An unfashionable motto

​I was interested to discover that the motto of the Italian St Francis Caracciolo (1563-1608) whose feast day is today was ‘zeal for your house has consumed me’.  This saying comes from Psalm 69 and it was remembered by the Disciples in connection with the expulsion of the money-changers by Jesus (John 2, 17).  St Francis was co-founder of the Clerics Regular Minor (or Adorno Fathers) whose charism – like ours - combines the contemplative and the active.  The motto (which is said to have been found burned into the flesh of St Francis Caracciolo after his death) is similar to our Carmelite one – ‘With zeal I have been zealous for the Lord of Hosts’ (1 Kings 19, 10).   He was born the year after St Teresa began her work of founding convents in 1562 and he was also a founder – of three houses in Spain.  Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been one of the keynotes of the charism of these Fathers.  Zeal for God will not make you popular of course – something we were discussing in a Carmelite group last night – but it will bring you a depth of happiness. 

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.