A Fountain of Grace for All

It is a delight for us Seculars right now that we have a pope who likes to share his indebtedness to Carmel.  When Pope Leo XIV visited France, he made a point of praying in St Joseph’s church in Paris, the home of the Discalced from 1611 to 1792.  A notable resident there was the celebrated Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection OCD (1614-1691), author of The Practice of the Presence of God, someone whom Pope Leo regards as one of his spiritual guides.  The Provincial of the Province of Paris (Br Antoine-Marie Leduc OCD) presented the Pontiff with a precious early edition of The Practice in commemoration of this occasion.  Also, when Leo visited Lourdes, he made a special visit to the Carmelite Sisters there.  All this reminds me of the wonderful Pope St John Paul II, whose love of St John of the Cross was palpable.  So many in the Church at large drink at the springs of Carmel without specifically belonging to the Order.     

Intercessions

RIP Clare, died aged 42 from cancer.

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

David OCDS – housebound

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly