Sandy Pineault
Let us, here at St. Francis, love God, love others and take up the mantle of discipleship. The message of Jesus changes everything and He relies on us to spread that GOOD NEWS near and far. The essence of evangelization is to tell everybody: Jesus loves us!
For more information concerning Spirituality, email Sandy Pineault at spirituality
“Lovely Lady dressed in blue – Teach me how to pray! Christ was just your little boy, and you know the way.”
Bishop Fulton Sheen
News & Upcoming Events
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AT ST. FRANCIS
Ted Benning, a second year student at the Ignatius House for Spiritual Direction in Atlanta is a new parishioner at St. Francis. He is now accredited by the Diocese of St. Augustine and by Father Slawek to offer spiritual direction to parishioners.
Spiritual direction is a method of one-on-one conversation with a spiritual companion (Spiritual Director) where our sacred experiences may be listened to. The Spiritual Director may be able to offer observations about your relationship with God, or how the Holy Spirit is working in your life. They help another grow in their relationship with God by listening, offering and then getting out of the way.
Contact Ted at 678-878-9023 or trbiii.benning@gmail.com
Our First "First Friday" Devotion
“At the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.” – Pope John Paul II
On Friday, May 6th, 2022 we were blessed with the First Friday Adoration at St. Francis of Assisi. Those attending gazed upon the Lord, and the Lord gazed upon each of them. St. Therese of Lisieux said that “Frequently only silence can express prayer.” In the dusk of the day, with the lights lowered, one could feel that reverent silence among all of us. The altar was ablaze with light so that our focus was upon Our Savior so silent and so attentive to the words of our hearts.
As we celebrate the risen Christ, we also celebrate that he has not left us, orphans. He is with us in the great sacrament of the Eucharist. Partaking of the Eucharist is our joy. And another joy is adoration. On May 6th we begin the evening first Friday Communion and Adoration. This means that we can take part in the beautiful tradition of the First Friday Devotions as well as keeping with the Lord in adoration.
The well-known Sacred Heart devotions are part of our Catholic history. These devotions take place every First Friday of the month in Catholic churches around the world. The Devotions of the Nine First Fridays were requested by Our Lord Himself through St Margaret Alocoque, a nun living in France in the 17th century. The particular intention is to offer reparation for the innumerable offenses committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The requirement for fulfilling the devotion is to receive Holy Communion on each of the nine First Fridays. The Lord promised that those who did would die in the favor of the Lord and not die without the sacraments. You can research all the promises as there are twelve, the greatest being the last coming at the hour of our death.
Our Saint Francis deacons will be offering officiating at the first Fridays. We begin to build another important tradition of worship together in our own style.
Come, sing, pray, be still, and know that he is God.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH PRAYER WATCH
For those who do not know, St. Francis of Assisi has a shelter for those in need of prayer, called PRAYER WATCH. We pray for each other or our families, or our friends who need God’s help, lifting them up with our love and intense prayer intervention. Sometimes we pray for our nation, the needs of the world, and the needs of those who so desperately are in need of them.
If you have a prayer request- especially an urgent one, e-mail Tom Sintes at prayerwatch@stfrancisyulee.org. Prayers by a growing number of parishioners will cover your needs. Currently, there are 90 prayer warriors. There is no set time to pray for these intentions. You may pray at any time. Have you considered signing up as a prayer partner? Praying with so many of our parishioners and others makes our prayer stronger and more acceptable to God. To be part of this expanded beloved ministry, BECOME A PRAYER PARTNER by sending your e-mail address to Prayer Watch and you will be added to our list and receive intention requests via email.
You need only say, yes, and in whatever form of prayer you like, raise up those who request prayers. Once in the prayer partner group, you will receive the requests from Spirituality as they come through. That is all. No answering e-mails, only pray. No need to respond to Spirituality….just pray, as long or as hard as you wish. Even just one raising up an intention to God is taking part.
One of these days, even you may be in need of prayer…
The more we pray together the more powerful our prayer!
No matter where any of us roam, or the difficulty before us -reach out, your parish is here for you.
The Jesus Wept Consolation Ministry at St. Francis is Christ-centered and is centered on the hope of the Resurrection. New sessions will begin each season. For information, contact Tom Sintes at jesuswept@stfrancisyulee.org.
