Institutio Congregationis: 13-05-1924

Cooptatio Ordini nostro: 07-06-1947

The Congregation of Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was founded by the Servant of God Assumption Soler Gimeno, the May 13, 1924.

Our spirituality is developed in the tradition eliana-Marian projecting contemplation and apostolic life in the spirit of the Carmelite Rule.

Our religious vocation part of a God who invites us to live evangelically solidarizadas with the poor, committed to their liberation and salvation

Our attitude of prayer - contemplative us to hear the cry of the people and respond to your claim awaken consciences to the drama of poverty and social justice demands of the Gospel and the Church

Carmelite Sisters of Our vocation is not only of the scope of the Congregation, but to all human beings trying to do really and truly our fellowship deep within our communities and with people with whom we are related, aiming to we experience them as real sisters in our attitudes.

Like Mary, we strive to be the presence of the church through contemplative communities - prophetic pray, proclaim salvation through hope, love, live with joy, denounce sin with courage and served with simplicity and availability.

We take the great challenge that Assumption Mother left us to live for God, seek His glory above all, make the love of Christ that his face is visible to a world that is thirsty for God.

Curia Generalis

Hermanas Carmelitas SCJ

C/ General Asensio Cabanillas, 41

28003 MADRID

ESPAÑA

Tel. 91-5349943 – 91-5535134

Fax 91-5549924

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Prima pagina: www.carmelitasscj.org

Consilium Generale electum anno 2010

• Antistita Generalis: Soror Rosa Calvo Lopez
• Prima Cons.:Soror Ma del Carmen Lera Valdeon
• Secunda Cons.: Soror Luz Marina Materano Perozo
• Tertia Cons.: Soror Rosario González Dominguez
• Quarta Cons.: Soror Dolores Medina Alvarez

Domus: Inscriptiones

 1. MADRID

Hermanas Carmelitas SCJ

C/ General Asensio Cabanillas, 41

28003 MADRID

Tel. 91-5349943 – 91-5535134

Fax 91-5549924

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I. Vicaría Nuestra Señora de la

Asunción – Región Ibérica

2. MADRID

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/ Lucano, 46, 3° A y B

Canillejas

28022 MADRID

Tel. 91-7424505

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3. ALBACETE

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Calle Miguel Servet, 52, 1°

02006 ALBACETE

Tel. 967-661031/690297567

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4. CÁCERES

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Los Rosales, Portal 5

Puerta 15

10004 CÁCERES

Tel. 927-240217

5. GUADIX

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/ Pedro de Mendoza y Lujan, 64

18500 GUADIX (Granada)

Tel. 958-663163

6. GUADALAJARA

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

c/. Cuesta de Dávalos, 6 – Planta baja

19001 GUADALAJARA

Tel. 949-217624

7. HUMANES

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Residencia – Hogar de Ancianos

C/ Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

19220 HUMANES

(Guadalajara)

Tel. 949-850064

8. LEÓN

Hermanas Carmelitas

Avda. Nocedo, 63, 1° B y C

24007 LEÓN

Tel. 987-221416

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9. S. MARTIN DE LA VEGA

Hermanas Carmelitas Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

c/. Alcalde Enrique Gálvez, 4

28330 - S. MARTIN DE LA VEGA

(Madrid)

Tel. 91-8958089

e-mail

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10. MÁLAGA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Colegio Madre Asunción

Paseo Limonar, 24

29016 MÁLAGA

Tel. 95-2213435

Fax 95-2227558

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website www.colegiomadreasuncion.com

11. CHURRIANA 

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Residencia Monsalve

C/ Mercedes Formica, 89

29140 CHURRIANA – MÁLAGA

Tel. 95-2435003 / 95-2621099

e-mail

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12. PALMA DE MALLORCA

Hermanas Carmelitas del  SCJ

Residência de Señoras

Calle Obispo, 5

07003 PALMA DE MALLORCA

Tel. 971-715114

Fax 971-717005

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13. QUART DE POBLET

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Colegio “San Enrique”

C/Madre Asunción Soler Gimeno, 10

46930 QUART DE POBLET

(Valencia)

Tel. 96-154.7691

Fax 96-154.8970

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website www.sanenrique.es.tl

