Carmelite News this week...
St. Raphael Kalinowski of St. Joseph, Priest
November 19OCD: Memorial OC:Optional Memorial
Raphael Kalinowski was born to Polish parents in the city of Vilnius in 1835. Following military service, he was condemned in 1864 to ten years of forced labor in Siberia. In 1877 he became a Carmelite and was ordained a priest in 1882. He contributed greatly to the restoration of the Discalced Carmelites in Poland. His life was distinguished by zeal for Church unity and by his unflagging devotion to his ministry as confessor and spiritual director. He died in Wadowice in 1907.
From the exhortations of St. Raphael
The holy Scriptures praise nothing more than a perfect and holy life lived in the exact and perfect fulfillment of each one's duties. In the Old Testament our Lord and God taught his people and told them: 'You must be holy because I am holy' (Lv 11:44).
The Eternal Father gave us our Lord Jesus Christ as our teacher, master and guide. He confirmed and ratified the Old Testament injunction where He taught us that we must emulate the holiness of the Father: 'You must be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Mt 5:48). How does one become perfect and holy? The Doctors of the Church, the leaders of souls, and the masters of the spiritual life answer: If you would be perfect and become holy, fulfill your duties faithfully.
Once a desert father was asked by a certain young hermit what books he ought to study in order to advance in holiness. The old man replied: My practice is to read two books only. In the morning hours I read the Gospel, and in the evening I read the Rule. The first teaches me the way I should walk as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. The other teaches me what I should do to be a good religious. That is enough for me.
Let us therefore be students of the laws of God so that we may conduct ourselves according to them. 'When you walk, these will guide you; when you lie down, watch over you; when you wake, talk with you' (Pv 6:22). Wherever we may be or go, may they go with us to direct our footsteps. May they be so near us when we sleep that they may fill our thoughts as soon as we awaken. His voice will speak to us in them. He will refresh us for the day ahead. Through His laws we will gain the victory over our doubts. We will cast away every obstacle. We will free ourselves of that sluggishness of nature which is the enemy of strength, the foe of devotion, and the lover of ease. The law of life will help us to overcome our fears in time of temptation and to follow eagerly in the way of obedience. May it always be at hand to counsel us, so that by it we may find the strength to follow God's call with generous hearts and willing souls.
Prayer
Lord God, You made Your Priest St. Raphael strong in adversity and filled Him with a great love in promoting Church unity. Through his prayers make us strong in faith and in love for one another, that we too may generously work together for the unity of all believers in Christ. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Blessed Candida of the Eucharist
From Curia OCD
Roma (2008-11-15).- Four years after her beatification (March 21, 2004) on June 17 the diocesan process on the presumed miracle, attributed to her intercession, closed in Ragusa, Sicily (Italy). The examination of the supernatural event, now submitted to the process of the congregation for the causes of saints in Rome, is in relation to the eucharistic charism of our blessed carmelite from Sicily: the multiplication of hosts so that the faithful would not go without communion.
To mark the closing of the diocesan process a mass was celebrated in the carmel by the local bishop at which the book ‘Viaggio dentro il cuore. Intinerario ecclesiale sulle orme di M. Maria Candida dell’Eucharistia’ [‘A journey into the heart. An ecclesial itinerary in the footsteps of Mother Maria Candida of the Eucharist’] was presented. The author, Mario Gullo, was present at the celebration, as were the writers Carmelo Mezzasalma and Alessandro Andreini, from the San Leonino community. During a sacred concert the two hymns composed by Cristiana of Jesus Crucified in honour of the Blessed Maria and the choir of the St. Cecila philharmonic association, from Agrigento, were sung for the first time. Blessed Maria Candida of the Eucharist’s popularity has gone beyond the walls of Carmel to touch the faith of the whole of Sicily.
"PRO ORANTIBUS"
Let the walls of your convent be like crystalCuria OCD FR. Luigi Gaetani-Roma (2008-11-16)
The Church is celebrating today the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. The liturgy draws out two important aspects: the religious and theological significance of the Presentation. The religious significance refers to the Vigin of Nazareth’s total consecration to God, her being the ‘holy temple of God’, while the theological significance refers to that of Mary’s preparation to be the Mother of God.
For this two-fold significance November 21 has been chosen as a ‘Day of prayer, pro orantibus’ for those monks and nuns who live a cloistered life. The intention is to reflect on the offering to God of the Blessed Virgin in the Temple, to see it as a radical offering to God and the ideal of every consecrated life (cf. John Paul II, VC 34).