The “Jesus Wept” Honoring Your Grief” program was offered for the first time on May 20th, 2022. It was so well received and considered to be such a wonderful blessing, that it has evolved into the “Jesus Wept Consolation Ministry at St. Francis.”
For over a year now this ministry has been evolving under the wings of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the comforter, and the Father who supports and welcomes us all, especially those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
After much prayer and guidance from the Diocese of St. Augustine and our Pastor, Father Slawek, we are now a full-fledged support group for our brothers and sisters in the frightening stages of grief. Sometimes, that even includes comfort with anticipatory grief. A strong faith team guides and presents each program. Jesus Wept meets on the third Friday of each month from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. One need only contact Tom Sintes at jesuswept@stfrancisyulee.org or leave a contact number with the office and we will connect with you.
The Jesus Wept Ministry (our short endearing name for it) welcomes anyone who has lost a loved one such as those losses that occur before birth and all through childhood and onward. Our children are always our children, no matter their age. Loss of a spouse, loss of a sibling or a precious friend, loss of a parent-all are losses that often find us in need of the support of those who have walked this path as well as the need to be consoled through faith. Jesus Wept can do that.
The Jesus Wept Consolation Ministry at St. Francis is Christ-Centered and has at its heart the hope of the Resurrection. For information contact Tom Sintes at jesuswept@stfrancisyulee.org.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
2023 is the Year of Parish Revival where every parish in the country will experience profound renewal while participating in grassroots efforts inspired by the four pillars of the Revival. Parishes will be equipped with simple, proven tools to invite their community into the following:
Reinvigorate Worship – Renewing the emphasis on the celebration of the liturgy.
Personal Encounters – Host monthly Encounter Nights, featuring Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession.
Robust Formation – Implementing the “Jesus and the Eucharist” small group initiative.
Send Missionaries – Bring lapsed brothers and sisters home with the “Invite One Back” campaign and recommit to serving the poor in the community in a new way.
Our Parish Eucharistic Revival will be kicked off at St. Francis in November. During the month of November, the St. Thomas Aquinas prayer “Preparation for Mass” will be recited before Sunday Mass. It is found on page 327 in the Sunday Missile or downloaded HERE
Let us all PRAY the National Eucharistic Prayer each evening at 7:00 pm from October 21st, 2023 to November 21st, 2023. Together we will pray for the success of Eucharistic Revival in ourselves, our families, our parish, Diocese and nation. YOU ARE INVITED to start this revival together as a parish family at an open gathering on Wednesday, NOVEMBER 7th, 2023 at 6:30 pm at St. Francis. Come and let us begin to see the WONDER OF THE LORD ALWAYS AMONG US.
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of the age. Reawaken our wonder at His Presence in the most Holy Eucharist. May our hearts burn within us as He opens the Scriptures and breaks the bread. Give us the eyes of faith to recognize His presence in our brothers and sisters, especially in the face of the poor and suffering. Nourished by the Eucharist, send us forth to walk faithfully as missionary disciples, proclaiming the Gospel to every heart and extending Your kingdom to every land. We ask You this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Dear Parishioners,
As we continue this year of Eucharistic Revival, we would like to invite you to grow closer to Jesus alongside fellow parishioners through the Jesus and The Eucharist Study. This study was specifically designed for this Year of Parish Revival, and we will be joining many other parishes throughout the United States who are participating in this small group study as we journey together through this three-year National Eucharistic Revival.
Each session is full of rich theological content, powerful testimonies and unique and timely messages from individual bishops across the country. This is a great opportunity to dive more deeply into the richness of our sacred year together.
Please join us on either Tuesday, January 2th, at 9:30 a.m. (after Mass), or Thursday, January 4th, at 10:30 a.m. (after Adoration) for this seven-week study. Note: it is not necessary to attend all sessions, as each one is separate.
Questions? spirituality@stfrancisyulee.org
Recently I interviewed a Missionary of Charity in the Bronx, who told me about a time she was working outside the convent garden and noticed a man on the top of a nearby high rise. He was leaning over the edge with one foot.
It was a serious scene. Quickly, there were police and a net was placed underneath him.
