2nd Bead: One "Hail Mary"
3rd Bead: One "Glory Be"
Petitions:
St. Anthony, who raised the dead, pray for those Christians now in their agony, and for our dear departed.
St. Anthony, zealous preacher of the Gospel, fortify us against the errors of the enemies of God, and pray for the Holy Father and the Church.
St. Anthony, powerful with the Heart of Jesus, preserve us from the calamities which threaten us on account of our sins.
St. Anthony, who drivest away devils, make us triumph over their snares.
St. Anthony, lily of heavenly purity, purify us from the stains of the soul and preserve our bodies from all dangers.
St. Anthony, healer of the sick, cure our diseases and preserve us in health.
St. Anthony, guide of travelers, bring to safe harbor those who are in danger of perishing and calm the troubled waves of passion which agitate our souls.
St. Anthony, liberator of captives, deliver us from the captivity of evil.
St. Anthony, who restorest to young and old the use of their limbs, obtain for us the perfect use of the senses of our body and the faculties of our soul.
St. Anthony, finder of lost things, help us to find all that we have lost in the spiritual and temporal order.
St. Anthony, protected by Mary, avert the dangers which threaten our body and our soul.
St. Anthony, helper of the poor, help us in our needs and give bread and work to those who ask.
St. Anthony, we thankfully proclaim thy miraculous power, and we beseech thee to protect us all the days of our life.
At the end of the 13 sets of 3 beads, recite the Miraculous Responsory:
If miracles thou fain would see,
lo, error, death, calamity.
The leprous stain, the demon flies,
from beds of pain the sick arise.
The hungry seas forego their prey,
the prisoner’s cruel chains give way;
while palsied limbs and chattels lost,
both young and old recovered boast.
And perils perish, plenty’s hoard,
is heaped on hunger’s famished board;
let those relate who know it well,
let Padua on her patron tell.
The hungry seas forego their prey,
the prisoner’s cruel chains give way;
while palsied limbs and chattels lost,
both young and old recovered boast.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The hungry seas forego their prey,
the prisoner’s cruel chains give way;
while palsied limbs and chattels lost,
both young and old recovered boast.
V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God,
let the votive commendation of Blessed Anthony,
Thy Confessor,
be a source of joy to Thy Church,
that she may always be fortified
with spiritual assistance,
and may deserve to possess eternal joy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Learn More About It!
For further reading, check out the following resources:
A fellow Franciscan, Sr. Mary Kansier, MS, composed this wonderfully powerful -- and concise! -- prayer in relation to the proper use of technology. I'm happy to share it here, and hope it spreads 'round the Innertoobz! With proper citation for Sr. Mary (who retains all copyrights), of course!
Prayer to St. Maximilan Kolbe on the Use of Technology by Sr. Mary Kansier, MS
Heavenly Father, Your loving servant Maximilian Kolbe spent his life in service to others, using technology to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
You crowned his life with the grace to give his life for another, in imitation of Jesus who said, "There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend."
Through the intercession of St. Maximilian, may we always use technology for Your Glory and to draw others close to You and Your Blessed Mother Mary.
Since today is the day Franciscans commemorate All Souls of the Seraphic Order (we'll celebrate the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order on 29 November), I thought it'd be in keeping with things to share a Franciscan Litany of All Saints. What better way to pray for all the souls of our Order than by asking our sainted Franciscan brothers and sisters to join in?
I've seen a few different litanies while a-Googlin', and this particular one is from the Secular Franciscan Companion (pp. 266-276), 1987 edition. This version lists only the canonized Franciscan saints as of the edition's 1987 publication date, a total of 125. (Please pardon any typos/goofs -- this was a lot to type! If you catch any errors, please lemme know and I'll fix 'em.)
A Franciscan Litany of All Saints
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. God, the Father, have mercy on us. God, the Son, have mercy on us. God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Queen of the Franciscan Order, pray for us. Holy Father Francis, pray for us.
All you holy martyrs of the Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saints Berard, Accursius, Adjutus, Otto, and Peter, Protomartyrs, pray for us. Saints Daniel, Angelo, Domnus, Hugolinus, Leo, Nicholas, and Samuel, Martyrs of Africa, pray for us. Saints Nicholas Tavelic, Deodat of Aquitaine, Peter of Narbonne, and Stephen of Cuneo, Martyrs of the Holy Land, pray for us. Saint Thomas More, Martyr of England, pray for us. Saints Nicholas Pick, Anthony Hornaer, Anthony of Weert, Cornelius, Francis, Godfrey, Jerome, Nicasius, Peter, Theodoric, Willehad, Martyrs of Holland, pray for us. Saints Peter Baptist Blasquez, Martin de Aguirre, Francis Blanco, Philip of Jesus of Mexico, Gonzalo García of India, and you holy seventeen Japanese members of the Third Order, Saints Anthony of Nagasaki, Bonaventure, Cosmas, Francis of Fahelante, Francis of Miyako, Gabriel, Joachim, John, Leo, Louis, Matthias, Michael, Paul Ibaraki, Paul Zuzuki, Peter, Thomas Danki, and Thomas Kosaki, Protomartyrs of Japan, pray for us. Saints John Jones and John Wall, Martyrs of England, pray for us. Saints Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Protomartyr of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith, pray for us. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Martyr of Auschwitz, pray for us.
