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Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Ordo Franciscanus Saecular is

Father Solanus Casey Fratern i ty, Venice, F lor ida

Our Fraternity is overjoyed at the announcement in Rome that Capuchin Fr. Solanus Casey has been beatified by

Pope Francis

The Archdiocese of Detroit announced Thursday morning that Fr. Solanus Casey has been

beatified by Pope Francis. He worked in the city of Detroit and was a member of the Capuchin

Franciscan Order of St. Joseph. He died on July 31, 1957. Beatification is an administrative act by the Catholic Church where a person who has died is declared blessed by the clergy.

"The beatification of Father Solanus Casey is an incomparable grace for the Church in the Archdiocese of

Detroit and for the whole community of Southeast Michigan,” said Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archdiocese of

Detroit, in a statement. “He is an inspiration to all us Catholics – and to all – of the power of grace to transform

one’s life.” Beatification is a step toward canonization.

Father Solanus Casey spoke in a soft and quiet voice to all who came to him for help. And he prayed. Some say his prayers cured illness. All say his serenity and counsel gave them peace. He was born into a family with

simple faith. He maintained that simple faith all his years. In everything, Fr. Solanus took God’s word to heart. He believed every prayer is answered in God’s own way.

In 1958, the Capuchin Minister General called Fr. Solanus “an extraordinary example of a true Capuchin and a replica of St. Francis.” This tribute confirmed the many reports that began to come in from people everywhere about the outstanding virtues of Fr. Solanus.

The Fr. Solanus Guild, a Capuchin ministry dedicated to sharing the holiness of Fr. Solanus, reports that many have asked Fr. Solanus for his prayers as an intercessor to God and that those prayers have been answered. Because of Fr. Solanus’ holiness, Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable in 1995. One miraculous cure approved by the Vatican to the prayers of Venerable Solanus will advance the Cause to Beatification and the title of “Blessed.” Another approved miracle after that will advance the cause finally to sainthood.

Fr. Solanus spent his life in the service of people. As porter of the Detroit monastery door, he met thousands of people from every age and walk of life. He earned recognition as "The Doorkeeper." He was always ready to listen to anyone at any time, day or night….and to encourage everyone to “thank God ahead of time.”

Fr. Solanus’ holiness is inspiring. He had incredible faith and he was a holy man. Often, people think that holiness is unattainable. But Fr. Solanus demonstrated that an ordinary person can live an extraordinarily faithful life. Pilgrimages to the Solanus Casey Center lead the pilgrims to discover that we are all capable of living a faith-filled life. Solanus is only the second American to be beatified.

Solanus Casey so believed in God that he could not believe that some people questioned God. Such a conviction about the existence of God and God’s love is critical for our age. Solanus Casey’s understanding of faith speaks to the hearts of people. His faith was steadfast. He demonstrates to us that faith is the cornerstone to our existence.

Fr. Solanus was known for his wonderful ministry of healing and compassion toward people of faith, Catholic and Non-Catholic, Non-Christians and even Atheists. But, like Jesus himself, Solanus’ heart also went out to those who had given up the practice of their faith or had no affiliation with any church community.

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Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Everyone’s Sister By Kathryn Elliott

“Whose sister are you?” the man asked.

Sister Blandina Segale was glad for the opportunity to clarify herself.

She was feeling intimidated by the cowboy seated next to her on the stage-

coach. But her fears dissipated when she realized he had never met a nun before.

“I’m everyone’s sister,” she replied, “a person who gives her life to do good to other people.” It was 1872, and the two of them were headed from

Steubenville, Ohio, to faraway Trinidad, Colorado, on the western frontier.

Blandina, at twenty-two years old, was going out to be a schoolteacher, and

the cowboy was going to find a fortune.

Throughout her life, especially during her twenty-two years in the West, Blandina was everyone’s sister. A champion of charity and justice, she helped build schools and hospitals; evangelized outlaws;

ministered to prisoners; and befriended Anglos, Native Americans, and Mexicans alike. Where the

unwritten law of the West was “Kill or be killed.” Sister Blandina’s law could be summarized as this: Love, that God may be loved.”

Much to Be Done.

This was not Blandina’s first long trip. Her family had migrated to Cincinnati from Cicagna, Italy, in

1854, when she was four years old. Inspired by the missionary spirit of the different religious sisters who had taught her, Maria Rosa Segale joined the sisters of Charity at age sixteen. After making her final

profession, she took the name Blandina, after a second-century martyr. She was then sent to teach at

Steubenville, Ohio, for six years before being “missioned” to Colorado.

