Saints for every type

 Many Carmelites have a favourite Carmelite saint or author.  Perhaps it is the one who first introduced them to Carmel.  Perhaps it is the one who wrote their favourite Carmelite text.  That is all to the good, because people are so very different, we differ by our personalities, by our characters, by our interest, by our inclinations, and by our preferences.  I was originally introduced to Carmel by St John of the Cross and it took a while for me to grow in appreciation of St Teresa and St Therese.  Over the past couple of years we have been looking in depth in the Order at Therese, and this has made me love her as never before.  But a long acquaintance with Teresa and John makes me aware that the unique features in Therese actually combine with the Carmelite strain in her – she may look like a rocket appearing out of nowhere into a blue sky, but actually she drank profusely at the Carmelite source.  We give thanks for all the Carmelite saints – for these and for all the others.     

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – in hospital

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

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Joy Smith – in hospital

Richard P – in hospital

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

 RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, little Matthew (six years old, died of cancer)