Third Order of Carmelites - Saint Therese of the Child Jesus - Pampanga

Third Order of Carmelites - Saint Therese of the Child Jesus - Pampanga Welcome to the official page of the Third Order of Carmelites (TOCarm) here in Pampanga!

Its members, responding to a special call of God, freely and deliberately commit themselves “to live in the following of Jesus Christ” according to the traditions and spirit of Carmel under the authority of the Prior General of the Carmelite Order. The members, though not in Religious Life, choose to live out their baptismal commitment according to the spirit of the Carmelite Order. Carmelite spirituality stresses purity of heart and “vacare Deo,” the emptying of self so that God can be our all. The call to Carmel, a call to seek God’s will in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life, roots Lay Carmelites in a love of those with whom they live and work, in the search for God’s face, and in solidarity with God’s people everywhere.

NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, QUEEN AND BEAUTY OF THE ORDER OF CARMELSECOND DAYOPENING PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY...
07/07/2026

NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, QUEEN AND BEAUTY OF THE ORDER OF CARMEL

SECOND DAY

OPENING PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY

O most radiant blossom in the garden of God, Holy Virgin of Carmel, who opened so completely to the seed of Divine love, Plant yourself now in the reality of our hearts. Turning to you as a sister take our hands in yours and share with us your gift of faith. As we climb the mountain of God, remind us that the overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit will open the vision of our souls to all that we cannot see. Yearning for you as mother, lift us onto your lap and hold us gently in the arms of hope, sharing with us the promise of new life, passing from one generation to the next. Reaching out to you as our patroness, enfold us in your mantle of care, permeate our spirits with the grace of love. May our yield for you be full and our service to God complete. As Our Lady of the Place, continue to be our guiding star; ignite in us wisdom. That we might follow your lead, conceiving the Word within, and bringing Jesus to birth in yet a new day and time. Amen.

SECOND DAY

O Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, who, on account of your singular love for the Carmelites, did favor them by familiarly conversing with them, and enlightening them by means of your instruction and example: we beseech you, O dear Lady, to obtain for us, of your Beloved Son Jesus, light to be sensible of His goodness, grace to love Him, to know and deplore our sins, and to teach us what we ought to do in order to serve Him perfectly. Grant that our lives and conversations may always be to His greater honor and glory, as well as to the edification of our neighbors, and that we may obtain what we desire in this Novena.

(Mention your request here)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,* *Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,*
God the Holy Spirit,*
Holy Trinity, One God,*

Holy Mary,* *Pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of Heaven,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, model of contemplative life,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God’s gifts,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners,*

For those hardened in vice,* *With confidence we come to you.
For those who grieve thy Son*,
For those who neglect to pray,*
For those who are in their agony,*
For those who delay their conversion,*
For those suffering in Purgatory,*
For those who do not know you,*

Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us O Holy Virgin of Mount Carmel,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray:

O glorious Queen of the Order of Carmel, channel of God’s tender mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence we prostrate ourselves before you, beseeching you to obtain for us. In return we solemnly promise to have recourse to you in all our trials, sufferings and temptations, and we shall do all in our power to induce others to love and reverence you and to invoke you in all our needs. We thank you for the numberless blessings which we have received from your mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be our shield in danger, our guide in life, and our consolation at the hour of death. Amen.

FINAL PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son. Behold us, your children. We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel. Through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death. Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony! Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help! Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children. Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls! Amen.

NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, QUEEN AND BEAUTY OF THE ORDER OF CARMELFIRST DAYOPENING PRAYER FOR EVERYDAYO...
06/07/2026

NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, QUEEN AND BEAUTY OF THE ORDER OF CARMEL

FIRST DAY

OPENING PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY

O most radiant blossom in the garden of God, Holy Virgin of Carmel, who opened so completely to the seed of Divine love, Plant yourself now in the reality of our hearts. Turning to you as a sister take our hands in yours and share with us your gift of faith. As we climb the mountain of God, remind us that the overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit will open the vision of our souls to all that we cannot see. Yearning for you as mother, lift us onto your lap and hold us gently in the arms of hope, sharing with us the promise of new life, passing from one generation to the next. Reaching out to you as our patroness, enfold us in your mantle of care, permeate our spirits with the grace of love. May our yield for you be full and our service to God complete. As Our Lady of the Place, continue to be our guiding star; ignite in us wisdom. That we might follow your lead, conceiving the Word within, and bringing Jesus to birth in yet a new day and time. Amen.