Blandina joined three other sisters. She threw herself into her work, teaching native populations.

But she was not content to just teach. “So much one sees to be done, and so few to do it,” Blandina wrote to her family. “I have adopted this plan. Do whatever presents itself, and never omit anything

because of hardship or repugnance.” When confronted with a crumbling school building, she took upon

herself the task of repairing it, even though she knew nothing about construction. Armed with

only a crowbar, she climbed onto the roof and began hacking away. Soon enough, curious passersby and the families of students got involved, collecting lumber and making bricks to complete the project.

Courage on the Frontier.

Trinidad was the heart of the “Wild West.” In her first years there, she was introduced to warring Ute

Indians, angry lynch mobs, and gun slinging bandits. In the absence of civil authority to keep the peace,

Blandina drew upon basic gospel principals to counteract violence. She believed that reconciliation,

kindness, and mercy were, not just concepts preached from a pulpit but necessary virtues-especially for

life on the frontier.

So she formed her best students into a “Vigilant Club” that would report to her whenever someone

was in destress of any kind. No one would be excluded from their care.

Continued on Page 3

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Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Everyone’s Sister Sr. Blandina

When one of the feared Ute Indians asked for help tending to one of their

sick, Blandina sent her young delegates to bring the boy to her so that she could

help him.

It was also club members who told Blandina that a bandit—a friend of the

infamous outlaw Billy the Kid –was laying sick and abandoned in an adobe hut

outside of town. Blandina and the students began bringing him food and medicine.

During one of their visits, Billy the Kid also showed up. To show Blandina his gratitude for her care, he offered to do her a favor—anything in his power. Seizing

the moment, Blandina asked him to cancel his plans to kill three local doctors, To

her surprise, he agreed—but only because he had given Blandina his solemn word.

Reflecting on this episode with wonder. She wrote in her journal, “Life is a mystery. What of the human

heart? A compound of goodness and wickedness. Who has ever solved the secret of its working? Ever a woman of

action, Blandina didn’t try to solve the secret. She had figured out that she could influence people most by entering

into their world. They could be drawn to God by experiencing his love through the generous care of his people.

Evangelizing a Murderer. Blandina never forced a religion on the West; she piqued people’s curiosity by her own confidence in God and her acts of selfless service. Then, when the moment to evangelize arrived, she was ready.

In the case of Billy’s friend, the ailing desperado, Blandina returned again and again to help him without ever mentioning Jesus. Then one day, the man told her that if she had come to him speaking about repentance, morals,

or anything pertaining to religion, he would have sent her away. But since she had cared for him so kindly, not

knowing whether he was a Jew, Indian, or devil,” he mustered the courage to ask: did she think that God could

forgive his many sins?

Using words from Scripture, Blandina, “If your sins were as scarlet, or as numerous as the sands on the

seashore, turn to me, says the Lord, and I will forgive you. The man said he would give it some thought. As winter

crept closer and his conditioned worsened, Blandina and some of her other Sisters of Charity continued to visit him. On the man’s dying day. He said the Act of Contrition. And those who were present told Blandina that he fell asleep

reciting the prayers she had taught him. In her journal that day, Sister Blandina wrote, “He is in God’s just, yet

merciful, hands.”

Leading with Love. Two weeks later, in December 1876, Blandina received a startling notice: she was being transferred to Santa

Fe, New Mexico—the end of trail and thus the farthest edge of the frontier. It was another intimidating

assignment, but Blandina was determined to go where she was needed. She recalled a talk, from a recent retreat

on St. Joseph’s journey to Egypt. If Joseph could travel somewhere unfamiliar, then so could she.

Fortunately, Santa Fe reminded her of Italy, with its old churches and narrow streets. The very atmosphere,

she wrote, seemed filled with the ethos of the Franciscans who had come before her. But much as Blandina liked

the city, mission work there was not as simple as it had been in Colorado. Instead of just doing good wherever it

was needed, she found herself dealing with a bureaucracy and red tape. The Western territories were developing,

and now county officials were willing to fund some of her charitable works. She received public funds to bury the dead, care for the sick, and even to start programs for the needy at New Mexico’s first health care facility:

St. Vincent’s.

