A Handshake and a Hug, especially during the Christmas Season
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
As Franciscans, we're usually filled with joy. It is our nature, but we are human, and occasionally we experience a period of spiritual dryness. That can easily happen during the holidays... when we spend time alone, time spent in previous years with friends and relatives. We all experience it.
In everyone's life there are ups and downs. The only problem is that some of us have no one to share this spiritual loneliness with, and that makes it hard. There are periods of self-sufficiency and a spiritual resiliency that carry us through our everyday problems, but when things get rough, our house of cards tumbles and then this loneliness engulfs us. Some years ago, there was loneliness in my life, but most of all, I saw real loneliness when I visited folks in the Hospital, as a Special Minister of the Eucharist, to bring Jesus to them, around the Holidays. There are more people who wish you to sit down and spend an hour with them than at any other time of the year. Yet, in our loneliness we are never alone. When we believe in Jesus and when we have a consistent relationship with Him, the spiritual morass once again becomes orderly, and Jesus, through His wisdom and love, leads us forward. This loneliness isn't always that we're alone, away from relatives and friends, but sometimes we're also lonely because we are away from Jesus and His Mother.
And so it was, when I felt this loneliness in past years, usually around the Holidays, that I asked someone to pray with me with the very intention of straightening out my spiritual downtime. And it helped. And something else helped: a handshake or a hug. I was chatting with a friend one day, and I told him that I was in a spiritual valley, and he said that it wouldn't last long... well, I knew that of course, but it's hard to believe when you're not feeling all that great, and I mentioned that the hardest part was that I had no one to talk to about it, who could understand, or who would even listen!
Many people claim to listen, but they don't. When there is no real compassion, and just an off-handed reply, such as: "Well, that's life!", you know that they aren't listening and they probably don't give a hoot about your problems. But the friend I was talking to did care and he gave me a light hug, and that little pat on the shoulder did me a lot of good. That hug reminded me of a picture that hangs on the wall near my bed, of Jesus on the Cross, being comforted by our Seraphic Father, St. Francis. St. Francis knew what suffering meant to Jesus... because Jesus' wounds in Francis's hands, feet and side weren't given to him as a symbol: they were real wounds. and they hurt Francis every minute of the day and night. It is difficult to understand that Francis's carrying of Christ's wounds helped ease some of Jesus' pain, because Francis lived about 1200 years after Jesus was crucified, but, yes, Francis did ease Jesus's pain, just as His pain is eased when we fight temptation and do not give in to the occasion of sin!
Shaking hands and hugging is what makes people share something they have in common. When we hug or shake hands then we are sharing in the love of Christ between his children. One day I visited church in mid-afternoon to say the rosary or just sit quietly and meditate. Even though we could just as easily do this at home, the closeness to the Blessed Sacrament is the catalyst to launch us into spiritual thought. Jesus hugs us through His presence in the Tabernacle. He stilled my loneliness, and it felt peaceful. Now that there are (still) times to be cautious about shaking hands due to Covid-19, after the main part of the Pandemic in 2019-2021, we may still need to be careful how we "shake hands." Lightly touching our closed fists may have to suffice.
When you go to Holy Mass and receive Communion by touching the Body of Jesus with your fingers and tongue, think about what you're doing. Come to the realization that you're holding the Body of Christ in your hand, that you're touching Him, and more importantly, that He's touching you. He is shaking your hand and hugging you and He is telling you that you shouldn't worry, that as long as you follow in His footsteps by trying to be Christ-like, by remaining free from all sins, not only the big ones, but from the little ones as well, He will take care of you for all eternity.
I pray that you'll recognize the great gift Our Lord Jesus has given you through the sharing of the Eucharist, and that His love may change your life from one of toil and frustration, to a life of joy and understanding. That doesn't mean that your life will now be easy but with His grace and love, all obstacles will be removed and instead of channeling your total energies to yourself, you'll have time left over to minister to others through prayer, outreach, and example And, next time someone needs a pat on the back, a handshake or a hug, share the love of Christ in that way, and both you and the person at the receiving end will feel strengthened and relieved.
