On November 8th we celebrate the memorial of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (born Elizabeth Catez).

Elizabeth Catez was born on 18th July 1880 in Campo d'Avor near Bourges, France, and she was baptized four days later.

On 2nd August 1901, she entered the Carmel at Dijon where she was clothed in the habit on 8th December 1901. She made her religious profession on 11th January 1903 and 21st January the same year she was given the monastic veil.

The five years that she spent in religious life brought her ever closer to God although the Lord tested her with many spiritual trials and severe physical suffering due to Addison's disease which finally brought about her death. She died on 9th November 1906 at the Carmel of Dijon at the age of twenty-six.

On October 16, 2016, Pope Francis declared her a saint.

St Elizabeth's prayer to the Trinity

O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely that I may be established in you as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging one, but may each minute carry me further into the depths of your mystery. Give peace to my soul; make it Your heaven, Your beloved dwelling place and Your resting place. May I never leave You there alone, but be wholly present, my faith wholly vigilant, wholly adoring and wholly surrendered to your creative action.

O my beloved Christ, crucified by love, I wish to be a bride for Your Heart! I wish to cover You with glory; I wish to love You – even unto death! But I feel my weakness and ask You to clothe me with Yourself; to identify my soul with all the movements of Your soul, to overwhelm me, to possess me, to substitute Yourself for me that my life may be but a radiance of Your life. Come to me as Adorer, as Restorer, as Saviour. O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend all my life in listening to You, to become wholly teachable, that I may learn all from you. Then through all nights, all voids, all helplessness, I want to gaze on you always and remain in Your great light. O my Beloved Star, so fascinate me that I may not withdraw from Your radiance.

O Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, come upon me and create in my soul a kind of incarnation of the Word; that I may be another humanity to Him in which He can renew His whole mystery. And You, O Father, bend lovingly over Your poor little creature; cover her with Your shadow, seeing in her only the Beloved in whom You are well pleased. O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself to You as your prey. Bury Yourself in me that I may bury myself in You until I depart to contemplate in Your light the abyss of Your greatness.

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On November 6th we celebrate the memorial of St. Nuno Alvares Pereira.

What would become the Carmelite Province of Portugal, which appears for the first time at the general chapter of 1425, owes its existence to St. Nuno Alvares Pereira, national hero of Portugal. He built a house in Lisbon for the Carmelites and later entered the Order as a semifrater (a sort of lay brother), residing in that house until his death.

Although he wanted to live simply, this was not always possible. Former soldiers under his command also entered the Order and found it difficult to address their former Constable as just another fellow Carmelite. Because he belonged to the royal family of Portugal, the king forbid him as unseemly Nuno’s practice of walking about town in his Carmelite habit handing out money to the poor.

While the monastery now serves as the headquarters for the National Republican Guard (GNR) of Portugal, there are many remembrances to Nuno inside, including his supposed cell. The Church, also a gift from Nuno to the Order was mostly destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. Ancient authors are extravagant in their praise of this structure. It consisted of three naves and a transept, the naves divded by five Gothic arches. The sanctuary was the richest in the court, its retable commissioned by a distinguished scripture scholar. The tribune was flanked by life-size statues of Elijah and Elisha, the former bearing the sword of Nuno himself. The statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was also provided by the Constable and the clothing for the statue by King John V.

His epitaph read:

"Here lies that famous Nuno, the Constable, founder of the House of Bragança, excellent general, blessed monk, who during his life on earth so ardently desired the Kingdom of Heaven that after his death, he merited the eternal company of the Saints. His worldly honors were countless, but he turned his back on them. He was a great Prince, but he made himself a humble monk. He founded, built and endowed this church in which his body rests."

On April 26, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI, having recognized the miraculous cure of a blind woman by Nuno's intercession, declared him a saint, 578 years after his death in the same year that Joan of Arc was burned.

The Carmelite house in Fatima, Portugal, which host pilgrims to the site of the Marian apparitions is named in honor of Nuno, Portugal’s greatest military hero and one of the Order’s most dedicated sons.

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On November 5th we celebrate the memorial of Blessed Frances d’Amboise.

Frances d’Amboise, duchess of Brittany, was friends with the Carmelite prior general, John Soreth. One of those warm and human friendships between saints ensued. She introduced Carmelite nuns into her domains and eventually joined one of the monasteries herself.

Much of what we know about her comes from an unpublished life of D’Amboise written by John de Montay. In addition, some of her conferences given to the nuns survive today in the form of notes taken by one of the sisters. In these she stresses obedience, silence, and charity, especially in speech. A kindly and humorously despairing patience shines through these admonitions to correct constantly repeated faults. In 1621 Christopher LeRoy, a Carmelite provincial, wrote Les Saintes Ardeurs de la Mère Françoise d'Amboise, the first published biography of Blessed Frances, with a series of meditations.