Moved with fear and compassion, she ran inside, calling “Sisters. We must pray. A man is thinking about jumping from the roof!”
Every sister in that house hurried to the sidewalk. One of them, Sister Claire, had a moment of inspiration, “We must get Jesus!” With the permission of the convant superior, the Eucharist was brought out to the sidewalk and quickly passed along to a priest who had joined the prayers.
Something incredible happened. Father ran towards the troubled man as the sister continued praying on the ground. At the top, he got the man’s attention. Softly, gently, but with conviction, he said, “You are loved. Jesus is here. Do not be afraid. Jesus is here.”
His words thankfully penetrated the man’s awareness. He slowly moved from the edge and made his way towards father. Then he collapsed and sobbed into his arms.
We may never know what occurred in that man’s heart that day, or what he personally experienced from the Sacramental presence of Jesus, but we do know things by their fruits. Something changed for this man when he met Jesus. Something happened when Father brought Jesus to a soul in trouble.
Let your God love you.
Be silent.
Be still.
Alone,
Empty,
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be still.
Let your God look upon you.
That is all
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you
With an enormous love
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet
Still
Be.
Let your God –
Love you.
The priest is a mediator between God and man.
“ The priest’s mission is to be a mediator, a bridge that connects, and thereby to bring human beings to God, to His redemption, to His true light, to His true life”
Pope Benedict XVI
The following article is a beautiful tribute to Priests as fathers. We are sure blessed at St Francis of Assisi to have Fr. Slawek as a Father! May God bless him and may the Spirit always support him with wisdom, strength, and courage.
https://theologyofhome.com/blogs/in-place-in-person/why-we-call-them-fathers
Blessings,
Roberta
“ When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain, Jesus’ touch can call us back to life again.”
What a beautiful hymn!
Blessings,
Roberta Nataloni
“ Bless the Lord my soul!
Lord God, how great you are,
Clothed in majesty and glory,
Wrapped in light as in a robe!
You stretch out the heavens like a tent.”
Eclipse brings Americans together, provokes thought on higher subjects https://aleteia.org/2024/04/09/eclipse-brings-americans-together-provokes-thought-on-higher-subjects/
The Love that moves the sun and the other stars.”
Dante Alighieri, Paradiso
Roberta Nataloni
We just completed Holy Week, but the grace and beauty of it still lingers in our hearts. It is a week of profound sadness, but also of a very profound Joy: we know that death was conquered, death does not terrify us any longer.
“We are Easter people, and Allelujah is our song!” St John Paul II
https://aleteia.org/2024/04/01/profound-young-saint-can-help-you-honor-the-eucharist-in-april/
“Unite our hearts to your Immaculate Heart so that they may find their true and lasting home in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ever guide us along the pilgrimage of life to our eternal home with Him.” Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
Eucharistic Revival Gathering – November 7th, 2023
BLESSED are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
BLESSED are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
BLESSED are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
BLESSED are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
BLESSED are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
BLESSED are you when men revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
HOW WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER AS A PARISH
Like any family, we care for and support each other when the difficulties of life arise, especially in prayer. St. Francis parish has a long history of doing this in a very meaningful way. We reach out to the power that is ours when we pray together in the following ways. We are all welcome to use and participate in these resources when they are needed.
BOOK OF INTENTIONS: Write your petitions in this book located in the narthex. The intentions written in the book are prayed for collectively at each Sunday Mass.
ROSARY AND DIVINE CHAPLET: Prayed by a group of parishioners in our Adoration Chapel, each weekday that Mass is celebrated, for the intentions in the Book of Intentions. The Rosary also recited each Sunday morning before the 8:00 am Mass.
CALL-IN ROSARY: A live interactive daily telephone ministry. Access it from wherever you are from 12 noon -12:30 pm. TELEPHONE: 1-508-924-3039
Each decade has its own intention:
+ First- Everyone affected by the Coronavirus and their families.
+ Second- All unborn children.
+ Third- all souls who have perished.
+ Fourth- all who are suffering and do not believe in God.
+ Fifth- Personal intentions and members of our parish community (all those listed in the weekly SF bulletin.)
By Sandy...
