Dear John,
As the new president and publisher of Franciscan Media, I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Matthew Halbach. I live in Ankeny, Iowa. (You may recall the movie Field of Dreams: âIs this heaven? No, itâs Iowa!â) I am a husband and father of six children (I know, itâs a lot!). I hold a PhD in Catechetics from the Catholic University of America. Iâve spent a number of years working in Catholic publishing, and I am a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. I am grateful for the leadership of both Kelly McCracken, our former president, and Father Dan Kroger, OFM, our former publisher. Their legacy is observed and felt in many ways. I especially sense it in Franciscan Mediaâs cultureâin the professionalism and passion of the staff, and in their obvious commitment to Franciscan ideals. I also sense my predecessorsâ legacy in the inspiring resources for which Franciscan Media is well-known: St. Anthony Messenger magazine, countless books on Franciscan prayer and spirituality, numerous online resources like Pause+Pray, Minute Meditations, and the always popular Saint of the Day. I am truly humbled by the opportunity to carry their leadership forward. Please pray for us at Franciscan Media. We are praying for you! |
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher, Franciscan Media
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Saint of the Day for August 12: Jane Frances de Chantal (January 28, 1572 â December 13, 1641) Saint Jane Frances de Chantalâs Story Jane Frances was wife, mother, nun, and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when she was 18 months old, and her father, head of parliament at Dijon, France, became the main influence on her education. Jane developed into a woman of beauty and refinement, lively and cheerful in temperament. At 21, she married Baron de Chantal, by whom she had six children, three of whom died in infancy. At her castle, she restored the custom of daily Mass, and was seriously engaged in various charitable works. Janeâs husband was killed after seven years of marriage, and she sank into deep dejection for four months at her family home. Her father-in-law threatened to disinherit her children if she did not return to his home. He was then 75, vain, fierce, and extravagant. Jane Frances managed to remain cheerful in spite of him and his insolent housekeeper. When she was 32, Jane met Saint Francis de Sales who became her spiritual director, softening some of the severities imposed by her former director. She wanted to become a nun but he persuaded her to defer this decision. She took a vow to remain unmarried and to obey her director. After three years, Francis told Jane of his plan to found an institute of women that would be a haven for those whose health, age, or other considerations barred them from entering the already established communities. There would be no cloister, and they would be free to undertake spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They were primarily intended to exemplify the virtues of Mary at the Visitationâhence their name the Visitation nunsâhumility and meekness. The usual opposition to women in active ministry arose and Francis de Sales was obliged to make it a cloistered community following the Rule of Saint Augustine. Francis wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God for them. The congregation consisting of three women began when Jane Frances was 45. She underwent great sufferings: Francis de Sales died; her son was killed; a plague ravaged France; her daughter-in-law and son-in-law died. She encouraged the local authorities to make great efforts for the victims of the plague, and she put all her conventâs resources at the disposal of the sick. During a part of her religious life, Jane Frances had to undergo great trials of the spiritâinterior anguish, darkness, and spiritual dryness. She died while on a visitation of convents of the community. Reflection It may strike some as unusual that a saint should be subject to spiritual dryness, darkness, interior anguish. We tend to think that such things are the usual condition of âordinaryâ sinful people. Some of our lack of spiritual liveliness may indeed be our fault. But the life of faith is still one that is lived in trust, and sometimes the darkness is so great that trust is pressed to its limit. Saint Jane Frances de Chantal is a Patron Saint of: Mothers
Widows
Wives
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Discover St. Anthony Messenger magazine! Helping its readers become more joyful, loving peacemakers by exploring many of the issues that are facing the Church and the world today, through a Franciscan lens. |
Write Down the Word There are times when the interior journey is impeded by the refusal or inability to make an external journey. The outward journey may be the move toward another person to seek forgiveness or offer forgiveness; or the journey may be toward some inner place you are afraid to enter or reenter that is closing down your world and keeping you from surrendering to Godâs providence and care. The outer journey is inexplicably entwined with the inner journey and vice versa. And do I find You again
in words, did I order them right?
That order, what does it mean,
why is anything out of order, how?
Words lose their order
in the mind because the Word
is not received.
It is that receiving which orders the words that
order the mind that makes
You visible again.
We have failed the first Word,
and words without a beginning
are almost-words,
hints of what they are.
Write down the Word,
let it have its place
on the page
and all the words
will fall into sense,
and meaning
will no longer be a search
but a beginning. âfrom the book Song of the Sparrow: Four Seasons of Prayer
by Murray Bodo, OFM |
Discover these inspiring books about St. Clare, and help celebrate her feast day on August 11th! |
The Vine, the Door, the Bread Reflect Today think about how Jesus used the tangible objects of our world to describe himself to us, especially as a door on which we can knock. Pray God, sometimes our search for you begins in the mundane.
In snow tires and the gasoline in the tank.
In medical forms, and all the insurance.
Something as simple as wanting new shoes that fit.
We are in need of water, a water glass, a water pitcher.
And all of this leads us to you:
you are the vine, the door, the bread.
Because of you, what might seem ordinary is not ordinary at all.
Today we pray that as we begin in the human,
we find you hidden everywhereâyou: the light, holy. Act What part of your day causes the most frustrations? See if you can uncover a ray of peace by inviting Jesus into this very âordinaryâ situation. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here! |
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