A reforming spirit

I learnt quite a bit from reading about St Joseph of Leonissa Ofm. Cap (1556-1612), whose feast is today.  First about himself – he was a preacher to the Muslims in Constantinople.  He even went in to the royal palace to try to preach to the Sultan, but was arrested and given a horrible punishment involving being hanged on a hook – a punishment which amazingly he survived.  The second thing I learnt was about the Capucin Reform of the Franciscan Order – and this connects to Carmelite history.  I am very ignorant of Franciscan history, but I learn that the Capucin Order arose in 1525 when Matteo da Bascio said he had been inspired by God with the idea that the manner of life led by the friars of his day was not the one which their founder St Franci had envisaged.  He sought to return to the primitive way of life of solitude and penance, as practised by the founder of their Order.  Sound familiar?  This makes me realise how the reforming mission of our St Teresa was not something isolated: it was part of a general movement towards renewal in the Church.

Intercessions:

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela), Agnes – cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – very seriously ill

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

RIP Anthony Kirke, husband of Judith Kirke OCDS (distributors of the Carmelite Diary)

RIP Roswitha Watson OCDS (former President of St Therese Community, Oxford)