January 2011 CFR Vocations eLetter

May the Lord give you His peace!

There is power in the Word of God. Pope Benedict recently released a great document on this important topic (Verbum Domini found here). Among others, the Pope wrote about Saint Francis and Saint Antony of the Desert as examples of people who were greatly blessed by the power of God's Word. These great saints were guided in their discernment by a grace-filled encounter with the Lord through the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture.

"The most profound interpretation of Scripture comes precisely from those who let themselves be shaped by the word of God through listening, reading and assiduous meditation. It is certainly not by chance that the great currents of spirituality in the Church’s history originated with an explicit reference to Scripture. I am thinking for example of Saint Anthony the Abbot, who was moved by hearing Christ’s words: “if you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Mt 19:21). [...] Saint Francis of Assisi – we learn from Thomas of Celano – 'upon hearing that the disciples of Christ must possess neither gold, nor silver nor money, nor carry a bag, nor bread, nor a staff for the journey, nor sandals nor two tunics … exulting in the Holy Spirit, immediately cried out: 'This is what I want, this is what I ask for, this I long to do with all my heart!’".


Along with Pope Benedict, we enthusiastically recommend the practice of Lectio Divina (sacred reading). This could be done at home or during Eucharistic Adoration. Like so many saints in the past, allow the Lord to speak to your heart as you pray with His inspired word.


    Check it out ...+ American Bible Society Lectio Divina Page
+ Lectio Divina Manuel - very good 
+ Beauty of God's Word - magazine article
+ theporneffect.com - good resource
+ October 2010 Letter to Seminarians from Pope Benedict
+ 24 minute documentary on the CFRs, "Bagage"
+ Garden in Limerick Ireland video


Great Papal Quote: "Those aspiring to the ministerial priesthood are called to a profound personal relationship with God’s word, particularly in lectio divina, so that this relationship will in turn nurture their vocation: it is in the light and strength of God’s word that one’s specific vocation can be discerned and appreciated, loved and followed, and one’s proper mission carried out, by nourishing the heart with thoughts of God, so that faith, as our response to the word, may become a new criterion for judging and evaluating persons and things, events and issues"
(Pope Benedict, Verbum Domini, #82).


May the Lord bless you,
The Friars Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031


For Vocation Inquiries
(212)281-4355

December 2010 CFR Vocations eLetter

December is a beautiful month. Let us pray for each other as we dive deep into the holy season of Advent while preparing for Christmas. The Nativity of Our Lord was the favorite feast day of Saint Francis. He is known for having invented and popularized the tradition of setting up a living Christmas creche in Greccio, Italy.

Patience is a much needed virtue for those who are trying to discern their vocation, God's will for their life. Advent is the season of waiting. During this awesome season, we recall the ancient expectation of God's people as they awaited the advent (coming) of the Messiah. By the time Jesus had arrived, they had been waiting for some 4,000 years - that takes patience! We now await his second coming in glory at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. Some 2,000 years ago He said that He was "coming soon" (Revelation 22:7)! God's time is not our time, indeed, for Him "a day is like a thousand years gone by, like a watch in the night" (Psalm 90:4).

When we are discerning, sometimes we fall into the temptation of impatience. We need to be patient with God, with others and with ourselves. Timing is everything. Trust in Him and let Him lead you on the path of life. Frustration comes when we lack trust. It is part of His mercy that we do not know the future. Sometimes He only gives us enough light to see the next step and no more (like a flash light). Pray for the grace to be led in your spiritual life and for an increase of patience!

+ From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease (#524)."


  Check it out ...
+ New free eBook by Pope Benedict
    On Advent & Christmas 
+ The Human Experience now available on DVD (amazing film by Grassroots Films)
+ DVD The Star of Bethlehem (very interesting)
+ Advent & Christmas with the Church Fathers (book)
+ Video on Religious Sisters (ForYourVocation on Youtube.com)
+ Fr. Michael Scanlan, TOR, guest on EWTN Sunday Night Live
with Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR  (a must see found here on Youtube.com)
+ CatholicsComeHome.org (great videos and information)


May the Lord bless you,
The Friars Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031


For Vocation Inquiries
(212)281-4355

November 2010 CFR Vocations eLetter

November is the month when the road of life leads us through the colorful change of leaves and apparent dying of creation. It is a month which sees nature in an ostensible quiet, contemplation, silence and stillness. It is also a month when we remember to pray for the holy souls in purgatory and make visits to the graves of dear ones who have made the journey to eternal shores. Below is a powerful quote from Pope Benedict on the importance of silence and listening in prayer. The Holy Father reminds us of a key ingredient for discerning our vocation.

"At times, however, we are tempted to close in on ourselves, to doubt the strength of Christ’s radiance, to limit the horizon of hope. Take courage! Fix your gaze on our saints. The diversity of their experience of God’s presence prompts us to discover anew the breadth and depth of Christianity [...] Dear friends, the example of the saints invites us, then, to consider four essential aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence, liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations [...] There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation. Saint John, for example, tells us that to embrace God’s revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen (cf. 1 Jn 1:2-3; Dei Verbum, 1). Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God’s whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness" (Pope B16, 19 April 2008, Yonkers, New York).
________________________________________________________

   Check it out ...

+ The Human Experience now available on DVD (amazing film by Grassroots Films)
+ DVD The Star of Bethlehem (very interesting)
+ Travelers Along the Way (new book by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR)
+ I am With You Always (another new book by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR)
+ Fatima for Today (new book by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR)
________________________________________________________
May the Lord bless you,
The Friars Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031


For Vocation Inquiries
(212)281-4355

October 2010 CFR Vocations eLetter

The October 2010 CFR Vocations eLetter
can be found here.

August 2010 C.F.R. Vocations eLetter

May the Lord give you His peace!


Following Jesus is at the heart of the consecrated vocation. “The Son, who is the way which leads to the Father, calls all those whom the Father has given to Him to make the following of Himself the whole purpose of their lives. But of some, those called to the consecrated life, He asks a total commitment, one which involves leaving everything behind in order to live at His side and to follow Him wherever He goes” 
(JPII - Vita Consecrata #18).

At the beginning of this month six of our brothers - following at least five years of preparation - made a total commitment in professing their final vows (photos here). The very next day we were blessed to witness six young women receive the veil and habit as they became novices within our sisters’ community. As each of these brothers laid down their life for Christ and as our new novice sisters heard the snip of their hair, the self-offering of each was made quite tangible.

One of the most profound signs of this self-offering comes during the final vows ceremony when those professing prostrate themselves on the floor of the church as the Litany of the Saints is sung. As they lay face-down and barefoot on the cool marble floor, we are reminded of how - for love of Christ - they are dying to themselves and the things of this world in order to rise with Christ in a new life of total freedom and joy. There is a profound freedom and joy in following Jesus.

However, this dying to self & the world did not begin on that day of final vows, but back on the day they first felt God inviting them to a different way of life and chose to follow Him. Isn’t that really what the discernment of a vocation is all about? We begin slowly dying to any plans, expectations, lifestyles, habits and things rooted in ourselves so that God’s plan and will can take over. Ask for God’s grace to release the white-knuckle grip you have on the steering wheel of your life - areas of your discernment that may not be of Him so that you can freely and joyfully take the next step toward whatever commitment He is ultimately asking of you. Be not afraid!

May the Lord bless you,
Br. Xavier Mariae Meiergerd, CFRSaint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031


For Vocation Inquiries
(212)281-4355

July 2010 C.F.R. Vocations eLetter

Peace and greetings from the summer heat of Harlem!

It is with great joy that I introduce myself as the newest member of the C.F.R. Vocation Team here in New York City. This means I’ll be assisting Fr. Gabriel in our Vocation Office throughout the next year and also that you’ll be hearing from me somewhat regularly through these monthly eLetters.

It hasn’t been long since I was in the same position in which many of you may find yourself right now. I entered our community as a Postulant less than two years ago and professed First Vows about four months ago. However, the road that brought me here included many moments of uncertainty. This included time as a missionary in South America after graduating from a university in my home state of Kansas and four years as a diocesan seminarian.