The contemplative life has always aroused a certain fascination and interest both within and outside the Church. Still today people ask: do we need contemplatives? What do they do? Who are they? Contemplatives are not put off by such questions because their daily lives are characterized by work of a most practical nature. They know that they are true to themselves ‘when they live by the work of their own hands’ (Rule of St. Benedict 48.8) and history bears this out: monasteries and enclosed convents were and remain sources for the development of agriculture, pharmaceutics, wine-gastronomy, textiles, architecture, painting, town development and culture. ‘Ora et labora’ [‘Pray and work’]. The Benedictine adage is the real foundation of monastic life, it reminds us that prayer and work go together. This unity does not happen by chance, but rather it is comes from an awareness that the real ‘opus Dei’ is the unity of the monk or nun’s life. This unity is always present inspite of the many things they have to do.
This essential unity is not established by work and study alone but from the primacy of God. What transforms the life life of a monk or nun is a personal encounter with Christ, like the one experienced by St. Paul on the road to Damascus. This encounter is the fundamental condition for someone who wants to enter monastic life, rather than a complex psychological and intellectual process. Only this experience of a personal relationship changes the parameters of their life, so that what was once essential now becomes ‘rubbish’ and what was once an ‘advantage’ now becomes a ‘disadvantage’ (Phil. 3.8).
The contemplative ordinarily encounters Christ in the gift of the Word, which is heard, meditated upon and greeted lovingly in the austere beauty of the liturgy, in silence and in contemplation. It is in prayer that the encounter becomes the ‘briefest Word’ (Origen), because the believer is not satisfied with just reading a book but is searching for Someone: ‘The Church searches the Scriptures with all its heart for Him whom it loves’ (Honorius, In Cant., PL 172, 447 D); ‘Keep hold of what you already have in your hands, which is the word of life, keep it and touch it often, hold it lovingly and for a long time: read and re-read the book of life, the book which Jesus read and which is, in fact, Jesus himself. Wrap yourself in this book… Clothe yourself in Our Lord Jesus Christ who is your delight… His Word is fire… Keep on doing these things’ (Gilbert of Hoyland, In Cant., XIV, 1: PL 184, 68).
When the liturgy is proclaimed then we encounter Christ, at the same time it is also the privileged means by which we live this encounter, ‘He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church.’ (SC 7). ‘God speaks to his people’ in the liturgy, but this universal dialogue during the liturgical celebration then becomes personal and unique in the meditation that prolongs it. ‘What the Lord first said to everyone I hear being said to me’ (St. John Chrysostom). The Church and the individual christian are not, in fact, two different entities. First of all because the individual christian lives in the Church and, second, because in some way the entire Mystery of the Church resides in every individual christian. It is not just to suit oneself that a christian applies to themselves what Our Lord said to his Bride, because everyone knows that they are in their own way the entire Church, ‘Each one of us is also the Church’ (St. Bernard, Super Cant., 57, 3), ‘I am the Church, I myself am the Bride’ (Origen, In Ex., h.9 §3).
An encounter with Christ changes everything, it even changes our perception of time. The world we live in has no time to lose because ‘time is money’, and because there is never enough time it is not to be wasted. However, for the believer, as for the monk or nun, time is irreversibly decided and for this reason it should be experienced and at the same time enjoyed in slow motion, ‘[the believer] does not wait for new beginings, does not dream of unexpected opportunities but senses that the days ahead are a time for maturing and for growth, as well as a time for building and for human and spiritual development’ (E. Bianchi, ibid, pg. 199). Time for the contemplative is like one’s first kiss, or ‘the first sight of snow’ (Fr. Evdokimov), it is already a tiny reflection of eternity in their daily lives. It is this apparent ‘slowness’ that allows the contemplative to welcome others at any time, no one is rejected. He/she is someone who gives their all. The contemplatives’ attitude to time opens them like an opening in the heart, a reminder of Christ’s wounded side (Jn 19.34), and transforms the contemplatives’ life making them empathetic to all. In spite of the high walls, the specific times for visits, the cloister, the silence, the contemplative is always there to wait on you.
Within the high walls, made with crystal-like stones, there is a continuous thread of charismatic orthodoxy (the tension between contemplation and activity). Every cloistered community exercises a double ministry: one of being present and the other of consolation. Such a community remains deeply rooted in the experience both of the local church and the town in which it is located, to the extent that the community feels as if they belong to it. Such communities are not inaccessibile or just for a few inimate friends but rather they are truly open places where life just keeps on going, like the ‘notte bianche’ . Such communities become true meeting places to which men and women gravitate to ask for prayers for the many important and tragic events in their lives. There such people find a welcome and a listening ear. They are confident of being heard with discretion and are certain that they will be rememberd in prayer.
