Text and photo by Maria del Espiritu

Deciding to enter the narrow and steep road and staying on it is a difficult decision to take.

We Carmelites are mountain-climbers in spirit, not in any way to mean climbing a mountain physically but similar to taking a journey that is just as arduous and requires stamina. We are said to “climb the mountain of Carmel” in which we hope to reach the peak—that is, complete union with God. This is our goal; nothing else should deter us.

Climbing the slopes

In a recent hiking expedition that turned out to be a mountain climb, I started the climb with other family members—bringing some gears and gadgets in place. It felt like a simple walk in the park (it was a park, after all) and that the gadgets would be useful in some way. When we saw the map and realized we would scale the peak of the mountain, it got us immediately excited. Off we went hurriedly.

As we passed through easy plateaus and craggy steps, the higher we went. My bag, bottled water and jacket were beginning to bear so much weight. The air was frosty but I was already sweating so I had to remove my jacket. My husband could not go any further and decided to stay where he was and just wait for us. After a short while, I decided to go further but leave the rest of my things behind. My son decided to stay with me just to make sure I was safe.

I proceeded to scale up the mountain, not resting for a second as dusk was fast approaching. After a long wait, I reached the summit with my son and was treated to a beautiful sunset and a view awash in fading colors. For a brief moment I decided no camera can ever capture the serene beauty of what lay before me. I had to sink in the view, thanking God for His providence and His strength.

Taking only what is necessary

I realized then and there that I did not really need a lot of things to accomplish the ascent. I only needed what was necessary—my determination, common sense, and a whole of grace! And it is pretty much so in spiritual life. Nothing else matters—material comforts, recognition, ambition. These weigh us down from what should really matter, to what is really necessary in our lives.

And this is how our relationship with God should be. I now understand a little better the purifying value of St. John of the Cross’ “spiritual darkness” of the soul, how it is sustained by grace and by the words of St. John Paul II, “demands intense spiritual commitment”. What only matters is what is in our soul, equipped with the graces bestowed by God to a soul who asks earnestly.

As I reached the summit I was thinking about this realization and how it gave me comfort that I decided to stay on the path. Never mind if I looked like a mess afterwards!

And the things I left behind? I never needed them in the first place.

Maria del Espiritu is a member of the Third Order Carmelites in the Philippines.

Easter Message from the Prior Provincial and Council

Dear brothers and sisters,

How are we to celebrate Easter joy with all the sufferings around, including the lamentations we heard from our ailing and abused Mother Nature? How can we afford to hope when people tend to satisfy their insatiable hunger for personal possessions and glory at the expense of the disadvantaged and vulnerable?

The cross of Jesus can help us find the answer to our questions. It is even the answer! More importantly, his glorious resurrection confirms the victory Christ has won for us by dying on the cross.

In the early days, Christians used to gather the entire night in vigil, in expectancy of the Lord’s resurrection.  They remembered the death of Jesus, and at daybreak, they celebrated his victory over it. Matthew’s account in the Easter Vigil’s liturgy points out to the feast of the risen Christ, with renewed energy, enlightenment and life for all. We are incorporated into Christ through baptism, which has its most appropriate framework at the Easter Vigil.

COME AND SEE

The death of the Lord had confused and frightened the disciples which made some of them withdrew, but the women in the gospels were not intimidated. They were the first persons who went “to see the tomb” (Mt 28:1). The women were lovingly looking for the body of the crucified and dead Jesus but an angel told them to go and see the tomb, which was empty. Upon seeing that the tomb was empty, a new realization dawned on them, that Jesus is alive! They left the tomb “with fear and great joy” and “they ran to tell the disciples” (28:8).

BE NOT AFRAID

Jesus met these faithful and courageous women greeting them with “rejoice!” Having verified on many occasions that the Lord is alive, the duty of the witnesses was to proclaim this truth to all. The messenger’s assurance with the words “do not be afraid” (28:5) emboldened the believers to tell this resurrection story.

WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO COME AND SEE AND TO NOT BE AFRAID

With what is happening to humanity and the whole of creation, the Carmelites, as prophets and contemplatives, are challenged to see every situation with the eyes and heart of God. We are also called to announce and defend the good news and denounce all bad news affecting the lives of the people and nature.

Let our celebrations echo the cries, sentiments and hope of the people that the truth and fruits of the resurrection be a spark of a movement that will foster solidarity and collective action.

Let us help build basic communities that mirror the qualities of the kingdom as proclaimed and espoused by Jesus himself.

A blessed Easter to all!

Fr. Rico P. Ponce, O.Carm.
Prior Provincial

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash

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  Preparing to Ascend
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  Come and See
• Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.Carm

Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.Carm

February 5, 1933 – April 6, 2019

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Today, April 6, we remember Bro. Arnold van Vugt, O.Carm., who joined our Lord on this day in 2019.

Bro. Arnold entered the Carmelite Order at the age of 14. He was ordained to the preisthood in 1960 and volunteered to come to the Philippines in 1961.

He was assigned in Escalante City where he worked with farmers and fishermen. Then he was assigned in Iligan City as social action director of the Diocese of Ozamis.

He was involved in the labor movement and worked for social justice. During the Marcos regime, he was imprisoned, deported and considered an undesirable alien. But he returned with so much passion to join the Filipino people in their struggle against the tyrannical Marcos dictatorship.

Bro. Arnold became a superior in the Philippines in the 1970s and was a memebr of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (now Conference of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines).

Bro. Arnold eventually found a different calling and left the priesthood in 1987 to marry Lorna.

As a laicized priest, he continued serving the Filipino people and the church through the Horeb Center, a non-government organization he founded which focused on the organizing of basic Christian communities.

He continued serving the Order as an associate Carmelite. He was a member of the San Alberto Cebu-Ormoc Community.

We are forever grateful to Bro. Arnold.

Let us remember Bro. Arnold in our prayers. (Daluyang Karmelo|CCSPC)

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• Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.CarmApril 6, 2023
• Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.CarmApril 3, 2023
• In Memoriam: Fr. Edgar Koning, O.CarmMarch 31, 2023

Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.Carm

June 20, 1942 – April 2, 2023

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The Province of St. Titus Brandsma (Philippines and Papua New Guinea) of the Order of Carmelites grieves with our brothers and sisters of the Netherland Province for the loss of a very dear confrere, Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.Carm.

Fr. Kees was very dear to us Filipino and Papua New Guinea Carmelites as he was instrumental to the growth of our ministry in spirituality, the Institute of Spirituality in Asia.

Through his many lectures and interactions with us, he helped us realize the true essence of lived spirituality and how as Carmelites we should be beacons of the beauty of the spiritual life.

He was a brother, a mentor, a father, a friend.

Fr. Kees peacefully passed on in the afternoon of April 2, surrounded by our brothers and sisters in Carmel, comforting him with the words of Psalm 23.

Fr. Kees, truly, you are a blessing to us and to the church.

Please say a prayer for the eternal repose of our brother Kees. (Daluyang Karmelo|CCSPC)

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• Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.CarmApril 6, 2023
• Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.CarmApril 3, 2023
• In Memoriam: Fr. Edgar Koning, O.CarmMarch 31, 2023

Today, March 31, is the memorial of Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz.

Born in 1906 in Poland, Natalia worked as a teacher and led the local lay apostolate.

When World War II happened, Natalia decided to join underground educators in Krakow. She voluntarily went to Germany to join women forced into hard labor, as she wanted to teach them catechism and provide spiritual comfort.

The Gestapo, the Nazi secret police, discovered her secret mission. They tortured her and then condemned her to die in the Ravensbruck concentration camp.

On Good Friday 1945, weakened by countless horrible tortures, Natalia stood on a chair and gave a talk to the prisoners on the passion and resurrection of Jesus.

She was killed in the gas chamber on Easter Sunday 1945. She was beatified, along with 107 other martyrs of World War II, by Pope St. John Paul II in 1999.

Fr. Edgar Koning, O.Carm

May 9, 1932 – March 31, 2020

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Today, March 31, we remember Fr. Edgar Koning, O.Carm., who joined our Lord on this day in 2020.