Advent is a time of preparation. Advent prepares you for the Immanuel, for the one who is coming. It isn't just a time of preparation for this Christmas, the Birth of Jesus, which the world celebrated 2000 years ago, but it is a time of preparation for the second coming as well. If your spiritual level is ebbing, then this is a good time to become closer to Jesus, perhaps with the help of your Confessor or Spiritual Advisor. When the inner life of your soul is healthy, then this is a time of thankfulness, so pray for others that they may reach a plateau in prayer that's right for them.
When praying, it isn't necessary to present the Lord with a long list of what you want: He knows what we need Just praise Him, praise Him for his power, his kingship, his mercy, his compassion and his love, given so freely to all, even to the sinner (that's us, folks), and thank Him for all He has done for you in your lives.
Advent, a time of preparation, is a perfect time to give something extra to Jesus. Sit quietly and meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, on a simple prayer or Scripture passage, and then be still. Give Jesus time to respond to you. As you slowly quiet down interiorly and forget about your problems and your cares, when the "self' no longer matters, then you will reach an awareness of great peace and joy. When you totally concentrate on Jesus, forgetting the world around you, and your own troubles... and thus communicate with Jesus, HE HUGS US IN HIS OWN SPECIAL WAY. I ask Him that He will visit you this Christmas too. Have a Happy and Blessed Christmas!
Originally written in 1999 rev. 12/2022
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Be a person of Integrity!
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines the Integrity of a Person, (§2338-9) as follows: "The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech."
The word "Integrity" is one that is often misunderstood in today's world. The best definition of this word is: "a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code."
The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.
The CCC continues: "Chastity includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom. The alternative is clear: either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy. "Man's dignity therefore requires him to act out of conscious and free choice, as moved and drawn in a personal way from within, and not by blind impulses in himself or by mere external constraint. Man gains such dignity when, ridding himself of all slavery to the passions, he presses forward to his goal by freely choosing what is good and, by his diligence and skill, effectively secures for himself the means suited to this end."
There is a reason why I began to review these paragraphs in the CCC this week. It has to do with our culture run amuck. Every time, I turn on the television, there is a daily exposé of crime, promiscuity, pornography, etc. People's dress code - even the way some visit a church, is way off base. Given that the eyes are the windows of the soul, it is pretty hard not to notice people who dress poorly, and by that I mean, carelessly. Being "cool" in summertime in a hot climate, such as Florida, is one thing, but mode of dress sends a "social message" and all prudence seems to have gone out of the window. Many people aren't even aware that some of this is just plain wrong.
Men and women may react differently to this daily barrage of temptation. I can only speak from a male viewpoint. And I can tell you, that the devil relentlessly attacks us, particularly those who try to stay close to Jesus. A vocation to chastity is very difficult to maintain. "Whoever wants to remain faithful to his baptismal promises and resist temptations will want to adopt the means for doing so: self-knowledge, practice of an ascesis adapted to the situations that confront him, obedience to God's commandments, exercise of the moral virtues, and fidelity to prayer. 'Indeed, it is through chastity that we are gathered together and led back to the unity from which we were fragmented into multiplicity.'" (CCC § 2340, 41) "The virtue of chastity comes under the cardinal virtue of temperance, which seeks to permeate the passions and appetites of the senses with reason."
It is a daily battle to remain chaste. Chastity can never be considered "acquired", I believe, until we are 6-feet under. Every moment in our lives, we struggle, struggle to discern, these images our eyes see - and we 'keep' what is wholesome, and 'dump' what is not.
Chastity is a personal task, one that cannot be passed on to the next person. All people who attempt to live a life of integrity, a deep moral life, struggle from day to day with all of this. "Chastity is a moral virtue and a gift from God, a grace, a fruit of spiritual effort. The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ." (CCC § 2345)
"The sense of right and wrong . . . is so delicate, so fitful, so easily puzzled, obscured, perverted, so subtle in its argumentative methods, so impressionable by education, so biased by pride and passion, so unsteady in its course, that in the struggle for existence amid the various exercises and triumphs of the human intellect, the sense is at once the highest of all teachers yet the least luminous" (Newman)
By studying the offenses that go against chastity in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (§§ 2351-2359) and the section of the Love of Husband and Wife (§§ 2360-2372), we have covered this entire difficult subject.
Never let up your guard, "be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus), will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little." (1 Pet 5:8-10)
Be a person of Integrity!