Her husband’s successor as Duke of Brittany testified that Frances “always concerned herself with the public good and the preservation of the unity of our country and duchy.” Her husband, on his deathbed, gave testimony of Frances’ “good and agreeable services of great obedience and humility she has shown us in health and sickness.”

As a former duchess, she insisted on being treated as any of the other nuns. Later, as prioress, she taught, “We are all sisters wearing the same habit and making the same profession. The Rule is not longer for one than for another. … To consider and be concerned with who is the grandest lady and comes from the noblest and richest family is the doctrine of the devil.” These are strong words for a Frenchwoman in the age of Burgundian splendor.

In the 1866, Frances d’Amboise was recognized by the Church as a blessed. Ironically, there is no other period of time when the liturgical calendar was so enriched by so many new Carmelite beati as this period of time when the Order was on the point of extinction.

Prayer

All loving God, you called Blessed Frances d’Amboise

to seek your kingdom in this world

by serving Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother.

With her prayers to give us courage

help us to go forward with joyful hearts in the way of love.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

To read more click here

Watch the video Carmelite Saints - Blessed Frances d'Amboise, by the Irish Province of Carmelites, here

The way of generous service

Our readings this weekend should shape our response to those in need. It is two widows who show us the way to live according to the mind and heart of God.

The first reading tells of a poor widow’s generosity to Elijah the prophet. Even though she was down to her very last portion of food, which she was saving for her son and herself, she was prepared to share it with Elijah. Her reward was a never-ending supply of flour and oil.

The same generosity is shown by the widow (but not by the scribes) in the Gospel. Her dedication and generosity in the midst of her poverty was a real sacrifice.

The widow is a contrast to the wealthy scribes who parade around in long robes and make a show of lengthy prayers. Jesus condemns them for their insincerity, their use of religious show to enhance their status and their unjust exploitation of widows.

Jesus does not want his disciples imitating the showy religiosity of the corrupt scribes, but rather the sincerity and generosity of the widow who gave ‘her all’ just as Jesus will shortly give ‘his all’ on the Cross. It is a reinforcement of the messages about ‘coming to serve, not to be served’ which have dominated the last four weeks of readings.

The way of Jesus is not about show, but about sincere dedication and generosity in our service of God and one another. Remember the contrasting stories about James and John and Bartimaeus over the last couple of weeks.

Following Christ is not about giving the ‘left overs’ but giving everything. The two widows gave all they had to live on. Jesus will give his life for our salvation.

It is the kind of dedication and selfless generosity we see in people who put their own lives at risk while attempting to rescue others from disaster. Disciples are called to give all in their following of Jesus and in their generous service of others.

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Celebrating at Home is a Liturgy of the Word centred around the Gospel reading for each Sunday. It includes a reflection on the Gospel and prayers.

It can be used personally or with your family. Parts for all to pray are given in bold print and all the other parts can be shared among those present.

We hope that Celebrating at Home will be a source of nourishment and strength for all who use it.

In the room you decide to use for this prayer you could have a lighted candle, a crucifix and the Bible. These symbols help keep us mindful of the sacredness of our time of prayer and can help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.

On Saturday, October 16, 2021, the Liturgy and Prayer Commission of the Order met for their 10th meeting since the General Chapter in 2019. All the meetings, so far, have been held via Zoom. It is hoped to have a first physical meeting in March of next year, expected to last a full week.

The commission has addressed a number of issues over these past two years. The previous liturgy commission (2013-2019) left two important documents ‘The Ritual for the Third Order’ (a completed document) and ‘The Profession Ritual for Religious Profess in the Order’, which the present commission has been working towards a final approval in the near future. Much of this work has been detailed work regarding language and translation.

Considerable time was taken up on the discussion on liturgical scholarship and formation within the Order. The Prior General responded positively to a letter from the commission in this regard. The members will work towards collaboration with the Formation Commission in this area. There are now three scholars doing post graduate work in liturgy. The groundwork for a pastoral liturgical congress in the next few years is being worked on, also a ‘colloquium’ within the coming year.

It has noted that this remit is twofold, both liturgy and prayer. The Liturgical Calendar is expected to be approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the near future. The document of Pope Francis, Traditionis Coustodes and an Address recently by the Prefect of the Congregation, Archbishop Arthur Roche at Sant’ Anselmo were discussed. Among others topics discussed were, the dignity of liturgical books, shrines and pilgrimages, and the giving of the habit in initial formation (CON 162).

The members of the Commission are: Richard Byrne, O. Carm (Curia), John Keating, O. Carm., (Hib), Robert Manik, O. Carm. (Indo), Sr. Nerina de Simone, CMSTBG, Désiré Unen Alimange, O. Carm. (Ita/Congo), Alexander Vella, O. Carm. (CISA/ Mel). The next meeting will take place on November 6, 2021.

