A Twentieth-Century Carmelite Hero

On this day in 1945 Father Jacques de Jesus OCD died in a German hospital after terrible sufferings in Mauthausen Concentration Camp where he had been sent for hiding Jewish pupils in the school where he was head master.  'Born in France in 1900, he was ordained a priest in July 1925. As a diocesan priest Lucien gained the reputation of being a fine preacher and teacher.  He was a very kind, generous, hard working, and self-giving man, which resulted in his students referring to him as "il santo".   Father Lucien contracted typhoid fever two and a half years after being ordained.  While he was recovering, he felt an attraction to monastic life and realized that his independent spirit needed a strict Rule of life.  His friendship with a community of Carmelite Nuns and the inspiration of St. Therese of Lisieux prompted him to enter the Order of Discalced Carmelites in 1931.  In time he was appointed director of a progressive boys' school at Fortainebleau.  During the Nazi occupation of France, Pere Jacques secretly hid Jewish boys. In 1944 he was arrested and sent in succession to four of the most dreaded concentration camps of that time.   Pere Jacques began his new ministry of love in the prisons.  After long days of forced labour, he continued his priestly ministry, preaching of God's love and mercy.   He gave away to others not only any extra food but his small allotted portions. He was always thinking of those more needy than himself.  After the liberation of the prisoners of Mauthausen in 1945, he gave up his seat in a transport truck and walked three miles to the nearest hospital.  Three days later, worn out from his imprisonment, Pere Jacques died.' [with acknowledgements to St Joseph's Termonbacca Carmelite Priory and Retreat Centre]

​Intercessions

RIP Mervyn Leach, father of two Secular Carmelites

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Sister Daranee Teapthong, Theresa K

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

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

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.