God bless you, and keep you well!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
© 1996-2007 bc262, rev. 2023. Frederick S. Schaeffer, OFS
Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). (1997). Libreria Editrice Vaticana
He accepted His Cross
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
How can we accept our Cross? By viewing and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar; speak to Him and ask Jesus to allow you to offer up all your suffering and life's trials. Ask Him to allow you to extend yourselves together with Him on the Cross. True love knows no separation of any kind. His afflicted Mother, Mary, our Mother too, united herself with Him on the Cross, let us ask her to help us be strong, strong enough to join Jesus in His supreme suffering on the Cross. We should pray — Together with you, Our Blessed and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, we offer ourselves to the Eternal Father, accepting our own Cross, as we become one with your Will, with your Love, with your reparations, with your very heart and with all your pains.
Jesus endured suffering on the Cross for the sins of the world. His suffering would leave anyone speechless. At the pillar where he was scourged, he wasn't just flogged but His flesh was ripped open so that every lash of the whips with double bullets at the ends* was a hammer-blow that kept Him reeling. Why was all this necessary? In order to answer that question we must ask ourselves why the world, in which we all have a part, has so transgressed His teachings. Let us pray — My crucified Jesus, we see you bathed in blood. The souls of all of mankind, from the very first man to the last yet to be born, we see in your suffering, in the Blood you shed for the world to redeem the world. Each act of reparation, of repentance, atonement, courage and holiness, represents salve upon your open wounds. My Love, how willingly would I take your place to spare you so much pain. My Jesus, I fuse myself in the wounds of your hands, your feet, and your Heart. Please shield me there from temptation as we, too, are attacked in our desert on our path of life. Let my thoughts be ever upon your holy suffering when I'm attacked so that I may remain resolute in my promise to be obedient to you and to your Holy Church. My dear Lord, to relieve and to soothe your pain, we offer you all of our charitable acts, and the holy works of all your creatures.
As your walk to Golgotha, bearing the heavy Cross of our sin, is completed, you are crucified and I am crucified in you. Do not permit me to become separated from you. May I always be at your side, making reparation to you for everyone, to soothe the pain caused by my sins and the sins of all throughout the ages. I ask for your mercy and compassion for everyone in the world. It is never too late. The good thief on the cross, moments before his death asked you with sorrow for his sins; that you have mercy on him. You replied that he would be with you that day in paradise. Let us remember that it is never too late. That if we're on our deathbed and we're not in the State of Grace please give us the presence of mind to whisper a prayer to you, an expression of regret for a sinful life, a prayer of recognition of your Divine Majesty, that you are the Christ, the Son of God. Then, as you did with the good thief, please answer that plea for grace, that appeal for forgiveness.
As we suffer together with Jesus Christ on the Cross, we'll learn the true meaning of the Cross and the limitless power of His love for us. He accepted His Cross for us. Now we must do the same for Him!
Wishing you, my readers, a deep and spiritual Triduum (Summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday)
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 5, 2023
God’s Deep Love for all of us.
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
"Stepping aside is a graceful movement of the soul." Don't seek praise... but give it, as the Prayer of Saint Francis says. "We seek to take on the manners of Heaven. Stepping aside is the outer garment of humility. Also, always speak the truth. Even to yourself. Truth is strength, Truth is God. God is Love.
Practice detachment from worldly goods. As Secular Franciscans we do not have a vow of poverty, but nonetheless, we know that amassing worldly goods is not the way to Heaven. A person who practices detachment does not deprive others of their rights. Do not judge others, just try to help where you can. St. Francis of Assisi could have scorned the lepers as the outcasts of society they were in the 13th Century, but he helped them and bathed their wounds. He had a deep love for people, a love received from God.
Pride is a terrible obstacle to attaining perfection. Humility kills pride. It is a gift: "Were it not for our Master and Lord, not one of us would strive to acquire humility." Bear irritations and humiliations silently. Remember St. Francis' description of Perfect Joy - he bore irritation and humility with perfect joy! Silently accept sorrow as he did. You'll find out that being humble is real suffering at times, but offer it up for Jesus. "We catch a glimpse of God's patient and absorbing love," when we strive to be humble and patient.
