DO YOU KNOW ME?
    The celebrations of St. Clare tend to shy away from the miracles in my life, but you who love the lives of the Saints tend to peg us down in your memory by our miracles. The danger of this is that so informed, you are in danger of thinking you know us. I want you to know me!
     My life was not without miracles. Olive jars were miraculously filled after I blessed them. A very heavy door came off it's hinges and fell on top of me but when a number of my Sisters in panic rushed to lift it off, instead of finding me crushed, I was not harmed. As I told them, it felt like no more than a blanket. The sick were cured when I made the sign of the cross. When I
prayed in deep meditation, a rainbow aura surrounded me. My rapport with animals was so dramatic that my cat demonstrated an uncanny understanding of my wishes and used to bring things to me when I was too ill to rise. For another miracle, I have
become the Patron of television but more of that later. The point is, there are enough miracles to make you happy.
     I was the cofoundress of the Order of Poor Ladies, or Clares, and first Abbess of San Damiano. I was born at Assisi 16 July 1194: and died there 11 August 1253. I was the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi who owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. My mother  (who would later be known as "Blessed") Ortolana, belonged to the noble
family of Fiumi and was conspicuous for her zeal and piety.  From my earliest years, I seemed to have been endowed with the rarest virtues. As a child, I was most devoted to prayer and to practices of mortification, and as I passed into girlhood, my distaste for the world and my yearning for a more spiritual life increased.
     I was 18 yeas of age when St. Francis came to preach the Lenten course in the church of San Georgio at Assisi. The inspired words of the "Poverello" kindled a flame in my heart . I sought him out secretly and begged him to help me that I too might live "after the manner of the holy Gospel". St. Francis, who at once recognized in me one of those chosen souls destined by God for great things, and who also, doubtless forsaw that many would follow my example, promised to assist me.
 On Palm Sunday I, arrayed in all my finery, attended high mass at the cathedral, but when others pressed forward to the altar rail to receive a branch of palm, I remained in my place as if rapt in a dream. All eyes were upon me as the bishop decended from the sanctuary and placed the palm in my hand. That was the last time the world beheld Clare.
         (Continued next month)

HAVE-A-HEART SOCIETY
Semi-annual dutch treat bag luncheon will be held on Saturday. October 13 at noon in room 3 at the church. The usual arrangements will be made and we will, of course, have a short presentation after lunch

PILGRIMS' PEACE CENTER
Please join us as we present our 7th annual Prayer for Peace Conference at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando on November 2/3. Tickets are $20.00 per person, children under 18 and clergy are admitted free, but still need a ticket. For more Info. call 727-442-9885

DIOCESE OF ORLANDO CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC CONFERENCE
October 5-7, Orlando North Hilton, Altamonte Springs. Speakers:  Fr. John Gordon, Sister Linda Koontz, Dr. Steven Colon; special music by Joelle Del Orbe.  Theme: "My Grace is Sufficient For You" (2 Cor12: 9). For more information, call 407-875-2619.

BLESSING OF ANIMALS (PETS)
Blessing of animals, commemorating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi,  will be Sunday, October 7 at 2:30 in front of the church.

SINGLES HALLOWEEN DANCE
Interfaith 30+ Singles (aka Annunciation 30+ Singles) is holding its Halloween dance on Friday, October 26 from 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. at Eastmonte Park, 830 Magnolia Drive in Altamonte Springs. ** D.J. Bob Jaeger ** Door Prizes ** Free Snacks.  Admission is $7.00 plus a non-perishable food item for the area food banks.  For more information, call Linda at
407-767-8847 or Jo at 407-293-2861.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS - THE CHECK BOOK
200 Ways to Balance Your Life by Bret Nicholaus and Paul Lowrie Take a good long walk in the rain. Get into the habit of listening more and talking less. Enjoy a candlelight dinner in your home with someone special. Memorize a poem.
Rake a huge pile of leaves and spend some time jumping into it. Find a hero for yourself. Start a brand new friendship with someone. Take a late autumn walk when the aroma of burning wood fills the crisp air. Discover and claim a secret place that's all your own. Make a serious and diligent effort to eliminate one bad habit in your life. Take a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride.  Go for a Sunday afternoon drive with no destination in mind. Laugh so hard that you cry.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS - 611 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR SELF ESTEEM
By Bryan Robinson and Jamey McCullers\

Sing in the car on the way to work.
Get outside at least once a day, no matter how bad the weather.
Take care of your body.
Have a favorite color.
Snuggle into a warm and cozy place and read a good book.
Develop a favorite hobby or pastime.
Plan for the future but live in the present.
Watch the sun set.
Cook a new recipe.
Give long, warm hugs.
Buy yourself a new outfit.
Put fresh-cut flowers by your bed.
Take off your watch and forget about time for a day.
Be strong-minded and softhearted.
Add life to your days instead of days to your life.

THE SAN DAMIANO CROSS THE DEVOTION
In the early days after his conversion, Francis was living a penitential life alone in the countryside outside of the walls of Assisi.  One day, while passing the run down church known as San Damiano  (St. Damian), Francis heard an internal voice from his
spirit tell him to go in and pray.  He entered and knelt before the cross.  There followed a time of contemplation and ecstasy.  While gazing at the cross, Francis saw the lips of Jesus move and he heard the words, "Francis, go repair my house which
as you see is falling completely to ruin."  Francis responded, "Gladly will I do so, Lord."  At first, Francis concentrated on repairing the church buildings of San Damiano and nearby churches.  Then when the Lord sent him many followers, he understood his commission to build up the lives of God's people.  His commission was confirmed by Pope Innocent III who had a dream of the Church in the form of the Basilica of St. John Lateran leaning over as if to fall and one little man
holding it from falling.  When the Pope (continued next column) recognized Francis as the little man in his dream, he approved the Franciscan order and its rule of life.  Throughout the centuries, the cross has symbolized for Franciscans a mission to
bring renewal to the Church.

THE TEACHING
We are called first to see in the cross the paschal mystery of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  The painter wants us to relate the parts of the mystery.  We see the suffering connected with the wounds.  We see the human and divine natures
together.  We see the rising from the tomb and the ascension into heaven; and we see that this is all done by the power of God.  Our second lesson teaches the supreme importance of Christ.  He dominates all other figures.  The angels are very
small in comparison and awed by his deeds.  The saints are also considerably smaller and are focused on Jesus.  They are witnessing the central event of history.  Some are witnessing it in person gathered at the Cross, while the patron saints continue to witness it in faith by their lives.  You and I are identified with the observer.  He and those behind him look on the wondrous event and are called to be witnesses as the saints were.  We are invited to adoration by the angels and cautioned not to presume on our fidelity by the sign of the rooster.
 
 

THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS BEFORE THE CROSS AT SAN DAMIANO
Most High glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart.  Give me right faith, certain hope and perfect charity, insight and wisdom, so I can always observe Your holy and true command.  Amen.