The contemplative is not selfish, but is ‘a true centre of spiritual energy who is nourished at the source of contemplation, by the example of Jesus’ prayer in the desert’ (Benedict XVI, to the discalced carmelite nuns of Villair de Quart, Aosta) and for this reason the contemplative can look at him/herself, at others and at the history of men and women with Christ’s compassionate eyes. The contemplative does not give up his/her way of looking at the world but learns to see the truth by moving from a subjective perspective, “before God for all” (Edith Stein), to a collective perspective. The contemplative sees as Christ sees, because to love is to look together with Christ in the same direction. Love is to keep looking in the same way and at the same time to live with the same compassion as Christ (Lk 10.33, 37). Love is to cry with others, it is learning to see as others see in the spirit of the Beatitudes (Mt 5.8) which many people just cannot see (Lc 10:31-33).
Because the mystical experience of contemplation has to do with looking, it creates a way of life which shuns facile judgements and labels. Such experience lets the religious see that nothing is at the mercy of evil any longer, but that everything is imbued with grace. Infact, like original sin and sin which orignates [makes us sin] have changed and conditioned created reality (Rm 3.23), so Christ’s redemptive work has restored the beauty of the world, making it a place of optimism. A world created and redeemed by original grace, a grace that is freely given (Rm 3.24, Jn. 1:16-17). For this theological and sapiential reason the contemplative can cry out with joy: ‘Mine are the heavens and mine the earth, mine are the men and women, the just are mine and the sinners. The angels are mine and the Mother of God, everything is mine… What do you want and what are you searching for oh my soul? Everything is yours and everything is for you… do not be content with the crumbs that fall from your Father’s table. Go out and be proud of your glory’(St. John of the Cross, Prayer of a soul in love).
For all these reasons, on this Day of Prayer ‘Pro Orantibus’ the whole Church is united in giving thanks for these great brothers and sisters.
Fr. Luigi Gaetani, Discalced Carmelite
All Carmelite Saints
- November 14 OC and OCD FEASTThe whole family of Carmel in the homeland, with Mary its mother at its head, is the reason for our joy and praise to the Father on this day. We recall our brothers and sisters who once dedicated their lives to continual prayer on earth and now share in the worship of heaven. We unite ourselves spiritually to their glory, all the while journeying along the paths they traveled with courage, as they lived in obedience to Christ and followed in the footsteps of Our Lady.
From the works of St. Teresa of Jesus
All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. This is what we were founded for. We are descended from those holy fathers of ours on Mt. Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure --the priceless pearl we are talking about --in such solitude and with such contempt for the world.
We must remember those holy fathers of ours who have gone before us, the hermits whose lives we are trying to imitate. We must remember our real founders, those holy fathers whose descendants we are. It was by way of poverty and humility, we know, that they came to the enjoyment of God.
On the subject of the beginnings of orders, I sometimes hear it said that the Lord gave greater graces to those saints who went before us because they were the foundations. Quite so, but we too must always bear in mind what it means to be the foundations for those who will come later. For if those of us who are alive now have not fallen away from what they did in the past, and those who come after us do the same, the building will always stand firm. What use is it to me for the saints of the past to have been what they were, if I come along after them and behave so badly that I leave the building in ruins because of my bad habits? For obviously those who come later don't remember those who have died years before as they do the people they see around them. A fine state of affairs it is to insist that I am not one of the first, and do not realize what a difference there is between my life and virtues and the lives of those God has endowed with such graces!
Any of you who sees your Order falling away in any respect must try to be the kind of stone the building can be rebuilt with --the Lord will help to rebuild it.
For love of our Lord I beg them to remember how quickly everything comes to an end, and what a favor the Lord has done in bringing us to this Order, and what a punishment anyone who starts any kind of relaxation will deserve. They must always look at the race we are descended from--that race of holy prophets. What a num- ber of saints we have in heaven who have worn this habit of ours! We must have the holy audacity to aspire, with God's help, to be like them. The struggle will not last long, but the outcome will be eternal.
All Carmelite Souls
November 15Just as the love of Christ and the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary have brought us together in a single family, fraternal charity unites those of us still striving to lead a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ in this world, and the dead already awaiting the vision of God. Today the whole Order commends our departed brothers and sisters to God's mercy through the intercession of Our Lady, sure sign of hope and consolation, and begs for their admission to the courts of heaven.
Prayer
Lord, you are the glory of those Who serve You.Look lovingly on our departed brothers and sisters, united in following Christ and His Mother by the waters of baptism and the bonds of Carmel. In Your mercy grant them everlasting sight of You, their Creator and Redeemer. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit , one God, for ever and ever.
