We are pleased to present the second bulletin for the Lay Carmelites. This time we share different activities and initiatives of our laity and youth in various parts of the world. We keep the hope that all this will continue to consolidate us as a great international Carmelite Family. In this issue, we continue our reflection on the figure of St. Albert of Jerusalem, Lawgiver of the Carmelite Order, whose eighth centenary of death we celebrated throughout 2014 and that ended with a weekend seminar in Rome. Thank you very much for reading this E-Bulletin and for any suggestions for the next editions.

Please click here to download the E-bulletin

http://ocarm.org/ebook/laybulletin/I-15/lay1-15en.pdf

St. Teresa of Avila

Although St. Teresa of Avila lived and wrote almost four centuries ago,her superbly inspiring classic on the practice of prayer is as freshand meaningful today as it was when she first wrote it. The Way ofPerfection is a practical guide to prayer setting forth the Saint'scounsels and directives for the attainment of spiritual perfection.

Through the entire work there runs the author's desire to teach a deepand lasting love of prayer beginning with a treatment of the threeessentials of the prayer-filled life --fraternal love, detachment fromcreated things, and true humility. St. Teresa's counsels on these arenot only the fruit of lofty mental speculation, but of mature practicalexperience. The next section develops these ideas and brings the readerdirectly to the subjects of prayer and contemplation. St. Teresa thengives various maxims for the practice of prayer and leads up to thetopic which occupies the balance of the book--a detailed and inspiringcommentary on the Lord's Prayer.

Of all St. Teresa's writings, The Way of Perfection is the most easilyunderstood. Although it is a work of sublime mystical beauty, itsoutstanding hallmark is its simplicity which instructs, exhorts, andinspires all those who are seeking a more perfect way of life.

"I shall speak of nothing of which I have no experience, either in myown life or in observation of others, or which the Lord has not taughtme in prayer."-- Prologue

Almost four centuries have passed since St. Teresa of Avila, the greatSpanish mystic and reformer, committed to writing the experiences whichbrought her to the highest degree of sanctity. Her search for, andeventual union with, God have been recorded in her own world-renownedwritings--the autobiographical Life, the celebrated masterpieceInterior Castle and The Way of Perfection-- as well as in the othernumerous works which flowed from her pen while she lived.

The Way of Perfection was written during the height of controversywhich raged over the reforms St. Teresa enacted within the CarmeliteOrder. Its specific purpose was to serve as a guide in the practice ofprayer and it sets forth her counsels and directives for the attainmentof spiritual perfection through prayer. It was composed by St. Teresaat the express command of her superiors, and was written during thelate hours in order not to interfere with the day's already crowdedschedule.---Without doubt it fulfills the tribute given all St. Teresa's works byE. Allison Peers, the outstanding authority on her writings: "Work of asublime beauty bearing the ineffaceable hallmark of genius."

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On December 28, 2014, Air Asia flight no. QZ8501 from Juanda - Surabaya to Changi - Singapore crashed in the sea of Pangkalan Bun – Borneo. 157 passengers and crew members are believed to have been lost. Among them one were a student and 4 alumni of St. Albert High School in Malang – Indonesia. There were also two families among the victims who were parishioners of our parishes, one in the parish of St. Andrew, Malang, and the other in the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Probolinggo/Kraksaan. We send our deepest sympathy to the Indonesian Province and our prayers for victims, may they find eternal rest in the heavenly kingdom.

Pope’s Prayer Intentions for Jannuary 2015

Universal: Peace

That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace. Evangelization: Consecrated life

That in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal.

Lectio Divina Jannuary, Ereno Gennaio 2015

With a decree dated the 21st of November, 2014, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established the fusion of the Suore Carmelitane delle Grazie (SCG) and the sisters of the Istituto di Nostra Signora del Carmelo (INSC).  The Carmelitane delle Grazie was the most ancient affiliate of the Order. They were founded in 1724 in Bologna by the Venerable Maddalena Mazzoni. To celebrate the amalgamation, the Prior General assisted by the General Delegate for Affiliated Institutes, Fr. Mario Alfarano, O.Carm., and  by Fr. Alberto De Giuli, O.Carm., Prior of the Carmelite community in Bologna, celebrated the Eucharist in the motherhouse in Bologna on the 13th of December last. During the Mass the Superior General, Sr. Angelisa Spirandelli, recalled the steps that led to the amalgamation, highlighting the many points of affinity that bind the two institutes. Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., for his part, congratulated the two institutes for the decision that they took,  which is an expression of the deep communion that exists among the different sectors of the Carmelite family. He encouraged the sisters to continue in their service to the Church, with enthusiasm and hope.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the beatification of the ten martyrs of the Betica Province (Carmelo Moyano and companions) and the nine martyrs of the Province of Castile (Alberto Maria Marco y Aleman and companions), the Prior General, Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm. has written a letter to the whole Carmelite family, with the title, “Thank you for the martyrs that you have given to the church”. This expression is contained in a message that Pope Francis directed to the Superiors General (USG) at the end of the meeting he had with them on the 29th of Noveber, 2013, shortly after that same beatification in Tarragona (Spain) on the 13th of October, 2013. In this letter, the Prior General reflects upon the message that the witness of these brothers of ours offers to Carmel in the 21st century. It can be read in Spanish on the Order’s website, http://ocarm.org/es/content/ocarm/gracias-por-m-rtires-que-dan-iglesiaand it will soon appear in Italian and English.

CHRISTUS NATUS EST NOBIS!
VENITE ADOREMUS!
NATALE HILARE ET ANNUM FAUSTUM
25.XII.2014

FERNANDO PRIOR GENERALIS
DOMUSQUE GENERALIS COMMUNITAS


IMAGE: Natività, Autore ignoto Sec. XVIII, Centro Internazionale S. Alberto, Roma