II. Vicaría San Elias – El Caribe

Respublica Dominicana –851

14. SANTIAGO DE LOS

CABALLEROS

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Casa de Formación Noviciado

Urb. Altos de Virella

Calle 9, no 6

SANTIAGO DE LOS

CABALLEROS

Tel. 1809-57-52402

e-mail

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15. SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/ Domingo Moreno Jiménez, 20

Barrio Mejoramiento Social

SANTO DOMINGO

Tel. 1809-6888518

Fax 1809-6866426

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16. DON GREGORIO

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/. 12 de Julio No 13

DON GREGORIO – NIZAO

(Bani)

Tel. 1809-521-8289

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Venetiola – 58

17. CARACAS

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/ El Carmen, 47-59

Apartado 76088 – LOS RUICES

CARACAS –1070 A 

Tel. 2 271 78 07

Fax 2 58 271 78 07

e-mail car.dri@hotmail.c

website http://www.righthand21.com/hnascarmelitaspetare/index.html

18. CARACAS

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Barrio San Blas

Apdo. 76088 – LOS RUICES

1070A CARACAS

Tel. 2125191075

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19. SANTA BARBARA DEL

ZULIA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Avda. 5 No 9-16

Barrio 18 de Octubre

Sector El Muro

SANTA BARBARA DEL ZULIA

(Edo. Zulia)

Tel. 0058-75550666

Fax 0058-75552660

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Cuba – 53

20. BAHÍA HONDA

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

Av. 21, N° 3208

22600 BAHIA HONDA

(Pinar del Rio)

Tel./Fax 86-235

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21. GUANABACOA HABANA

Hermanas Carmelitas del SCJ

C/Vigario, 3

Entre Corral Falso y Barreto

GUANABACOA HABANA 11

Tel. 77-979060

e- mail

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Lusitania – 351

22. RIO MAIOR

Irmãs Carmelitas del SCJ

Rua Prof. Manuel José Ferreira, 72

1 Dto.

2040 RIO MAIOR

Tel./Fax 43-99-1076

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23. VILA FRANCA DE XIRA

Irmãs Carmelitas del SCJ

Travessa do Cerrado 2 – 2º A

Edifício Fonte

2600 -129 VILA FRANCA DE XIRA

Tel. 63-273252

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24. FATIMA

Irmas Carmelitas  del SCJ

Rua 13 de Maio

Edifício “Concorde” – Bloque A, 1 Andar

Cova de Iria

2495 FATIMA

Tel. 49-105043

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IV. Vicaría Santa Teresa -

Mozambique

Mozambicum – 258

25. MAPUTO

Irmãs Carmelitas del SCJ

Rua Gil Vicente, 36

Barrio Da Coop

MAPUTO

Tel. 1-415382/ 2-6898380

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26. NAMAPA

Irmãs Carmelitas del SCJ

Caixa Postal 589

Barrio Napipini, nº 11

NAMPULA

Tel. 6-214594

Fax 6-21459

e-mail

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27. NAMPULA

Ermas Carmelitas del SCJ

Caixa Postal 39

NAMPULA

Tel. 2-6570011 

28. NAMPULA

Irmãs Carmelitas

Estrada Nacional, 8

Nampaco Mutuva Rex

NAMPULA

Tel. 6-218587 – 2-4011154

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Institutio Congregationis: 13-09-1903

Cooptatio Ordini nostro: 25-03-1925

La Congregación de Hermanas Carmelitas de Madre Candelaria nace al sur de la Cordillera de la Costa, en la ciudad de Altagracia de Orituco, Estado Guárico, en el año de 1903, para dar respuesta a las múltiples necesidades de la sufrida Venezuela agraria, desasistida de los centros de poder; abandonada a su suerte y donde todo era precario: servicios, comunicaciones, comercio, etc.

A esto se une la Guerra Libertadora (lucha interna entre caudillos por el poder) que va dejando un sin número de enfermos y heridos.

Ante esta situación Dios suscita en el corazón de Susana Paz Castillo, joven gracitana de profundos valores cristianos se siente interpelada por esta situación y comienza a prestar sus servicios de asistencia a estos pobres abandonados. Animada por el Padre Sixto Sosa, joven entusiasta quien era párroco de esa localidad, inicia una nueva etapa en la historia de Altagracia de Orituco y se gestan los comienzos de una Congregación Venezolana.

