A great contemplative at the heart of the world

How can we not think with delight of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whose feast is today?  For those old enough to remember her when she was alive, she was the epitome of the living saint.  She was a magnificent witness to the whole world of the beauty of our Catholic faith. Known not just for the love she showed to the poor and suffering of the great cities of the world, but for the poverty in which she and her Sisters themselves lived.  Wonderful to think that this great saint loved our Therese of Lisieux so much.  When she first took the name ‘Teresa’ in religion with the Sisters of Loreto (her baptismal name was Agnes) it was in honour of Therese (some languages translate ‘Therese’ as ‘Teresa’) and she firmly asserted that the Sisters of Charity, the Order she founded, were contemplatives and not social workers.  Of course, she said, the work that they did could be classed as social work, but in reality they were contemplatives at the heart of the world.  Isn’t that the same as us, the Secular Carmelites?  I guess we too are contemplatives at the heart of the world. That makes me feel very close to her.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K, Fr Jon B

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound; Martin Gilham – unable to attend community meetings

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)