All you holy priests of the First Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Gospel and Wonderworker, pray for us. Saint Bonaventure, Seraphic Doctor, pray for us. Saint Benvenute of Osimo, Bishop, pray for us. Saint Louis of Tolouse, Bishop, pray for us. Saint Bernardine of Siena, pray for us. Saint John Capistran, pray for us. Saint Peter Regalado, pray for us. Saint James of the March, pray for us. Saint Peter of Alcantara, pray for us. Saint Francis Solano, pray for us. Saint Joseph of Leonissa, pray for us. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church, pray for us. Saint Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us. Saint Pacificus of San Severino, pray for us. Saint John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us. Saint Theophilus of Corte, pray for us. Saint Leonard of Port Maurice, pray for us. Saint Leopold Mandic, pray for us.
All you holy lay brothers of the First Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Didacus of Alcalá, pray for us. Saint Salvator of Horta, pray for us. Saint Felix of Cantalice, pray for us. Saint Benedict the Black, pray for us. Saint Paschal Baylon, pray for us. Saint Seraphim of Montegranaro, pray for us. Saint Charles of Sezze, pray for us. Saint Ignatius Laconi, pray for us. Saint Francis Camporosso, pray for us. Saint Conrad of Parzham, pray for us.
All you holy virgins of the Second Franciscan Order, pray for us. Holy Mother Clare of Assisi, pray for us. Saint Agnes of Assisi, pray for us. Saint Colette of Corbie, pray for us. Saint Catherine of Bologna, pray for us. Saint Veronica Giuliani, pray for us.
All you holy priests of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Yves of Brittany, pray for us. Saint Charles Borromeo, pray for us. Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, pray for us. Saint Vincent Palotti, Founder, pray for us. Saint John Mary Vianney, Patron of Parish Priests, pray for us. Saint Joseph Cafasso, pray for us. Saint Michael Garicoits, pray for us. Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Founder, pray for us. Saint John Bosco, Founder, pray for us. Saint Pius X, Pope, pray for us.
All you holy foundresses of religious congregations who were members of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Bridget of Sweden, pray for us. Saint Jane of Valois, pray for us. Saint Angela Merici, pray for us. Saint Mary Bartholomea Capitanio, pray for us. Saint Mary Magdalen Postel, pray for us. Saint Vincentia Gerosa, pray for us. Saint Joachima de Mas y de Vedruna, pray for us. Saint Mary Josepha Rossello, pray for us. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us.
All you holy men of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Ferdinand, King of Castile and Leon, pray for us. Saint Louis, King of France, Patron of the Third Order, pray for us. Saint Elzear of Sabran, pray for us. Saint Roch of Montpellier, pray for us. Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit, pray for us.
All you holy women of the Third Franciscan Order, pray for us. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Patroness of the Third Order, pray for us. Saint Rose of Viterbo, Virgin, pray for us. Saint Zita of Lucca, Virgin, pray for us. Saint Margaret of Cortona, pray for us. Saint Clare of Montefalco, Virgin and Religious, pray for us. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us. Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us. Saint Frances of Rome, pray for us. Saint Catherine of Genoa, pray for us. Saint Hyacintha Mariscotti, Virgin and Religious, pray for us. Saint Mariana of Jesus of Quito, Virgin, pray for us. Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, Virgin, pray for us.
All you holy Cordbearers of St. Francis, pray for us. Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop, pray for us. Saint Joseph Calasanctius, Founder, pray for us. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, pray for us. Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Virgin and Religious, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Let us pray: Almighty everlasting God, we thank You for granting us the joy of honoring our holy Father Francis and his sainted followers and enjoying the protection of their unceasing prayers. Grant us also the grace to imitate their example and so attain their fellowship in eternal glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Seriously, there are oodles o' days where I feel like an Utter Franciscan Failure. I forget to pray when tempted. Fly off the handle. Let myself get sucked into a gossip-laden conversation with coworkers. Procrastinate. Get pathetically lazy about praying the Divine Office, which I'm obligated to do, and regularly reading our Rule. I could go on and on and on, but it's way too depressing.
