We are all given a chance to change

In the recently held International Eucharistic Congress 2016, one of the many that caught my attention was this video, uploaded on youtube.

One of the Slogan of President Duterte in the last election was "Change is coming", where in, many of his followers made this their own slogan too, well nothing's wrong with this slogan, for who would not want change in the first place?

In my own opinion however, every time the hand of clock moves, change always happens, and most probably most of us are not just simply aware of it, which is probably why most people always seek for a change, a change in the form of government, in society, in almost everything that we encounter, we see, or even in things that we believe in.

Change do happen, every time, every day, in every step that we take in the present, change is always there, it is just a matter of asking ourselves of the kind of change that we really wanted, is it for our own, or for the betterment of others.

Either way, if indeed we really want change, are we simply asking others to change for us and disregard the fact that we ourselves needs changing too?

True change does not need to start from others, it simply needs to start from us, and we only need to look at these inmates to know that change can happen, anytime, anywhere, at any given moment.

Thus, the only question that remains is that, is the change that we seek for the better or for worst? 

Yours in Christ

The 6 Ms of Teresian Carmelite - Mental Prayer

Inspired by the teaching of St. Teresa of Avila that the purpose of prayer is "the birth of Good Works", as Carmelite Seculars we are called upon to contemplative prayer.

One way of doing this is through mental prayer which is included in our "6 Ms".

Mental Prayer - to fulfill our commitment of living in allegiance to Jesus Christ, we dedicate at least 30 minutes to an hour of our time everyday to God by quieting our selves and listening to Gods voice in silence. [1]

St. Teresa in her "Way of Perfection" explains the meaning and importance of mental prayer.  In her writing, she ask this question, 

" How can you address a King unless you are clearly conscious of the nature of his position and your own?"[2]

Why does she say this,?  St. Teresa states that when we pray, it is very important for us

"... to  think of Who it is that you are addressing, and what you yourself are, if only you speak to Him with proper respect."[3]

St. Teresa always believe that prayer is our way of communicating with Jesus, the King of Kings, our King, thus whenever we pray it is necessary that we address our King properly, for this King who is Supreme power and Goodness, 

"before Whom even the angels tremble."[4]

With vocal prayer alone there is this problem of often times forgetting Whom He is that we are addressing, that often leads our mind astray, aside from the possibility of simply uttering words that we have already memorized in the past that simply makes our prayer more mechanical rather than doing our best to attain contemplation, which is according to our founder, should be the aim of all Discalced Carmelites whenever they pray.

Contemplation, which is

 "Divine union, in which the Lord takes His delight in the soul, and the soul takes its delight in Him."[5]

For whenever

" the Lord gives His favours and we ourselves leave nothing undone, I think it is certain that He never ceases from giving until He has brought us to a very high degree of prayer."[6]

Thus mental prayer is important for what vocal prayer finds very hard to attain, by combining it with mental prayer, it allows us to attain contemplation.  Which is what "contemplative" prayer is all about.

In the words of our founder St. Teresa of Avila,

"... for mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends;  it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."[7]

To Jesus through Mary,

Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS

[1] OCDS-Philippines Provincial Statutes page 1

[2] Way of Perfection Chapter 22:1

[3] ibid

[4] Way of Perfection Chapter 22:3 
[5] Way of Perfection Chapter 16:2
[6] ibid
[7] Life 8:5

Importance of Formation

As I was doing my usual web browsing and surfing over the net looking for documents that I could use on my research about our Secular Order, I happened to have chanced upon and downloaded a document written by our former Superior General Rev. Fr. Luis Arostegui, OCD regarding the pastoral care of the Secular Order, which dates back, 14th of December 2006.

Practically, the document is a guideline pertaining to the Pastoral Care of the Secular Order. (You can download a copy of this document here.

Curious about its contents, I started reading it.

What struck me though was in the first five paragraphs of the document as he states the rationale of this document.

It is where Fr. Superior General started to describe the start of the Secular Order, which dates back to the time of St. Francis of Assisi and his comparison between the different structure and purpose of the lay members of a Mendicant order, known as "Seculars" and the Monastic Orders that predates before the time of the Franciscan Order, better known as the "Oblates".

He pointed out that “one might say that the involvement of lay persons with monastic life was to bring those persons in the world into the spirituality of the monastery, and the involvement of lay persons with mendicant life was to bring the spirituality of the Mendicant Orders into the life of lay persons in the world."

This document although specifically addressed to the Provincials, Provincial Delegates and Spiritual Assistants, fully elaborates and answers a common question that we always encounter (at least in our community), regarding the importance of our formation and the different possible apostolate that each of our members can partake.