El Pbro. Sixto inicia un trabajo solidario de acción social. Se crea una Junta, de la cual forman parte algunos médicos de la localidad, el Padre Sixto Sosa y otros colaboradores.

Surgió la idea de crear un hospital y como responsable de dicha obra queda Susana Paz Castillo. A ella se unieron otras jóvenes Mercedes Malaver Acosta, Natividad Pérez Medina y su hermana Marcelina, que más tarde se incorporaran a la naciente Congregación.

Con la inauguración de este hospital "San Antonio", nace definitivamente la Congregación, que con la valentía y coraje emprendían una obra para la Gloria de Dios y el Bien de nuestro pueblo Venezolano.

Años más tarde, ante la incertidumbre existente por parte del obispo de Calabozo de que la Congregación pudiese funcionar como Instituo Religioso con su debida aprobación canónica, se gestionó la Agregación a la Orden del Carmen.

En el año 1922, llegan a la Isla de Margarita los Padres Carmelitas provenientes de Puerto Rico, y éstos por petición de la Madre Candelaria, se interesan en la formación y animación de las Hermanas; hecho este que fortalece el deseo de las Hermanas de ser Carmelitas. El Padre Elías Sendra inicia las comunicaciones de solicitud con el Padre General de la Orden del Carmen y éste concede el decreto de agregación el 25 de Marzo de 1925, la Madre Candelaria llega a exclamar:

"Ya marchamos bajo la santa librea del Carmelo"

Curia Generalis

Hermanas Carmelitas

Casa Generalicia

Avenida Mirador No 12-05

La Campiña

1050 CARACAS

VENEZUELA

Tel. 0212-7313764

Fax 0212-7313258

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Pagina prima www.ve.net/carmelitasmc

Consilium Generale electum mense augusti 2006

Antistita Generalis: Soror Evelín González Hernández

Prima Cons.:  Soror Magali Castro Ortiz

Secunda Cons.: Soror Luisa Córdova Cova

Tertia Cons.:  Soror Arcángela Mora Moncada

Quarta Cons.: Soror Bernardita Mora Varela

Domus: Inscriptiones

Venetiola –  58

1. CARACAS

Hermanas Carmelitas

Casa Generalicia

Avenida Mirador No 12-05

La Campiña

1050 CARACAS

Tel. 0212-7313764

Fax 0212-7313258

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2. CARACAS

Hermanas Carmelitas

Colegio Ntra. Sra. del Carmen

Av. América 21-23, Los Rosales

1040 CARACAS

Tel. 0212-6930994

0212-6930979

Fax 0212-6900330

e-mail

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3. CARACAS

Hermanas Carmelitas

Casa de Formación

San Vicente a Medina, 135

La Pastora

1010 CARACAS

Tel. 0212-8630938

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4. ALTAGRACIA

Calle Guárico No. 20, Urb. Las Mayitas

Qta. Magaly,

ALTAGRACIA DE ORITUCO, Edo. Guárico

Tel. 0238-3343845

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5. GUANARE

Hermanas Carmelitas

Casa Hogar

“Ntra. Sra. de Coromoto”

Avenida 23 de Enero

GUANARE (Edo. Portuguesa)

Tel. 0257–9882957

6. CUMANA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Colegio “Ntra. Sra. del Carmen”

Calle Bolívar n. 32

CUMANÁ (Edo. Sucre)

Tel. 0293–4332303 /4311492

Fax  0293-4310701/4331785

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7. CUMANA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Colegio “Padre Alcalá”

Carretera Cumaná – Cumanacoa

Frente al IUT

Km 4, CUMANÁ (Edo. Sucre)

Tel. 0293-4672877

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8. LA FRIA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Colegio “Mons. Sixto Sosa”

Calle 1 n. 05-47

LA FRÍA- Edo. Táchira

Tel. 0277–5411187

e-mail

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9. LA GRITA

Ancianato “San Jose”

LA GRITA (Edo. Táchira)

Tel. 0277–8812184

10. MARACAIBO

Unidad Educativa Arquidiocesana

“Madre Candelaria”

Km. 14, Barrio San Isidro

MARACAIBO-Edo. Zulia

Tel. 0262-2300086

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11. MERIDA

Hermanas Carmelitas

Ancianato ‘Sma. Trinidad’

y Casa de Formación

La Otra Banda- El Llanito

MÉRIDA. Edo. Mérida

Tel. 0274-2440444/2451458

Bolivia –  59

12. TARIJA

Hermanas Carmelitas

TARIJA

Tel. 4-6663788

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Brasile – cf55

13. MARIANA

Lar Comunitario “Santa Maria”

Placa Dom Oscar de Oliveira n.  31

Colina de San Pedro

33542-000 MARIANA, MG

Tel. 031-35581161/35571650

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General Intention: The Family. That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society. .

