O.Carm
Celebrating At Home - 5th Sunday in Lent
Let him go free
(John 11:1-45)
The final of the three Great Gospels of Lent is ours today - a Gospel story of life and freedom. Like the gospels of the last two Sundays, the dramatic story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead is a story of love, faith and belief.
There are three different groups of believers in the story: those who believe that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death (Jesus is already known to be a healer); those who came to believe in him because they see Lazarus rise, and those, like Martha, who believe in Jesus even though Lazarus died.
In this Gospel Jesus proclaims himself ‘the resurrection and the life’. We see him deeply moved by the death of his friend. We find him in earnest prayer with God.
We see him full of strength as he commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb.
One thing that is rarely commented on about this story is the image of love that pervades it. Jesus has treated the Samaritan woman with dignity, respect, gentleness and love, and reached out in love to heal the blind man without being asked. In this story his love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and the grief he feels because of that love, are very clearly seen.
For me, it brings together once again the connection between faith and love. If John intended this story to reassure his community (those who have faith in Jesus) then he makes clear that they are also loved by Jesus, and suggests in a certain manner Jesus, too, weeps when harm (illness and death) come to his friends (believers). The ultimate reassurance is that this loving, faith-filled relationship we have with Jesus not only sustains us in life but also sees us through the dark moments of suffering and death – ultimately to life beyond the restrictions (binding cloths) we find in this world. Finally, we will be free.
For me, the most powerful words in the Gospel are: Unbind him, let him go free.
Freedom is one of the deepest aspirations of the human heart. We long to be free – from illness, worry, fear, (especially at the moment) the expectations of others, guilt, our faults and so on. The ultimate freedom is freedom from eternal death.
We know we can be physically alive and spiritually dead through envy, greed, fear, hatred. We know we can bring death to others through lies, gossip, meanness, cruelty, withholding forgiveness and so on.
By living the life of Christ we bring life, love and freedom to ourselves and each other.
Quiet time for reflection
- pdf Celebrating At Home - 5th Sunday in Lent [PDF] (5.57 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - 5th Sunday in Lent [ePub] (4.25 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Quinto Domingo del Tiempo de Cuaresma (521 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - V Domenica di Quaresima (522 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em familia - Quinto Domingo da Quaresma (521 KB)
Lectio Divina April 2023
Lord God, creator and Father of all, your sons and daughters are still scattered and divided: Christians and non-Christians, various Churches and sects claiming exclusive rights on your Son, and each of them full of factions.
Make us dream again the dream which you alone can make possible: that we can all be one if we believe and follow him who died to unite all that is scattered, Jesus Christ, our Lord forever.
Elective Chapter of the Monastery in Palangkaraya
On March 12, 2023, the Monastery of St. Joseph in the Diocese of Palangkaraya, Indonesia, held its second elective chapter.
Upon the request of the bishop of the Diocese of Banjarmasin in 1993, five nuns fom the Flower of Carmel monastery in Batu founded the monastery of St. Joseph. In 1993, when the Diocese of Palangkaraya was established, the monastery became part of the new diocese. The monastery was dedicated on October 7, 2001. The decree of canonical establishment was received on November 18, 2019.
The results of the elective chapter were as follows:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sr. M. Dorothea Yekti Handayani Edi Soediono, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr. Yosepha Tinawati Kamsani, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr. Bernadetta Nurahdiyati Soeharjo, O. Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice:
Sr. Bernadetta Nurahdiyati Soeharjo, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa:
Sr. Yosepha Tinawati Kamsani, O. Carm.
Sacristan| Sacristana | Sacrestana:
Sr. Stefana Sugiyanti, O. Carm.
Elective Chapter of the Monastery in Huesca, Spain
On March 15, 2023, the Monastery of the Incarnation-San Miguel in Huesca, Spain, held their triennial elective chapter.
The sisters wrote that "the Holy Spirit was clearly present in the communion manifested in the elections. We continue to ask for your prayers so that ... the community may be open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and faithful to the mission entrusted by God through his Church. May we enrich Carmel with our life and may everything be for the greater glory of God, the Church, Carmel, and our diocese ... of the whole world."
The monastery was founded by the Carmelite Peter Sobrino in 1622. From Incarnation, another monastery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded in 1656.
The results of the elective chapter were as follows:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sor Ma Gloria de Dios Caballero, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma Blanca de la Eucaristía, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma Pilar Borau, O. Carm.
Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie
Sor Ma Blanca de la Eucaristía, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa:
Sor Ma Blanca de la Eucaristía, O. Carm.
Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Sor Ma Pilar Borau, O. Carm.
Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
15-01-23 Joao Gabriel Souza Viana (Par) Brazil
15-01-23 João Victor Campos Tomé (Par) Brazil
ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
17-02-23 Peter Trong Pham (SEL-VN) Saigon, Vietnam
17-02-23 Joseph Tam Nguyen (SEL-VN) Saigon, Vietnam
11-03-23 Eduardo Adolfo, Jr. (Phil) The Philippines
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
27-12-22 Ebin Mathew (STSA) Kalamassery, Kerala, India
17-02-23 Joseph Long Bui (SEL-VN) Saigon, Vietnam
St. Joseph and the Carmelite Order
A pious medieval legend held that the Holy Family periodically visited and spoke with the hermits who lived near the well of Elijah on Mount Carmel. According to the mentality of the time, this affirmed a particular bond between the Carmelites and the Holy Family.
Once the Middle Ages had passed, these spiritual relations of the men and women of the Order continued until today, uniting veneration to the Virgin Mary with that to the one who for her and for Jesus sacrificed himself in the work and silence of his entire life. Thus were merged, in harmonious contemplation, the three great loves: of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
In Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, people found a model for their own contemplative and active life. Devotion to Joseph flourished and he became invoked as “protector and patron” of the Order. In Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries, the Carmelites as well as the Franciscans and Servants of Mary spread devotion to St. Joseph. The liturgical feast of St. Joseph appears in the second half of the 15th century with an Office entirely of its own.
The Belgian Carmelite, Arnold Bostius noted this solemn devotion to St. Joseph in 1479. He wrote:
"We still celebrate St. Joseph, chaste and upright, guardian of the eternal God, providential and diligently considered to be father, beloved husband of Mary, most faithful witness and custodian of her virginity. Like his virgin bride, he was very solicitous for the salvation of all, perfect in all virtues" (De Patronatu BVM, n. 1694).
The Office of St. Joseph was printed in the Breviary published in Brussels beginning in 1480, while the Mass Proper was found in missals edited from 1500 onward. The quality of the readings and the hymns were considered eloquent testimony to the fervor with which the Carmelites honored St. Joseph at that time. The general chapter of the Carmelites in 1680 unanimously elected St. Joseph as the primary protector of the Order.
The feast was suppressed for the universal Church with the liturgical calendar reform after the Second Vatican Council. However, both the Carmelites and the Discalced Carmelites obtained permission to add “Protector of Our Order” to the title of the feast on March 19.
From the 17th century to the present-day numerous Carmelite churches and monasteries were dedicated to St. Joseph. Credit for this diffusion of devotion to St. Joseph can be attributed above all to St. Teresa of Jesus, whose ardent expressions regarding St. Joseph are known:
"I took for my advocate and patron the glorious St. Joseph ... I saw clearly that his help to me was always greater that what I could have hoped for …. If my word could be authoritative, I would gladly take the time to narrate in detail the graces that this glorious saint has done for me and for others.” (Life, VI, 6-8)
Of the 17 houses Teresa founded, 12 were dedicated to St. Joseph.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux also had a great devotion to St. Joseph:
“I prayed St. Joseph to watch over me; since my childhood, I had a devotion to him that blended with love for Our Lady. … I was so well protected that it seemed impossible for me to be afraid.” (Ms A, 158)
Alongside the influence of St. Joseph on the life and piety of the Order, there are also the writings of the theologian Andrew Horuken in 1451 and the incredible poems of the Mantuan in Fastorum Libri XII and in Parthenice I. In the 16th-18th centuries, there was no lack of notable preachers and writers reflecting the importance of St. Joseph. In 1723, Raphael "the Bavarian" published a History of St. Joseph. This work had a considerable influence in the devotion of the saint in modern times at the convents and monasteries of the Order.
(from Dizionario Carmelitano, “Giuseppe, Santo”)
Registration Now Open for Brandsma Conference
A conference on Titus Brandsma will take place at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands on October 3-6, 2023. The program brings together scholars from various parts of the world who will present on the multi-faceted life and work of Brandsma. The number of participants is limited to 30, providing an opportunity for all to become involved in the discussions.
