Last year, after a solemn blessing, a large crucifix was presented and exposed for the veneration of the faithful, in the Carmelite parish of S. Maria Regina Mundi in Torrespaccata (Rome). The special characteristic of this crucifix, which is of natural size, is that it is the Shroud Christ who is reproduced, that is the crucifix is scientifically drawn from the Shroud according to the late Mgr. Giulio Ricci, one of the greatest scholars of the Shroud.

This statue, made of resin glass, reproduces all the features of the passion of Jesus, as seen in the shroud, especially all the lashes (about 120) suffered by Jesus during his scourging. The marks of the crown of thorns may also be seen on this statue (covering the whole skull, not just a simple circle around the forehead) as well as the fracture of the nose and several blood stains on the face, the place of the nails on the wrists (and not on the hands), an abrasion on the shoulder and the marks of the rope caused by the patibulum carried by Jesus on Calvary, and so on.

Only four copies of this crucifix exist in the world: one is in the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, one in Assisi and another in Japan.

Apart from the scientific data, this crucifix brings before the eyes of the faithful the entire story of the passion, as documented in the so-called "Fifth Gospel", that is, the Shroud, and is therefore the greatest witness of the love with which Jesus gave himself to the Father in order to bring us salvation.

On 4 February 1998, the Holy Father promulgated the appointment of Fr. Antonio Muniz Fernandes, bishop of Guarabira in Brazil.

Fr. Antonio was born in Princesa Isabel, in the State of Paraiba (Brazil), on 11 August 1952. He completed his primary and secondary schooling in the Carmelite minor seminary of Nossa Senhora do Carmo in Camocim de São Felix. He studied philosophy and theology at the Theological Institute in Recife (ITER) and took his solemn vows in the Carmelite Order on 20 February 1976. He was ordained priest on 24 May 1980.

>From 1983 to 1986 he was in Rome where he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He further did a course of studies in Jerusalem. He was Master of Novices in Camocim de São Felix as well as Provincial Councillor. Since 1990 he has been Provincial and has taught Sacred Scripture at the Philosophical-Theological Institute of the archdiocese of Olinda and Recife and at the Theological College of the Capuchins in Olinda, and from 10 February 1993 he has been a member of the General Financial Commission of the Carmelite Order.

The episcopal ordination of Fr. Antonio Muniz will take place on 24 May 1998 in Olinda, Brazil.

The actual site of the tomb in the former epistle side of the main altar, "where we knew", says Dr. Fernando Ferreira, the archaeologist who discovered the tomb, "Nuno was first buried". The tomb was of a style commonly used for the burying of medieval Crusader Knights. In the tomb were discovered several bones which seem to be those of 71-year-old man, Nuno's age when he died. Tests will have to be conducted, however, to guarantee that the bones discovered in the tomb are the same as the ones carefully kept in a great silver reliquary casket in the chapel of the Third Order of Mount Carmel across from the ruins.

Also discovered near the tomb were other tombs of people who were allowed to be buried near the Saint, many rosaries, coins, swords, stirrups and a gilded metal false finger probably used by a knight who lost one in battle. Many clay pots used by pilgrims to bring votive offerings of oil for the lamp that burned by Bl. Nuno's tomb were also discovered as were a few gold rings and a reliquary which may have been worn by one of the deceased.

The discovery of the tomb early last year rekindled the interest of many people. The President of the Oureana-Fátima Foundation, John Mathias Haffert, hopes that the discovery will re-introduce "Nuno as a role model for the youth of the 21st century."

The programme for the celebrations envisages the official opening of the jubilee on 10 February 1998. On that day, every community in the Congo is invited to celebrate the event in their own place. The principal celebration will take place in Bunia on 16 July 1998, the Solemn Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, with all the friars of the Commissariat taking part and with representatives from the Italian Province and the General Council of the Carmelite Order.

"Celebrating the New Millennium - Carmel Faces the Future". Lectures, workshops, common prayer and daily Eucharist will constitute the days of this one-week seminar during which study, prayer, community and solitude serve as a time aside to review one's life and discover new directions with the help of Carmelite Spirituality and the Carmelite Forum. The keynote lecture will be given by Fr. Kevin Culligan, OCD, about "The New Age". Every morning one of the following themes will be treated:

The formation of the Betica Province was made possible through the separation of some monasteries from the jurisdiction of the Castilian Province: Gibraleón (1306-1320), Seville (1358), Escacena del Campo - Huelva (1416) and Ecija (1429). From those days and up to the conclusion of the Council of Trent (1563), there took place in the Province what the Carmelite historian, Fr. Balbino Velasco, calls "hailstones" of foundations, because in the sixteenth century the Province had as many as twenty foundations. These were the glorious years of the Betica Carmel. Some famous colleges, such as those of Sant'Alberto (Seville) and San Roque (Córdoba), as also the monastery of Desierto del Juncal, the eremitical monastery of St. Teresa and another of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, founded in the seventeenth century, bring the list of foundations to 25 houses which the Province owned until the time of exclaustration in 1835.