In the past few weeks, God has been nudging us, very publicly, to think about prayer. Specifically, in the experience of seeing, on national TV, a young football player falling to the ground on the field in cardiac arrest. The stands go silent and then people start to pray while “non-believers” respect them in silence. The other football players fall to their knees, not in protest, but in prayer. All while an assistant coach, for ten minutes, gives CPR to this fallen young man. Then, a sports announcer takes his courage in hand and on air, speaks a prayer in the Name of JESUS. The hush of concentrated prayer is on the field, in the stands, and in homes around the country. God will be heard.
Prayer…the language with which we speak to our God. We often speak for the good of others in our prayers. Was it heard for Damar Hamlin, the young football player who was on a ventilator? Well, Damar Hamlin is speaking now, aware and awake, and grateful to the God who saved him and for those who intervened so heartily in prayer for him.
God will be heard, even though society tries to annihilate every mention of Him.
What is our prayer life like? We are always learning and Jesus is always teaching. Our parish offers us so many ways to strengthen our dialogue with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to speak in prayer and to listen in prayer. What a beautiful and saving resolution for 2023, to pay attention to prayer. How?
Mass speaks to us in the most powerful way with THE WORD and the EUCHARIST. Mass on Sundays, and if possible, during the week. As we say in Adoration announcements, He is waiting for you! ADORATION. The Eucharist is the center of our Catholic faith. There is Adoration every Thursday morning after Mass for an hour, there is Adoration every First Friday evening for an hour, and there are periodic all-Day Adorations. Soon a new PRAYER SHARE will begin where parishioners can share and learn from each other the ways they experience and grow their prayer lives. PRAYER WATCH, the very simple act of praying for others invites everyone to become a part of this beautiful and powerful communal prayer. Sign up, get copies of prayer requests and then pray however you like, for those in need of our prayers.
HE IS WAITING FOR YOU
The candle of the fourth Sunday of Advent is called the “Angel Candle” and is a symbol of peace. Let us beseech the coming Child of Peace to touch with peace the besieged country of Ukraine, the streets of our country too often ravaged by rampant crime, and those places in the world where fear is an epidemic of hatred of brother to brother and sister to sister.
Lord Jesus…Peace…Peace…..PAX….Peace…Peace.
As the Feast of CHRISTMAS draws near, let us rejoice in God’s extravagant LOVE! Let us avail ourselves of the PEACE He gives us and let us look carefully at our lives that we are indeed making of them a gift fitting for Him. Let us each make of ourselves a ‘spiritual Bethlehem’ readying our souls and hearts to welcome Him, the Prince of Peace. In so doing may we be messengers of that Divine Peace to the fractured world around us.
(Inspired by readings from My Catholic Life and St. Francis Solanus Parish online)
Our Mother Mary is carrying her God beneath her heart. Beyond all wonders, we are able to do the same. Each time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist He comes to abide with us within our hearts. Mary was the first and total Christ-bearer carrying Him who created her to all with whom she came in contact. We take in the Beloved Christ within us. We carry Him to all whom we meet. We can carry His compassion, His Love, His never-ending forgiveness, His joy, and encouragement and give it to all our brothers and sisters. If we were to remember that, know it, act upon it, let Him speak through our voices and comfort with our arms…
we could change the world!
The year has flown by and once again we are starting the beautiful and holy Advent season. On the first Sunday, we begin to spiritually prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus, the greatest Gift we could ever receive. The readings remind us that the Savior of the World will one day return to earth in all splendor and glory at an hour we do not expect.
But, Jesus comes to us now in so many ways, small and large. Are we prepared to see how He works in our lives now? His gifts sometimes overwhelm us, but tiny, sweeter gifts are spread for us throughout each of our days Let us perpetually be ready for His coming as He leads us through the light and through the darkness. There are advent candles for a reason. They are already lit in our souls if we but tune ourselves in, to see them.