Continued on Page 4

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Continued from Page 3

Everyone’s Sister Sr. Blandina

Bolstered by Blandina’s efforts, the hospital quickly filled to capacity, until

injured rail workers and prospectors were lying on the floor. To solve the dilemma, Blandina gave up her own mattress . One by one, all the Sisters of

Charity followed suit, even though Blandina was not their superior. She was

just a natural leader. They saw in her an example of their order’s motto. “The love of Christ urges us.”

Find Your Own Frontier.

From Sana Fe, Blandina next went on to establish public and catholic schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She spent her final years back in Cincinnati, ministering to Italian im-

migrants. She died in 1941, at the age of 91. As she lay on her death bed, one of the sisters asked,

“What can I do for you?” She promptly answered, “No, child, not for me, but for God.” Sister

Blandina died as she had lived—focused on the needs of the people in front of her, not on her own.

Blandina’s missionary legacy has earned her the title “Servant of God,” as well as the

potential to become New Mexico’s first saint. Her life story has long been an inspiration to immigrants, health-care workers, educators, and all advocates for the poor, especially in the

Southwest. But beyond these categories, Sister Blandina has a message for all of us: every

Christian has a frontier , a corner of the world in need of the charity, encouragement, and

selflessness of Christ. Like Blandina, we can pray for the courage to enter these mission fields, reaching unlikely people and places with the love of Jesus.

Source: Kathryn Elliott is an editor at the Word Among Us. June/July 2017

Pope Francis Makes Two Children Saints May 10, 2017—Fatima, Portugal—Associated Press

Pope Francis added two shepherd children to the roster of Catholic saints honoring young siblings

whose reported visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago turned the Portuguese farm town of Fatima into one of the most important Catholic shrines.

Francis proclaimed Francisco and Jacinta Marto saints marking the centenary of their visions. A half million people watched in the vast square in front of the shrine’s basilica, according to Portuguese

authorities.

Pope Francis’s Intentions for May

• Universal: That, rejecting the culture of indifference, we may care for our neighbors who suffer, especially the sick and the poor.

• Evangelization: That Mary's intercession may help Christians in secularized cultures be ready to proclaim Jesus.

Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Billy the Kid

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Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

PRAYER FOR THE

BEAUTIFICATION OF

VENERABLE SOLANUS CASEY

O God, I adore You. I

give myself to You. May I be

the person You want me to be, and may Your will be done in my life today.

I thank You for the gifts You gave to Father

Solanus. Pope Francis announced the beloved Capuchin friar has met the requirements for

beatification and will be named “blessed”.

A feast day for Fr. Solanus Casey will be

named in the near future.

I thank you as you bless us with the

beatification of Venerable Solanus so that others

may imitate and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.

As he joyfully accepted Your divine plans, I

ask You, according to Your Will, to hear my

prayer for (your intention) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Blessed be God in all his designs.”

Source: Sr. Mary Frances, O.S.C. Poor Clare Nuns

San Damiano Monastery of St. Clare

Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Every Christian has a frontier, a corner of the

world in need of charity, encouragement and

selflessness of Christ.

PRAYER FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS

Lord Jesus, when you

multiplied the loves and fishes, you provided more than food

for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself,

the gift which satisfies every hunger and quench-

es every thirst.

Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and com-

passion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them

as brothers and sisters.

Source: Vatican News, April 2, 2017, Pope Francis Address

Ave Maria –Marian Eucharistic Conference May 19—21, 2017 at Ave Maria University.

Topic: 100 Years of Fatima. Registration $150.00,

includes Lodging and all meals. Information:

www.aveconfrences.com

Martin Luther, He Said it…. “There can be no doubt that the

Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we do not know. And since the

Holy Spirit has told us nothing about it,

we can make of it no article of faith . . . It is

enough to know that she lives in Christ. “

(Sermon of August 15, 1522, the last time Martin Luther preached on the Feast of the Assumption)

——————————————————————-

“[She (Mary) is the] highest woman and the

noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can

never honor her enough. Still honor and praise

must be given to her in such a way as to injure

neither Christ nor the Scriptures”.

(Martin Luther—Sermon, Christmas, 1531

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Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

A n I r r a t i o n a l I d e o l o g y o f A b o r t i o n

By Bishop James D. Conley,

In 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would soon be elected Pope Benedict XVI, preached that “we are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as defini-tive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one’s own ego and desires.”

In the past month, we’ve learned that relativism can be a very cruel dictator. Most basically defined, the pro-choice political position is that the “right to choose” is sacrosanct, and that no one may legitimately question the moral choices of another with regard to abortion. That overwhelming and indisputable scientific evidence regarding the beginning of unique human life through conception, has no place in the political conversation about abortion. That all philosophical, anthropological, or biological arguments regarding abortion must be subordinated, at all times, to the primacy of other people’s choices.