Fr. Edgar played a vital role in bringing to the fore the injustice against the Filipino people.

Fr. Edgar arrived in the Philippines in 1965 and managed Mount Carmel College and Magdalene Hospital in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

For eight years he worked to protect the rights of the poor farmers of Negros and shared in the struggle of the poor.

Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm. said that Fr. Edgar “found it difficult to cope with the far-reaching corruption the country suffered from the unjust ways in which the large landowners treated their workers.”

Because of this he was overworked and eventually became ill and after eight years in Philippines, in 1973, he was forced to return to the Netherlands.

Even though based in the Netherlands, he continued to work for justice and peace in the Philippines, involving himself with the Philippine solidarity group and founded Fidoc, the Philippine Information and Documentation Center.

“Edgar still felt strongly connected with the Filipino people in heart and soul,” said Fr. Wolbers.

We are forever grateful to Fr. Edgar.

Let us remember Fr. Edgar in our prayers. (Ritche T. Salgado, O.Carm.)

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• Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.CarmApril 6, 2023
• Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.CarmApril 3, 2023
• In Memoriam: Fr. Edgar Koning, O.CarmMarch 31, 2023

Today, March 30, is the memorial of Saint John Climacus.

John was born in 579 in Syria. He was named “Climacus” because of his writings. “Climacus” means “ladder,” so his name refers to his works. Fired with a love of God, a young John decided he wanted to serve God all his life. At 16, he joined the monks of Mount Sinai Monastery. He served as abbot of the monastery. He would move to the desert and become a hermit later on.

He is known for writing “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” an ascetical treatise on how to avoid vice and practice virtue so that salvation can be obtained.

The book was actually intended for monks, but it took on a life of its own and became one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church in guiding the faithful to a God-centered life, second only to Holy Scripture.

The objective of “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” is to guide people in devoting their lives to God.  The ladder image, which reminds one of Jacob’s vision in the Old Testament, describes how one may climb into heaven by first renouncing the world and finally ending up in heaven with God.

John died of natural causes, around age 70, in 649.

Fr. Noud Arts, O.Carm.

March 25, 1945 – March 30, 2018

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Today, March 30, we remember Fr. Noud “Nol” Arts, O.Carm.

He joined our creator on this day in 2018.

Let us remember Fr. Noud Arts in our prayers.

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• Bro. Arnoldus Josefus Bekkering van Vugt, a.O.CarmApril 6, 2023
• Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.CarmApril 3, 2023
• In Memoriam: Fr. Edgar Koning, O.CarmMarch 31, 2023

Today, March 29, is the memorial of Saint Berthold of Mount Carmel.

Born in Limoges, France, Berthold was the son of the Count of Limoges and a nephew of Aymeric the Latin patriarch of Antioch.

He was a soldier who battled in the Crusades and was present in Antioch during the siege of the Saracens.

It was at this point that Jesus appeared to Berthold in a vision, rebuking him for his sinful life. Berthold promptly decided to mend his ways and to become a hermit.

In 1185, Berthold went up to Mount Carmel and tried to imitate the life of the Prophet Elijah. He built a chapel there and established a community of hermits. People from all over heard of his holiness, and wanted to meet him for spiritual direction. He died in 1195.

Today, March 24, is the memorial of Saint Oscar Romero.

Oscar was born to Santos and Guadalupe Romero in 1917 in San Miguel, El Salvador. He was ordained in 1942 in Rome and served as parish priest of Anamoros, La Union, El Salvador in 1943.

In 1970, he was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Salvador and as the titular bishop of Tambeae. In 1977, Oscar became Archbishop of San Salvador.

He was seen as a conservative, more often in disagreement with priests who supported leftist ideologies. He observed that the ruling class did not care for the poor. He openly sided with the cause of the poor and oppressed, and always within the confines of his vocation.

He was shot by a government-affiliated death squad in 1980 in the chapel of La Divina Providencia Hospital while celebrating Mass.

Oscar was beatified in 2015 by Cardinal Angelo Amato in El Salvador. Pope Francis canonized Oscar in 2018.