Missionary Intention: Mary, Guide of Missionaries. That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus.  

• Tuesday, May 1, 2012
  Lectio: John 10,22-30
• Wednesday, May 2, 2012
  Lectio: John 12,44-50
  
• Thursday, May 3, 2012
  Lectio: Sts. Philip and James, Apostles - Jn 14,21-26
• Friday, May 4, 2012
  Lectio: John 14,1-6
• Saturday, May 5, 2012
  Lectio: John 14,7-14
• Sunday, May 6, 2012
  Lectio: 5th Sunday of Easter (B)
• Monday, May 7, 2012
  Lectio: John 14,21-26
• Tuesday, May 8, 2012
  Lectio: John 14,27-31a
• Wednesday, May 9, 2012
  Lectio: John 15,1-8
• Thursday, May 10, 2012
  Lectio: John 15,9-11
• Friday, May 11, 2012
  Lectio: John 15,12-17
• Saturday, May 12, 2012
  Lectio: John 15,18-21
• Sunday, May 13, 2012
  Lectio: 6th Sunday of Easter (B)
• Monday, May 14, 2012
  Lectio: St. Matthias, Apostle - Jn 15:9-17
• Tuesday, May 15, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,5-11
• Wednesday, May 16, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,12-15
• Thursday, May 17, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,16-20
• Friday, May 18, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,20-23a
• Saturday, May 19, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,23b-28
• Sunday, May 20, 2012
  Lectio: Ascension of The Lord (B)
• Monday, May 21, 2012
  Lectio: John 16,29-33
• Tuesday, May 22, 2012
  Lectio: John 17,1-11a
• Wednesday, May 23, 2012
  Lectio: John 17,11b-19
• Thursday, May 24, 2012
  Lectio: John 17,20-26
• Friday, May 25, 2012
  Lectio: John 21,15-19
• Saturday, May 26, 2012
  Lectio: John 21,20-25
• Sunday, May 27, 2012
  Lectio: The Pentecost Sunday (B)
• Monday, May 28, 2012
  Lectio: Mark 10,17-27
• Tuesday, May 29, 2012
  Lectio: Mark 10,28-31
• Wednesday, May 30, 2012
  Lectio: Mark 10,32-45
• Thursday, May 31, 2012
  Lectio: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1) Opening prayer
Father,
guide us, as you guide creation
according to your law of love.
May we love one another
and come to perfection
in the eternal life prepared for us.
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. Amen.

2) Gospel Reading - Luke 8,19-21
Jesus’ mother and his brothers came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd.

He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’

3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents the episode in which the relatives of Jesus and also his Mother want to speak with him, but Jesus does not pay attention to them. Jesus had problems with his family. Sometimes the family helps one to live the Gospel and to participate in the community. Other times, the family prevents this. This is what happened to Jesus and this is what happens to us.

