Living as Christ - Discalced Carmelites

Networking in the field of communication is a necessity for the Order

Vicar General: "The way to enter the kingdom is to live as Christ lived"

Fátima, 05-04-2009

The language groups gathered at the end of the morning session to analyze and discuss the content of the report of P. Xavier Jaya Raj about "collaboration within the Order" and on the proposals made by Father General about the Teresianum and CITeS, including that of establishing an oversight committee to analyze the situation of both centers.

The secretaries of the various language groups presented at the beginning of the afternoon session the results of their work and then opened up a broader dialogue in the Chapter on these two important themes.

After the break, Fr General invited the Father David Jimenez of the province of Castilla to present to the Chapter a new way of working in the field of communication in the Order. David in his speech stressed the need to create a network of communication among all regions or provinces, which, in coordination with the center of the Order might launch a new era in communication within the Order.

"Living as another Christ"

In the evening the Chapter went in procession to the Sanctuary of Fatima to celebrate the Eucharist. With the Carmelite chant of "Flos Carmeli" filling the sanctuary, the entrance precession began the Eucharistic celebration which was presided over by the Vicar General, Fr Emilio José Martínez.

During his homily Fr Emilio alluded to the text of the Gospel of Christ, saying the symbol of the Good Shepherd who identifies himself as the "gate of heaven" is a gesture of humility that demands from us a similar response. "It is no good to open a door we are determined not to cross. The way to cross the gate is simply to identify with that door, live as Christ lived, gate of life."

It is an identification with Jesus that makes us "absolutely available to God's plan," said the Vicar General, who did not hesitate to point out that there is no other way "to live our own lives than to let go of personal projects and give ourselves completely to the word of God. In the word of God, the Church, our superiors and our brothers in community we have a perfect source for seeking God's will through dialogue, communication and listening."

Already at the end of his homily, Fr Emilio made a call to the Chapter to place ourselves "in the hands of God once and for all together and say to our Mother Teresa of Jesus: I'm Yours, born for you, what do you want of me."