FIRST DAY

O Virgin of Carmel, Most Holy Mary, who was prefigured by the cloud which the great prophet Elijah saw rising from the sea, and which with its rain rendered the whole earth fruitful, signifying your most pure fecundity, by which you gave to the world your dear Son Jesus for the salvation of all our souls. We beg you, O Lady, to obtain for us from His Divine Majesty a copious supply of grace, so that our souls may bring forth abundant fruits of virtue and good works, and having served you perfectly on earth, we may be worthy to enjoy you eternally in Heaven; and that we may obtain what we particularly pray for in this Novena.

(Mention your request here)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

LITANY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,* *Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,*
God the Holy Spirit,*
Holy Trinity, One God,*

Holy Mary,* *Pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of Heaven,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, model of contemplative life,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God’s gifts,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death,*
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners,*

For those hardened in vice,* *With confidence we come to you.
For those who grieve thy Son*,
For those who neglect to pray,*
For those who are in their agony,*
For those who delay their conversion,*
For those suffering in Purgatory,*
For those who do not know you,*

Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us O Holy Virgin of Mount Carmel,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray:

O glorious Queen of the Order of Carmel, channel of God’s tender mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence we prostrate ourselves before you, beseeching you to obtain for us. In return we solemnly promise to have recourse to you in all our trials, sufferings and temptations, and we shall do all in our power to induce others to love and reverence you and to invoke you in all our needs. We thank you for the numberless blessings which we have received from your mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be our shield in danger, our guide in life, and our consolation at the hour of death. Amen.

FINAL PRAYER FOR EVERYDAY

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son. Behold us, your children. We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel. Through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death. Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony! Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help! Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children. Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls! Amen.

The Mark of Holiness: Communion with the PopeThere is a profound irony in claiming unwavering fidelity to Catholic Tradi...
05/07/2026

The Mark of Holiness: Communion with the Pope

There is a profound irony in claiming unwavering fidelity to Catholic Tradition while setting oneself in habitual opposition to the Roman Pontiff. One cannot invoke the authority of Pope Saint Pius X while disregarding his clear teaching on obedience to the Successor of Saint Peter. The following words deserve careful reflection:

"When one loves the Pope, one does not stop to discuss what he advises or demands, or ask how far obedience should go and in what matters one ought to obey. When one loves the Pope, one does not object that he has not spoken clearly enough, as though he were obliged to repeat into every man's ear that clearly expressed will so often manifested not only by word of mouth but by letters and other public documents. One does not question his commands under the easy pretext of those unwilling to obey that it is not the Pope who commands but those who surround him. One does not limit the field in which he may and ought to exercise his authority. One does not oppose to the authority of the Pope that of other persons, however learned, who differ from the Pope; for however learned they may be, they are not holy, because one who is holy cannot disagree with the Pope."

-Saint Pius X, Address to the Priests of the Apostolic Union on the Fiftieth Anniversary of Its Foundation, Vatican, 18 November 1912. Acta Apostolicae Sedis 4 (1912): 695–696.

https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/it/speeches/documents/hf_p-x_spe_19121118_unione-apostolica.html

02/07/2026

In 1887, Paris was shaken by the horrific murders of three women. The killer, Henri Pranzini, showed no remorse throughout his trial. Many believed he was beyond hope.

But a 14-year-old girl in a quiet convent in Lisieux thought differently.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux chose this notorious criminal as her very first “spiritual child.” Burning with zeal to save souls, she prayed with all her heart, offered sacrifices, and begged Jesus for a clear sign that her prayers were heard.

On the morning of his ex*****on by guillotine, newspapers reported the dramatic moment:

After refusing the chaplain’s help, Pranzini suddenly turned just before the blade fell. He grabbed the crucifix, and kissed the sacred wounds of Christ three times — a powerful gesture of repentance.

When young Thérèse read the account, tears of joy filled her eyes. She knew it was God’s answer. This single soul became the spark that ignited her lifelong mission of praying for sinners — a mission that continues from heaven today.

She later wrote about it in her autobiography, Story of a Soul, and the Church has treasured this story for generations as a shining example of God’s mercy reaching even the darkest heart in the final moment.

