Latest news with #Carmelite
Herald Malaysia
3 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Penang diocese welcomes Flame of Love Movement
On June 2, Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, formally approved the establishment of the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary movement during a presentation meeting at the Minor Basilica of St Anne. Jun 20, 2025 Cardinal Sebastian Francis and Deacon Lazarus Jonathan with the team. BUKIT MERTAJAM: On June 2, Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, formally approved the establishment of the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary movement during a presentation meeting at the Minor Basilica of St Anne. With this endorsement, the Diocese of Penang becomes the first in Malaysia to officially recognise this international Marian movement, which is currently active in more than 50 Flame of Love movement originated in Hungary, inspired by messages reportedly received by Elizabeth Kindelmann, a Third Order Carmelite, from Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her spiritual diary, later published under the title The Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, includes the Unity Prayer and a special petition to be added to the Hail Mary: 'Spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity.'The mission of the Flame of Love is to lead individuals to a deeper consecration to Jesus through Mary. The movement promotes a life rooted in prayer, fasting, frequent attendance at Mass (beyond weekends), regular confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and family prayer. Members also commit to praying for world peace, clergy and religious vocations, the souls in purgatory, and conduct home visits with a pilgrim statue of Our the event, Cardinal Sebastian invited members of the movement to share personal testimonies about the impact of the Flame of Love, especially through its unique Rosary Tan shared how the Rosary has helped her grow in meditative prayer and establish a consistent spiritual routine. Elizabeth Lim highlighted how praying together as a community has deepened their sense of unity and faith. Winnie Gracia gave a moving testimony of seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary in a dream, smiling with a rosary surrounded by fresh roses. She also described frequently smelling roses and jasmine during prayer, even when none were physically Raymond spoke about her commitment to fasting every Monday and Friday to support the movement's mission of 'blinding Satan and spreading love worldwide.' Ester Ooi expressed how meaningful it is to recite the Hail Mary with the added Flame of Love petition. Cecilia Lee, from a devout Hakka family, shared the joy of being invited by Cardinal Sebastian to recite the Hail Mary in her native Hakka dialect, bringing back cherished memories of her childhood prayers with her mother in Changloon, Ann Oh summed up the testimonies by stressing the urgency of praying for humanity in today's troubled hearing all 13 heartfelt testimonies, Cardinal Sebastian remarked, 'As the English saying goes, 'He who bakes the cake eats it,'' suggesting that those who have nurtured the movement are now ready to enjoy its spiritual fruits. He affirmed his full support, along with Deacon Lazarus Jonathan and the People of God of the Penang Diocese, in uplifting and promoting the Flame of Love Movement. The members present were filled with joy and Mercie Lai, of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM), also offered her reflections: 'As we read the signs of the times, it is alarming to witness humanity under constant attack — families in crisis, and widespread suffering. The Flame of Love Movement is timely, offering us assurance and hope. Jesus is the Door of Hope, and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we are called to spread the Flame of Love and pray for humanity.' Since March 2025, Sr Mercie has been providing spiritual guidance to the group, which gathers weekly at the Minor Basilica of St. Anne for prayer and Nadaraj, the national coordinator for Malaysia, also expressed her gratitude: 'With this official recognition, we pray that Our Blessed Mother's mission will spread across the nation. Through her intercession, we will extinguish the fire of hatred with the fire of love. Let us allow her to lead us to the Flame of Love, who is JESUS HIMSELF.' In 2013, Pope Francis granted his Apostolic Blessing to the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 2023, the Archdiocese of Singapore officially accepted the Flame of Love as a recognised ministry.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Carmelite Monastery set to be demolished this summer
After the Carmelite Monastery on East Gore Road closed in 2020, it was set to be demolished. By the end of summer, the building could be completely gone. Before the sisters went to different monasteries, they stripped the inside of the building and invited religious communities to take items they could use. Tips to take care of your brain for Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month The sisters have given the property back to the Erie Catholic Diocese and they plan to keep it undeveloped to provide privacy for the priest retirement home that is located next door. Father Christopher Singer said they are grateful to the many years of service that the Carmelite sisters gave to the Diocese of Erie. Northwest Tri-County honors 13 new adult education graduates 'They prayed for us, they prayed for vocations, they were very close to the hearts of many people and even those those sisters have moved on to other monasteries and many of them have gone on to eternal life they still pray for the people of the diocese of erie and we're grateful for that,' Father Singer told us. The Carmelite Monastery operated for 60 years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Nahar Net
27-05-2025
- General
- Nahar Net
Tens of thousands flock to see remains of Spanish saint who died in 1582
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 May 2025, 15:17 They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver casket was Saint Teresa of Ávila, more than 440 years after her death. Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, a town ringed by rolling pastures in western Spain where the remains of the Spanish saint, mystic and 16th-century religious reformer were on display this month. "It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness," said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibit. Inspired by her mother's belief in the Carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the mystic's writings as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother. "Seeing her was an inexplicable experience," Sánchez added. On Monday morning, the casket of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and carried through the town streets, with pilgrims following the procession. It is unclear how many years — or decades — will pass before the church once again makes St. Teresa's remains visible to the public. Teresa was last displayed in 1914, when devotees had a single day to see the saint. This time, the display drew almost 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel Ángel González, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca. The casket that holds the saint's remains is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long. What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering other parts of the body, not all of which is intact. The saint's heart is kept in another part of the church, officials said. Other body parts — fingers, a hand and a jaw — are kept as relics in churches across Europe. Teresa is a towering figure from Spain's Golden Age and 16th-century Counter-Reformation. Her explorations of the inner life and meditations on her relationship with God were controversial, yet they have been held up over the centuries as a "profound treatise on spirituality," said José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in Medieval history. Many have venerated her. Former Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco is believed to have kept a relic of the saint's hand next to his bed. Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the saint's birthplace in Avila, an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. Teresa's remains have also spawned memes online about the macabre nature of crowding around her centuries-old skull. In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts downplayed such reactions, saying the display was nothing out of the ordinary for how Catholics have revered their saints for centuries. "It was just something people always did when they thought somebody might be a saint," said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book "Teresa of Avila, The Progress of a Soul." "And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity," Medwick added. Some worshippers this month were visibly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India wiped away tears as they stood by the side of the casket and looked at the saint's remains behind a glass case. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above of the diminutive saint's skull. "The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her," Martín said and with tears in her eyes, blew a kiss down to Teresa's relic as organ music filled the space.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
This saint died 440 years ago. Now, thousands are lining up in Spain to see her body
Saint Teresa of Avila died over 440 years but Catholic worshippers still line up to see her remains kept inside an open silver casket. The remains of the 16th-century religious reformers and Spanish mystic have been kept in the town of Alba de Tormes. 'It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness,' said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibit. Inspired by her mother's belief in the Carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the mystic's writings as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother. 'Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,' Sánchez added. On Monday morning, the casket of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and carried through the town streets, with pilgrims following the procession. It is unclear how many years — or decades — will pass before the church once again makes St. Teresa's remains visible to the public. Teresa was last displayed in 1914, when devotees had a single day to see the saint. This time, the display drew almost 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel Ángel González, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca. The casket that holds the saint's remains is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long. What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering other parts of the body, not all of which is intact. The saint's heart is kept in another part of the church, officials said. Other body parts — fingers, a hand and a jaw — are kept as relics in churches across Europe. Teresa is a towering figure from Spain's Golden Age and 16th-century Counter-Reformation. Her explorations of the inner life and meditations on her relationship with God were controversial, yet they have been held up over the centuries as a 'profound treatise on spirituality," said José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in Medieval history. Many have worshipped her. Former Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco is believed to have kept a relic of the saint's hand next to his bed. Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the saint's birthplace in Avila, an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. Teresa's remains have also spawned memes online about the macabre nature of crowding around her centuries-old skull. In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts downplayed such reactions, saying the display was nothing out of the ordinary for how Catholics have revered their saints for centuries. 'It was just something people always did when they thought somebody might be a saint,' said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book 'Teresa of Avila, The Progress of a Soul.' 'And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity," Medwick added. Some worshippers this month were visibly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India wiped away tears as they stood by the side of the casket and looked at the saint's remains behind a glass case. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above of the diminutive saint's skull. 'The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her,' Martín said and with tears in her eyes, blew a kiss down to Teresa's relic as organ music filled the space.
26-05-2025
- General
Tens of thousands flock to see a Spanish saint's remains more than 440 years after her death
ALBA DE TORMES, Spain -- They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver coffin was Saint Teresa of Ávila, more than 440 years after her death. Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, a town ringed by rolling pastures in western Spain where the remains of the Spanish saint, mystic and 16th-century religious reformer were on display this month. 'It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness,' said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibit. Inspired by her mother's belief in the Carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the mystic's writings as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother. 'Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,' Sánchez added. On Monday morning, the coffin of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and carried through the town streets, with pilgrims following the procession. It is unclear how many years — or decades — will pass before the church once again makes St. Teresa's remains visible to the public. Teresa was last displayed in 1914, when devotees had a single day to see the saint. This time, the display drew almost 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel Ángel González, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca. The coffin that holds the saint's remains is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long. What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering other parts of the body, not all of which is intact. The saint's heart is kept in another part of the church, officials said. Other body parts are kept as relics — fingers, a hand and a jaw — in churches across Europe. Teresa is a towering figure from Spain's Golden Age and 16th-century Counter-Reformation. Her explorations of the inner life and meditations on her relationship with God were controversial, yet they have been held up over the centuries as a 'profound treatise on spirituality," said José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in Medieval history. Many have worshipped her. Former Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco is believed to have kept a relic of the saint's hand next to his bed. Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the saint's birthplace in Avila, an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. Teresa's remains have also spawned memes online about the macabre nature of crowding around her centuries-old skull. In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts downplayed such reactions, saying the display was nothing out of the ordinary for how Catholics have revered their saints for centuries. 'It was just something people always did when they thought somebody might be a saint,' said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book 'Teresa of Avila, The Progress of a Soul.' 'And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity," Medwick added. Some worshippers this month were visibly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India wiped away tears as they stood by the side of the coffin and looked at the saint's remains behind a glass case. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above of the diminutive saint's skull. 'The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her,' Martín said and with tears in her eyes, blew a kiss down to Teresa's relic as organ music filled the space.
