Carmel and the Bridgettines

When I think of St Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad (1870-1957 – feast day today) who restored the Bridgettine Order, I recall visiting Santa Brigida Convent when in Rome some years ago.  This ancient building has strong connections with Sweden but came into the hands of a Polish branch of the Carmelite Order between 1889 and 1930, when it was taken over by the Bridgettine Order.  During this period St Mary Elizabeth had actually visited the house at some point after her conversion from Lutheranism in 1902 and asked to be admitted, but God had other plans for her, and in 1906 she was clothed in the Bridgettine habit and began her work of restoration of the Order.  St Bridget of Sweden, founder of the first Bridgettines, was a mystic and a contemplative and she is one of the patron saints of Europe, in company with our St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Intercessions

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,

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Hilary Solomon, 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.