Although it has passed on October 3rd, it is well to look at a great Franciscan tradition. This happens on the eve of the death of this beautiful and beloved saint so long ago. . “On the eve of his death, in imitation of his Divine master, he had bread brought to him and broken. Then he distributed it among those around him. ‘I have done my part’, he said, ‘May Christ teach you to do yours.’ Then wishing to give a last token of detachment and to show he no longer had anything in common with the world, Francis removed his poor habit and lay down on the bare ground, covered with a borrowed cloth, rejoicing that he was able to keep faith with his Lady Poverty to the end. After awhile, he asked to have read to him the Passion according to St. John, and then in faltering tones he himself intoned Psalm CXII. And the concluding verse, ‘Bring my soul out of prison’, Francis was led away from earth by Sister Death, in whose praise he had shortly before added a new strophe to his Canticle of the Sun.”
(Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Francis of Assisi )
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD
The Birth of Stars
While the world stews and fights over territory and the things that bind us to earth, the Hubble and Webb telescopes wander the galaxies and tell fantastic stories and show incredible photos. They tell how small this earth is and how even smaller we are. They speak of the unimaginable power and wonder of our God and His creations flung far and wide beyond our own galaxy. The order of the universe speaks of the genius of the Maker, a Maker of beauty that includes ourselves. A Maker that sent His Son from the beauty and power of the beyond to come to bring us home. Science marries Faith.
God knows your name. And He knows the names of stars being born in the Carina Nebula right now. ( Ps. 139:13-14: Ps. 147:4). The God who is far beyond the far reaches of whatever the James Webb Space telescope reveals is also the God that is in you and me, the God who became a tiny, fragile human being who lived and died … so that through Him we might join Him in eternity.
He’s the God, over all who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” (Eph.3:20) the One by whom “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16).
Praise God for caring about you, and me, and the galaxies we’ll never see. All creation shouts the name of our glorious, creative God (Rom.1:20).
Chris Martin: God is Beyond and Behind the Galaxy.
When a time of great illness comes upon a dear family member, we are full of conflicting emotions. As the loved one weakens, we, as Catholics, have to try to keep the good of that loved one uppermost in our minds and hearts. Our fear of letting go might keep us from what is best, especially when recovery is unlikely or means further suffering. It is hard to “allow” that most loved person to leave on his or her journey to God. It actually might keep that loved one clinging much longer to a life that is forever changed in painful circumstances.
This difficult time contains many decisions. One of them, for Catholics, is when to call their priest for Last Rites. This sacrament is a way for a loving God and a loving Church to make the transition grace-filled for the person leaving and those that are left behind.
Last Rites are the sacraments received when a person is nearing death. The priest is called to hear confession, perform anointing of the sick (formerly Extreme Unction), and final reception of communion (Viaticum). Forgiveness of sins helps in preparing for the final moments and brings peace and courage to the sick person as the Holy Spirit guides them on to eternal life. Holy Communion feeds their soul with hope.
The most beautiful part of the Last Rites is the administration of Communion or Viaticum, as well as confession and lastly, anointing. It is a gift to our loved ones not to wait too long in the sick person’s journey, for then it could deny them communion and confession while they are conscious and fully aware. Best, if possible, not to wait for an extreme condition where the person no longer is aware. Rather, it is a mercy that these are made available to soften the journey, not only with the comfort of loved ones near but, also, with the great comfort of Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.
The sacrament of anointing need not always just be for the time of death, or in the context of the Last Rites. Anointing is offered to persons who, through sickness or old age, and their complications, bring them near death. But, also, it is offered to persons struggling with illness (including mental illness) but not in danger of death, as long as the nature of the illness is sufficiently serious, including before serious surgery. Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that must be administered by a priest as, of course, Last Rites. Both may be administered more than once.
God provides for His children from the womb and through life until He cradles them in His arms as they near their return to Him. God never abandons us. Within the grace of the Church, there is comfort and reassurance to fortify us in those last hours, so precious to each of us and our families. It is the last gift of love to persons dear to our hearts to make this available in a timely and conscious manner and with family present to share in its comfort and reassurance. Love never dies and that is true especially of the God that loves us the most.
SCRIPTURAL QUOTES FOR LIVING IN A HOSTILE SOCIETY
We are living in a society increasingly hostile to Christians, especially Catholics. With the Roe vs Wade decision pending that might even become worse. How do we make our way in such a new environment? As always, we look to Scripture, to the teachings of our Church to guide and inspire us. “Love one another” is the greatest inspiration. Here are a few more:
Isaiah 40:28-31. “Do you know, have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles.”