This work of 176 pages collects some of the presentations given at the 2016 International Course for Formators and Vocation Promoters of the Order in Batu, Malang, Indonesia. So one would logically think it is for those involved in Carmelite formation programs. And you would be correct.

The title however, with its subtitle Growing in the Contemplative Dimension of One’s Life, would indicate its focus on something much larger than topics in Carmelite formation programs. And you would be correct. In fact, I picked the book up because of its apparent focus on how to develop one’s contemplative side. I was not disappointed.

This book really has four possible audiences: formators but not necessarily of Carmelite programs; those interested in the Bible as a source of contemplation and specifically the Carmelite history of contemplation; some of the psychological aspects of human development; and vocation ministry. There is something for people of each focus in one or the other parts of the book.

The schedule of the conference called for conferences to be held in the morning and practices of contemplative prayer in the afternoon—a purposeful integration of theory and practice.

I wish to focus here on the first two talks. The first talk, The Bible as the Source of Contemplation, is, as its author Carmelite Berthold Pareira states upfront, “not about contemplation in the Bible but about the Bible as the source of contemplation.” Fr. Pareira takes the reader through a myriad of examples to bring home this point. What is most appreciative is that it a practical guide to liturgy, the psalms, the Song of Songs, and contemplation.

The second talk is a historical review of contemplation in Carmelite history by German Carmelite Michael Plattig. But do not let yourself fall into thinking this is just another history lesson. I have had the pleasure of hearing Plattig “live” on a couple of occasions. But his written word is just as engaging. The material he presents is thought provoking even for those who have heard conferences before on the Order’s long history with the practice of contemplation.

Other chapters in the book focus on two talks by Quinn Conners, O. Carm.: “The ability to give love and give of oneself” and “The capacity for responsible are and stewardship, expressed in ‘service in the midst of the people;’” and two talks by Spanish Carmelite Desiderio García Martínez: “With other eyes: accompanying formandi in a multicultural community that grows through contemplation” and “We are going to build ourselves a city: accompanying formandi growing in contemplation in the presence of the influence of technology.” The book concludes with two chapters on vocations ministry. One is by Daryl Moresco on “The theological basis of vocation promotion.” The other is by Irvin Mangmang on “Rising to the Challenge of Vocation Ministry in the 21st Century: the Philippine Experience.”

The book is published by Edizioni Carmelitane, and the price is 10 euros.

Click here to access this and other many fine publications at Edizioni Carmelitane.

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Lord, the meaning of our life is to seek your Word, which came to us in the person of Christ. Make me capable of welcoming what is new in the Gospel of the Beatitudes, so that I may change my life. I would know nothing about you were it not for the light of the words spoken by your Son Jesus, who came to tell us of your marvels. When I am weak, if I go to Him, the Word of God, then I become strong. When I act foolishly, the wisdom of his Gospel restores me to relish God and the kindness of his love. He guides me to the paths of life. When some deformity appears in me, I reflect on his Word and the image of my personality becomes beautiful. When solitude tries to make me dry, my spiritual marriage to him makes my life fruitful. When I discover some sadness or unhappiness in myself, the thought of Him, my only good, opens the way to joy. Therese of the Child Jesus has a saying that sums up the desire for holiness as an intense search for God and a listening to others: «If you are nothing, remember that Jesus is all. You must therefore lose your little nothing into his infinite all and think of nothing else but this uniquely lovable all...» (Letters, 87, to Marie Guérin).

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The Great Commandment

The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy and the Gospel today are linked by the words of the Shema – the creed which observant Jews pray every morning and evening. These words come from the Book of Deuteronomy: Listen, Israel: The Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. The title, Shema, comes from the Hebrew word for ‘listen’, the very first word of the prayer.

In a way, Shema is a call to conversion: to listen deeply with the heart and to respond to God’s grace and mercy with love, faithfulness and obedience.

When a scribe asks Jesus, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”, Jesus replies by quoting the Shema and then adds a quotation from the Book of Leviticus (19:18), “You must love your neighbour as yourself ”. According to Jesus, there is no commandment greater than these.

The scribe is impressed by Jesus’ reply. His words to Jesus show he has grasped what Jesus means. In repeating what Jesus has just said in his own words, the scribe also adds, “this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice”. Now it is Jesus who is impressed with the scribe’s depth of understanding: that love is the very heart of obedience to God and more important even than ritual worship. The scribe’s correct understanding of the Old Testament Law means he is very close to the Kingdom of God.

It also means that true faith, as Jesus teaches it, is about being in loving relationship with God and other human beings. Religious rituals are meant to be ways of reflecting on, savouring, remembering, celebrating and expressing that love. Sometimes they just end up as ‘empty’ rituals, when love has been replaced by fear, when we are trying to bargain with God, or when we are just ‘going through the motions’.

