St. Andrew Prayer

Greetings Fraternity,

Happy St. Andrew's Feast Day. 

Our community has always embraced this beautiful prayer, prayed 15 times a day from St. Andrew's Feast Day to Christmas Day, as part of our anticipation of the celebration of Christmas.

I tried to find some information on the history of this tradition but it seems to be hidden in the clouds of time past. 

If anyone finds out more about it let us know.  Meanwhile we can still join together in prayer.

Advent Prayer:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment when the Son of God was born of the most pure virgin in Bethlehem at midnight, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe O my God, to hear my prayers and grant my desires, through the merits of our savior Jesus Christ and of his virgin mother. Amen.

From: CatholicismAbout.com

“While a novena is normally a nine-day prayer, the term is sometimes used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is often called simply the "Christmas Novena" or the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer," because it is prayed 15 times  every day from the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30) until Christmas. The First Sunday of Advent is the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew.

The novena is…addressed to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times, all at once; or divide up the recitation as necessary (perhaps five times at each meal).”

- Carolyn Barth, OFS

Pax et bonum

Prayer requests

Father, we join together in prayer:

For Marty Lynch who is still under treatment for his heart condition.

For Donna Teremy that her immunity may be strengthened.

For Everest Pierleoni that he may be well enough to return to work.

For the repose of the soul of Donna White’s mother, Mary  Wahl.

For Jo Annechino’s daughter, Lorijean who is continuing cancer treatments.

For Pat Corbin’s daughters: Theresa Gusek, undergoing further cancer treatments, and Mary Overmeyer’s job search.

For all those still suffering from hurricane Sandy.

Pax et bonum

What is reality?

Running from Reality

Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock, CFR

St. Felix Friary, Yonkers, NY

     For many people reality is a burden, something they want to escape from. Unfortunately, there are so many escape routes available to us today.

     What is it about reality that so many people find difficult? It is, I believe, the apparent boredom, the apparent nothingness that appears present to people in the midst of their lives. Because reality appears empty so many people try to create reality according to their own designs and structures. The ironic thing is that by escaping reality in order to try and create a better one, we forfeit the chance of ever discovering true happiness.

     A question I pose to you is; how do you view reality? Is it merely a random succession of events and occurrences? Is reality empty, boring, devoid of anything that can stir the human heart? If you answer yes to these questions then I can guarantee you that you are destined for a life of misery.

    Reality is an encounter with Jesus Christ! In every moment of our day, whether we are in prayer, reading, with friends, at work, on a busy street corner, fulfilling one’s duties as a parent or enjoying a walk in nature, Jesus Christ is there whispering to your heart that He is the “more” you desire from life. By ignoring reality or trying to escape reality as soon as possible you are running from Him who is your only hope for happiness.

     My prayer for you is that you could become so bold as to stand face to face with reality as it is and leave behind all your escapes, illusions and self-sufficiency. When that prayer is fully answered there will be no reason to escape anywhere because all that you have been looking for will be directly in front of you.

Pax et bonum

St. Elizabeth of Hungary - SFO Patroness

St. Elizabeth of Hungary so loved the poor and suffering that she became the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. 

She was the daughter of the King of Hungary. At 14, Elizabeth she married Louis of Thuringia. It was apparently a loving marriage, and they had three children. But at the same time, she had a Franciscan friar as her spiritual director, and in addition to her duties as wife and mother she was devoted to prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick.

Her husband died in the Crusades. Because she spent so much to help the poor, the young widow was thrown out of the palace by her late husband's family, but she was later allowed to return.

In 1228 she joined the Secular Franciscan Order, and spent the rest of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of St. Francis. In 1231, she died just before her 24th birthday in 1231, and she was canonized just four years later.

St. Elizabeth, pray for us.

Pax et bonum

New Fraternity Council Elected

At our November 9 meeting, The Glory of the Most High Secular Franciscan Fraternity elected its 2012-15 Council.

Minister: Carolyn Barth
Vice Minister: Elizabeth Annechino
Secretary: Marilyn Gawlick
Treasurer: Tom Hoffend
Formation Director: Joe Madonia
Councilor: Donna White
Councilor: Lee Strong

May God guide them all in the coming years.

Pax et bonum