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J.M.J.

Feast of St. Peter Alcantara 

Franciscan Reformer and powerful supporter of Our Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus

in the Reform of Carmel (the Teresian Carmel).

 

Our Sacred Tradition teaches us through the Collect of today's Mass "that by his merits pleading for us, we may so mortify our bodies as the more easily to embrace heavenly things..." It is for this reason why the Scapular Confraternity, who want to partake of our Carmelite embrace of God and delight in what concerns Him and His Rights, are obliged to generously undertake abstinence from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays also if they are not capable to say the "Little Office" of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"There is one thing that keeps many back from spiritual progress, and from fervor in amendment: namely a dread of the difficulty or of the labor that is necessary in the struggle. And assuredly they especially advance beyond others in virtue, who strive the most manfully to overcome the vey things which are the hardest and most contrary to them" (from "The Following of Christ").

A blessed Feast!