The pro-choice political position is the true embodiment of the dictatorship of relativism.

It demands that there can be no “right choice” or “right answer.” Pro-choice ideology prioritizes individual decision-making above every other concern, including the right of unborn children to life. This is simply irrational.

Two weeks ago, Tom Perez, of the Democratic National Committee, affirmed this po-sition unequivocally. He said that “every Demo-crat” in America is expected to support the pro-choice position, without exception. He insists that there is no room for pro-life Democrats in his party. The dictatorship of relativism expects absolute conformity, and is willing to jettison anyone who dares to disagree with his party on this issue.

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”

The so-called “right to choose” is sacrosanct

except, of course, the choice to support unborn children. This is the real irony of Mr. Perez’ statement. He claims to prioritize the rights of conscience, he makes no provision for those in his own party who, in conscience, disagree with him.

Of course, this means that many Catholics who agree with other elements of the Democratic platform have been rejected by their political party, for failing to swear allegiance to relativism. But the pro-choice position, which embodies the dictatorship of relativism, allows no dissent, no disagreement, and no exceptions – period.

In Nebraska, this was demonstrated by a nearly seven-hour debate in the Legislature last week. The state’s mainline budget bill proposes to prioritize the recipients of federally-provided Title X family planning funds, directing money to facilities that offer comprehensive healthcare, namely: community health centers, hospitals, and public health departments. This move would ensure that we have access to facilities able to pro-vide them comprehensive health services.

But Planned Parenthood, by far the largest provider of abortions in America, and the primary recipient of Title X funds in Nebraska, opposed the change, because it would route the few hundred thousand dollars Planned Parenthood receives to other, more qualified, and more accessible agencies. The dictatorship of relativism would not allow this.

Immediately, Planned Parenthood and its allies attacked and reframed a Nebraskans, as a “war on choice.” The bill is about helping Nebraskans to access healthcare. But the dictatorship of relativism demands federal dollars, and bullies and threatens those who oppose it.

We oppose the dictatorship of relativism by the telling the truth.

Abortion harms women. Abortion kills children. Planned Parenthood is an abortion retailer masquerading as a community health provider. And Planned Parenthood opposes providing healthcare access to Nebraskans in order to protect its bottom line. None of those things is morally right.

It’s time we choose to support women and their unborn children, by ending abortion. It’s time we choose to stop providing public money to abortion providers who exaggerate their public health services. It’s time we choose to stop living under the dictatorship of relativism. It’s time we choose the freedom that comes from truth.

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Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Richard Rohr's Meditation

Original Shame

Blessing,

Christians pinpoint "original sin" in the Genesis story of Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, even though the phrase is not in the Bible. I think a much truer description of Adam and Eve's experience would be "original shame." They hide when God comes

looking for them, and when God asks why, they say they feel naked. Then God asks Adam and Eve, "Who told you that you were naked?" The implication is, "I sure didn't." A few verses later, we see a very nurturing image of God as seamstress, sewing garments and covering the two humans to protect them from their shame (see Genesis 3). How different than the much later and opposite notion of God shaming people for all eternity in hell. The older tra-

dition reveals the deep mystery of transformation: God even uses our shame and pain to lead us closer to God's loving heart. Of course! After forty-seven years now in active ministry, this has become obvious to me.

We live in a time of primal shame, and we don't seem to know how to escape it. I find very few people who

don't feel stupid, inadequate, dirty, or unworthy today, even if they do not consciously admit it. When people come to me for counseling or confession, they ask in one form or another, "If people knew the things I think, the things

I've said, the things I want to do, who would love me?" We all have had feelings of radical, foundational unworthi-ness. I'm sure they take ten thousand different forms, but the shame is usually there.

There is no ontological basis for holiness without mysticism; it is all behavioral and psychological. In spiritual

direction, so many people start with the premise, "If I behave correctly, I will one day get God to love me or even notice me." We tend toward this behavioral model. But the biblical tradition actually teaches that first we must see

God clearly, often by experiencing God's mercy for our bad behavior--and then our right behavior will follow. We first must encounter and experience God's original blessing, choosing, and loving of us. If you start with original sin or shame, normally the pit is so deep you never get out of it. This is why more and more the modern world resents Christianity, as any child would understandably resent a foundationally rejecting parent.

