T
tradcathconvert
Guest
Hail Mary x3 for Brother JR and his intentions. St. Francis, pray for him.
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C
Church_Militant
Guest
Update Today:
Hi Michael:
Good hearing from you. I’m doing better. I’m still in a wheelchair. Doc says it’s diabetic neuropathy. I know that diabetic neuropathy numbs your nerves. I’m not sure how much you recover. She says it intensifies and falls back.
However, despite the neuropathy I go to the archdiocesan Respect Life office to work. I manage very well in my chair. I don’t expect to see this Christmas; but only the Lord knows for sure. I have mixed feelings about it. I ask the Immaculate to help me.
On the one hand, I’m tired and at times this gets lonely and fatiguing . . . being sick, superior, program director and professor. On the other hand, I would love to be around until February 2016 when Brother Bernardo di Carmine (Bernard of Carmel) makes temporary vows.
He is to me what the original Brother Bernardo was to St. Francis. That’s the reason I gave him that name. He’s really a scientist, but one of the most humble men I have ever met.
Brother Bernardo is my assistant, secretary, nurse, chauffeur. student, general right arm (or should I say leg?)… He’s a great guy. I think we’ll keep him for the time being. He never lets me out of his sight. He even helps me with showering, because I have a slight difficulty moving around in there. Besides . . . His mother makes the greatest baked goods and she likes me. I better keep him.
I’m still teaching theology to the brothers in formation. This summer we have three novices from different places and age groups: Colombia, Italy and Boston. They’re all doing just fine. If they were real mellons, I’d get a good deal for them in the market.
Let me get a move on here so I can check how the bananas on my plantation are doing. Feel free to cut and paste any part of this letter.
Always your brother,
B. Jay
Hi Michael:
Good hearing from you. I’m doing better. I’m still in a wheelchair. Doc says it’s diabetic neuropathy. I know that diabetic neuropathy numbs your nerves. I’m not sure how much you recover. She says it intensifies and falls back.
However, despite the neuropathy I go to the archdiocesan Respect Life office to work. I manage very well in my chair. I don’t expect to see this Christmas; but only the Lord knows for sure. I have mixed feelings about it. I ask the Immaculate to help me.
On the one hand, I’m tired and at times this gets lonely and fatiguing . . . being sick, superior, program director and professor. On the other hand, I would love to be around until February 2016 when Brother Bernardo di Carmine (Bernard of Carmel) makes temporary vows.
He is to me what the original Brother Bernardo was to St. Francis. That’s the reason I gave him that name. He’s really a scientist, but one of the most humble men I have ever met.
Brother Bernardo is my assistant, secretary, nurse, chauffeur. student, general right arm (or should I say leg?)… He’s a great guy. I think we’ll keep him for the time being. He never lets me out of his sight. He even helps me with showering, because I have a slight difficulty moving around in there. Besides . . . His mother makes the greatest baked goods and she likes me. I better keep him.
I’m still teaching theology to the brothers in formation. This summer we have three novices from different places and age groups: Colombia, Italy and Boston. They’re all doing just fine. If they were real mellons, I’d get a good deal for them in the market.
Let me get a move on here so I can check how the bananas on my plantation are doing. Feel free to cut and paste any part of this letter.
Always your brother,
B. Jay
G
graciew
Guest
Thank you so much,Michael. Send him a hug if you can and our prayers that he will be there to see his Bernardo in February.
May our Lady keep him safe and loved.
Thank you again.
May our Lady keep him safe and loved.
Thank you again.
T
tawny
Guest
Thanks for the update Michael. Praying for Br. JR’s continued health & recovery.
H
Hmgbrd
Guest
Thank you Church Militant for the update. I pray and think about him each day. Mary, Queen of Apostles pray for him! :angel1:
T
tradcathconvert
Guest
Thank you Church Militant for the update. Ave Maria x3 for Brother JR and his intentions. St. Francis, pray for him.
G
graciew
Guest
Dear Mother,please hold our Brother close to your loving heart. Keep him safe from fear and loneliness and listen to his heart and intentions. Amen.
T
tradcathconvert
Guest
Ave Maria x3 for Brother JR and his intentions. St. Francis, pray for him
J
jeannetherese
Guest
May Our Lord continue to bless you Brother JR and may our Lady intercede on behalf of the children whom you so dearly love.
Amen.
Amen.
L
Lormar
Guest
Still praying for you, Brother.
T
tradcathconvert
Guest
Ave Maria x3 for Brother JR and his intentions. St. Francis, pray for him
J
JReducation
Guest
Hello everyone:
I’m just passing by, like a breeze. I wanted to stop in and see my friends. As I can see, there are some interesting discussions going on. It pleases me to see that people are actually engaging in dialogue rather than antagonizing each other. I’ve always remembered something that our holy father St. Francis told the brothers, “Do not be argumentative.” It’s great to see that others are applying this rule to discourse on CAF.
OK, enough preaching!
