#venerable-maria-lucia-of-jesus-and-the-immaculate-heart — Public Fediverse posts

Quote of the day, 20 May: Venerable Lucia

Sister Lucia entered the Carmelite convent [of Coimbra] on the same liturgical day that she was born—Holy Thursday. It was also the Feast of the Annunciation [25 March 1948], and now also the Solemn Profession of a sister, [so when Lucia entered as a new member of the community, everything] was absorbed by the Solemnity of the day. 

In the Easter Triduum, the silence is more profound, making it more desirable to adore and contemplate the mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, Who for our sake became man and suffered death to save us from sin and death. 

After Mass, Sister Lucia, in the company of Mother Prioress, was given her cell dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Centered on top of the door was a small frame which read: ‘Immaculate Heart of Mary’, and then a sentence addressed to the inhabitant: ‘My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge.’ 

This sentence was at eye level and she read it every time she entered her cell. It would be a heavenly melody in her heart during the 57 years she lived in Carmel.

On Easter Monday, March 29, she wrote to her Superior [from the Sisters of St. Dorothy] in Tuy, Mother Cunha Matos, telling her of her joy: 

As of right now, you know that on Holy Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. I entered the Carmel of Coimbra, by the arrangements of the Bishop here, who came on this day and at that hour to assist in the Solemn Profession of a Sister. I enjoyed it very much and I am very well and extremely happy.

My name is Sister Mary of the Immaculate Heart, what a beautiful name, is it not? Far more beautiful than Sister Dores [Sister Sorrows], don’t you think? Here I found a small group of lovely sisters; whenever I encounter them I have the impression of meeting Saint Teresa. The name was chosen here by the Bishop.

Venerable Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart

Chapter XVI, Religious Carmelite

Carmel of St Teresa 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., Colson, J (trans.), World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Venerable Maria Lucia is surrounded by her bishop and “lovely sisters” in this photo from the Carmel of Coimbra. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (by permission).

Quote of the day, 13 October: Venerable Maria Lucia

After Our Lady disappeared into the immense expanse of the firmament, we saw beside the sun St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. A little later this apparition faded. I saw our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me it was Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel (Memoirs of Sister Lucia, I.4.II.5).

Four years later, in 1921, Lucia experienced the first stirring of a religious vocation as she recalled this scene:

I remembered Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and in that moment, I felt the grace of a vocation to religious life and the attractiveness of the Cloister of Carmel. I took as my protection my dear Therese of the Child Jesus.

Discalced Carmelites of Coimbra

A Pathway Under the Gaze of Mary, chap. III, no. 17; chap. V, no. 2

Carmel of St Teresa 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., Colson, J (trans.), World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: The crowd looking at the Miracle of the Sun during the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal, 13 October 1917. Image credit: Ilustração Portuguesa via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

#apparition #Fatima #OurLadyOfMountCarmel #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart #vocation

Marie du jour, 13 May: Venerable Maria Lucia

We suddenly saw what seemed to be a flash of lightning.

Venerable Maria Lucia

On May 13, 1917, enveloped in light and peace, gentle as the rain on the green grass, the Blessed Virgin appeared in Fatima as a helpful Mother for the good of her children whom she saw in danger.

She revealed that she came from Heaven and then delivered to three innocent children a message of salvation for the world: The movement of atheistic materialism will come from the source of communism. Heaven deigned upon the world a blaze of light illuminating the dense night that threatened to envelop humanity completely.

When the world closed its eyes to the supernatural and turned its back on God, the Mother of God came to warn humanity of impending danger and showed the way to avoid it, asking for prayer and conversion. It was thus silently that everything began.

From that day, this unknown place began to attract the eyes of all social classes to Jesus, Who was a sign of contradiction. And today, all roads lead to Fatima.

The Discalced Carmelite nuns of Coimbra

A pathway under the gaze of Mary, III.2

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Lucia dos Santos in 1917. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
How can I respond more faithfully to Mary’s call for prayer, conversion, and trust in God?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

#CarmelOfCoimbra #conversion #Fatima #heaven #light #message #OurLadyOfFatima #prayer #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart #warning

Quote of the day, 13 May: Ven. Maria Lucia

Sister Lucia entered the Carmelite convent [of Coimbra] on the same liturgical day that she was born—Holy Thursday. It was also the Feast of the Annunciation [25 March 1948], and now also the Solemn Profession of a sister, [so when Lucia entered as a new member of the community, everything] was absorbed by the Solemnity of the day. 