All the good theology in the world is not strong enough to overcome bad psychology and anthropology. Some reformers actually thought of human nature as "a pile of manure covered over with Christ" or of human beings as

"totally depraved." I am afraid this has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Let's try preaching original blessing and see if that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy instead! Adapted from Richard Rohr on “Transformation--Jesus: Forgiving Victim.” Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M. (born 1943) is an American Franciscan friar ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in 1970. He is a known inspirational speaker and has published numerous recorded talks and books.

Sunday, May 14th

We are a little late with these best wishes. However, we extend a very Happy Mother’s Day to all Mother’s

on this special day. May God bless all Mother’s.

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Peace and Justice

Arkansas put to death two men Monday , April 24th in the first back-to-back exe-cutions in the United States since 2000. Jack Harold Jones and Marcel Wayne Williams were among eight inmates set for executions before the state’s supply of a lethal injec-tion drug was due to expire at the end of April.

In a e-mail survey sent out by U. S. Congressman , Vern Buchanan , Florida’s 16th Congressional Dis-trict, people in Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough Counties were asked the following question: “Arkansas this month became the first state in 17 years to execute two convicted murderers in one day. Do you support or oppose the death penalty?” The survey answers were as follows. . Support 58.06% · Oppose 32.01% · Undecided 9.91%

Prayer submitted by Maxine Goodin, OFS

St. Michael, The archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the heavenly host, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits that wander thru out this world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

Sign in Restaurant Noted for Excellent Fish Entrées

We Serve Crabs …. Actually We Serve Anybody

The Virtue of Flexibility

Trees look strong compared with the wild reeds in the field. But when the storm comes the trees

are uprooted, whereas the wild reeds, while moved back and forth by the wind, remain rooted and are standing up again when the storm has calmed down.

Flexibility is a great virtue. When we cling to our own positions and are not willing to let our hearts be

moved back and forth a little by the ideas or actions of others, we may easily be broken. Being like

wild reeds does not mean being wishy-washy. It means moving a little with the winds of the time while remaining solidly anchored in the ground. A humorless, intense, opinionated rigidity about current is-

sues might cause these issues to break our spirits and make us bitter people. Let's be flexible while be-

ing deeply rooted.

Source: The Clarion Newsletter of St. Clare Fraternity, OFS –Naples, Florida - 3/15/17 Henri Nouwen

Blessing of St. Francis of Assisi

“God bless you and keep you. May God smile on you, and be merciful to you; May God

turn his regard towards you and give you peace. May God bless you.”

Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

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The Truth

The truth is hard.

The truth is hidden.

The truth must be pursued.

The truth is hard to hear.

The truth is rarely simple.

The truth isn’t so obvious.

The truth is necessary.

The truth can’t be glossed over.

The truth has no agenda.

The truth can’t be manufactured.

The truth doesn’t take sides.

The truth isn’t red or blue.

The truth is hard to accept.

The truth pulls no punches.

The truth is powerful.

The truth is under attack.

The truth is worth defending.

The truth requires taking a stand.

The truth is more important than ever.

Source: NY Times Magazine, April 2, 2017, page 52

FIVE FRANCISCAN MARTYRS

REGION

MISSION STATEMENT

The Five Franciscan Martyrs Region of the

Secular Franciscan Order in the United States

is the organic union of all Secular Franciscan

fraternities in the State of Florida, South

Georgia, and Lower Alabama. We desire

to promote in the world a deeper presence

of the Catholic Faith and the Franciscan

tradition; and we seek to bring the Gospel

Beatitudes of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, as

personified by St. Francis of Assisi, to all

our secular, daily lives. We foster a spirit of

prayer, conversion, reconciliation, justice and

service, especially to the marginalized in our

society. We invoke the intercession, honor

the memory, and advance the cause of the

patrons of our Region, the Five Franciscan

Martyrs of La Florida, who, in A.D. 1597,

freely gave their lives in testimony to the

dignity of Christian marriage and family

life.

(Rewritten from original 1991 version and approved in February 1999)

Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

May is dedicated to Mary, Our Blessed Mother

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin addresses Mary as "Virgin most pure" and

"Cause of our Joy." Mary is our model in all things, and at every moment of

our life.

To address Mary by these titles, followed by the petition, "Pray for us,"

identifies us with Our Blessed Mother. Together with the Rosary, these

prayers sow seeds of devotion that our faith assures us will yield the harvest of everlasting life.