The Kingdom of God is not some far off place, but the moments when God’s life breaks into the human story. Those moments bring love, wisdom, grace, compassion, generosity, forgiveness and peace. Those practiced in the things of God recognise God’s presence most of all in loving relationships. If our rituals grow out of and express our sincere love for God and neighbour then they have value. We are always at risk of putting ritual above the practise of love, of thinking that we are at rights with God just by attending a liturgy, by ‘paying God off ’, in a sense.

The words of Jesus remind us of the importance of the other part of our religious lives – the liturgy of everyday life in which we make present and visible the love, mercy and compassion of God.

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Celebrating at Home is a Liturgy of the Word centred around the Gospel reading for each Sunday. It includes a reflection on the Gospel and prayers.

It can be used personally or with your family. Parts for all to pray are given in bold print and all the other parts can be shared among those present.

We hope that Celebrating at Home will be a source of nourishment and strength for all who use it.

In the room you decide to use for this prayer you could have a lighted candle, a crucifix and the Bible. These symbols help keep us mindful of the sacredness of our time of prayer and can help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.

The Closure of the Diocesan Investigation of Servant of God Sr. Maria Cristina dell’Eucarestia Alonso Alonso, O. Carm. was held on October 8, 2021.

The acts of the diocesan investigation, transported to Rome by the Postulator General, nominated Portitrice by the Archbishop of Barcelona (Spain), Cardinal Omella Omella, have been delivered to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on October 14. This is the beginning of the Roman phase of the cause for beatification and canonization of the Servant of God. Shortly the acts of the diocesan investigation will be placed under the formal control and on behald of the officials of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. It they are found worthy, a relator will be named who studies the cause and at the end will edit a positio on the life, virtue, reputation for holiness, and the signs of the Servant of God.

The Servant of God Maria Cristina dell’Eucarestia , born on May 16, 1930 in Coó (Los Corrales de Buelna), Spain. This is a small town in Cantabria, province of Santander, the seventh daughter of Eulogio and Maria. On May 26 she was baptized and, at the age of eight years, received her First Communion. Moving to Barcelona for her studies, she attended Azione Catholic, a group of young people. She entrusted her spiritual life to the guidance of the young priest, Narciso Jubany Arnau, a future cardinal archbishop of Barcelona. She felt a strong vocational call to religious life, in particular a call to Carmel. After some initial difficulties, she was welcomed into the Monastery of the Encarnation on April 15, 1955 at the age of 24. She entered the novitiate on October 16, 1955, being vested in the Carmelite habit. On November 1, 1956, she made her first profession, taking the name of Maria Cristiana dell’Eucarestia. Three years later, on November 1, 1959, she took solemn vows.

On April 1, 1963, the first symptoms of the illness appeared: multiple sclerosis, an painful and humiliating illness, which slowly resulted in total immobility. She fully accepted the will of God for her, happy to totally conforming to her crucified Spouse. On May 3, 1979, Sr. Maria Cristina yielded her beautiful soul to God, surrounded by the wide-spread fame of holiness. In 1996 the first steps for her cause of beatification and canonization were taken and on November 27, 2003 the first session of the diocesan investigation were celebrated on the life, virtue, and fame of holiness and signs. Its final face was on October 8, 2021, in the chapel of the Monastery of the Encarnation in Barcelona, the monastery which accepted the Servant of God for the 20 years of her brief life.

Initium Novitiatus

24-06-21 Adorn Ansel (STSA) Lisieux Bhavan Chala, India
15-08-21 Patrick Mingard (Gal) Nante, France

Professio Temporanea

31-08-21 Giovanna D'Aniello (SAR) Sogliano al Rubicone, Italia

Professio Solemnis

16-07-21 Matteo Antonllini (Ita) Castellina, Italia
04-09-21 Maria Sabrina Fubelli (CAR) Carpineto Romano, Italia
08-09-21 Mary Jackline Bochaberi of the Cross (MAC) Machakos, Kenya
08-09-21 Mary Veronica Muthini of Christ the King (MAC) Machakos, Kenya
11-09-21 Richard Philip Green (Brit) Aylesford, England

Ordinatio Diaconalis

03-07-21 Alfredo Pisana (Ita) Torrespaccata, Italia
17-10-21 Emery Losinu (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo
17-10-21 Samuel Ndjate (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo

Ordinatio Sacerdotalis

20-08-21 Mário Josué Bernando Alves (Pern) Jaboatão dos Guasarapes, Brasil
21-08-21 Jorge da Costa Silva (Pern) Alagoa Grande, Brasil
25-09-21 Bruno Castro Shoder (Rio) São Paulo, Brasil
17-10-21 Matthias Mukombozi (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo
17-10-21 Gilbert Paluku (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo
17-10-21 Charles Kambale (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo
17-10-21 Innocent Djomby (Ita-Cong) Butempo, Dem Rep Congo