In the Easter Triduum, the silence is more profound, making it more desirable to adore and contemplate the mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord, Who for our sake became man and suffered death to save us from sin and death. 

After Mass, Sister Lucia, in the company of Mother Prioress, was given her cell dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Centered on top of the door was a small frame which read: ‘Immaculate Heart of Mary’, and then a sentence addressed to the inhabitant: ‘My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge.’ 

This sentence was at eye level and she read it every time she entered her cell. It would be a heavenly melody in her heart during the 57 years she lived in Carmel.

On Easter Monday, March 29, she wrote to her Superior [from the Sisters of St. Dorothy] in Tuy, Mother Cunha Matos, telling her of her joy: 

As of right now, you know that on Holy Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. I entered the Carmel of Coimbra, by the arrangements of the Bishop here, who came on this day and at that hour to assist in the Solemn Profession of a Sister. I enjoyed it very much and I am very well and extremely happy.

My name is Sister Mary of the Immaculate Heart, what a beautiful name, is it not? Far more beautiful than Sister Dores [Sister Sorrows], don’t you think? Here I found a small group of lovely sisters; whenever I encounter them I have the impression of meeting Saint Teresa. The name was chosen here by the Bishop.

Venerable Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart

Chapter XVI, Religious Carmelite

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Venerable Lucia uses a word processor with a CRT display in her cell. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved)

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
What would it mean for me to let Mary’s Immaculate Heart truly be my refuge?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

#CarmelOfCoimbra #cell #ImmaculateHeartOfMary #inspiration #monasticLife #nuns #OurLadyOfFatima #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart #vocations

Around noon the shepherds came out of their homes and headed towards the Cova da Iria. They did so with great difficulty because of the huge influx of people who pressed everywhere wanting to see them up close, touching and talking to them.

Lucia said it was a little like what Jesus went through as He walked through Galilee and Judea. She wrote that some gentlemen helped pave a path through the crowd for them:

Lucia: We finally arrived in the Cova da Iria near the holm oak and began praying the Rosary with the people. Shortly afterwards we saw the flash of light and then Our Lady on the holm oak.

Our Lady: Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. St. Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime.

Lucia: I was told to ask you many things, the cure of some sick people, of a deaf-mute.

Our Lady: Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.

Then Our Lady began to rise as usual and disappeared. A tender Mother, Our Lady is concerned with her children who have no one to lead them to do penance. Her words were a balm in the midst of all the suffering that would come to them: God is pleased with your sacrifices.

But God would not let any more time pass before sending someone to help them see His will and lead them in the right way. He usually wants His chosen ones to go through human mediation, so they walk safely in the light of obedience according to His will.

On September 13 the Rev. Manuel Nunes Formigão arrived in Fatima. Fr. Formigão came to investigate the shepherds and events at Fatima. He was present at the time of the apparition but saw nothing unusual except a slight decrease in sunlight, which could mean little or nothing. That day he did not speak to the seers or anyone there.

On September 27th he was back in Aljustrel and proceeded with the first interrogation. Lucia was able to breathe easier with the visit of this holy priest who questioned her and her cousins and gave them practical advice for life:

He interrogated me seriously and thoroughly. I liked him very much, for he spoke to me a great deal about the practice of virtue, and taught me various ways of exercising myself in it. He showed me a holy picture of St. Agnes. He told me about her martyrdom and encouraged me to imitate her. His Reverence continued to come every month for an interrogation, and always gave me some good advice, which was of help to me spiritually. One day he said to me: “My child, you must love Our Lord very much in return for so many favors and graces that He is granting you.” These words made such an impression on my soul that, from then on, I acquired the habit of constantly saying to Our Lord: “My God, I love You, in thanksgiving for the graces which You have granted me.

Then she shared this ejaculation with her cousins who recited it frequently. What belonged to one belonged to all—a passion among early Christians who had everything in common, material and spiritual goods, and who walked with each other.

The storm in Lucia’s home intensified after September 13. She had hoped her mother was becoming more convinced of the apparitions during the month of August, but Maria Rose became discouraged and her suffering took on new proportions.

In addition to her painful doubts about the apparitions and Lucia’s truthfulness, the irretrievable loss of crops from their land due to the crowds, and the constant harassment from people coming to their home to see and talk to the little one caused great emptiness in her that was felt in her family.