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Breaking Bread

There are many Soup Kitchens that serve the homeless, the poor, school children and many more. None are more significant and forceful than the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry in Detroit, Michigan.

Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the Capuchins tend to people’s basic needs, especially the need for food. We also strive to stimulate minds, nourish spirits, and address root causes of social injustice. If you wish to donate to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, send your contribution to: Capuchin, 1820 Mt. Elliot Street, Detroit, MI 48207.

A statement on their website states “A soup kitchen not only feeds a person’s body, it also feeds their spirit. A soup kitchen is a kind of sanctuary where God’s vision that all might live like members of God’s family finds concrete expression. It offers that rare chance meeting of people from different worlds to get a glimpse of all that we share in common”. See: www.solanuscenter.org

J. Johnson, Director of Capuchin Soup Kitchen advises that their soup kitchen feeds an average of 1700 people per day. That is remarkable . They have a pantry that provides food for 150 families. This is a perfect charity where the ideals and mission of the secular Franciscans fit together. The Solanus Casey Center, is a Capuchin Ministry of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph -

WE BELONG!

We belong! Yes. It’s true! As Secular Franciscans we are a part of a world order under the direct oversight of the Pope. As close as St. Francis was to the Pope, so are we. This is joyful news, but

it also calls us to action, to embrace our family, to learn about the Order, to take our responsibilities

seriously – to ourselves and our goal to reach heaven, to our OFS brothers and sisters at home and

across the globe, to our families, to our Church, to our world community and to our sister Earth. It sounds like a major responsibility, but our rule gives us simple, manageable guidelines, taking us from

where we are today to where we could be tomorrow – little steps … one day at a time … as the rule

says, daily conversion. We need not feel overburdened by the rule.

Remember, God will give us all the tools necessary to accomplish today’s goals. We just need to

open up to Him and allow Him to work in us. Let us take that little step in conversion today, by reading

the rule and asking ourselves, “how can I live the rule today?” Can we pray with our children or

spouse? Can we care for that little piece of Earth we call home? Can we assist our neighbors who are sick or in need? And, what about the needs of the Church? The rule is our roadmap. Let us grow

together by using it as our guide. Through our profession, we belong. And, once we belong, we become

one with our OFS brothers and sisters. We are one in spirit … one in love … one in the mission … one in

action.

Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity May 2017

Fr. Solanus Casey at the Capuchin Soup

Kitchen

vox FranciscanA

Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis

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Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Death Penalty fix is signed into law

Maybe Florida is Beginning to get it Right

Tallahassee—Florida will now require a unanimous jury recom-

mendation before the death penalty can be imposed under a bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott. Scott, who has remained relatively quiet about the problems with the state’s death penalty law in recent months, signed the bill on March 27th. Previous death penalty laws over the past five years (twice

in the past two years) have been found unconstitutional. Legal questions about Florida’s death penalty law dur-ing the

past year brought executions to a halt. The state has executed 23 prisoners under Gov. Scott, more than any oth-er governor since capital punishment was reinstated in Florida in 1979. As of March 23rd, there are 379 inmates

on Florida’s Death Row awaiting execution.

The Present…

In our day, however, many religious people, including theologians and bishops, have serious questions about the practice of capital punishment. Much of this current debate is based on either "a more adequate exe-

gesis (critical explanation) of the Bible, or on a better understanding of the Gospel commandment of love and

mercy, or an increased sensitivity and respect for the dignity of the human person and his right to life, or finally,

on the conviction that society today is able to defend itself and the lives of its members without the necessity of recourse to capital punishment..."

Modern Church teaching on the dignity of the human person began with Pope John XXIII who taught that

"all must regard the life of man as sacred" because God created human beings in His own image and likeness.`

As we read this article be advised that Arkansas has a new supply of a lethal injection drug, clearing the way for four double executions that put eight men to death last month. This news is unacceptable. Franciscans, please pray for an intervention. Executions are another form of murder.

Source: (1) Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2017

(2) State of Florida—Statistical Report of Prisoners Awaiting Execution–March 23, 2017

(3) US Conference of Catholic Bishops—Internet Look-up

The Virgin Mary asked us at Fatima to pray the rosary, to repent and to pray

for the conversion of hearts.

Marian Quotes: “Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son.”

“There can be no doubt that whatever we say in praise of the Mother gives equal praise to the Son.”

“If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his

Brother.”

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

“No matter how sinful one may have been, if he has devotion to Mary, it is impossible that he be lost.”

