The Franciscan Crown is a devotion taught to us during our formation as Franciscan Sisters and still appears in our official documents as a “part of our tradition.” Until 1969, professed sisters in our congregation wore the seven-decade rosary attached to the cord that was part of our habit. This prayer form, which focuses on the seven Joys of Mary, has always appealed to me.
And among the seven Joys celebrated in the Crown, the third joy–The Nativity- seems to me to be so very Franciscan. The little prayer we were taught to recite with this Joy goes like this: O Mary, so poor in the stable, obtain for us the riches of Franciscan poverty, that will aid us to find Jesus, and say with truth, ’my God and my all.’ Those five words regarding poverty always make me think- what are the riches of Franciscan poverty? Now- today- for me- for all Franciscans?
As I try at various times to unwrap the meaning of the phrase for myself, different ideas surface, often evoked by other words in the prayer. ‘So poor in the stable,’ for instance: evidence of poverty can be hard to find in many classical art portrayals of the Nativity- but then I’m led to ponder St. Francis’ creation of a living nativity scene in Greccio 800 years ago. What a gift to us to consider that Francis was so moved by the humility of God’s Son coming to earth in human form in such a setting. As he often did, Francis let his enthusiasm to share his understanding lead the way to bring vibrant life to his expression of faith in what happened in that stable- real people, live animals, and a baby! It seems to me that Francis’ desire to live in poverty radically would have been affirmed by his comprehension of the incomprehensible: the Son of God chose to come into the world in utter poverty!
The phrase about how the riches of Franciscan poverty “will aid us to find Jesus” also can be mined for meaning over and over. Sometimes, I consider how Francis saw Jesus in the leper and greeted him with a kiss, or when Francis was in Rome and went to sit with the beggars in St. Peter’s Square, so eager was he to be identified as one of them! How those actions of Francis remind me to be sure I am looking for and responding to Jesus in the lepers and beggars of today- the marginalized, homeless, migrants – our brothers and sisters all!
“and say with truth, ‘my God and my All’! To live an authentic Franciscan life certainly has the potential to lead each of us to such a profession of faith. Undoubtedly, Francis uttered those words with great passion, humility, and conviction. In fact, I’ve read that Bernard of Quintavalle witnessed Francis praying all night with just those five words repeated over and over. What a challenge for me to someday be able to utter the words as full-heartedly and in truth!
Sr. Regina Holtz, FSP
Franciscan Sisters of Peace
Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis on October 4th each year has been a long-time tradition for Franciscans worldwide. Francis, who was known for a life of poverty and love for all of God’s creatures, has become one of the most venerated saints.
St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry gathered all the Franciscan residents, Sisters, Brothers and Third Order Secular Franciscans for a special Mass honoring them for their years of ministerial service and inviting them to renew their lifetime commitment as Franciscan women and men. As residents of Cabrini, they now minister to one another and to the other residents with whom they live, as well as to staff, spreading joy and peace.
The members of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace Leadership Team were delighted to participate in the liturgy and luncheon that followed, providing the opportunity to spend the day with our sisters Mary Daniel Bauer, Georgeanne Farrell, Constance Gaynor, Cecelia Hall, Francine Kavanah, and Ann Smith. May they be blessed with a life of gratitude for all that has been and for all that is yet to come!
As Laudato Si Week concluded on May 25, a new project focused on religious communities was launched- the Creation Care Prayer Network! This project is a world-wide effort of the Catholic Church to unite religious and lay communities who will commit to pray for the healing of our common home. Major sponsors include:
Our congregation has joined the Creation Care Prayer Network as a means of living up to our Chapter Direction Statement in two ways: “to be in solidarity with those who suffer” and to make “intentional choices to steward the gift of creation and respond to the threat of climate change”. By joining the Prayer Network we are giving public witness to our commitment, along with more than 200 congregations in over 35 countries on 5 continents.
For more information and to join the network - www.laudatosipray.org
Please join us in praying for the following intention during the month of February:
For the people of California who died in the recent wildfires, and for the thousands who have lost homes, belongings, churches, schools, & businesses in the fires, which scientist say are due to extreme weather brought on by climate change. |
The most recent grant from the Minores Fund was for support of Seafarers & International House in New York city. Since 1873, Seafarers, operating under the auspices of the Lutheran Church, has responded to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants. Funds were sent to the organization in support of the annual ‘Christmas At Sea’ program, which provides satchels of warm clothing to seafarers who are confined to ships due to long term contracts, and more so this year due to the lengthy delays in getting ships into port. We view these seafarers as “unseen essential workers” during the current pandemic, which keeps them separated from family during the holidays. |
Sr. Carlita Volmer was born on January 19, 1922 in Paterson, NJ. Her parents, Charles J. Vollmer and Marie (Byrne) baptized her Catherine but she was always known as Kathleen. She had four sisters, Bernadette, Alice, Marie and Julia. Another girl, who was baptized Carlita, died as an infant.
Kathleen, as she was known, attended St. Agnes Grammar School in Paterson, NJ but knew the Franciscan Sisters from St. Bonaventure’s Parish in Paterson. She attended St. Mary’s High School, also in Paterson, graduating in 1939. On September 8th of the same year she entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters in Peekskill, NY at the age of seventeen. After her religious profession in 1941, Sr. Carlita attended Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY earning her B.A. in History in 1952. She was assigned to the field of education and began her teaching career at St. Joseph’s school in Bogota, NJ. Through her early years, she taught at various elementary schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York. (READ MORE...)