Key truths:
⬩ Thérèse prayed fervently for a condemned murderer most considered lost.
⬩ Pranzini appeared completely unrepentant… until the very end.
⬩ His dramatic turn to kiss the crucifix three times was seen as a gift of grace.
⬩ This event strengthened Thérèse’s confidence in the “Little Way” and her call to save souls.

🙏 No one is beyond God’s reach. Not the worst sinner, not the person you’ve been praying for for years, not even those who seem farthest from God.

Let St. Thérèse inspire us today: our prayers, small sacrifices, and love offered to Jesus can move mountains of sin and open the door to mercy.

“I felt that I was really a child of God… and that I was to save souls for Him.” — St. Thérèse

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

01/07/2026

From Léonie to Thérèse.
July 1, 1896

“Very dear little Sister,

If you only knew how I am always thinking of you, and remem­brance of you is so sweet for me. It brings me close to God, and I understand your desire to go to see Him soon in order to lose yourself eternally in Him. I myself, too, desire it like you; I love to hear death spoken about, and I do not understand persons who love this life of suffering and of continual death.

As for yourself, my dear, you are ready to go to see God. Surely you would be well received, but I, alas, would arrive with empty hands, and yet I have the boldness not to be afraid, do you under­stand? It is incredible; I know it, I confess it, but I am unable to stop acting otherwise.

If you only knew how necessary it is that I be helped not to allow myself go after the pleasures and vanities of the world, for, in spite of all the good will possible, we allow ourselves to be drawn insen­sibly toward these, and if we do not find death in them, at least pie­ty and pure love for Jesus are impaired. We no longer have anything to offer the dearly Beloved except faded flowers; how many times have I not offered Him some. Dear Sister, you will stop me, will you not, from continuing to do so? I am so weak. You know I am depending on you.

I beg you, ask God especially for me that He may free me from my scruples; always drawn in upon myself, I am terribly harmed by this and held back very much from perfection. Be certain that I am placing my finger on the wound in order to show it to you.

Your little sister, who loves you with all her heart.

Léonie child of Mary”

“I believe that, since the devil sees there is no path that leads more quickly to the highest perfection than obedience,...
01/07/2026

“I believe that, since the devil sees there is no path that leads more quickly to the highest perfection than obedience, he sets up many annoyances and difficulties under the color of good. Note this well and you will see clearly that I am speaking the truth.”
-Saint Teresa of Ávila, The Foundations 5:10

Saint Teresa reminds us that the devil rarely tempts us with what is obviously evil. More often, he disguises temptation with the appearance of good. Love for tradition, zeal for orthodoxy, and sincere concern for the Church are all genuine goods. Yet if these good desires lead us away from the obedience that Christ established in His Church, they can become occasions for deception.

The Carmelite saints understood obedience as one of the highest expressions of humility and love. Saint Teresa never grew weary of warning her daughters against trusting their own judgment over the lawful authority of the Church. For her, holiness was not found in following one’s own convictions at all costs, but in surrendering one’s will to God with humility, confidence, and peace.

As Catholics, we hold fast to the ancient maxim, Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia. Where Peter is, there is the Church. Communion with the Successor of Peter is not merely a matter of discipline. It is a visible sign of the unity Christ willed for His flock. Throughout history, the saints have renewed the Church by remaining faithfully within her, never apart from her.

May we ask for the grace to imitate the humble obedience of the Carmelite saints. In moments of confusion, may we resist the temptation to rely on our own certainty and instead entrust ourselves to Christ, who continues to guide His Church through the ministry He established. Let us pray for our Holy Father, remain steadfast in communion with him, and remember the enduring wisdom of Saint Teresa: the surest path to holiness is the path of humble obedience.

Solo Dios basta. God alone suffices.

Today, the Church honors the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, the countless unnamed Christians who gave their lives ...
29/06/2026

Today, the Church honors the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, the countless unnamed Christians who gave their lives for Christ during the persecution of Emperor Nero following the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64. Though history has not preserved their names, their witness became the foundation upon which the Church in Rome flourished. Their courage reminds us that holiness is not measured by recognition, but by the depth of one's love for Christ.

More than eighteen centuries later, another pilgrim arrived in Rome with a heart burning with that same love.

In November 1887, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, just fourteen years old, journeyed to Rome with her father, Louis Martin, her sister Céline, and a group of French pilgrims. The pilgrimage was one she had long desired, allowing her to walk in the footsteps of the Apostles and the early martyrs whose faith had shaped the Church.