What's the connection then?

Allow me tell my story and to elaborate before I continue.

When I first learned (discovered is the usual word that I use) about the OCDS here in Subic, what really took my attention was the formation program that was written in the brochure that was given to me by one of our Elders.

As a Cursillista and a Rollista for a Cursillo Movement based in Metro Manila, who has been isolated from my group for years (I had been isolated from my Cursillo Group for almost 10 years since we transferred in Zambales and aside from the fact that I was problematic then), when I learned about the OCDS, the word "formation program" hit me like a lightning hitting a tree, that immediately made me more interested in joining the group and more convinced of the reasons why I was called to Carmel.

Only to realized that my expectations of formation greatly differs then, to the kind of formation that our community was doing. What I was expecting was more of classroom type formation, were we are required to study the history, origin, reasons of existence of the Order, etc.

Eventually the kind of formation that we had then, were focused more on the experiences of each member (which is, personally I believe is also important).

But during those days, frankly speaking, I was more interested to know more about the Order in itself (Trivia, the only time that I found out that St. Therese of the Child Jesus was a Carmelite, was when I joined the OCDS).

Until, the OCDS-Formation Program was used in the formation process (now were getting somewhere... just kidding).

Although we have already started to use the OCDS-Program of Formation before it was mandated by our Provincial Delegate (I had already finished it before my promotion to Novitiate), there were still problems that needs to be address by the community, and some of those were pockets of small resistance that questions the importance of the formation program and the methods of delivery per se...

The Importance of Formation

“…the involvement of lay persons with mendicant life was to bring the spirituality of the Mendicant Orders into the life of lay persons in the world.”  - Rev. Fr. Luis Arostegui, OCD

The words that our Fr. Superior General have used to state the mission in general, of members of a mendicant secular Order already provides an idea of how important formation is.

For already it states in principle that in accomplishing our task as members of a Secular Mendicant Order, we are required to bring to the world the very spirituality that we have learned.

And since we are not monastic and do not “exercise its responsibility in the convent or in the monastery, but in the world (saeculum)”, there is a need for us to communicate the Spirituality of our Order to the world around us through our connection with the Friars.

Thus the moment we become members of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, not only the Order, but the Universal (Catholos) Church as a whole, expects something from us, which is to fulfill a mission, "...to bring the spirituality of the Mendicant Orders into the life of lay persons in the world..." and in order to fulfill this mission there is a need to strengthen our conviction, which can only be made possible through our formation.

Resources:

Pastoral care of the Secular Order, Rev. Fr. Luis Arostegui, OCD, December 14, 2006

Notes:

This document is part of the Introductory Lecture that I have prepared For Part 1 “Introduction to the Aspirancy “Lesson 1 – Orientation, of the OCDS-Program of Formation Syllabus for the Aspirancy . Titled “the importance of Formation”

How I came to Know Carmel of the Holy Spirit and My Expectations on Formation

Journal - First Formation Proper

Scriptural reflections:

I see the parable of the sower as a form of a challenge for me, of finding out for myself what will happen to the seeds that fell on me. Will I allow the devil to snatch it away from me? Will I just receive it gladly but not allow it to sink deep into my heart? Will I allow the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke me? Or will I be one of those who will accept it openly, nurture it and allow it to bear fruit?

Truthfully, how I wish that I am part of the last option, but to say that the other three is not possible will be a form deception in my part, for I will not be able to do the fourth option without the grace of God.

How I came to know Carmel of the Holy Spirit, Subic.

I never believed in coincidence and never will, it is my belief that when things happens there is always a purpose, and what ever that purpose is, it is for me to find out.

Though I had already heard of the Carmelites at Subic, I never went there since we transferred from Quezon City to San Marcelino, Zambales until one day…

It all happened in the month of July 2006, during those times when my mother was still undergoing purification (bed ridden. she passed away two months later ) and I had a heavy heart and was about to go to Olongapo and meet a relative of ours. Prior to this I decided to drop by at St. Nicholas Parish Castillejos to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, unluckily for me the Parish Priest was not available.

I was really troubled then as I traveled from Castillejos to Olongapo, so I decided to pray the rosary as I travel. Then, as I pass by the Shrine of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at Subic Hills, something within me made me remember the Carmelites, since I’m not really familiar of its location, though I do know I will pass by it before Subic town proper, I just could not help the feeling to drop by the place for some unknown reasons.

Then there it was, I stopped the bus and hurried down and move towards the entrance, though I’m not really sure if I will be able to enter the place, I just move towards it. Upon entry, I could see there were no people around the place, but in a distant I saw two figures talking. I decided to move towards them thou I’m not really sure why I went there in the first place.

