A saint beloved in Carmel

Today’s saint offered to us by the Church - St Emerentiana - was a favourite of Blessed Marie-Eugène, founder of the Carmelite Institute Notre Dame de Vie, based at Venasque in the South of France.  St Emerentiana was a young Roman slave of the fourth century, the foster sister of St Agnes, and was stoned on Agnes’ tomb.  Humble and faithful until death, she was given to the members of Notre Dame de Vie as a model.  There is a chapel dedicated to the saint at the Venasque headquarters and a statue of her carved by a Filipino artist is situated near the northeast entrance. She carries stones in her hands, as the signs of her martyrdom. You can see a beautiful photo of the statue on the Notre Dame de Vie website.  The bell is  named Marie-Émerentienne.  The building was dedicated by Cardinal Mayer on 24 August 1977, the feast of St Bartholomew and the anniversary of the foundation of the St Joseph Carmel in Avila, the first monastery of the Teresian reform.  I always take delight in discovering these lesser-known saints, especially when they have a special place in Carmel.

Intercessions:

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

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – multiple afflictions

RIP Philippa Hodges OCDS – funeral today

Wojtek – massive heart attack