• Luke 8, 19-20: The family looks for Jesus. The relatives reach the house where Jesus was staying. Probably, they had come from Nazareth. From there to Capernaum the distance is about 40 kilometres. His Mother was with them. Probably, they did not enter because there were many people, but they sent somebody to tell him: “Your Mother and your brothers are outside and want to see you”. According to the Gospel of Mark, the relatives do not want to see Jesus, they want to take him back home (Mk 3, 32). They thought that Jesus had lost his head (Mk 3, 21). Probably, they were afraid, because according to what history says, the Romans watched very closely all that he did, in one way or other, with the people (cf. Ac 5, 36-39). In Nazareth, up on the mountains he would have been safer than in Capernaum.
• Luke 8, 21: The response of Jesus. The reaction of Jesus is clear: “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice”. In Mark the reaction of Jesus is more concrete. Mark says: Looking around at those who were sitting there he said: “Look, my mother and my brothers! Anyone who does the will of God, he is my brother, sister and mother (Mk 3, 34-35). Jesus extends his family! He does not permit the family to draw him away from the mission: neither the family (Jn 7, 3-6), nor Peter (Mk 8, 33), nor the disciples (Mk 1, 36-38), nor Herod (Lk 13, 32), nor anybody else (Jn 10, 18).
• It is the Word of God which creates a new family around Jesus: “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to the Word of God, and put it into practice.” A good commentary on this episode is what the Gospel of John says in the Prologue: “He was in the world that had come into being through him and the world did not recognize him. He came to his own and his own people did not accept him”. But to those who did accept him he gave them power to become children of God: to those who believed in his name, who were born not from human stock or human desire, or human will, but from God himself. And the Word became flesh, he lived among us; and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1, 10-14). The family, the relatives, do not understand Jesus (Jn 7, 3-5; Mk 3, 21), they do not form part of the new family. Only those who receive the Word, that is, who believe in Jesus, form part of the new family. These are born of God and form part of God’s Family.
• The situation of the family at the time of Jesus. In the time of Jesus, the political social and economic moment or the religious ideology, everything conspired in favour of weakening the central values of the clan, of the community. The concern for the problems of the family prevented persons from being united in the community. Rather, in order that the Kingdom of God could manifest itself anew, in the community life of the people, persons had to go beyond, to pass the narrow limits of the small family and open themselves to the large family, toward the Community. Jesus gives the example. When his own family tried to take hold of him, Jesus reacted and extended the family (Mk 3, 33-35). He created the Community.
• The brothers and the sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers and sisters of Jesus” causes much polemics among Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves on this and on other texts, the Protestants say that Jesus had more brothers and sisters and that Mary had more sons! The Catholics say that Mary did not have other sons. What should we think about this? In the first place, both positions: that of the Catholics as well as that of the Protestants, start from the arguments drawn from the Bible and from the Traditions of their respective Churches. Because of this, it is not convenient to discuss on this question with only intellectual arguments. Because here it is a question of the convictions that they have and which have to do with faith and sentiments. The intellectual argument alone does not succeed in changing a conviction of the heart! Rather, it irritates and draws away! And even if I do not agree with the opinion of the other person, I must respect it. In the second place, instead of discussing about texts, both we Catholics and the Protestants, we should unite together to fight in defence of life, created by God, a life totally disfigured by poverty, injustice, by the lack of faith. We should recall some phrase of Jesus: “I have come so that they may have life and life in abundance” (Jn 10, 10). “So that all may be one so that the world will believe that it was you who sent me” (Jn 17, 21). “Do not prevent them! Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mk 9, 39.40).

4) Personal questions
• Does your family help or make it difficult for you to participate in the Christian community?
• How do you assume your commitment in the Christian community without prejudice for the family or for the community?

5) Concluding Prayer
Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your will,
and I will observe it.
Give me understanding and I will observe your Law,
and keep it wholeheartedly. (Ps 119,33-34)

1) Opening prayer
Almighty God,

our creator and guide,
may we serve you with all our hearts
and know your forgiveness in our lives.
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. Amen.

2) Gospel Reading - Luke 7,31-35
Jesus said: ‘What comparison, then, can I find for the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t cry.

‘For John the Baptist has come, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of man has come, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.’

3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel we see the novelty of the Good News which opens its way and thus persons who are attached to ancient forms of faith feel lost and do not understand anything more of God’s action. In order to hide their lack of openness and of understanding they defend and seek childish pretexts to justify their attitude of lack of acceptance. Jesus reacts with a parable to denounce the incoherence of his enemies: “You are similar to children who do not know what they want”.