Romans 1:11-12. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
1Corinthians 16:13. “Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”
Psalms 18:34. You have armed me with strength for the battle.
Ephesians 3:16. “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”
Isaiah 41:10. “Don’t panic, I’m with you. There’s no need to fear, for I am your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”
2Corinthian 12-19. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.
We strengthen ourselves and each other by the Eucharist which feeds us the Body and Blood of Jesus with whom no battle can be lost. We strengthen ourselves and each other with Adoration, either on Thursday morning or at the new First Friday Adoration evenings.
Sandy Pineault
In Western Christianity, Transitus (‘tran.si.tus Latin: crossing) refers to the time of passage through death to life. It is linked to the Paschal mystery. It consecrates the passage of dying to eternal life. Offering the sacrifice of his or her personal life, the believer shares in the paschal transitus of Christ himself.
Transitus of St. Francis will take place for the FIRST TIME at St. Francis of Assisi Mission, Yulee FL on Tuesday, OCTOBER 3rd, 2023 at 7:00 p.m..
Transitus is the annual celebration by Franciscans throughout the world of the pass of St. Francis from this life to life with God. It is celebrated the night of October 3rd, the eve of his feast. There is no one ritual for Transitus, and therefore many expressions have developed for this liturgy. Certain prayers or writings of St. Francis and accounts from his early biographers are common. One of them recalls how when Francis was dying he asked that the washing of the feet from Gospel of John be read. Since Francis spoke of dying as embracing Sister Death, the ritual is solemn but not sad and inspires the participants to richly live the Gospel until the end of their days.
The Eucharist always produces miracles, it has profound transformative effects on the lives of the faithful. How could it not? The Eucharist is Jesus present in our lives, it is our nourishment during our earthly pilgrimage.
As Archbishop Cordileone tells us: “ The shocking new Christian message is that God wants to dwell in us, in our bodies, as He once dwelt in the Temple in Jerusalem”
The world around us is in turmoil, but people “thirst”, and only Jesus can give us “living water” and “the food which endures to eternal life”
Thousands receive blessing from Jesus, up close and personal https://aleteia.org/2024/03/15/thousands-receive-blessing-from-jesus-up-close-and-personal/
“God give us this bread, always”
Have a blessed day,
Roberta
We just celebrated Laetare Sunday when the rose vestments worn by the priests are a joyous break from the somber purple of Lent. Rose color reminds us of Spring, of rebirth. The Church is telling us that true joy lies ahead, Easter is near, and the resurrection of the believers. But, before reaching the Heavenly Jerusalem, we will need to go through the Cross.
“Pope Benedict XVI explained the meaning of this day in an Angelus message in 2007, saying that it is “in Latin Laetare Sunday, that is, ‘Rejoice,’ from the first word of the entrance antiphon in the liturgy of Mass.” He then goes on to say that it is a day to rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist:
The liturgy today invites us to rejoice because Easter, the day of Christ’s victory over sin and death, is approaching. But where is the source of Christian joy to be found if not in the Eucharist, which Christ left us as a spiritual Food while we are pilgrims on this earth?
Pope Benedict continues his reflection on the Eucharist saying, “The Eucharist nurtures in believers of every epoch that deep joy which makes us one with love and peace and originates from communion with God and with our brothers and sisters.”
In reality, every Sunday is a day of joy, when we rejoice in the Eucharist.
However, Laetare Sunday in particular reminds us of that joy, pointing us toward the event that established the gift of the Eucharist, given to us at the Last Supper.”
Adapted from Aleteia
“Sunday is the ‘foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year” CCC
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
We are all called to holiness, but with the busyness of today’s life, it is way easy to let spiritual growth fall down in our list of priorities. We become tepid, we make room for “half-belief”. St Benedict wrote his rule for monastic life, but it can be of great help for all of us.
3 vows:
– obedience= give up our will and surrender to God
– stability= let’s make a schedule for our spiritual life and stick to it
– conversion of life = God and others before self
3 tools – a way of life centered on Reading, Prayer, and Work
https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/jesus-zinger-his-body-is-the-temple/
“ Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way, the love of Christ must come before all else” St. Benedict
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
The world is full of temptations, and too many times we fall short of our better self in the way we act, in the way we speak, in the way we are quick to judge.