I was reminded of my shortcomings yet again last week, when I suffered through a wretched meeting at work wherein I and my fellow writers were unexpectedly -- and undeservedly -- subjected to a BashFest. I don't do well in defending myself when folks start slamming me, in a meeting, in front of others, because I never see that kind of crap coming and am caught off-guard. (You'd think I'd learn.) I wouldn't do it to others, and so I never expect others to do it to me. But, it happens, and it happened Thursday.
I tried to defend myself and the other writers (who weren't present, btw) during the meeting, but could've done loads better. For the rest of the day, I was grumpy and upset, and it only got worse as time passed. When the workday was over and I finally walked through the front door, poor Husband Mike had to endure Lots Of Frustrated Yelling from me as I vented and complained. I can't remember the last time I've been so angry over something work-related, and I was actually feeling nauseous from it. I knew I had to Get Over It, but the more I tried to stop thinking about it, the more it filled my head.
And then we had to go to Mass, it being All Saints Day. Because of my bad mood, I snapped at Husband Mike over something trivial as we were leaving, which of course Ticked Him Off. On the drive there, I silently continued the struggle to Get Over It, and failed. Thanks to me, we were both grumpy and upset when we pulled into the parking lot.
Great way to head into Mass, I thought. A second later, I was smacked upside the head with sorrow. I apologized to Husband Mike over my behavior and Inability To Stop Thinking About Work. And he asked me, "Well, have you tried praying about it?"
Duh.
Of course, I hadn't. In fact, it hadn't even occurred to me to pray for help with getting past my livid-murderous-seethingness. Yet again, Lisa = Freakin' Dumbass Of A Franciscan.
During Mass, as we sang the Litany of the Saints for the Processional, I choked up over the refrain, "All you holy men and women / pray for us". Pray for us. Please, you holy men and women, pray for us. Pray for me. Pray that the Lord will help me overcome my stupidity, laziness, and anger, because I can't do it on my own. Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. Please, help me. You know I'm an idiot. Without You, I don't stand a chance.
Thank God for the Mass, and for the saints. Pray for us.
I tried thinking of a Profound And/Or Significant Subject To Post About in honor of the day, but, alas, came up short. (Gee, big surprise.) So, instead I figgered I'd share my recent investigation on how to properly dispose of razorblades! Well, y'know, it's got a bit of an environmental connection and Francis is the patron of ecology and ... and ... eh, whatever.
My recent questing was triggered last night while preparing to shave the ol' gams. I've got one o' them replaceable-blade razors, and 'twas time to pop out the old blade and put in a fresh one. As I contemplated the bitty plastic tray (properly called "magazine") full of used blades (properly called "cartridges") ready to be tossed, I wondered again if there was a better way to deal with 'em than to simply toss said Tray-O-Blades into the trash. Isn't that pushing things, safety-wise? And how environmentally-friendly is that, anyway?
I asked Husband Mike what his thoughts were, but he's in the same boat with tossing his Tray-O-Guy-Blades and had no suggestions. Off I went a-Googling and turned up the following stuff:
This site recommended keeping "an old sour cream or yogurt container handy. Put old blades in the container and pour leftover epoxy in the container." Well, that's something to consider if we ever need to ditch craft-type ones. But still, I'm not sure putting 'em in containers of epoxy is the best way to go, environmentally.
Elsewhere, found a suggestion to take 'em to a local trade metal recycler. Again, I think that applies more to the crafty kind, not the disposable, shaving-your-legs, surrounded-by-plastic kind.
This comprehensive video wasn't that helpful for me, as it pretty much said to toss the tray-o-blades into the garbage, as-is:
TreeHugger shared news about the Razor Saver, whose manufacturer clams it can "sharpen your used disposable razor heads for up to 130 shaves (!); using their math, that's a 75% reduction." At least it's a plus for the environment.
Finally, I came across this Safety Razor FAQ Database, which suggested calling your local garbage/sanitation department and see what they recommend. May haps I'll try that tomorrow.
So, there ya go. And don't suggest not shaving -- I can assure you that resembling a yeti is not high on my Happy List.
While celebrating Youngest Nephew's First Communion this weekend ('twas loverly), talk turned to his newest saint medal, which he'd recently picked out while shopping with his mom.
He already had one for St. George, which sports the standard "slaying-the-dragon" image, and the new one is St. Michael the Archangel, who's in the usual "standing-on-the-devil-with-drawn-sword" pose. Whole lotta' swordage goin' on.
Grandma asked him, "So, did you see any medals of St. [insert patron saint name here]?"
Before Youngest Nephew could reply, Oldest Nephew asked, "Who'd he slay?"
I tried thinking of a Profound And/Or Significant Subject To Post About in honor of the day, but, alas, came up short. (Gee, big surprise.) So, instead I figgered I'd share my recent investigation on how to properly dispose of razorblades! Well, y'know, it's got a bit of an environmental connection and Francis is the patron of ecology and ... and ... eh, whatever.