Isolationism

 I suffered from the disease of extreme isolationism in my early years in Carmel.  What I mean is that I only considered myself and the Secular group that I personally had joined.  My Carmelite life was about the activities of our group.  What went on in the wider world of Carmel passed over my head.  The Good Lord gradually showed me a better way, a way of accepting the responsibility of belonging to the worldwide Carmelite Order.  I began to make more effort to attend retreats.  I am ashamed to say that only when I was appointed a Regional Representative did I experience our annual Regional Days.  We had our Central Regional Day in Northampton last Saturday and it was so good to sense the happy atmosphere and watch the mingling going on.  We have the privilege of a talk from Fr Matt Blake OCD every year, and this year it was on Blessed Anne of Jesus, recently beatified in Brussels by Pope Francis.  (My apologies that in a recent blog I incorrectly stated that she was canonised – my mistake.)  His talks are always special and this was no exception.  Blessed Anne played a leading role in the establishment of the Carmelite Sisters in France in the Seventeenth Century, which was a huge success.  But seemingly monumental obstacles had to be overcome to achieve this – we have no idea!  Not least that the Spanish Friars of the day were against the idea of foundations in France and obstructed the project!  Blessed Anne and contemporaries like Anne of St Bartholomew and Mary of St Joseph devoted themselves heroically to the growth of Carmel in the teeth of every opposition, and the spirit of Teresa blew out across the world.

Intercessions:

E, struggling with a difficult pregnancy

Im, working through the consequences of a hugely demanding operation

S, an infant with severe health problems