These five centuries have been brightened by the presence of a large number of illustrious religious. We remember Fr. Juan de las Ruelas, author of a work on the physical beauty of the Virgin; Fr. José Velasco, who is called by a scholar "the martyr of the Immaculate" because of the case (which lasted twelve years and in which intervened the king and the pope) in which he was involved on account of a homily concerning this mystery; Fr. Agostín Núñez Delgadillo, a preacher sought after in the whole of Spain and author of several books; Mgr. Pedro Carranza, Carmelite bishop of Buenos Aires; Mgr. Juan de Llamas, Carmelite bishop of Panamá, Fr. Antonio Vásquez de Espinosa (1570), an expert on the history of the discovery of the western Indies (America); Fr. Ortiz de la Estrella, famous for his sanctity, and at whose funeral preached Blessed Diego de Cádiz and "an infinite cortege of people" took part.

More recently, among the sons of the Province we find not only virtuous religious but also famous authors, musicians and preachers. Among these mention must be made of the ten religious, Servants of God, who were killed defending the faith in 1936.

Ohrdruf is a small town situated 15 km south of Gotha and 60 km from the former border between the two parts of the country. After more than forty years under Communist regime of the former German Democratic Republic, Catholics are an absolute minority in this area. Only 3% of the population is Catholic. Nonetheless, the four Carmelites try to live their Christian faith and Carmelite charism giving great importance to prayer, spirituality and community life. The community tries to be open to the needs of the people in various ways: with spiritual direction, directed and group retreats, and live-in experiences with the community for a couple of days.

The community is in charge of a small diaspora-parish. Fr. Dominikus Lankes is the parish priest, assisted by Fr. Karl Kempter, librarian of the Upper German Province, and some lay people. Fr. Dominikus is also the Promoter of Vocations for the Province. Br. Günter Benker, author of two books and Director of Novices, recently obtained his licence in "Pastoral Psychology" from the Jesuit University St. Georgen in Frankfurt/Main. Br. Ambrosius Mühr, who lived for almost 20 years in the Carmelite friary of Vienna, is the cook of the community, and with his good food and cheerful character he conquers the hearts of those who visit the community. In one way or another, all members are committed to community life and to the service of the Province through various responsibilities.

After last year Provincial Chapter and the appointments of Fr. Dominikus as Promoter of Vocations and Br. Günter as Director of Novices, the Provincial Council decided to transfer the novitiate to Ohrdruf, proposing the community as a formation community. To communicate the Carmelite way of life and other information the community has its own web site on Internet at the following address: http://home.t-online.de/home/karmel-ohrdruf/karmel.htm.

Edith Stein was born a Breslau on 12 October 1891 to German Jewish parents, and after her secondary education, she enroled in the department of philosophy in the city university. In 1913, she transferred to the University of Gotingen to study under Edmund Husserl.

Until the age of thirteen years, she was in effect an atheist. She had her first serious encounter with Christianity listening to Max Scheler. In 1916, she continued and completed her studies at Fribourg where she wrote her doctorate thesis directed by Husserl. She remained working in the university until 1921. During those years, she read the autobiography of Teresa of Avila and became aware of being called to become a Catholic; she was baptized on 1 January 1922. She made her First Communion the same day and was confirmed on the following 2 February. After her conversion, she felt herself attracted to the religious life but circumstances forced her to delay this decision until 1933. When in 1933 she lost her teaching post as a result of the anti-Jewish laws, she entered into the Teresian Carmel at Cologne on 14 October 1933, taking the name of Teresa Benedict of the Cross.

On 31 December 1938 she was moved to the Carmel at Echt in Holland so as to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. In 1940, the situation worsened also in Holland. When the prescriptions became more severe, an attempt was made to transfer her to the Carmel in Switzerland. While the arrangements were being negotiated for her move, the deportations of the Jews to the concentration camps began in Holland. Sister Teresa, accompanied by her sister Rosa who had also become a Catholic, was taken to Amersfort on 2 August 1942. On 3 August, she was transferred to Westerbork. On 7 August, she and her sister together with other deportees were locked in railway wagons and taken by train to the extermination camp at Auschwitz, a voyage which took two days.

Sister Teresa Benedict of the Cross died in the gas chamber the same day that she arrived at the camp at Auschwitz, Sunday 9 August 1942, and her body was burned in one of the crematoria there. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II at Cologne on 1 May 1987.