• Luke 7, 31: To whom, then, shall I compare you? Jesus is struck by the reaction of the people and say: “What comparison, then, can I find for the people of this generation? What are they like?” When something is evident and the persons, out of ignorance or because of bad will, do not perceive things and do not want to perceive them, it is good to find an evident comparison which will reveal their incoherence and the ill will. And Jesus is a Master in finding comparisons which speak for themselves.
• Luke 7, 32: Like children without judgment. The comparison which Jesus finds is this one. You are like “those children, shouting to one another while they sit in the market place: we played the pipes for you, and you would not dance; we sang dirges and you would not cry!” Spoiled children, all over the world, have the same reaction. They complain when others do not do and act as they say. The reason for Jesus’ complaint is the arbitrary way with which people in the past reacted before John the Baptist and how they react now before Jesus.
• Luke 7, 33-34: Their opinion on John and on Jesus. “For John the Baptist has come, not eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say: he is possessed. The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say: look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners”. Jesus was a disciple of John the Baptist; he believed in him and was baptized by him. On the occasion of this Baptism in the Jordan, he had the revelation of the Father regarding his mission as Messiah-Servant (Mk 1, 10). At the same time, Jesus stressed the difference between him and John. John was more severe, more ascetical, did not eat nor drink. He remained in the desert and threatened the people with the punishment of the Last Judgment (Lk 3, 7-9). Because of this, people said that he was possessed. Jesus was more welcoming; he ate and drank like everybody else. He went through the towns and entered the houses of the people; he accepted the tax collectors and the prostitutes. This is why they said that he was a glutton and a drunkard. Even considering his words regarding “the men of this generation” (Lk 7, 31), in a general way, probably, Jesus had in mind the opinion of the religious authority who did not believe in Jesus (Mk 11,29-33).
• Luke 7, 35: The obvious conclusion to which Jesus arrives. And Jesus ends drawing this conclusion: “Yet, wisdom is justified by all her children”. The lack of seriousness and of coherence is clearly seen in the opinion given on Jesus and on John. The bad will is so evident that it needs no proof. That recalls the response of Job to his friends who believe that they are wise: “Will no one teach you to be quiet! - the only wisdom that becomes you!” (Job 13, 5).

4) Personal questions
• When I express my opinion on others, am I like the Pharisees and the Scribes who gave their opinion on Jesus and John? They expressed only their preconceptions and said nothing on the persons whom they judged.

• Do you know any groups in the Church who would merit the parable of Jesus?

5) Concluding Prayer
How blessed the nation whose God is Yahweh,
the people he has chosen as his heritage.
From heaven Yahweh looks down,
he sees all the children of Adam. (Ps 33,12-13)

The witness of the Holy Spirit
and the witness of the disciples
John15:26-27, 16:12-15

1. Opening prayer

Oh, My Father, when will the Consoler come? When will your Spirit of Truth reach me? The Lord Jesus has promised Him, He has said that He would have sent Him from Your womb down to us. Father, then, open wide Your heart and send Him from your holy Heavens, from Your high dwelling! Do not delay any more, but fulfill the ancient promise; save us today, for ever! Open and free Your Love for us, in order that I too can be open and freed by You, in You. May this Word of Yours today be the holy place of our encounter, be the nuptial room to be immersed in You, Oh Trinity who are Love! Come in me and I in You; dwell in me and I in You. Remain, Father! Remain Oh Son Jesus Christ! Remain for ever, Consoler Spirit, do not leave me ever! Amen.

2. Reading

a) In order to insert this passage in its context:

The few verses which the Liturgy offers us today for meditation belong to the great farewell discourse which Jesus addressed to His disciples before the Passion, and which John extends from 13:31 to the end of chapter 17. Here Jesus begins to speak of the unavoidable consequence of following the choice of faith and love for Him. The disciple has to be ready to suffer persecution from the world. But in this struggle, in this pain, there is a consolation, there is a Defender, an Advocate who witnesses for us and saves us: the gift of the Spirit illuminates the human adventure of the disciple and fills us with a living hope. He is sent to make us understand the mystery of Christ and to allow us to participate in it.

b) To help in the reading of the passage:

15, 26-27: Jesus announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, as Consoler, as the defending Advocate. He will be the one to act in the process of accusation which the world has against the disciples of Christ. He will be the one to make them strong in persecution. The Spirit renders witness to the world regarding the Lord Jesus; He defends Christ, who is contested, accused, and rejected. But the witness of the disciples is also necessary. The Spirit has to use them to proclaim with strength, in this world, the Lord Jesus. It is the beauty of our life transformed into a witness of love and fidelity to Christ.

16, 12: Jesus places His disciples – and therefore us too – ahead of their condition of poverty and incapacity, by which they do not understand well neither the words of Jesus, nor the words of Scripture. His truth is still a burden, which they cannot receive, lift up, and carry.