Bl. Frances D'Amboise, Religious
November 5, 2008 OC: Optional Memorial
Frances was born in 1427, probably in Thouars in France. She was the wife of Peter II, Duke of Brittanny. After his death, and under the direction of Blessed John Soreth, the prior general, she took the habit of the Order in the monastery she had previously founded in Bondon. Afterwards she transferred to another foundation in Nantes, also erected by her, where she held the office of prioress and nourished the sisters with wise teaching. She is considered the foundress of the Carmelite nuns in France. She died in 1485.
Blessed Josepha Naval Girbes Virgin - OCD Optional Memorial
November 6, 2008
Josepha Naval Girbes was born at Algemesi in the Archdiocese of Valencia, Spain, on 11 December 1820. As a very young woman she consecrated herself to the Lord by a perpetual vow of chastity. Josepha’s life was simple. She stood out for her ardent love, and she made progress along the way of prayer and evangelical perfection while dedicating herself generously to apostolic works in her parish community.
In her own time she opened a school where she taught needlework, prayer, and the evangelical virtues. She formed many young girls and women and shared with them her wisdom and spiritual understanding. She was a member of the Third Order Secular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Teresa of Jesus and had a special love for the Virgin Mother of God. Her holy death took place on February 20, 1893. She is buried in her parish church of St James in her native city.
Blessed Francis Palau y Quer Priest - OCD Optional Memorial
November 7, 2008
Born in Aytona, Lerida, Spain, on December 29,’, 1811, Blessed Francis Palau y Quer entered the Order in 1832 and was ordained priest in 1836. Civil turmoil forced him to live in exile and outside his community. On his return to Spain in 1851, he founded his “School of Virtue”—which was a model of catechetical teaching—at Barcelona. The school was suppressed and he was unjustly exiled in Ibiza (1854‑1860) where he lived at El Vedra in solitude and experienced mystically the vicissitudes of the Church. While in the Balearic Islands he founded the Congregations of Carmelite Brothers and Carmelite Sisters (1860‑1861). He preached popular missions and spread love for Our Lady wherever he went. He died at Tarragona on March 20th, 1872, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1980.
Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity Virgin - OCD Memorial
November 8, 2008
Elizabeth Catez of the Trinity was born in 1880 in the diocese of Bourges. In 1901 she entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery of Dijon. There she made her profession of vows in 1903 and from there she was called “to light, to love and to life” by the Divine Spouse in 1906. A faithful adorer in spirit and in truth, her life was a “praise of glory” of the Most Blessed Trinity present in her soul and loved amidst interior darkness and excruciating illness. In the mystery of divine inhabitation she found her “heaven on earth”, her special charism and her mission for the church.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus
October 1, 2008 FEAST DAY
Thérèse Martin was born in Alencon in France in 1873. While still young, she entered the Carmel of Lisieux, where she lived in the greatest humility, evangelical simplicity and confidence in God. By her words and example she taught the novices these same virtues. Offering her life for the salvation of souls and the spread of the Church, she died on September 30, 1897
Hymn
From your bright place in heaven,Thérèse, where you now reign,
Let fall a shower of roses,
Do not our prayer disdain.
Fair roses tinged with glory:
Faith's light, hope's glad desire,
Love's flame, so strong yet tender,
To set our hearts afire.
Send too the rose of childhood,
That trusting openness
Which finds in every moment
Our Father's will to bless.
We honor you, O Jesus,
Revealed to little ones,
With Father and blest Spirit
While course of ages runs.
Theresa Margaret Kob, O.C.D.
Prayer
God our Father,you have promised your kingdom
to those who are willing to become like little children.
Help us to follow the way of Saint Thérèse with confidence
so that by her prayers
we may come to know your eternal glory.
Grant this through our Lord.
The beatification of Therese’s parents
Roma (2008-09-15)
Last July 12, on the 150th anniversary of the marriage between Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin, cardinal Joseph Saraiva Martins announced, as had been expected, the forthcoming beatification of Saint Teresa’s parents. It will be the second case in the Church where a married couple have been beatified, after Bl. Luigi Beltrami Quatrocchi and Maria Corsini, were honoured in this way by John Paul II on October 21 2001. The ceremony will be held on October 19 in the local basilica. Nothing that has anything to do with our Saint can leave us indifferent. The fact that her mother and father have together and individually deserved this honour encourages new themes for reflection. The chosen date [for the celebration] coincides with World Mission Sunday, on the eleventh anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Therese as a Doctor of the Church by John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Among many other things, since June 23 until mid-August, Saint Therese’s relics have visited all the dioceses of Ecuador, also reaching the Galapagos islands. Multitudes of people visited church institutions, prisons and hospitals. At night time people gathered for prayer vigils in contemplative convents. The visit of her relics was the fruit of three years preparatory work by the episcopal conference. The highlight of the presence of Therese’s relics was the celebration of the Third Missionary Congress of America (CAM3) and the Eigth Missionary Congress of Latin America (COMLA8) from August 12-17 in Quito
Facing the danger of Hindu fundamentalism
September 2008 from: Curia OCD ROMA
In recent weeks the persecution of Christians by Hindu fundamentalists has worsened. There have been scores of deaths, about 50 including the missing. Among them is a carmelite, a member of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate. About 60 churches have been set ablaze, medical-centres and schools run by religious have been attacked. In 300 towns 4,000 houses belonging to christians have been burnt to the ground. 50,000 christians have been forced to flee and now live in refugee-camps.
