Member Highlight-June Carpenter, OFS A Treasure to the Order
(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2024 Digital Issue #112)
by Patricia Reynolds, OFS
There is basic information found in our national database. For example, if you look up June Carpenter, you’ll see that she is a member of Rosa Mystica Fraternity in South Woodbury, CT, which is within the Bl. Solanus Casey Region and was established in 1992. Her listing includes her contact information, and her profession date. But there is a lot more to know about June, for she has accomplished a lot in her almost 92 years.
The Franciscan journey for June started in 1963 at St. Mary of the Angels Fraternity in Darien, CT. June really fell in love with St. Francis and the Franciscans. The example of Francis and his first followers and a new grace that she received led her to strive to live the Gospel in her daily life. Service in various positions and levels of fraternity over the years led to June’s spiritual growth and to a path of ongoing conversion as a way of life. She professed to live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order on December 19, 1965. From then on, she served the Order diligently.
June served as Minister of a Byzantine Rite Fraternity, representing the fraternity for 11 years up to the time of regionalization. She served on the National Executive Council, helped to write The Guide to Servant Leadership, and was involved with the national publication before it was the TAU-USA. And she did all of this while raising three sons and a daughter with her husband, Roger, who professed in 1976.
Several years ago, Junes advanced age caused her to transfer to a fraternity that is closer to where she lives – Rosa Mystica Fraternity in South Woodbury, CT. Now, as she approaches 92 years of age, she is not able to attend gatherings at all due to physical limitations. Fortunately, the physical issues do not interfere with her spiritual life or mental state.
For the last nine or ten years that I have been privileged to know June, she has been my own personal cheerleader. She will write notes, send emails, and keep up with all the newsletters. Initially I thought it was just me that she was encouraging. (Silly me!) I’ve since learned that this is how June treats people in general which paints a picture of a really great person!
At this point in her life, June is happy to sit back as the younger followers of St. Francis lead us onward. As she herself says: I am eternally grateful for having Franciscans in my life – ever grateful and still on the ongoing conversion route…by God’s mercy and grace. Our God brought me to my salvation through His Son’s leading me to the Franciscans. Amen. He gave me the mission of the Cross, by the saving LOVE through and of His Son. Nothing else covers it better; I gratefully accept the fact that I was given a community of faith-filled souls I never would have known otherwise and needed very much!
May we all learn from June’s example as she continues to spread Franciscan Joy to others.
[Editor’s note: June had requested that her fraternity Minister reach out to correct an error that was published when her husband, Roger, passed away. The wrong death date was printed. The correct date is May 10th, 1987. The current NEC and TAU-USA editor regret that the error was made and wanted to correct it as well as highlight one of our Order’s treasures.]
Roger and June Carpenter
Member Highlight-June Carpenter, OFS A Treasure to the Order
St. Francis, the Stigmata, and La Verna
by Bret Thoman, OFS
(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2024 Digital Issue #112)
On Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Tuscan Sanctuary of La Verna, the Franciscan Family officially opened the VIII Centenary of the Stigmata of St. Francis, with an event entitled “From the wounds to new life.” Eight centuries ago this year, up on the same mountain, on September 17, 1224, he received the stigmata; that is, the wounds of Christ were revealed on his hands, feet, and side.
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The Seraph-Christ seen by St. Francis when he received the stigmata.Some years earlier, while preaching at a castle in San Leo, a nobleman named Count Orlando of Chiusi was so enflamed by Francis’s words that he felt inspired to offer him part of the mountain towering over his own castle in Chiusi. Francis went to La Verna and was immediately drawn to the mountain’s biting cold, rugged harshness, and austere beauty. It was the perfect site for penance, prayer, and contemplation.
Francis returned to La Verna five more times. The last time, two years before his death, the pivotal moment took place. He was on retreat, fasting and praying a forty-day lent in honor of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and St. Michael the Archangel (September 29).
According to the Third Consideration on the Stigmata, within the Little Flowers of St. Francis (the Fioretti), Francis prayed for two graces: to feel in his body the pain which Jesus felt during his Passion and to know in his heart the love which Jesus felt for all humanity.
St. Bonaventure described the event in detail.
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The cross at La VernaOn a certain morning about the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, while Francis was praying on the mountainside, he saw a Seraph having six wings, fiery as well as brilliant, descend from the grandeur of heaven. And when in swift flight, it had arrived at a spot in the air near the man of God, there appeared between the wings the likeness of a man crucified, with his hands and feet extended in the form of a cross and fastened to a cross…. As the vision was disappearing, it left in his heart a marvelous fire and imprinted in his flesh a likeness of signs no less marvelous. For immediately the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet just as he had seen a little before in the figure of he man crucified. (Major Life, 13)
For the last two years of his life, Francis was marked by Christ’s wounds. He was united to the cross of Christ. The Incarnation of Christ, the “masterpiece” of God’s creation, indeed, the whole purpose of creation (in the words of later theologian, John Duns Scotus) culminated in the Passion and crucifixion as the highest expression of God’s love, charity, and mission.
The mystery of what happened on Mt. La Verna is something for us to reflect and meditate on. Ultimately, there is something greater than the wounds of Christ, which St. Francis shared in; for the cross is merely the pathway to the Resurrection. Without the cross there is no Resurrection; unless Christ comes down in the world, there is no way for us to go up to Heaven.
In the end, then, suffering does not have the final word: the Resurrection does. By embracing the cross, Christ shows us the way. And Francis, in receiving Christ’s wounds, gives us an example to follow.