Ave Crux, Spes Unica (Hail Cross, Our only
Hope!)
by Fr. Dominic Borg, OCD
In the hymn that Venantius Fortunatus (A.
D. 530-609) wrote in honour of the Holy Cross
"Vexilla regis prodeunt", we read
in verse six: "O Crux ave, spes unica.".
We find these exact words, with no less power
and zeal, in the heart and on the lips of
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith
Stein.) In the writings of St. Teresa Benedicta
of the Cross we encounter the words: "One
thing I should tell you: when I entered (Carmel),
I had already chosen the religious name I
wanted, and received it exactly as I had
asked for it. "Of the Cross" ...
I know a little more now than I did then
what it means to be betrothed to the Lord
in the sign of the Cross. But, it's not something
that can ever be understood. It is a mystery."
Pope Benedict XVI, in his Encyclical
letter:
"Deus Caritas Est" (God is
Love)
tells us: "St. John also offers
a kind
of summary of the christian life; "We
have come to know and to believe in
the love
God has for us" (#1).
Our Carmelite Saints, two of which
are skillfully
presented to us in this issue of Carmel
Lights:
Edith Stein and St. Theresa of the
Andes,
teach us how to embrace the Cross and
manifest
our love to our neighbour through it.
Both
Fr. Pius and MaryLou Paculaba have
brought
out clearly in their talks what our
Pope
has told us: "the summary of the
christian
life is to know and believe in the
love God
has for us." (Deus Caritas Est
#1)
Dear OCDS members,
many of you recall the words of our
Fr. Provincial,
Fr. Vicor Mallia, who in the last Congress
reminded us about the centenary of
the death
of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity.
Our
next issue of Carmel Lights will be
dedicated
to her and we intend to produce a special
issue. There is a mine of literature
on her
on the internet. You are encouraged
to read
her life, works and extensive literature
about her. Her love for the Word of
God is
very obvious, especially for St. Paul's
Letters.
The influence of the words of St. Paul
in
his letter to the Ephesians, which
are nicely
projected on the cover of this issue,
have
left on Elizabeth Catez (Blessed Elizabeth
of the Trinity) such an impact of how
she
used the expression "Laudem Gloriae"
as her new name. Her new name appears
in
thirteen (13) of her letters and she
even
dared to use it as a "signature"
in seven letters and five poems: (Letters:
260, 298, 306, 310, 332, 335 - Poems:
99,
105, 106, 108, 118)
This issue is the last one before Lent:
a
time of prayer, penance, repentance
and preparation
for the great feast of Easter. One
way that
we can prepare ourselves during this
"high
season" is to meditate on the
powerful
message of our Pope for the Season
of Lent.
The first biblical quote in His message
states:
"Jesus, at the sight of the crowds,
was moved with pity" (Mt 9.36).
Jesus
is still teaching us and guiding us
with
His words! The Pope, quoting Dante
Alighieri,
entrusted our journey of Lent to "Mary,
the living fount of hope". Such
an expression
is very close to the heart of every
Carmelite.
I cannot conclude this short message
without
congratulating Sr. Teresa Magdalene,
OCD
on her Solemn Profession. In the name
of
the OCDS we all wish her the grace
of perseverance!
May this Lenten journey, under the protection
of Mary our Mother, prepare us to enter into
the Victorious and Joyful Feast of the Paschal
Mystery!
Happy Easter to all of you, and your
families!
"They were on the road, going
up to
Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead
of
them: they were amazed, and those who
followed
were afraid. He took the twelve aside
again
and began to tell them what was to
happen
to him, saying, "See, we are going
up
to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will
be
handed over to the chief priests and
the
scribes, and they will condemn him
to death;
then they will hand him over to the
Gentiles;
they will mock him, and spit upon him,
and
flog him, and kill him; and after three
days
he will rise again." (Mark 10.32-34)
Yours In Carmel,
Fr. Dominic Borg, OCD