Our friars in the Manjummel province work as missionaries in Orissa state where, on September 3rd, there was an explosion of violence. In this emergency situation the houses of our friars and sisters have been preserved from violent attacks, which tend to occur more in the countryside. Perhaps for this reason our houses have not, for the time being, suffered any serious consequences.
With all the violence eight policemen had to keep guard over our houses in Ramba and Vidhya Vahaban, Chatraprur. Amar Singh, the Guardian of a carmelite congregation in Banduha (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh state), was wounded by three air-rifle wounds when he tried to protect the house. In the hospital where he was recovering he explained that the assailants threatened him, asking him to call on the sisters at night time, to get them to come out so that they could attack them.
Our houses have also been preserved until now from attacks in the Karnataka state, the town of Mangalore, in Chhattisghar and in the north of Kerala. We are in close union of prayer and feel a fraternal closeness with our sisters and brothers living in imminent physical danger. The Secretary for the Missions is in permanent contact with them.Discalced Carmelites first fifty years in the Congo
AFRICA
Curia OCD ROMA (01-10-2008).-
The Discalced Carmelites from the Congolese General Delegation are getting ready to celebrate the golden jubilee of their presence in Africa on October 15 2008. The Congo was the first African country where the Carmelites were established. The Delegate and his council have asked the different communities of the delegation to mark this occasion in a solemn way together with the local church. An organizing committee comprising of six members is preparing the jubilee celebrations. After the sound of the bell marking the opening, announced by the Delegate himself in the news-bulletin ‘Entre-Nous’, January 2008, the christians of the Notre Pere of Kananga parish, under the guidance of the curate, Fr. Etienne Cishimbi, have given a start to the jubilee celebrations on April 6 2008.
According to our archives, Frs. Boniface and Willibrord, two discalced carmelite friars from the Flanders province, came to Luluabourg (today Kananga) on April 15 1958, after the failure of a foundation in Lubumbashi. The presence of a feminine carmel in Kabwe since 1934 and the many requests [to the Carmel] really helped the new fondation to be successful. The first church of the Notre Pere parish was blessed by Mgr. Bakole on Novembre 24 1966.
Italian carmelites took over from the Flemish in 1968. After some years the Italians in their turn passed on the responsibility for the delegation to the Congolese discalced carmelites, who are now working hard to assure the survival of our missionary work.
A leaflet on the history of the Congolese carmel has been prepared to mark the fifty years of the presence of the friars in the Congo. There is also an exhibition of photos and articles used by the first missionaries, as well as conferences and schools of prayer. On this occasion, two confreres, Constantin Kabasubabu and Andre Tshibuabua, will celebrate their 25th anniversary as carmelites.
From this first seed the region today numbers more than sixty members in nine houses. The future rests on the fidelity of a multitude of friars working on several fronts for the church in Congo, Africa and the world. All this growth of our friars in Africa is only 50 years old.
A programme of festivities has been planned for the month of October in Kananga. Fr. General will write a message for the occasion.
Forty Years in Madagascar
MADAGASCAR
Curia OCD ROMA (01-10-2008).-
During the Extraordinary Definitory in Moramanga, Madagascar, the arrival of the carmelites to the great red island was celebrated. The project was previously set for 1648. There is documentation about this in the general archives. What did not come about then did so in 1968, when Fr. Michaelangelo Batiz of St. Joseph was General. The Venice province responded to the call made by the archbishop of Antananarivo. The three pioneers were: Frs. Angelo Doriguzzi, Gino Pizzuto and Sergio Sorgon. When the latter was murdered it shook the Order. The three of them received a missionary crucifix from Pope Paul VI on October 6 1968.