Among the many sacred places they visited, one held a particularly profound significance: the Colosseum.

For centuries, the Colosseum had stood as a powerful symbol of the courage and sacrifice of the early Christians. After the group's guided tour had concluded, Thérèse and her eighteen-year-old sister, Céline, quietly slipped away from the others and found their way back into the ancient arena. There, away from the crowds, they descended to a place traditionally associated with the witness of the martyrs.

Kneeling together on the ancient stones, Thérèse reverently kissed the ground that had long been honored as sanctified by the blood of those who had remained faithful to Christ. In that deeply personal moment, she prayed with all the fervor of her young heart for one grace alone: to become a martyr for Jesus.

Later, in Story of a Soul, she recalled:

"I begged for the grace to be a martyr for Jesus, and I felt in the depths of my heart that my prayer was heard."

At first, it seemed her prayer would remain unanswered. Thérèse would never face persecution or shed her blood as the First Martyrs had. Instead, she returned home, entered Carmel at the age of fifteen, and spent the rest of her life hidden within the walls of her convent.

Yet God had heard her prayer.

The First Martyrs offered Christ the sacrifice of their blood. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus offered Him the sacrifice of her entire life.

Within the silence of Carmel, she embraced what she would later call her "Little Way," offering every inconvenience, every hidden suffering, every act of charity, and every ordinary moment with extraordinary love. She came to understand that martyrdom is not only found in a single heroic death, but also in the daily surrender of one's own will for the love of God.

In many ways, the prayer she whispered in the Colosseum was fulfilled, not through the shedding of blood, but through a lifelong martyrdom of love.

The witness of the First Martyrs and the witness of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus proclaim the very same Gospel.

The martyrs teach us that Christ is worth dying for.

Thérèse teaches us that Christ is worth living for, every moment of every day.

Most of us will never be called to stand before an emperor or face the arena. Instead, we are invited into the quieter martyrdom of everyday discipleship. Every act of patience, every hidden sacrifice, every moment of forgiveness, every choice to love when it is difficult, and every quiet "yes" to God's will becomes an offering united with the witness of the saints who have gone before us.

As we celebrate the Feast of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, may we be inspired by their unwavering courage and by the example of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. May we remember that while not every Christian is called to shed their blood, every Christian is called to pour out their life in love.

For in the end, the crown of martyrdom and the Little Way lead to the same destination: complete union with Christ.

"Love alone gives value to all things."
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

On this solemn day, we honor Saints Peter and Paul, the two great pillars of the Church. One was called from his nets, t...
28/06/2026

On this solemn day, we honor Saints Peter and Paul, the two great pillars of the Church. One was called from his nets, the other from his zeal. Together they proclaim that the Lord calls, transforms, and sends.

Saint Peter, chosen as the rock, experienced the mercy of Christ after his denial. When the Risen Lord asked him, "Do you love me?" three times, it was not to shame him, but to restore him in love. This journey from failure to faith speaks to every Carmelite heart that longs to live entirely for God in humility and trust.

Saint Paul, once a persecutor, became the apostle of divine love. He wrote, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." His life of surrender and tireless mission reflects the Carmelite call to interior transformation and spiritual union with Christ.
Saint Teresa of Jesus once wrote, "The important thing is not to think much, but to love much, and so to do what best awakens us to love." This echoes the apostolic fire of Saints Peter and Paul, whose ministries were not based on human strength but on divine love poured into their hearts.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, though hidden in Carmel, understood this deeply. She said, "I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was burning with love. I understood it was Love alone that made the Church’s members act, and that if Love were extinguished, the Apostles would no longer proclaim the Gospel."

In the Carmelite life, contemplation is never isolated. It overflows in love for the Church. Like Saints Peter and Paul, Carmelites are called to witness to the Gospel, whether through preaching, writing, sacrifice, or silent prayer. The fire of love that burns in the cloister is the same flame that fuels the mission of the Church.

Today, we ask Saints Peter and Paul to intercede for us, that we may walk in fidelity, humility, and bold love, just as they did. May our Carmelite hearts burn with the same zeal, not for ourselves, but for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Grant,
we pray, O Lord our God,
that we may be sustained
by the intercession of the
blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that,
as through them you gave your Church
the foundations of her heavenly office,
so through them you may help her to eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

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Angeles City
2009

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