I found out later that the figures I saw was a common visitor of the Carmelites and a nun talking. After the visitor had left the nun asked me If there’s anything that she could do to help me (she though that I was a seminarian) since it’s the first time she saw me in the place, I never knew what happened then, I just found my self crying my heart out and telling her my hurt, fears and anguish, she just listened and said some consoling words, then afterwards she asked me if I wanted to pray at the Chapel, I said yes and she pointed me to a make shift chapel, since the Carmelite Chapel is still undergoing renovation at that time (although we are already using the chapel now).

Before I entered the Chapel there I saw the image of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (I never knew until that day that St. Therese whom I pray to from time to time was a Carmelite). I stayed in the chapel for some time before I left for Olongapo, had my confession and then met my relatives.

After that experience, for some unknown reason I started attending mass every morning…yes… at Carmel of the Holy Spirit, Subic. Until one day it was early August of the same year, I was invited then by the OCDS President (He’s no longer the Community President after serving the Community for how many terms, and has already joined our Father in Heaven) to attend one of their monthly meetings. I never had any Idea nor even heard the acronym OCDS, until that day, and the rest were history…

My Expectations

I guess, my expectations for now are simply to know more about the Order and to grow in my spirituality the Carmelite way.


(Contents of this post is my journal- in formation that I wrote during my formation proper in Aspirancy, which I had finished prior to my clothing in 2007, and was only posted on this blog  on a  later date.  Indicated dates does not reflect recent events but, but events that had taken place years ago.)

The Brown Scapular

Brown Scapular - "Behold the Sign of Salvation" 

Although, “the long-standing tradition of the Church has approved this vision as an acceptable cult, it does not authenticate it as a historical experience. “[1].  In fact, it really becomes hard to prove that the Blessed Virgin Mary has indeed appeared to St. Simon Stock due to the absence of official documentations that can prove that the event has indeed taken place.

Father Richard Copsey, O.Carm. wrote an outstanding article, astonishingly erudite actually, for the Journal of Ecclesiastical History on this question.  In which he pointed out these several problems.  The first is the historicity of Simon himself.  The second is the account of the vision, as explained here.

Nevertheless, one cannot deny the fact that the brown scapular has indeed played a great role in the development of the Carmelite Order, since embedded within its history is the pious tradition of the Brown Scapular and the supposed privilege gained by its wearer as promised by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to St. Simon Stock believed to have taken placed at Cambridge, England, on July 16, 1251.

St. Simon Stock is an English Man, who's birthplace was traditionally been given as Kent, in which sometime in the 13th Century joined the Carmelite Order, most probably after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.[2] He became the general of the order in 1247.

As an answer to his appeal for help at a time when the Carmelite Order is in peril of being suppressed, it is believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Him and gave him the brown scapular as sign of the Carmelite Order.

The earliest and most authentic descriptions of the scapular vision can be found in the Viridarium, the Sanctology of Carmelite Saints composed by John Grossi sometime in the 14th Century [3] in which the following were written:

"The ninth [Saint] was St. Simon of England, the 6th General of the Order.  He continually pleaded with the most glorious Mother of God to grant some special privilege to the Order of Carmelites, which enjoys the special title of the Virgin. He prayed devoutly:

Flower of Carmel, fruitful vine,

Splendor of heaven, mother divine--None like to thee;

Mother of meekness, spotless virgin,

To the Carmelite a favor impart,

Star of the Sea.

Surrounded by a multitude of angels, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her blessed hands the scapular of the Order. She said:

"This shall be privilege for you and for all Carmelites, that whoever dies clothed in this shall not suffer eternal fire; rather, he shall be saved."[4]

Even though that the visions cannot be seen as a historical events, it does not mean that they are without meaning. [5]

Simply put, for us Secular Carmelites, it is our belief that we enjoy Mary’s special protection, with “the brown scapular serving as an outward symbol of membership to the Carmelite Order and a sign of Mary as both our mother and model.” [6]

Notes:

[1] A Catechesis on the Brown Scapular

[2] OCDS Philippines - Formation Support Manual Vol. 1 Aspirancy page 93

[3] OCDS Philippines - Formation Support Manual Vol. 1 Aspirancy page 96

[4] OCDS Philippines - Formation Support Manual Vol. 1 Aspirancy page 96

[5] A Catechesis on the Brown Scapular

[6] OCDS Constitution 4.36-b

With excerpts from:

OCDS Philippines - Formation Support Manual

Vol. 1 Aspirancy Lesson 6, Birth of the Order 2