The seeds sown at that time have born much fruit today in the Madagascan commissary with the addition of the other islands, Mauritius and La Reunion. Seven bishops took part in the 40th anniversary celebrations as well as the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Jacques Sylla, and the minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Marcel Ranjeva. “The carmelites are known in Madagascar, said the minister speaking of school reforms, above all for their contribution to the education of the Malgash young people. The quality of your teaching and the results speak for themselves…”
The Madagascan and the other islands of the Indian Ocean commissary have attained a solid carmelite foundation with nine houses, 37 priests, 24 simply professed, 9 novices who form a total number of 70 members. Malgash carmelites lend their services in the Sicilian commissary (Italy) and in the general delegation of the Holy Land. The carmelite map includes four carmelite convents in Madagascar and one on the island of Mauritius and another on La Reunion. In 1996 they formed the association of ‘Our Lady of the Islands.’ There are also other members of the carmelite family: the Carmelites of St. Teresa (Turin), the Apostolic Carmelites of St. Joseph (St Martin de Belle Roche), Francisco Palau’s Carmelite Missionary Sisters and the Carmelites of Charity, Fontanaluccia.
Solemn Novena
September 23 to October 1
The Carmelite Nuns at the Carmel of St. Joseph invite you to join us for the Solemn Novena in honor of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Novena payers will be prayed daily in the chapel following the 7:30 a.m. Mass on weekdays and after Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. And each evening at Rosary and Benediction at 7:45 p.m.
"My path is all trust and love."
For a long time, God appeared to be a distant God, the God of fear and dread. How could we recognize him as a God of love, a Father full of tenderness?
St. Thérèse tells us again and again that we do not go to a Father who is angry, vindictive or vengeful, but to a Father who is all love, who enfolds each on eof us in tenderness, revealing his love and calling us to love him. Thérèse teaches us that when we realize who God is - when we learn that the FAther's face is a face of eternal love, then our path becomes on of childlike trust and surrender. "My path is all trust and love," says St. Thérèse, "I see that it is enough to ... give oneself up, like a child, to the arms of God." Like Jesus, who gavehimself to the Father in self-abandonment and love at the same time of His supreme offering on the Cross, St. Thérèse abandons herself in loving confidence to be the "object of the provident love of the Father." She is the little child "who sleeps without fear in her father's arms", at peace, breathing contentedly in an environment of love.
Let us ask St. Thérèse to interced for us, that we may truly know the love our Fahter has for us, that we may see the tenderness of His gaze and feel His love in our lives. Then, knowing God as a loving God, let us, like St. Thérèse, abandon ourselves completely to His providential care.
Prayer to St. Thérèse
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who so understood and practiced the charity of the Gospels, teach us to bear the burdens of each day with gentleness and patience. Fill our hearts with goodness and peace so that, loving others as Jesus loves us, we may be true children of Our Father in Heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Thérèse, pray for us.
Feast Day...
September 12
Blessed Mary of Jesus Virgin - OCD Memorial
Born in 1560 at Tartanedo (Spain) she took the Discalced Cannelite habit at Toledo in 1577 and made her profession the following year. She spent the rest of her life serving God in that Carmel, except for a brief period in 1585 when she helped with a foundation at Cuerva. She died at Toledo on September 13 th ‘ 1640. St Teresa of Jesus thought extremely highly of her. She was a great contemplative, intensely devoted to our Lord, and often drawing inspiration from the liturgy.
Prayer:
Lord, you enabled Blessed Mary of Jesus to contemplate the mysteries of your Son and become a living image of his love. Give us through her prayers the burning faith to seek Jesus in all things and the love to prove by our actions the presence within us of him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - 9th and final Night
Sunday, July 20 -
The Blessed Virign Mary, Gate of Heaven -
Rev. Timothy P. Elliot, Pastor St. Giana Parish, Lake St. Louis
It is hard to believe that we have come to the end of our wonderful novena of masses and prayers in honor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel! Certainly many graces were shown upon the faithful who not only attended the Novena with love and prayerful hearts but who also endured the 107 degree heat tonight! (though that temperature was only a rumor and not confirmed!)
Father Timothy Elliot spoke about the importance of understanding and discerning what things in life are good and what things are evil. He reminds us that the Devil is very clever to make things "appear" good to us, but if we examine them through the eyes of faith and love of Christ we will see differently. In his homily, Father speaks quite frankly on the subject of honoring morality and embracing a culture of life.
You can here his homily here.
Through a devoted heart and through this novena, may the graces and strength bestowed on us through prayer in love of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and in honor of her most beautiful, humble and holy example to the world shine as a beacon of holy hope as she leads all her beloved children to her Son, our Lord and our Eternal Savior and King. Praise be Jesus Christ, Now and Forever!!!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Eigth Night
Saturday, July 19 -
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians
Rev. Noah A. Waldman, Newly Ordained, Associate Pastor, Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish in St. Charles
It was another beautiful St. Louis evening and as the sun set and Holy Mass began, a cool breeze gently comforted us all on the front lawns of the Carmel of St. Joseph here in St. Louis, Missouri. Newly ordained Priest, Fr. Noah Waldman spoke so very beautifully about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, his beautiful understanding and love of Carmelite spirituality and about Our Lady Help of Christians.