Until my fourth year in seminary, if you would have told me I would one day be wearing a habit, I would never have believed it. During my fourth year of seminary I had a beautifully graced time of prayer in which I was given a deeper understanding of Christ’s love for me in His total gift of self. However, the Lord turned my life upside down when I felt Him ask me what I was holding back in giving myself totally to Him. Immediately, thoughts of living my vocation more as a missionary came to my mind, followed by thoughts of the C.F.R.’s. As much as I tried to negotiate with God to let me continue down the road I was headed, I realized that if it was Christ whom I was seeking, then I had to follow this new path where I felt Him calling me.

As I allowed Him to guide me, I began to see that the religious life, which I never thought would be for me, was something I actually began to desire. This was the work of the Holy Spirit! A few things that helped me the most in the initial part of this process included a very good spiritual director, reading the documents Vita Consecrata (see #19) and the C.F.R. Constitutions, not to mention lots of quiet prayer. This gave me a glimpse of the profound beauty of being totally consecrated to Christ. May you be blessed in your own discernment and be assured of my prayers!

Check it out ...
+ August 5-8, 2010 Walking Pilgrimage
+ Porn-Free Pioneers
(Great Article about Apple and Microsoft against porn)
+ Getting Serious About Porn (Good article)
+ Treasury of Latin Prayers (Great site)
+ Sunday Night Live with Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.
- Youtube.com page.
+ Video: Fr. Groeschel Personal Testimony
+ RomanCatholicVocations.blogspot.com
(Great blog for those discerning)
 
May the Lord bless you,
Br. Xavier Mariae Meiergerd, C.F.R.

Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031

For Vocation Inquiries
(212)281-4355

June 2010 C.F.R. Vocations eLetter

May the Risen Lord give you His peace! This June is full of special significance!


This month we offer an exclusive quote only found here! There is a powerful movie on Saint Anthony of Padua (Italian with English subtitles - available here). There is a famous scene when the friars are attending an ordination Mass and no one wants to give the sermon. Under obedience, Saint Anthony rises to the occasion and gives a stirring homily on why a young man would give his life to Christ.
 
Below is the touching sermon taken from the English subtitles - very moving ...
 

He puts down his written notes and says, "I wrote a sermon but I am not going to read it to you because I have a question to ask you. Why have you come here? What's all this incense? Why have you put on your best clothes? We are here today to celebrate the young men who have embraced the cross of Christ. They have promised to help Him carry it. They have reached this moment coming from different and difficult paths following the light which illuminates the darkness of night. The light of Divine Providence. It is written that the Lord is the light. Each one of us dreams of Him at night and looks for Him in the morning.
 

The young men you see here today have done this. This is what the men who consecrate their lives to Christ do. They abandon the woman they love, forget their friends, they disappoint their father and abandon their mother. They say goodbye to pride, wealth, comforts, their homeland. Yet, they are not alone. They are no longer alone wherever they go. They take with them their loved ones, their friends, their mother, their father and their homeland because Christ is home and peace, adventure and tranquility. Because the questions are infinite. But there is only one answer: Our Lord Jesus Christ."
 

Significant Saint Dates in June:
2nd - Saint Felix of Nicosia (capuchin lay brother) + WIKIPEDIA + VATICAN BIOGRAPHY

8th - Bl. Nicolas of Gesturi (capuchin lay brother) + JPII Beatification Homily
11th - Sacred Heart of Jesus (end of the Year for Priests)
12th - Immaculate Heart of Mary
13th - Saint Anthony of Padua + mp3
16th - Bl. Anizet Koplin, presbyter, and companions (Henry Krzystofik, Florian Stepniak,
Fidelis Chojnacki, Symforian Ducki), capuchin martyrs of the Nazi persecution in Poland.
26th - Bl. Andrea Giacinto Longhin (capuchin bishop)

Check it out ...

+ Beautiful article and pictures about our friars in Limerick, Ireland
+ It's Sex O'Clock in America - Interesting article from May 2, 2010, at CNN.com
+ The Cara Study and Vocations - good article from CatholicWorldReport.com
+ Youtube.com clip from the Saint Anthony movie (Italian)

May the Lord bless you,
The Friars

Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd St.
New York, NY 10031

For Vocation Inquiries

(212)281-4355