All Carmelite Saints

Today we celebrate the Feast of all Carmelite Saints. While researching on the Carmelite saints, I came to know about so many saints about whom I had never heard.

Sadly for me it has always been St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and St. John of the Cross. But I was surprised to read about so many other saints and blesseds who led an equally beautiful life. There are so many saints about whom we have never been told and taught and asked to read. It's always the same few popular ones that we keep reading and writing and learning about.

Yes, they are important but it doesn't mean we neglect the others. It's sad to note that so many of them have almost been forgotten.

For example, Blessed Baptist Spagnoli of Mantua. Even though he's a Blessed, he led quite an exemplary life. He wrote eclogues which have been used in European schools for centuries. He is the only Carmelite quoted in the works of William Shakespeare - Love's Labour Lost - (Act IV, scene 2, line 95 FF).

Then Blessed Mary of the Incarnation. She joined the Order after she was widowed at the age of 47. She was the foundress of the nuns of Discalced Carmelite Order in France, who later became a lay sister of the Order. She has been called the Mother of Carmel in France.

Then Saints Louis Martin and Marie Azelia (Zelie) Guerin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. Their lives are so beautiful and inspiring!

Then of course St. Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart! In fact she's known only as the forgotten Saint of Carmel. Her life inspires me because when she died, her body didn't decompose and a sweet perfume was noticed coming from the underground burial place! 

How beautiful!

So I got inspired by some of these lesser known figures in the Carmelite fraternity. So what if they have not written anything great and some of them are still blesseds! Their lives inspire me especially the married ones!

It's not only the virgins who loved Jesus so much! We married women also can love Jesus with equal fervour. Our hearts and souls are also united in Jesus' love. We too give priority to Him in all the aspects of our life. We too have left our father and mother and brothers to embrace His love. 

All are called to be saints and so are we!