12

Fr. Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Catholic Review of the Movie “Silence”

Paramount has released the movie “Silence.” It is a historical period drama film

directed by Martin Scorsese. For those who are

unfamiliar with the picture, the story of two Jesuit

priests who go looking for their mentor (Liam Nee-

son) in 17th Century Japan, a time when outsiders,

and especially Christians, were treated with

disdain and mistrust.

Shocked by rumors that Christavao Ferreira

(Liam Neeson), their mentor in the priesthood, has

renounced the faith under torture, two of his

fellow Jesuits, Sebastian Rodrigues and Francisco Garrpe volunteer to leave the safety of Europe for

the perils of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Their twin goals are to find their role model and to minister to the underground Japanese

church. The film contains religious themes

requiring mature discernment, much violence,

including scenes of gruesome torture and a brutal, gory execution, as well as partial nudity.

Source: Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Memorial Day -May 29th Please pray for all the men and woman who gave

their lives serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.

The Cross of the Holy Land

The cross of the Holy Land, a Greek cross in red on a white background with four smaller crosses, one in each quadrant, also known as the “Jerusalem cross”, is the symbol of the Custody of the Holy Land.

There is no reliable information on the origins of the famous symbol. The sign that many have been associated with the kingdom founded by the Crusaders in 1099, actually appears on coins, seals and flags, which have nothing to do with the world of the Crusades.

However, it is true that with the Crusades, the Jerusalem cross took on a political meaning, alongside its religious meaning, as well as one of territorial identity.

It is more probable that the Jerusalem cross evolved from a Greek cross with dots in place of the small crosses used by the very first Christian community in the Middle East in Roman times, a thousand years before the Crusades. Indeed, many of the signs found in different places in the Holy Land are reminiscent of the Jerusalem cross, including some mosaics where it is identical to the current one.

This is the link underlying the basis for the adoption of the symbol by the Franciscans of the Holy Land.

Source: Internet—Historic Flags – Vol 2, page 87

13

Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is a Roman Catholic

diocese in Ohio. Pope Pius IX erected the diocese April 23, 1847 in territory

taken from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The diocese lost territory in 1910

when Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Toledo, and in 1943 when Pope Pius

XII erected the Diocese of Youngstown. It is currently the seventeenth largest

diocese in the United States by population, encompassing the counties of

Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of The Most Reverend Richard

Gerard Lennon as Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. On May 15, 2016, Bishop Lennon requested

early retirement from the Holy See in late November 2016. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Daniel E.

Thomas , Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, as Apostolic Administrator until a permanent episcopal

appointment is made for the Diocese of Cleveland.

As of 2014, the Diocese had a population of approximately 692,600 Catholics and contained 185

parishes, 22 Catholic high schools, three Catholic hospitals, three universities, two shrines (St. Paul

Shrine Church and St. Stanislaus Church), and two seminaries (Centers for Pastoral Leadership).

The diocese's cathedral is the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, located in downtown Cleveland.

It also has 274 active priests and 924 nuns in the diocese.

Bishop emeritus Roger Gries joined with administrators, donors and supporters of the

Diocese of Cleveland’s Mount Alverna Village. in Parma on March 23 for a ground blessing/

breaking ceremony marking a major campus expansion, including the start of construction

for a new building, an addition and a renovation project totaling $10 million.

St. Augustine Hunger Center and Parish in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood will be

providing an Easter meal for its 42nd year with the prospect of feeding 14,000 persons who would

otherwise be unable to partake. St. Augustine Hunger Center is an outgrowth of the ministry and

service of St. Augustine Church. This parish has a long history of service from it's beginning in 1860

when it welcomed an impoverished immigrant community. It provided food for the poor during the

depression and hard economic times. The Hunger Center was founded as part of that outreach 35

years ago. The Hunger Center not only provides meals but addresses other needs of the poor and the

homeless such as, food, clothing, emergency funding for rent and utilities, furniture, appliances as

well as advocation for those poor seeking medical help.

Catholic Cathedrals—Around the World

Roman Catholic Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio

President George Bush visits the

St. Augustine Hunger Center

and congratulates the volunteers.

