From the first moments of my life,
You took me in your arms.
Ever since that day, dear Mother,
You’ve protected me here below.
To preserve my innocence,
You placed me in a soft nest.
You watched over my childhood
In the shade of a holy cloister.
Later, in the days of my youth,
I heard Jesus’ call!…
In your ineffable tenderness,
You showed Carmel to me.
“Come, my child, be generous,”
You sweetly said to me.
“Near me, you’ll be happy,
Come sacrifice yourself for your Savior.”
Close to you, 0 my loving Mother!
I’ve found rest for my heart.
I want nothing more on earth.
Jesus alone is all my happiness.
If sometimes I feel sadness
And fear coming to assail me,
Always supporting me in my weakness,
Mother, you deign to bless me.
Grant that I may be faithful
To my divine Spouse Jesus.
One day may his sweet voice call me
To fly away among the elect.
Then, no more exile, no more suffering.
In Heaven I’ll keep repeating
The song of my gratitude,
Lovable Queen of Carmel!
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
I joined the procession last night at the Mount Carmel Shrine Parish in New Manila. As my custom I followed behind the image of the Mater Decor Carmeli, and I noticed this nasal, quite high pitched, almost haranguing voice of a middle aged woman praying the Rosary through a megaphone, actually it was competing with the "official" Rosary being said by nuns through a sound system installed over a vehicle. Now I wouldn't really mind this as this would help lead in prayer those in the procession that couldn't not hear the nuns. But what got my attention - and my goat (actually, it raised my hairs a bit) - was the version of the Gloria being said by this middle aged woman: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Mother..." WTH! Now I am sure this woman and her companions (they were carrying banners with images of Jesus and Mary and the words DEO) must be part of this heretical sect teaching that Our Lady is part of the Godhead and hence Divine. Such atrocious blasphemy! The sad part was that there was a bunch of Carmelite Friars near these people and not one of them made an effort to stop their nonsense! Hay naku OCDs! La Madre Santa Teresa de Avila and San Juan de la Cruz would be so proud of you! Kilala pa namang matapang ang spiritual mother niyo!
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