It was hard for mother and daughter. Lucia suffered silently her personal cross and saw her mother whom she idolized filled with so much pain and without any relief.

In the midst of this dark night, Lucia looked up to Heaven and trusted in the Lord from Whom she knew aid would come (Ps 121:1–2) and repeated in her wounded heart:

O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

How this child grew spiritually inside of just 10 years!

Discalced Carmelites of Coimbra

A Pathway Under the Gaze of Mary, Chapter III
No. 15, Apparition of Our Lady on September 13th (excerpt)

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: This stained glass window from the Shrine of Our Lady of Tylicz, Poland, depicts the three seers of Our Lady of Fatima. Image credit: Adam Ján Figeľ / Adobe Stock (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/09/12/lucia-sept13/

#apparition #children #God #ImmaculateHeartOfMary #Jesus #love #OurLadyOfFatima #Portugal #sacrifices #spiritualDirection #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart

I am pleased and very happy. It is from here that I hope to go to Heaven, that God will give me mercy. I desire to wear the holy habit and make solemn vows, but God knows when it will be. Now here I am, ignorant; I need to learn many things to be a good Carmelite and if it is His Will, a saint. To conquer this honor that I want to put forth, I hope for the grace of Heaven.

Venerable Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
Message to Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva
Good Friday, 26 March 1948

The Venerable Servant of God Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart (born: Lúcia dos Santos) was born on 28 March 1907, in Aljustrel (Fatima, Portugal). In 1915, while she and her friends were taking the family flock to pasture, she received the silent apparition of the Angel of Peace three times. This triple vision was repeated in 1916 while she was in the company of her cousins, Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto. In 1917, on the 13th day of the months of May, June, July, September, and October (in August the extraordinary event occurred on the 19th), the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children.

She diligently lived the message of the Mother of God throughout her life. After the untimely death of her two cousins, she remained in Fatima until 1921 when, through the intervention of Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva, who took it upon himself to protect her, Lúcia entered the Dorothean Sisters’ College of Vilar (Porto). There she took the name Maria das Dores with the intention of not revealing her real identity.

On 24 October 1925, she entered as a Postulant in the same religious institute, in Tui, Spain, making her temporary profession on 3 October 1928, and her perpetual profession on 3 October 1934.

Between 1935 and 1941, on the orders of Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva, she wrote four documents entitled “Memoirs,” in which she described the events of the Apparitions experienced and received in the company of Francisco and Jacinta. On 3 January 1944, she wrote another document containing the so-called “third secret,” and in a sealed envelope, she gave it to Monsignor José Alves Correia da Silva, who, in turn, without reading it, forwarded it to the Holy Office in Rome.

In 1946, she returned to Portugal, to the Dorothean community of Sardão College in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Wishing to live her vocation more intensely, in 1948 she decided to enter the Carmel of Coimbra, where she made her solemn vows on 31 May 1949. There she lived her life according to the monastic rhythms of prayer and work, continuing an intense letter-writing activity, in which she gave wise spiritual advice and promoted works of charity.

On 13 May 1967, she traveled to Fatima to meet St. Paul VI. She did the same on 13 May in the years 1982, 1991, and 2000, to meet St. John Paul II.

She died on 13 February 2005, in Coimbra, Portugal. In 2006, her mortal remains were moved to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima.

From childhood, the Venerable Servant of God had a deep desire to walk the path of holiness, carrying the Cross with Christ.

Together with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta, she was the recipient of extraordinary apparitions, the principal ones in Cova da Iria beginning on 13 May 1917, on land owned by her father.

She possessed a keen intelligence, which enabled her to learn to read and write, so she kept a diary and entertained a rich correspondence. Silence and hiddenness characterized her experiences of religious life. She was generous to the needy, for whom she performed works of charity through people she commissioned from time to time.

Dicastery of the Causes of the Saints

Causes of the Saints: Venerables

Note: On Thursday, 22 June 2023, the Dicastery of the Causes of the Saints published the promulgation of the decree recognizing Sister Lucia’s heroic virtues with the approval of Pope Francis. Listen to this episode of the Carmelite Quotes Podcast to learn more about Venerable Maria Lucia’s visit with St. John Paul II on 13 May 1991 in Fatima.

