Carmelites and a Martyr

Fascinated to discover the close association between St Oscar Romero (1917-1980), whose feast day is today, and the Carmelites.  Archbishop Romero of El Salvador was assassinated because of his defence of justice and opposition to political violence.  At Romero's side at the time of his martyrdom — when he was shedding blood from his nose and mouth — two Carmelite sisters tried in vain to save his life of the saint, something captured in historic photos of that day. The sisters keep the memory of the martyr alive in the hospital grounds in what they consider the saint's "shrine": a small residence they built for him at the entrance to the property. It was a gift to celebrate Romero's 60th birthday in 1977, close to the chapel where he died.  Although many refer to the house as the "museum" of the saint, "We, the Carmelite Missionaries, insist on calling it a shrine," said Sr. Ruby Lemus Salguero, who guides visiting pilgrims.  Today, as then, the community runs the hospital alongside the chapel and offers help to low-income patients suffering from cancer. Romero had known the community for a long time before he decided to live among the sisters and the poor patients when he was named archbishop in 1977. [Courtesy of National Catholic Reporter, adapted] 

According to their website, these Missionary Carmelites of Teresa “are a religious Congregation of women founded in Mexico City in 1903 … dedicated to serving the poor and abandoned, with the desire to make God’s presence known in all that we do. Our Charism is to "live and share the experience with the living God."

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

Illness:  Hilary Solomon, Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

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

Mark – brain infection

Michael – youngster with occult influences

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

RIP Connor Calleja (20 yrs old)

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.