After each fall, and with humility, we can make amends, and we can take on more step on our pilgrimage toward that higher mountain where our true, and eternal life can be found.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love;
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me”
https://www.thecatholicthing.
“Leave untouched the idle prattle and the error of the masses”
St Polycarp
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
I have always loved the poem “Footprints in the Sand.” A man is walking on the beach with Jesus, what a serene and lovely image! Very soon though, he starts doubting: many times I see only one set of footprints on the sand…Lord why have you abandoned me?
It is so difficult for us to wholeheartedly trust God, to really believe that He is always faithful and He never abandon us. The reality is that God wants our heart, our unconditional love and trust.
Let this Lent be a time for rethinking our priorities, a time for “cleaning up”. Let’s go into the desert of our lives and face our personal spiritual combat, for as difficult as it might seem, we will not be alone. It is in that very desert that we will find Jesus waiting for us. As the poet Virgil tells Dante in the Divine Comedy: “Turn, it is a voyage you must take!”
Today is Ash Wednesday and St. Valentine’s Day, what a providential coincidence! It reminds us that love is sacrifice, and the greatest love ever shown was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us.
Lent brings into focus the true meaning of Christian life: the cross. Without the cross we could not have Easter morning.
In accepting the crosses of our lives with humility and self denial, we have the hope for eternal life.
In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, eternal life is “ like plunging into the ocean of infinite love”
“There are two parts of us — the soul and the body. We ask the good God to feed our poor body, and he responds by making the earth produce all that is necessary for our subsistence. But we ask him also to feed our soul, which is the fairest part of ourselves; and the earth is too small to furnish what will satisfy our soul; it is hungry for God — nothing but God can fill it. So the good God has not thought it too much to dwell on earth and to take a body, in order that that body might become the maintenance of our souls. Our Lord has said, “My flesh is true food . . . The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
O Jesus, give me this living bread which strengthens the soul, beautifies, enkindles, and satiates it.
“The third commandment is most important. You shalt keep the Sundays by devoutly serving God. The week is for things material, Sunday is for the spirit.
“The body, made of clay, rots and falls to ruin; the soul, the image of God, is imperishable, and it is this that sustains the body. It is, then, to this that we owe most care, and yet we habitually neglect the soul that we may take care of our body.
“Behold, all the week men gather, lend, buy, sell. Well and good; but all that is for the body. Arrange, then, to make a good feast once a week for your immortal soul.
“O sweet banquet, heavenly bread! What a privilege to be able to feed our souls, and to feed them on God!”
“On Sundays at least. O day of the good feast! I know that it is only imposed on you once a year — at Easter; but must we be forced to be happy? And when we may have a divine meal every day, shall we have such bad taste? . . .
“The feast of the holy table is the good God in us. The great sages of antiquity could not understand this extraordinary thing; they said that God was too great to become incarnate that he might give himself to us. It was because they did not know to what lengths the goodness of God goes.”
“But we know it. What a knowledge! God has come into ourselves, and we can reach to him. Ah! If we would, we might be angels on earth.
“O beautiful life — happy life! To live on God — live on God at least on Sunday! Take care, lest without God you are lost. Have we, then, no hunger for God? Is it too much to feed upon God one day in seven?
“My body eats its fill, but my soul? If it is not hungry, it must be very ill. . . .
“Love God, live on God, serve God. That is happiness.”
This excerpt is from Eucharistic Meditations: Extracts from the Writings and Instructions of Saint John Vianney.
May our hearts be opened to true love as we go into Lent,
Have a blessed day,
Roberta Nataloni
LENT: a time to remember that He died for each of us, loving each of us no more nor no less than the other. The GREAT COMMANDMENT He gave us was to LOVE ONE OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!
Here at St. Francis, we have a beautiful way to do that: PRAYER WATCH. Within this ministry we pray for each other and all our loved ones and those we do not know for whom we are asked to pray. Are you a part of this ministry? So simple: email your name and e-mail to:prayerwatch@stfrancisyulee.org
You will receive e-mail requests for prayer and then you pray as you like, however you like and when you like. We are 90 strong: make it 100!
