The Carmelite Bridal Garment

Today is the Feast of that most tragic yet beautiful saint, Maria Goretti (1890-1902).  I came across on the internet an article by a member of the Order of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart in Los Angeles whose name is Sister Maria Goretti.  I find it particularly eloquent: ‘… our habit is our ‘bridal garment’; for Carmelites, it is brown. The brown habit is a colour of earth and symbolizes penance. Only in penance and self-denial, fuelled by love, will I truly enjoy union with my Bridegroom who emptied and denied Himself for love of us. This brown also reminds me that I am ‘dust and to dust, I shall return.’ Humility is derived from the word ‘humus’ meaning ‘earth or dirt’. I am called to be humble, forgetting myself entirely so that my life can be spent joyfully and generously for others, out of love of Him. And our wedding veil? One might imagine a flowing white veil, but ours is intentionally black as a daily reminder of an important truth indicated by the prayer we say when putting on the veil: “This veil teaches me that I out to die to myself and to the world in order to live entirely for You.” Just like Jesus, we seek to die to ourselves to bring life to others. When I tell Jesus, as His vowed bride, that I want to die to self in order to live entirely for Him, I hear Him saying: “Remain in me, pray in me, adore in Me, love in Me, suffer in Me, work and act in Me.” I’m asking Him to renew His entire life and mystery in me. I want to live no longer I, but I desire that Christ live His whole life in me.’ [website of the Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart]

Intercessions

RIP Mervyn Leach, father of two Secular Carmelites

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, Theresa K

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

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

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.