Obedience to the Will of God takes total surrender. Breaking our own will, that very free will He gave us, takes an immense amount of pain and suffering. But we must... Jesus loves us totally and unconditionally. Can we do any less for Him? Can we do any less for our sisters and brothers? This falls under the subject of personal conversion (Metanoia) and we, as Franciscans, should work on that every day! Also, feelings have no place in the life of the spirit. How often I hear someone say... it feels so good to pray. Our feelings must never be the issue in prayer... because our feelings are usually pride. The Eucharistic life is a marvel of love. Feelings have no place in this Eucharistic life - deep convictions do. Craving for anything outside of God will do us harm.
- Pope Francis said “a life of obedience” is the key to the first reading from the Book of Acts (5:27-33) and the Gospel (John 3:31-36).
- Obedience to God is not only a way to worship him, but a way to get closer to him, prepare for whatever he leads you to and grow as a person. As Christians, we know we are not saved by our works but that our faith without works is dead (James 2:26)
Our focus is clear from our Charism, our vocation. Service to others, our brothers and sisters, also to those who are marginalized and whose rights as human beings are trampled upon, that service is the loss of self in the interest of God. Service is the purchase price of peace. And, "whoever does not carry my Cross, cannot be my disciple." (Lk 14:27) Love all, do not overlook anyone. "A radiant smile is a blessing; bad humor, a poor choice of words, casts a pall of doom." (Fred Schaeffer, OFS bc289, 2013)
Fred Schaeffer, OFS, 2019 rev. 04/13/2023
God’s Presence strongly felt
A reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
With Easter just behind us, then Divine Mercy Sunday, the past 2-3 weeks have been spiritually uplifting and joyful. Since I want to write at least one brand-new reflection each month, now’s the time. For a guy who is mostly a “homebound Franciscan” with my neighbor François, who is willing to take me along when he goes to Sunday Mass, I managed to attend the last 8-9 Sundays and that is a great joy. Once a month, on the Sunday of our Franciscan fraternity’s meeting, the fraternity attends Holy Mass together, another reason for great joy because there aren’t many of us left anymore.
As an aside: our first gathering was in April 1992. We began with seven people (on April 18, 1993, when the fraternity got its name). Six were professed on October 4, 1994. In 2013, Divine Mercy Fraternity had 18 sisters and brothers; that’s a healthy fraternity size. Since then, there has been great fluctuation, some joined, others left (it happens, but not often), some moved and some died, and today we have eight members but for reasons of health, only five are active. Of these five, two were professed in 1994, yours truly included; the others came later. Hard to believe that’s 30 years. Membership in an Order is counted from the beginning of Candidacy. Although many of us are elderly, we get along great, we really would like to get new members in our fold.
If you live in Indian River County, Florida, and you feel a calling to become a lay Franciscan, just contact us so we can discuss your needs, pray for you, make you feel welcome, and maybe you’ll want to join our Fraternity. We are located in Vero Beach, Florida. Those interested may contact Joanne Giordano, OFS (Fraternity Minister) at 772-332-0576 (leave text or voicemail).
In the past 3-4 weeks, I felt God’s presence strongly. First of all, because of the general celebrations of Holy Week, the Triduum, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday. The death and rising of the Lord, that’s what our reason for existence is all about. He died for us so that we may live in eternal life with Him.
Then there were other things, for me big things, two people anonymously donating $100 each, toward my lot rent, people bringing food around from people who left for ‘the north,’ (in other words, snowbirds returning home). The Lord is great! I pray for help and He answers my prayers through my neighbors.
I worship at St. Helen Parish in Vero Beach, Florida, a terrific parish, recently renovated (it was finished in early December 2022), new Sanctuary, walls and ceiling newly decorated. We have wonderful priests. I used to be in the choir for 25-plus years but after the Covid years, it was necessary to retire when the choir began using the choir loft again (stairs too steep for me; and with lack of a car, it wouldn’t work anyway). I love singing, so now I sick in the house when I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. St. Augustine said that singing is praying twice.
Jesus wants us to be his brother or sister. He loves all of us equally but individually. Like St. Francis of Assisi and a couple of other saints, they love us individually out of a huge amount of people. One could liken this to a gigantic swarm of migrating swallows. God loves them all. They are His creatures, creatures of the Father. The Father loves each of these flying jewels as individuals as He knows their name (same way he knows us) - and He has promised us his help. He has sent his only Son, Jesus, to redeem us from our sins, because He wants us to be with Him for all time. So why are we saying no? Are we so ungrateful that we have the chutzpah to say no to a kind gesture of the One who created us and wants us to be happy? Make sure you know Him - He knows all of us.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
April 24, 2023
"Mary's Little Portion"
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
St. Francis devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and of the Church, was deep. There is no doubt that this devotion was instilled in him by his parents as they were devout people. St. Francis childhood predated the popular devotion of the Rosary, but it is clear that he has written many prayers to Mary by his own hand. A small dilapidated building down the hill from Assisi, owned by the Benedictines of Subiaco, later given to the Franciscans, is the "Portiuncula" housed in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Francis rebuilt this little chapel personally, with the help of his first followers, in 1206, after his conversion.