Pope Francis approves decrees recognizing the heroic virtues of five Servants of God, including Sr Lucia de Juesus Rosa dos Santos, one of the visionaries of Fatima; along with the martyrdom of twenty martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.https://t.co/olIBjG14Dh

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 22, 2023

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Translation from the Italian text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image:  Venerable Maria Lucia in her later life as a professed nun in the Carmel of Coimbra, Portugal. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/06/21/lucia-26mar48/

#CarmelOfCoimbra #decree #DiscalcedCarmelites #entry #ImmaculateHeartOfMary #LuciaOfFatima #nuns #OurLadyOfFatima #statue #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart #vocation

In 1991, Pope John Paul II returned to Fatima on May 12 and 13. This time Sister Lucia was not called to attend. She would remain with the Community and follow the journey of His Holiness in Portugal on television. But a surprise phone call to the Prioress on the morning of the 12th came from the Bishops of Leiria and Coimbra, delivering an order from the Holy Father for Sister Lucia to be in Fatima the next day. 

It is also an exception for a Carmelite to leave the Carmel, but it is also no problem because it does not require much preparation. By late afternoon, Sister Lucia and the Mother Prioress left in the car of Dr. Miguel Barata and his wife. He asked for a police escort and they arrived in Fatima with haste. 

The meeting with the Pope was to take place on the morning of the 13th before Mass in the house of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Sister Lucia and the Mother Prioress arrived before the Pope and were invited to go to the Blessed Sacrament chapel. They prayed briefly before being told the Pope was coming. He came in and prayed for a short time before the Blessed Sacrament, and with joy and simplicity greeted Mother Prioress and Sister Lucia before heading to the meeting room. In the corridor, several journalists and photographers came forward and delicately asked if they could take some photographs. The Holy Father, noticing how the Shepherdess withdrew—she did not like being photographed—took her by the hand and with a gentle smile said: 

“We have to oblige.”

The Discalced Carmelite nuns of Coimbra

A pathway under the gaze of Mary, XVIII.5

Note: Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, O.C.D. was declared Venerable on Thursday, 22 June 2023 in a decree on her heroic virtues promulgated with the approval of Pope Francis.

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal with its massive statue of St. John Paul II. Photo copyright: Adrian Wojcik / 123rf.com (Standard License)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/05/12/mdj2024-ep13/

#encounter #Fatima #humility #inspiration #obedience #papalVisit #photography #StJohnPaulII #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart

Since Sister Lucia met the Lady brighter than the sun and saw the Light which is God, she never took her eyes off her face, which was etched forever in her heart.

Her eyes brightened by that unmistakable light, never strayed from this Star, which led sometimes into the midst of thick darkness, lit only by the certainty of the Mother’s promise:

I will never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.

Mary is always the way, the guide, and light that leads to God, Trinity of Love.

The Discalced Carmelite nuns of Coimbra

A pathway under the gaze of Mary, XVII.3

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: This stained glass window from the Shrine of Our Lady of Tylicz, Poland, depicts the three seers of Our Lady of Fatima. Image credit: Adam Ján Figeľ / Adobe Stock

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/05/12/lucia-light/

#BlessedVirgin #CarmelOfCoimbra #darkness #Fatima #guide #ImmaculateHeart #light #refuge #Trinity #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart #way

In the last years of her life Lucia celebrated her birthday on two days—the 22nd for the outside world, and the 28th for the Community of Carmel because the 22nd was always too busy with correspondence and visitors, and the Community could hardly be with her.

March 2004: The hourglass of Sister Lucia’s life began the countdown of her final days, dropping the last grains of sands of her time in this world.

The Mass was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on the 22nd when her birthday was celebrated. The chapel was crowded as was the case for many years. Although the people could not see her, they had the joy of knowing they were participating at Mass near her.

This year was not her time to leave us. There was a week during this time in which she suffered severe pain in her legs and could not get up. After 11 hours what was she to do? The doctor gave her a strong injection and she managed to go to Mass during the day and receive a few visits from some friends.

It was a gift from her Bridegroom, a day free of pain.

Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Carmel of Coimbra

Chapter 19: Only some more time

Note: Venerable Lucia’s Discalced Carmelite sisters in the Carmel of Coimbra explain why she celebrated two birthdays. Lucia dos Santos was born on Holy Thursday [28 March 1907]. However, her father “did not want to wait too long to have his child baptized, but knew the parish priest would refuse to administer baptism on Holy Saturday to a child who was less than eight days old, and it was a very busy day. He also did not want his girl to spend Easter without being baptized, and wanted to avoid having two feasts on the same day—Easter and Baptism. Thus, he solved the problem with a “white lie”—he registered the girl as being born on March 22 so the pastor could not refuse. This is why Sister Lucia always celebrated her birthday on March 22 and only learned of her true birthday later in life when she heard her mother’s explanation…”

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Venerable Lucia uses a word processor with a CRT display in her cell. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/03/21/lucia-22mar04/

#baptism #birthday #CarmelOfCoimbra #familyLife #healthcare #HolySaturday #HolyThursday #Mass #monasticLife #pain #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart

In the last years of her life Lucia celebrated her birthday on two days—the 22nd for the outside world, and the 28th for the Community of Carmel because the 22nd was always too busy with correspondence and visitors, and the Community could hardly be with her.

March 2004: The hourglass of Sister Lucia’s life began the countdown of her final days, dropping the last grains of sands of her time in this world.

The Mass was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on the 22nd when her birthday was celebrated. The chapel was crowded as was the case for many years. Although the people could not see her, they had the joy of knowing they were participating at Mass near her.

This year was not her time to leave us. There was a week during this time in which she suffered severe pain in her legs and could not get up. After 11 hours what was she to do? The doctor gave her a strong injection and she managed to go to Mass during the day and receive a few visits from some friends.

It was a gift from her Bridegroom, a day free of pain.

Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Carmel of Coimbra

Chapter 19: Only some more time

Note: Venerable Lucia’s Discalced Carmelite sisters in the Carmel of Coimbra explain why she celebrated two birthdays. Lucia dos Santos was born on Holy Thursday [28 March 1907]. However, her father “did not want to wait too long to have his child baptized, but knew the parish priest would refuse to administer baptism on Holy Saturday to a child who was less than eight days old, and it was a very busy day. He also did not want his girl to spend Easter without being baptized, and wanted to avoid having two feasts on the same day—Easter and Baptism. Thus, he solved the problem with a “white lie”—he registered the girl as being born on March 22 so the pastor could not refuse. This is why Sister Lucia always celebrated her birthday on March 22 and only learned of her true birthday later in life when she heard her mother’s explanation…”

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Venerable Lucia uses a word processor with a CRT display in her cell. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/03/21/lucia-22mar04/

#baptism #birthday #CarmelOfCoimbra #familyLife #healthcare #HolySaturday #HolyThursday #Mass #monasticLife #pain #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart

In the last years of her life Lucia celebrated her birthday on two days—the 22nd for the outside world, and the 28th for the Community of Carmel because the 22nd was always too busy with correspondence and visitors, and the Community could hardly be with her.

March 2004: The hourglass of Sister Lucia’s life began the countdown of her final days, dropping the last grains of sands of her time in this world.

The Mass was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on the 22nd when her birthday was celebrated. The chapel was crowded as was the case for many years. Although the people could not see her, they had the joy of knowing they were participating at Mass near her.

This year was not her time to leave us. There was a week during this time in which she suffered severe pain in her legs and could not get up. After 11 hours what was she to do? The doctor gave her a strong injection and she managed to go to Mass during the day and receive a few visits from some friends.

It was a gift from her Bridegroom, a day free of pain.

Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Carmel of Coimbra

Chapter 19: Only some more time

Note: Venerable Lucia’s Discalced Carmelite sisters in the Carmel of Coimbra explain why she celebrated two birthdays. Lucia dos Santos was born on Holy Thursday [28 March 1907]. However, her father “did not want to wait too long to have his child baptized, but knew the parish priest would refuse to administer baptism on Holy Saturday to a child who was less than eight days old, and it was a very busy day. He also did not want his girl to spend Easter without being baptized, and wanted to avoid having two feasts on the same day—Easter and Baptism. Thus, he solved the problem with a “white lie”—he registered the girl as being born on March 22 so the pastor could not refuse. This is why Sister Lucia always celebrated her birthday on March 22 and only learned of her true birthday later in life when she heard her mother’s explanation…”

of St. Teresa Coimbra Portugal, C 2015, A pathway under the gaze of Mary : biography of Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart O.C.D., translated from the Portuguese by Colson, J, World Apostolate of Fatima USA, Washington NJ.

Featured image: Venerable Lucia uses a word processor with a CRT display in her cell. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/03/21/lucia-22mar04/

#baptism #birthday #CarmelOfCoimbra #familyLife #healthcare #HolySaturday #HolyThursday #Mass #monasticLife #pain #VenerableMariaLuciaOfJesusAndTheImmaculateHeart