The cost of the conference is free. Travel to the Titus Brandsma Memorial and to the Titus Brandsma Archives in Boxmeer will be Included at no cost. Participants are responsible for their individual travel, accommodations, and all meals. Conference organizers can make hotel recommendations. There is a celebratory dinner on October 6 for those who wish to participate. The cost is 60,00 euro.
Those interested in more information or those wanting to register should contact Dr. Elisabeth Hense, the conference coordinator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Activities of the Carmelite General Library
The Carmelite General Library (BiGOC), located at the International Center of St. Albert (CISA), was born from the merger of the General Library and the Carmelite Library. It is governed by one librarian, Mario Alfarano, and practically started its activities last fall. In November 2022, BiGOC was enrolled in the Registry of Cultural Assets and is present on the BeWeb portal of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI). This enrollment made it possible to join the CEI's projects, particularly the computerized cataloging system, which will replace the two previous catalogs that have not been functioning for several years.
Since February, the librarian has been joined by an assistant, Sara Bischetti. The two are offering new services to BiGOC users: a) the updated Regulations ad experimentum on access and consultation; b) the BiGOC website: www.bibliotecaocarm.com; c) the mailing list to inform about the latest acquisitions (books and journals) and BiGOC activities.
Those who would like to be added to the mailing list can write to the BiGOC email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fernando Millán Conference on St. Titus Brandsma
On February 15, Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm., spoke on “Titus Brandsma: Ethical Resistance in Turbulent Time” at the Loyola Institute of Trinity College in Dublin. The conference was cohosted by the Irish Province of the Carmelite Order.
Fr. Fernando is a noted expert on Titus Brandsma and has written a number of articles and one book on the new saint. He has also given conferences to groups in various parts of the world. The Dublin conference drew an audience of 150 people.
St Titus, a Carmelite of the Dutch Province, was noted for his resistance to the Nazis. He was arrested and transported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died in 1942. He was canonized in May 2022.
During his talk, Fr. Fernando’s drew attention to different aspects of the saint's life: as an academic administrator, helping to found a university; as a commentator on Carmelite mysticism, as a journalist; and as someone with passionate interest in drawing people together. His own physical frailty contrasted with the steadfast courage which he showed in the face of evil.
Fr. Fernando is a professor of theology at Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid. He is also the director of the Institute of Spirituality at the University.
The presentation is available online on YouTube here.
March in the Laudato Si' Movement
In March, we find ourselves in the liturgical season of Lent, a special time to reconcile ourselves with creation, particularly by paying attention to social and ecological sins.
We have also launched the 2023 Season of Creation theme, "Let Justice and Peace Flow," which helps us to tune in to the cry of creation on the loss of biodiversity, being called to a change of attitude and actions. Laudato Si' Animators play a fundamental role in this process. If you are not yet part of this group, find out how to participate or help us by spreading the word about the new course, which begins in April.
Register to Become a Laudato Si' Animator
As you read through the following Lent materials and calendar, please consider incorporating almsgiving into your observation of Lent. Some of our readers have chosen to make a gift to help LSM’s program be more widely known; others tie their giving to the 40 days of Lent; and some of our network gives an amount comparable to what they will save through their Lenten fast.
Guardians of the Earth is Here!
Guardians of the Earth is here! It’s Laudato Si' Movement’s new space to tell real stories of how the encyclical Laudato Si' is changing the lives of many people around the world, and in different spheres of society.
Each episode will inspire people to live an ecological conversion, striving to make concrete changes in the lifestyles of individuals and communities in order to care for creation. The program will be available in Spanish and English.
March Highlights
Monday, March 13:
10th anniversary of Pope Francis' pontificate
Tuesday, March 14:
International Day of Action for Rivers
Tuesday, March 21:
International Day of Forests
Wednesday, March 22:
World Water Day
Friday, March 24:
St. Oscar Romero
Monthly Resources
- In the Laudato Si' Encounter we pray to live this Lent with true charity towards those most affected by the socio-environmental crisis. Download the PDF version here or view it online.
- Haven't seen the Lent Calendar yet? Download it here and start with the daily challenges before Easter.
Climate News
#Global: This interactive CNN report shows how our planet has changed over time. NASA's "Images of Change" project shows areas that have been directly affected by the climate crisis.
#Italy: A special program in schools focused on climate change, promoted by the local government. Watch the video.
#USA: New York experienced a "warm" winter and the last day of February saw one of the heaviest snowfalls of the season: 4.6 centimeters. Photos and videos here.
#Mexico: The Mexican long-nosed bat is a key pollinator for the plant used to make tequila, and it's endangered!