As time went on and the friars began to multiply, the Poor Clares were established, and the Brothers and Sisters of Penance were added to Francis' followers, "Mary's Little Portion*" became known as the "Cradle of Franciscanism*". As St. Francis was attending Holy Mass in this small chapel, he heard the reading from the Gospel of Matthew 10, "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace." And Francis knew that is what he had to do. That was his objective in founding the Order of Friars Minor, to go speak to people in a town, any town, without income, without gold (riches), with the clothes on his back, just go!
The friars are still doing that. OK, they stay longer in a town than one or two days, but it can be expected that friars are reassigned every three years, and many do move on to other assignments. One friar told me that he never fully unpacked his moving boxes, knowing that when he finally got around to it, it was time to move again. That is the nature of mendicants, they do not take roots in a particular friary or monastery, but they go where they are needed.
Francis and his friars did not spend a lot of time in this little chapel. They came there to pray and hold their Chapters (community meetings, a Chapter of Election is held traditionally every three years); they did not sleep or eat in this little church. They were Umbrian beggars, going here and there as fancy dictated. sleeping in hay-lofts, in leper hospitals, or under the porch of some church (Sabbatier). "Seeing that day by day the number of his followers was increasing, Francis wrote simply and in a few words a form of life and rule for himself and his brothers both present and to come. It mainly used the words of the Gospel, for the perfection of which alone he yearned. Nevertheless, he did insert a few other things necessary for the pursuit of a holy life.
"He came to Rome with all his brothers, hoping that Pope Innocent III would confirm what he had written. At that time the venerable bishop of Assisi, Guido, who honored Francis and the brothers and prized them with a special love, also happened to be in Rome. When he saw Francis and his brothers there and did not know the cause, he was very upset, since he feared they were planning to desert their native city, in which God was now doing great things through his servants. He was pleased to have such men in his diocese and relied greatly on their life and manners. Having heard the cause of their visit and understood their plan, he was relieved and promised to give them advice and aid." (Celano, 1st Life of St. F. Ch. 13) The pope orally approved the Rule Francis had written, in 1209.
"In November 1215, however, the Fathers of the Fourth Lateran Council published very precise rules regarding religious Orders. Canon 13 of the Council states that there were too many religious Orders, and the founding of new Order was henceforth forbidden. Whoever wanted to embrace religious life was obliged to enter into one of the already approved Orders of monks or canons regular. Francis himself could be the exception to this rule, for the simple reason that he invoked the oral approval of his Form of Life by Innocent III in 1209.
"In fact, this made it possible for the Friars Minor to continue developing their legislation in the aftermath of the Fourth Lateran Council, particularly during the celebration of the Pentecost Chapter, at least from 1217 onwards, and to produce a more articulated Form of Life in the Earlier Rule of 1221, and eventually in the definitive Regula Bullata or Later Rule, confirmed by Pope Honorius III on November 29, 1223." (Muscat)
Now, let us ponder how long it would take for St. Francis and his friars to walk to Rome. To drive the distance from Assisi to the Eternal City takes 115 miles by modern road, but the friars weren't driving. They walked. It probably took them 4-5 days, if they stopped and met people from place to place.
On Palm Sunday, in the year 1212, St. Francis received Clare. He gave her a religious habit, and cut her hair, as is still customary today in certain strict orders when someone joins. Today we have the Order of St. Clare, also known as the Poor Clares, because as with the friars, they too make a Vow of Poverty, as well as Obedience and Chastity.
"Luchesio Modestini (born ca. 1180) [image, above] was a merchant in the little town of Poggibonzi in Tuscany. More than most merchants, he was so entirely and solely concerned with material success that he was generally reputed to be an avaricious man. His wife, Buonadonna, was of a similar disposition. Then the grace of God touched the husband. He realized how foolish it is to strive only for worldly goods, of which he could take nothing with him to eternity, meanwhile forgetting about his soul's salvation, as he had, unfortunately, been doing until then. He began to practice works of mercy and to perform his religious obligations with fidelity; he succeeded in winning his wife over to a similar outlook on life.