I’ve been in bed for almost five months. I’m finally moving about in a wheelchair for longer distances and a walker for shorter ones. If you could see me, I look like my grandmother shuffling my feet as I use the walker. I’m also on oxygen therapy and taking a lot of pills. In fact, I take so many that I don’t have much room for a meal. It really makes me feel guilty on Wednesdays and Fridays, because those are supposed to be fast and abstinence days in our community. However, the numbers of pills that I take three times a day constitute more than three meals.
The moral of the story folks? Postpone old age as long as you can.
At the community level, all is well. We’re still a small community, but growing. Currently, we have three novices. Also, one of our “older” brothers just renewed his vows this past Monday. It was a truly beautiful renewal. One could feel the peace of the Holy Spirit blowing through the chapel.
Finally, a young brother has been posted by my side. His name is Brother Bernardo, which is a riot because Bernardo di Quintavalle was St. Francis’ “squire”. Brother is my nurse, secretary, editor, chauffer, companion and prayer partner. On top of that, he is working and studying at a university, teaching dads in Project Joseph and carrying on with his other obligations in our fraternity. I’m very proud of him. For those who may not know, he and I met on CAF. The friendship continued until eventually (last year) he entered our community.
It took a long time to persuade him to take the leap. He was like a modern version of St. Paul, needing to be knocked on his head, off his horse, onto his bum so that he pays attention to the Lord.
One last word before I go, if you want to stay up to date with us, you can find our website www.franciscansoflife.org or you can find us on Face Book under Franciscans of Life. Please continue to pray for me, my brothers and for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who are being tormented and martyred. I’ve taken this cause as one of my intentions for which I offer the Lord my health problems and my eventual departure from this world.
Thank you for your prayers and for keeping me present in your memories. It means a great deal to an old man like me. God bless you.
I’m just passing by, like a breeze. I wanted to stop in and see my friends. As I can see, there are some interesting discussions going on. It pleases me to see that people are actually engaging in dialogue rather than antagonizing each other. I’ve always remembered something that our holy father St. Francis told the brothers, “Do not be argumentative.” It’s great to see that others are applying this rule to discourse on CAF.
OK, enough preaching!
I’ve been in bed for almost five months. I’m finally moving about in a wheelchair for longer distances and a walker for shorter ones. If you could see me, I look like my grandmother shuffling my feet as I use the walker. I’m also on oxygen therapy and taking a lot of pills. In fact, I take so many that I don’t have much room for a meal. It really makes me feel guilty on Wednesdays and Fridays, because those are supposed to be fast and abstinence days in our community. However, the numbers of pills that I take three times a day constitute more than three meals.
The moral of the story folks? Postpone old age as long as you can.
At the community level, all is well. We’re still a small community, but growing. Currently, we have three novices. Also, one of our “older” brothers just renewed his vows this past Monday. It was a truly beautiful renewal. One could feel the peace of the Holy Spirit blowing through the chapel.
Finally, a young brother has been posted by my side. His name is Brother Bernardo, which is a riot because Bernardo di Quintavalle was St. Francis’ “squire”. Brother is my nurse, secretary, editor, chauffer, companion and prayer partner. On top of that, he is working and studying at a university, teaching dads in Project Joseph and carrying on with his other obligations in our fraternity. I’m very proud of him. For those who may not know, he and I met on CAF. The friendship continued until eventually (last year) he entered our community.
It took a long time to persuade him to take the leap. He was like a modern version of St. Paul, needing to be knocked on his head, off his horse, onto his bum so that he pays attention to the Lord.
One last word before I go, if you want to stay up to date with us, you can find our website www.franciscansoflife.org or you can find us on Face Book under Franciscans of Life. Please continue to pray for me, my brothers and for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who are being tormented and martyred. I’ve taken this cause as one of my intentions for which I offer the Lord my health problems and my eventual departure from this world.
Thank you for your prayers and for keeping me present in your memories. It means a great deal to an old man like me. God bless you.
P
ProVobis
Guest
Good to hear from you, Br Jay. You have my prayers.
D
detoutcoeur
Guest
Thank you for the update; your posts are filled with wisdom. Praying for you…
P
pianistclare
Guest
Dear Brother, Thank you thank you for your ministry and your compassion for us, who need your instruction so desperately. You, the brothers, and especially the children remain always in our prayers and thoughts. You are the heartbeat of CAF, and we love you. Remember us to Father Francis.
Peace and all good!
Clare
Peace and all good!
Clare
M
maltmom
Guest
Thank you for the update Bro Jay. You are loved and in our prayers.
W
Walking_Home
Guest
Bro. JR – you are surely missed here. God be with you.
H
Hmgbrd
Guest
Thank you for your update. Your thoughts light up the day. Continuing prayers for you, your brothers and your children.
God bless you!
God bless you!
L
Lormar
Guest
Dear Clare, thank you for putting it so beautifully - Brother was and is the heartbeat of CAF. Without him here, I am adrift. There is no one to take his place. I need his instruction desperately too. No one else could still my inner turbulence as he.
Brother Jay, thank you for taking the time to post and let us know how you and your community are doing. Am keeping all of you in my prayers, and ask your community to pray for us here as well.
God bless you, dear Brother!
A
Avila123
Guest
So glad to hear from you Brother JR. As always, you remain in my prayers.
- Status