Of particular beauty is Father's prompting to us to consider the holy life of Our Lady and her life with the young St. John after he was entrusted with the care of our Holy Mother from the dying Christ on the cross.
The "Filipino-American Friendship Choir" uplifted us with their beautiful singing throughout the evening. Thank you!
Listen to Father's Homily HERE.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Seventh Night
Friday, July 18 - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine Hope
Rev. Edward G. Nemeth, Newly Ordained, Associate Pastor, St. Joseph Parish in Imperial
For the 7th Night of the Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Father Nemeth spoke to us about the Blessed Virgin Mary as our Mother of Divine Hope. His beautiful sermon was briefly muffled by the sound of a car alarm, but please persist in listening for it only last a minute or so!
The photograph of St. Michael shows the newly reclaimed statue which guards the front lawn of the Carmelite Monastery. After a storm damaged his sword, a restoration company came to assess the damage. The found that this statue was actually painted and that underneath the layers of paint lie the most beautiful and very old marble! Through a careful restoration St. Michael now again gloriously guards the Monastery and his guilded sword brightly reflects the sun!
Listen to Father's Homily HERE.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Sixth Night
Thursday, July 17 - Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of PeaceRev. Michael J. Houser, Newly Ordained, Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish in St. Ann
Listen to his homily here!
The Carmelites best known for their martyrdoms during of the French Revolution are the Martyrs of Compiegne, who were guillotined in Paris in mid-July, 1794. The memorial of the beatified Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne is today, July 17 and we celebrated their memory during the Novena tonight. Newly ordained Priest in our Archdiocese, Fr. Michael Houser was the main celebrant and he spoke beautifully about Peace and the Martyrs.
The sixteen Discalced Carmelite nuns were condemned to death by the revolutionary tribunal for their fidelity to religious life, for their "fanaticism" (especially for their admirable devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary), and for their attachment to constituted authority. These were all considered crimes against the "State" which was adamant about removing all forms of clerical thought from their secular government and rule.
The prioress of these Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Teresa of St. Augustine, offered themselves to the Lord as a holocaust "to placate the anger of God and so that divine peace, brought to earth by His beloved Son, would return to the Church and to the state."
After their Monastery and lodgings were invaded again in June, their devotional objects were shattered and their tabernacle trampled underfoot by a Revolutionary. This soldier told them that their place of worship should be transformed into a dog kennel!
The Carmelite sisters were taken to the prison to await their trial. There they composed a canticle for their martyrdom, to be sung to the familiar tune of the people at the time. The original writing still exists. It was written in pencil and given to one of their fellow prisoners, a lay woman who survived.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Fifth Night
Wednesday, July 16 - Our Lady of Mt. CarmelRev. John L. Suenram, OCD, Pastor of theNational Shrine of the Little Flower
Listen to his homily here!
Wednesday, July 16 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Rev. John L. Suenram, OCD, Pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
This evening's beautiful mass on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was just beautiful. Fr. Suenram spoke to us of the special motherly relationship Our Lady has for her loving Carmelite children. She has clothed us with a special garment of grace and we implore her heavenly protection. Father spoke of the special relationship Our Lady played in the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and how we all are guided by Our Lady's maternal care.
Also of significant note... this broadcast of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel repreasents our 100th Podcast!!! Deo Gratias!
Amen
Listen to Father's homily here!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Fourth Night
Tuesday, July 15 -The Blessed Virgin Mary Pillar of FaithRev. John L. Suenram, OCD, Pastor of theNational Shrine of the Little Flower
This evening's Holy Mass was again celebrated by Father John L. Suenram, OCD. Despite difficulties with his microphone halfway through the sermon, a fast thinking Father quickly picked up another microphone and kept on with his homily!
The choir tonight was composed of fellow Carmelites. The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Divine Heart of Jesus. Their mission is to serve the elderly at their St. Agnes Home for the elderlyhere in St. Louis. How wonderful it is to have them with us! Thank you Sisters!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Third Night
Monday July 14 -
Holy Mary Queen and Mother of Mercy
Rev. John L. Suenram, OCD, Pastor of theNational Shrine of the Little Flower
This evening's Holy Mass was celebrated by Father John L. Suenram, OCD who came all the way from San Antonio, Texas and the National Shrine of the Little Flower! How wonderful it was to have a Carmelite Friar come and preach to us during this Novena and his special understanding of Carmelite Spirituality filled our hearts.