"Since they had no one to care for but themselves, and Luchesio feared that in conducting his business he might relapse into covetousness, he gave up his business entirely. He and his good wife divided everything among the poor and retained for themselves only so much acreage as would suffice for their support. Luchesio tilled this with his own hands.
"About this time St. Francis came to Tuscany. After his sermon on penance, hosts of people desired to leave all and enter the convent. But the saint admonished them calmly to persevere in their vocation, for he had in mind soon to give them a special rule according to which they could serve God perfectly even in the world. "At Poggibonzi Francis visited Luchesio, with whom he had become acquainted through former business transactions. Francis greatly rejoiced to find this avaricious man so altered, and Luchesio, who had already heard about the blessed activities of Francis, asked for special instructions for himself and his wife, so that they might lead a life in the world that would be pleasing to God.
Establishment of an order for lay people
"Francis then explained to them his plans for the establishment of an order for lay people; and Luchesio and Buonadonna asked to be received into it at once. This, according to tradition, they became the first members of the Order of Penance, which later came to be called the Third Order, (and then Secular Franciscan Order).
"If Luchesio and Buonadonna were really the first Tertiaries, they must have become such not long after St. Francis founded his First Order in 1209. The first simple rule of life, which St. Francis gave to the first Tertiaries at that time, was supplanted in 1221 by one which Cardinal Ugolino prepared in legal wording. And in the same year Pope Honorius III approved this rule verbally. For this reason the year 1221 is often given as the date of the founding of the Third Order of St. Francis.
"After Luchesio had put on the gray garment of a Tertiary, he rapidly advanced toward perfect holiness. He practiced penitential austerities, often fated on bread and water, slept on the hard floor, and at his work bore God constantly in his heart. His generosity to the poor knew no bounds, so that one day there was not even a loaf of bread for his own household. When still another poor man came, he asked his wife to look whether there was not something they could find for him. That vexed her and she scolded him severely; his mortifications, she said, had well nigh crazed him, he would keep giving so long that they themselves would have to suffer hunger. Luchesio asked her gently to please look in the pantry, for he trusted in Him who had multiplied a few loaves for the benefit of thousands. She did so, and the marvel of it! The whole pantry was filled with the best kind of bread. From that time on Buonadonna vied with her husband in doing good.
"When a plague raged in Poggibonzi and the surrounding places, Luchesio went out with his laden donkey, to bring the necessaries to the sick. When he did not have enough to supply all, he begged for more from others in behalf of the distressed. "Once he carried a sick cripple, whom he had found on the way, to his home on his shoulders. A frivolous young man met him, and asked him mockingly, "what poor devil is that you are carrying there on your back?" Luchesio replied calmly. "I am carrying my Lord Jesus Christ." At once the young man's face became distorted, he cried out fearfully, and was dumb. Contritely he cast himself on his knees before Luchesio, who restored his speech to him by means of the Sign of the Cross.
"The time had come when the faithful servant of God was to receive the reward for his good works. When he lay very ill, and there was no hope for his recovery, his wife said to him, "Implore God, who gave us to each other as companions in life, to permit us also to die together." Luchesio prayed as requested. and Buonadonna fell ill with a fever, from which she died even before her husband, after devoutly receiving the holy sacraments. Luchesio passed away with holy longing for God on April 28, 1260. At his grave in the Franciscan church at Poggibonzi many miracles have occurred. His continuous veneration as Blessed was approved by Pope Pius VI."
All Franciscans, friars, poor clares, and secular franciscans are under the protection of Mary, the Mother of God, and that is what St. Francis desired us to be.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
June 7, 2023 rev.
____________________________________
(*) titles used in "Day by Day, with the followers of Francis & Clare" by Fr. Pat McCloskey, OFM. 1999. St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, OH. (page 88)
(Sabbatier) Life of St. Francis by Paul Sabbatier
(Muscat) HISTORY OF THE FRANCISCAN MOVEMENT Volume 1, FROM THE BEGINNINGS OF THE ORDER TO THE YEAR 1517. Noel Muscat OFM
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