St Giles and Carmel

I was doubtful if I could make a connection between today’s Saint – Giles (640-710) known as Egidio in Italian – and Carmel, given that this saint lived so long before the first Carmelites that we know about.  (I didn’t actually know until today that Egidio and Giles were the same person!).  But lo and behold! I start reading about the celebrated Sant’Egidio lay association and it turns out that their headquarters in Rome since 1973 has been in a former Carmelite monastery church!  This association, founded by Andrea Riccardi in 1968, has gained a name in recent years for its involvement in peace negotiations, and its vocation includes help for the needy.  It has an estimated 50,000 members in 73 countries. By the way, the church, built in 1630, is dedicated both to St Giles and to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

Intercessions

RIP Fr Jon Bielawski, Jacqui, Sister Maisie, Ann Widdecombe

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase; James, recovering from heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

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