14

M a y

P r o f e s s i o n A n n i v e r s a r i e s

Jo h n G e r n e y, O F S — M ay 1 6 , 1 9 6 5

M a r i e R a s c h , O F S — M ay 2 1 , 1 9 7 8

B e t t y W i l l i a m s – O F S — M ay 0 2 , 2 0 0 4

F a t h e r S o l a n u s C a s e y F r a t e r n i t y , V e n i c e , F l o r i d a M a y 2 0 1 7

2017

Council Members Minister

Tom Shumate

Vice Minister

Agnes Carrasco

Secretary

Betty Williams

Treasurer

Roger Reid

Formation Director

Jane Fantini

Council - At-Large

John Gerney

Marie Rasch

Audrey Shumate

Greeter Shirley Szarowicz

Newsletter Editor

Roger Reid

(H) 941-486-0949

(C) 410-227-4545

(E) reid003@ verizon.net

Necrology

Fraternity Members Who Died in the

Month of May

None

M a y B i r t h d a y s

N o n e

Medjugorje - Our Lady's Message – for May

Message to Mirjana

“Dear children, I am calling you to pray, not to ask for but to offer sacrifice - sacrificing yourselves. I am calling you to reveal the truth and merciful love. I am praying to my Son for you, for your faith which is all the more diminishing in your hearts. I am imploring Him to help you with the divine spirit, as I also desire to help you with my motherly spirit. My children, you must be better. Only those who are pure, humble and filled with love sus-tain the world - they are saving themselves and the world. My children, my Son is the heart of the world. He should be loved and prayed to, and not always betrayed anew. Therefore, you, apostles of my love, spread the faith in the hearts of people by your example, your prayer and merciful love. I am beside you, I will help you. Pray for your shepherds to have all the more light, so as to be able to illuminate all those who live in darkness. Thank you. ”

Provided by: Jean Austin, OFS

Newsletter

Please send newsletter information to:

(E-mail) reid003@verizon.net

15

Father Solanus Casey Fraternity, Venice, Florida May 2017

Brighter Day

When the trials and

troubles of this life get you

down,

When your heart is breaking,

And when your world comes unwound….

Know there is One

Who is always behind you

To love and strengthen ,

To uplift and to guide you.

His name is Jesus,

He will show you the way.

Of a much brighter day!

Just open your heart

To His wondrous love

And feel the presence

Of His spirit above.

His joy, His compassion,

And His love ever true.

Like sunbeams from Heaven

Will shine down upon you.

So look upward and onward

With a joyful heart;

With every beginning

Comes a fresh new start.

Just walk with Jesus,

He’ll show you the way

To a life filled with gladness

And a much brighter day!

Author Gaylen A. Carpenter published this

article In “Hands of Time.” Salesian

Missions—Salesian Inspirational Publications, 2017

President and Pope

To Meet in Vatican

Pope Francis and President Donald Trump

will meet May 24 in the Vatican. And while Holy See watchers debate the possible topics and tone

of their private conversation, it was the Holy

Father who offered a clue on his own plans for

engaging the new U.S. president, who has already crossed swords with the Church leader on

immigration and climate change.

“Always, there are doors that are not closed. Look for the doors that are at least a little bit

open, enter and talk about common things, and go

on — step by step,” said Pope Francis in response

to a reporter’s question during a May 13 news conference on his return flight from Fatima.

If Francis adheres to his plan to find a tiny

opening in the shared concerns of two unorthodox heads of state, Catholics may expect

the Pope and president to tackle a number of

looming crises, from the threat posed by North

Korea’s nuclear-weapons program and the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East to the

stalled Israel-Palestinian Authority peace talks and

Venezuela’s precipitous downward spiral.

Yet it would be a mistake to reduce the

Francis-Trump summit to an exchange of foreign

policy goals. Both men will also have a chance to

share their thoughts about fractured Western democracies that grapple with the competing

demands of globalization and nationalism.

Source: CNN –News Service, May 6, 2017

16

MEETING DATES AND HOSPITALITY ASSIGNMENTS

Pax et

Bonum

May 2017

Council Meeting

Fraternity Meeting

Hospitality

Saturday, May 6th, 9:15 am

Sunday, May 21st—1:30 pm

John Gerney & Roger Reid

Soy Building, Room 107

Room 107—Soy Building

July

and

August

No Meetings

Just pray for one Blessed, Venerable, Servants of God or Saints on his or her anniversary date.

In this way because many Franciscan members may not know of them or never heard of them they will be remembered and perhaps they will pray over you. It’s worth a try.

Pray for all clergy members

Pray for all mankind. Pray for peace in the world.

Pray for those who are Pray for the Pope’s intentions.

sick and in distress.

Pray for handicapped persons.

Pray for souls in Purgatory.

Pray for our Franciscan leaders