The youth choir from St. Marks parish was the special choir for this evening. Apparently they have just returned from a visit at the University of Stubenville in Ohio. Their passionate singing was so uplifting!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Second Night
This evening our Celebrant for the Holy Mass on the Second Night of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was Msgr. Richard Stitka who is the Pastor at Annuziata Church here in St. Louis and he also serves at the Chaplin to the Sisters here at the Carmelite Monastery. You can hear Father's beautiful homily in testimony of Vocations.
Also available here as a podcast is a recording of the recitation of the Most Holy Rosay which was prayed in Chapel before the outdoor mass. The rosary was lead by a Seminarian from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary here in St. Louis and it is followed by prayers for Benediction of the Holy Eucharist and completed with a song entitled Queen and Beauty of Mt. Carmel. This hymn is a special favorite and ritually sung here at the Novena each night.
LISTEN to Msgr's homily here!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - First Night
While the skys opened and showered us early this evening, the sun came back out again and the First Night of the 60th Annual Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel was a beautiful celebration. Please stop over to our Podcast to hear the wonderful homily of Bishop Robert Herman who spoke to us all so well about the importance of the Contemplative Life.
LISTEN to Bishop Herman's homily here!
60th Diamond Anniversary of Our Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel announced
Beginning Saturday July 12th and continuing through Sunday, July 20. Novena Celebrants include some of our newly ordained Priests from our Archdiocese! For dates and information Click Here!
Planning to attend the outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel? Sixty years ago in 1948 you could go to the Clayton Courthouse where busses awaited to take you to the Monastery. Every fifteen minutes a bus would load and then depart filled with pilgrims. During those years special arrangements were made with the Public Service Comapny to handle the ever-increasing crowds.-MORE information about the Novena here!-
Communicationes #105
01-07-2008 from the Order of Discalced Carmelites General House of the Teresian Carmel - Rome
Blessed Mary Josephine of Jesus Crucified (1894 - 1948)
ROMA (15-06-2008)
The beatification of the Venerable Mary Josephine of Jesus Crucified, a discalced carmelite nun, from the Ponti Rossi convent (Naples) took place late on Sunday, June 1, in the cathedral of St Januarius, Naples. Four cardinals, five bishops and between 150 to 200 priests took part, together with many of the faithful who packed the building. Naturally, there was plenty of festive colour and joy among the local people. The vibrant music resounded throughout the sacred building and the congregation heartily participated in the singing. The metropolitan archbishop, Cardinal Crescencio Sepe, presided at the celebration. Fr General joined the cardinals and bishops around the altar. Present at the ceremony was Francesco Natale, who when just three months old on June 30 1999 was miraculously cured through the intercession of Mother Mary Josephine.
Fr Luigi Borriello, ocd, postulator for the cause, read a short biography on this "daughter of Naples and daughter of Carmel". Cardinal Joseph Saraiva Martins, prefect of the congregation for the causes of saints, in the name of the Pope proclaimed the beatification formula. There was loud and prolonged applause when the painting of the blessed was unveiled above the main altar, the work of Fr Vincent Caiffa, a Carmelite provincial. The mother general of the carmelites of Montefalcone led the procession of the relics to the altar.Right at the end of the celebration cardinal Saraiva Martins addressed a message to the Order and to the church of Naples, with a greeting and blessing from the Pope. "There is no member of the church, recalled Thomas Merton, who does not owe something to Carmel". He also recalled the words of Paul VI to the carmelite general chapter in 1973: "You are sons of saints, look closely at the enormous spiritual inheritance that has been entrusted to you..."
Naples rightly feels that the new blessed Carmelite is one of their daughters. Blessed Mary Josephine was healed in 1923 of a serious illness while in Carmel when she touched a relic (an arm) of Saint Francis Xavier. Prioress of Carmel, she was an oracle of God for many people, above all priests, when they visited her. "Her cloistered life" commented the cardinal in his homily "was not a barrier or a wall, but rather in God's providence an occasion and an opportuntiy for others to come and to pour out their souls and to receive encouragement..." Paralysed by multiple sclerosis, she died of gangrene March 14, 1948, Passion Sunday, aged 54. In spite of the clinical cause of her death, and while her body lay exposed for veneration, she remained incorrupt for 14 days before her burial; there was no sign of decomposition. Professors from the university said the phenomenon was "inexplicable". In the same year, 1948, the ordinary process for obtaining information about her began. The apostolic process ended on June 26 1980. On January 23, 1987 whe was declared Venerable.
The day after the beatification Fr General presided at a solemn concelebration in the chapel of the convent, where the tomb of the new blessed is to be found. Her liturgical memory will henceforth be celebrated on June 26.
For books, leaflets and relics please contact: Rev. Mother Prioress of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns Santa Maria dei Monti ai Ponti Rossi, 301 80141 Naples, ITALY