The message of the Prior General for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Prior General of the Carmelite Order Fr Fernando Millan Romeral, was born in Madrid in Spain on 19th August 1962. He studied at the Colegio Santa Maria del Carmen in Madrid and in 1981 took his simple profession within the Carmelite family. He followed his philosophical studies at the Comillas Pontifical University in Spain and his theological studies at C.E.T in Seville, in Milltown Institute in Dublin and at the Comillas Pontifical University in Spain.
After his solemn profession in Madrid in 1987 he was ordained priest on 21st January 1989.
He was chosen to lead the Carmelite Order as Prior General at the General Chapter held in Rome in 2007 and in 2013 was reelected for a second term between 2013 and 2019.
Each year, according to custom, as the solemn feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel approaches, celebrated in the Universal Church on 16th July, the Prior General writes to all the brothers and sisters of the Carmelite family. In his letter which was sent on the 3rd of July this year, he sends his greetings for the celebration of this feast of the special patron of all the Carmelite Order and urges the brothers and sisters to keep Mary as a Mother and Sister and as the centre of life of all those who profess and live the Carmelite charism.
The Prior General reminds us that during this time the Church is preparing itself for the Synod of Bishops that will discuss youth related issues, such as their faith and vocational discernment. It is the desire of the Synod that through various methods, the voice of young people may reach the synod, so that the meeting to be held in Rome in October will not ‘only’ concern them, but will be one where young people’s opinions, impressions about the church, doubts and illusions can be heard by the participating bishops.
Likewise, Father Fernando mentions the preparations being undertaken for World Youth Day to be held in Panama in January 2019. On this occasion of joy, celebration and prayer, as has taken place since the Sydney Australia World Youth Day in 2008, the Carmelite Order together with the Discalced Carmelite brothers will organize ‘Carmel Day’ for the young people present. For this occasion the Prior General hopes to be present among the youths as he was for past events.
In the light of these two appointments for the Universal Church, Father Fernando Romeral urges the Carmelite communities to keep this particular intention in their prayers, especially during the novena of preparation for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He presents Mary as a model for young people for spiritual discernment and acceptance of God’s will in their lives. Mary always remains the model of the beauty of our faith, of the challenge of Christian life, of the generosity of our giving to the Lord and the adventure that comes from our walk behind Jesus in a constantly changing and complex world.
On behalf of the Carmelite family, the Prior General through this message takes the opportunity to thank all those brothers and sisters who engage in pastoral work among youths. He recognizes that it is not always an easy task but one that requires accompaniment, listening, time sharing and working closely with them. He urges all the Provinces to be open in a creative and generous manner to youth work as through this they can deliver the strength of the charism and spirituality of the Carmelites.
In his message he continues to write about the potential of the Carmelite charism, whose values, such as a personal relationship with God, spiritual depth, sensitivity and beauty can motivate young people to a different life style of faith. In a world characterized by superficial promotions, fake news and virtual relationships, a call to the interior life, to a personal encounter with the Lord, to the discovery of the power of prayer, which emanate from the Carmelite charism, can be a revolutionary one. However the Prior General warns, that this invitation must reach young people without a sense of superiority or imposition, but as a simple and affectionate offer.
In choosing the theme of the Synod, Pope Francis also wished to include vocational discernment. By God’s grace in many parts of the world the Carmelite family is blessed with a good number of calls to consecrated life, but unfortunately in some places we are experiencing a crisis of vocations which is of concern for the Carmelite order as a whole. Thus the Prior General urges all the Carmelite family to accept this invitation of the Pope and through humility discern what the weaknesses and mistakes could be that have led to this crisis in certain countries. He encourages each Province to commit itself to Vocational Ministry with the goal of accompanying youth in their journey of discernment of God’s call in their lives, not only for religious life but also for that of marriage and the formation of new families.
At the end of his letter Fr Fernando Romeral mentions two special events that in their simplicity are filled with meaning and joy for the Carmelite family.
The first occasion is that associated with the fourth centenary of the arrival of the first image of Our Lady in Manila in the Philippines. The statue was brought over from Mexico at a time when the Philippines formed part of the empire that was called the New Spain. It was taken to the island by the Augustinian Friars of the Ancient Observance who then donated it to the Discalced Carmelites. This miraculous image that is venerated with great devotion among the Filipinos, a devotion that the Prior General himself experienced more than once, is venerated in the church of San Sebastian de Quiapo. On the 4th of May 2018 a major celebration took place led by Cardinal Tagle of Manila where following the sea procession (where the statue is taken out to sea), a Mass of thanksgiving was held on the occasion of this special anniversary.
On this occasion the Prior General Fr Fernando wrote to the Prior General of the Augustinians of the Ancient Observance to thank them on behalf of the Carmelite family not only to commemorate what happened 400 years ago, but for their work throughout these years in having kept the devotion to Our Lady of Carmel alive. He also expressed the wish for the two religious orders to work to renew their missionary spirit under the care of our Mother and Star of the Sea.
The second occasion mentioned by the Prior General is that of the canonical coronation of the ancient and devout image of Our Lady venerated since the seventeenth century in the town of Rute, Cordoba in Spain. Fr Romeral explains in a simple way how the coronation of the image of Our Lady is not a holy tradition whose relevance has ended, but that in this liturgical gesture the Church offers us in Mary a sign of hope for all humanity. In the simplicity and humility of this young Nazarene woman, God also crowns us who have been redeemed by the blood of His Son Jesus.
At the end of his letter the Prior General expresses his wishes for the Carmelite family all over the world to continue to crown Our Lady, Mother and Beauty of Carmel, through the witness of our lives, the opening of our hearts to the Word of God and our service to those most in need.