16, 13 –15: In these last verses, the Word of Jesus reveals to the disciples what will be the action of His Spirit in them. He will be the one to guide them in the whole truth. He will make them understand the mystery of Jesus in all its importance or significance, and in the totality of His truth. He will guide, reveal, proclaim, and illuminate, bringing to us, His disciples, the words of the Father. In this way we will be led to the encounter with God. By His grace we will be rendered capable of understanding the depth of the Father and of the Son.

c) The Text:

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."

3. A moment of prayerful silence

I keep silence, from time to time I repeat in a low voice: “Come Holy Spirit”.

4. Some questions

a) “When the Paraclete will come”. Jesus immediately places me in front of a very concrete reality; He opens before me a new time and tells me that this is a time of waiting in my life. The Paraclete is about to come, the Holy Spirit. Why Lord, have I waited for you for such a short time, and has my attention toward you been so weak, so hypocritical? You send someone to look for me and I am not even aware, do I not even show any interest?

b) “And you too will be witnesses”. Jesus affirms this, addressing Himself to His disciples of that time and of today. He speaks precisely to me and tells me: “You too will be a witness”. I am afraid. Why lose my importance before others: my companions in school, in the university, in my team, my friends, who invite me to go out with them? Why this great difficulty? Can I not be a Christian just the same? You are my beginning and my end: You are my whole existence! How could I not be Your witness, Lord? How can I continue to keep silence in this way?.

c) “He will lead you to the complete truth”. I have always planned my decisions to change. I have always been able to do everything alone. And now, Lord, You tell me that another One will guide me. This is not an easy choice, I confess it. But I want to try, I want to accept You, oh You who are Love. I allow myself to be taken hold of by Your Spirit. Will He lead me to the desert, as He did with You (cf. Lk4:1)? Will He open my life, as He opened the womb of the Virgin Mary (Lk1:35)? Will He invest me as He did with Peter, with the others, with all who believed in the preaching, as it is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles? I do not know what will happen to me, but I want to say yes to You.

5. A key for the Reading

* The Holy Spirit Paraclete

At first sight this term may seem a bit strange. It is a Greek word which is quite vague, from ancient times. Saint John referred to it when he said: “I shall ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever” (Jn 14:16) and revealing that the Spirit comes to console, to remain with them, to defend and to protect. Here, though, in this verse, there seems to emerge a nuance: the Spirit presents Himself to us as the Advocate, that is, the One who is at our side in the judgment, in the accusation, in the tribunal of persecution. We know the whole story that bears in its heart the accusation, the contempt, the condemnation of the Lord Jesus and for all those who love Him. This is the daily story of all. At the bench of the accused, at the side of Jesus, we also sit, but not alone. We have an Advocate. The Spirit of the Lord comes and acts in the judgment in our behalf: He has discourses, renders witness, tries to convince and to prove. His work is immense in our midst, and for us. Before the Father, our Advocate is Jesus, as John writes in his first Letter (1 Jn2:1); but before the world, our Advocate is the Spirit, whom he sends to us from the Father. We should not prepare our defense beforehand (Lk 21:14), thinking that we can excuse ourselves alone, but we have to make space, within us, for the breath of the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to be the one who speaks, says, proves. Paul also had to have this hard experience. He writes this in his second Letter to Timothy: “The first time I had to present my defense, no one came in to court to support me. Every one of them deserted me” (2 Tim4:16). It is truly like that. There is no defense for us, no innocence, liberation, true freedom from jail, except in the intimate relationship with the Spirit of the Lord. He comes to us, in order that we may allow ourselves to be taken up by His presence, as in an embrace, as in an intimate and intense relationship of friendship, trust, abandonment and love.

* The Witness

I begin to understand, continuing to accept, in my heart, the words of this Gospel, that the relationship of us, disciples with the Holy Spirit, has as its purpose to render us capable of giving our witness to Jesus. We are united unconditionally with the Holy Spirit. We are grasped by Him, taken up in His fire, which is the reciprocal Love of the Father and of the Son, so that we too may become luminous, that we also may be sources of love in this world.

