By Catherine Wan
KOTA KINABALU — Despite the uncertainty of the pandemic situation, the Carmelite community celebrated the feast days of two Carmelite Saints: St Theresa of Lisieux on Oct 1 and St Teresa of Avila on Oct 15.
Both feast day Masses were celebrated by Archbishop John Wong and concelebrated by Chaplain Fr Mattheus Luta at the Carmelite Monastery Chapel.
In compliance with the current SOP, only 40 people with some sitting outside the chapel were allowed.
In his homily, the prelate introduced briefly the saints who were both Carmelite nuns. Through their spiritual writings, both were declared Doctors of the Church. Both offered their life for the salvation of souls.
St Therese, who hailed from France, introduced the Little Way of Child Jesus by words and deeds, and lived the virtues of humility, simplicity and confidence in God. The prelate urged the faithful to emulate her faith in God, entrusting all worries and burdens of life onto Him as she believed firmly that God is love and allowed herself to be embraced by God Himself like a little child. Hence, she proclaimed that her vocation was Love and doing little things with great Love. She is also the patron saint for the Carmelite Monastery and the universal Church in Mission.
St Teresa of Avila from Spain, was known for her reformation among the Carmelite nuns and later also the Friars. As she desired to have a share in the spiritual renewal of the Church of her time, she lived her religious life more ardently, progressed greatly in the way of perfection and granted mystical revelations which she shared in her writings. The Spirit of the Lord guided St Teresa in writing her spiritual insights about prayer and growth in holiness. Hence, the prelate exhorted the Carmelites to take her as their mother besides Mother Mary, to help them in their growth of holiness, as well as becoming more aware of the presence of God in their life.
The OCDS members gave out blessed roses to all those present on St Therese of Lisieux’s feast day as a symbol of the shower of roses (graces) promised by her.
On the feast day of St Teresa of Avila, bookmarks containing her famous quotes were given out to remind people of her teaching. The human sized statue of St Teresa was displayed at the parlour inside the monastery for veneration by all.
After the Masses, cakes were cut to mark the feast days during the breakfast fellowship prepared by the community.