To render witness means to affirm clearly, giving proofs. The first one to do this, continually, is the Spirit. In every place and at all times He acts with power, in us and around us. He is the one who moves the hearts, who changes our distorted and hardened thoughts, who brings us closer, reconciles, impels to pardon, and brings us to union. He is also the One who heals the soul, the sick body and heart. He is the One who teaches, trains and makes one docile. He gives witness to the Lord Jesus, the Savior, through all His actions, soft touches of love, and of communion on our desolate and dry earth. He calls out the Risen One, who has conquered and stepped on death for ever. He gives witness to the Living One, the Glorified One from the One who is with us until the end of time. Behold, this is the witness. The Spirit introduces this in our world, brings it to us. We cannot remain indifferent or choose a bit here and there. He is the truth. And there is only one truth: that of God, His Son Jesus Christ. We are called to give witness to all of this. That is to commit our life, out of love, to this truth. To give witness is to become martyrs, out of love. Not alone, not by our own strength or by our own wisdom. “You will also be my witnesses”, says Jesus. But our wisdom can only exist within the witness of the Holy Spirit. They are not parallel witnesses, but lives fused together: that of the Spirit and ours. This takes place before the infinite tribunals of the world, every day of our life. It becomes a sacred place, almost a sanctuary, of the witness to the Lord Jesus. It is not important to carry out great enterprises, to show wisdom and intelligence, or attract crowds of people. No, one thing alone suffices: to tell the world that the Lord is alive, that He is here, in our midst and to proclaim His mercy, His infinite love.

* The Father

The contact with the Holy Spirit, allowing ourselves to be embraced and invaded by Him, leads us to the Lord Jesus. It leads us to His Heart, to the source of His love. And from there we go to the Father. We had nothing. We were not able to bring anything with us coming into this world and now, behold, we are loaded with gifts! It’s impossible to contain them all. It is necessary to allow them to overflow, to flow outside, toward the brothers and sisters whom we meet.

The Spirit speaks of Jesus and uses the words of the Father. He repeats to us what He hears from the Father. His dwelling is the Father, and coming to us, the Spirit brings with Him the seal of that dwelling, of that place of infinite communion, which is the womb of the Father. We understand well that this is our house. We recognize the place of our origin and our end. Receiving the Spirit of Jesus we rediscover that we also come from the Father, that we are born in Him and we live in Him. If we seek ourselves, if we want to find the way, the sense of our life here, all this is written in the words which the Spirit pronounces for us, within us, concerning us. It is truly necessary to have a great silence in order to be able to listen to understand Him. It is necessary to go back to the house. To finally rethink in the Father and to say, within ourselves: “Yes, it is now enough! I have wandered far away from You for a long time, I have been lost… I will go back to my Father”. I see how many wonders the Spirit of truth can act, that my Lord Jesus Christ sends me from the Father. It will not be Pentecost if I do not allow myself to be taken up by Him, to be led by Him to the womb of the Father, where Christ is already waiting for me, where the fire of the Holy Spirit is already burning for me.

6. A moment of prayer

Psalm 68

(The tenderness of the Father is the dwelling of the poor)

Response: Abbà Father, I am your son!

I pray to You, Yahweh,
at the time of Your favor;
in Your faithful love answer me,
in the constancy of Your saving power.

Answer me, Yahweh, for Your faithful love is generous;
in Your tenderness turn towards me;
do not turn away from Your servant,
be quick to answer me, for I am in trouble.

Come to my side, redeem me,
ransom me because of my enemies.

The humble have seen and are glad.
Let your courage revive,
you who seek God.
For God listens to the poor,
He has never scorned His captive people.

Let heaven and earth and seas,
and all that stirs in them, acclaim Him!
For God will save Zion,
and rebuild the cities of Judah,
and people will live there on their own land;
the descendants of His servants will inherit it,
and those who love His name will dwell there.

7. Final Prayer

Thank You, Father, for the coming of the Consoler, the Advocate. Thank You for His witness of Jesus in the world in me and in my life. Thank You because it is He who makes me capable of receiving and bearing the glorious weight of your Son and my Lord. Thank you, because He guides me in truth, He hands me over to the whole truth and reveals to me the Word which You Yourself pronounce. Thank You, my Father, because in Your goodness and tenderness You have joined me today and You have attracted me to You. You have made me enter in the house of your heart. You have immersed me in the fire of the Trinitarian love, where You and Your Son Jesus are only one in the infinite kiss of the Holy Spirit. I am also here and because of this my joy is overflowing. I pray You, Father, make me give this joy to all, in the loving witness of Jesus, the Savior, every day of my life. Amen.