OCDS - Sto. Niño de Cebu Community

26/08/2026

August 26
THE TRANSVERBERATION OF THE HEART OF
ST. TERESA OF JESUS OUR MOTHER
Nuns: Memorial, Others: Optional Memorial

“The chief among Teresa’s virtues was the love of God, which our Lord Jesus Christ increased by means of many visions and revelations. He made her his Spouse on one occasion. At other times she saw an angel with a flaming dart piercing her heart. Through these heavenly gifts the flame of divine love in her heart became so strong that, inspired by God, she made the extremely difficult vow of always doing what seemed to her most perfect and most conducive to God’s glory” (Gregory XV in the Bull of Canonization).

MORNING PRAYER

Hymn

The day is dawning with delight,
When, spotless as the dove,
Theresa winged her spirit flight
Afar, to realms of love and light,
In heavenly courts above.

Her ear hath caught the mystic sound,
Oh, come, my sister, spouse!
From Carmel’s summit come, be crowned,
Bride of the Lamb, in bliss profound,
Come plight thy nuptial vows!

O Jesus! Spouse of Virgin choice,
Thy holy name we praise!
While heavenly choirs, too, rejoice,
Their bridal canticle to voice,
And hymn their endless lays.

86.88.6.
Felix dies, qua candidae

Antiphons and psalms of the current weekday.

Reading

2 Corinthians 4:5-7

It is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, “Let there be light shining out of darkness,” who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ. We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.

Responsory

℟ To you my heart has spoken: * It is you that I seek.
Repeat ℟
℣ I long for your face, Lord * It is you that I seek.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
℟ To you my heart has spoken: * It is you that I seek.

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. In my heart was the likeness of a burning fire, imprisoned in my bones; and I was scarcely able to bear it.

Intercessions

The Lord of glory, Crown of all the Saints, gives us the joy of celebrating this feast of Saint Teresa. Let us praise him, saying:

℟ Glory to you, Lord!

Source of life and holiness, in your saints you show us the infinite marvels of your grace; — in company with Saint Teresa may we sing of your mercies forever. ℟

You want your Spirit of Love to blaze like fire throughout the world; — may we, like Saint Teresa, be instrumental in keeping that flame of love alight. ℟

You sanctify your friends and reveal to them the mysteries of your heart; — unite our hearts to yours in a friendship so close and intimate that we may experience the secrets of your love, proclaim it to others, and win them to you. ℟

You blessed the pure of heart and promised that they would see you; — purify our sight, so that we may see you in all things, and through all things be close to you. ℟

You oppose the proud and give wisdom to the simple; — make us humble of heart, so that we may receive your wisdom for the sake of the Church. ℟

Our Father …

Prayer

Almighty God,
you filled the heart of Saint Teresa of Jesus, our Mother,
with the fire of your love
and gave her strength to undertake difficult tasks
for the honor of your name.
Through her prayers
may the power of your love fill our hearts also
and stir us to ever more generous efforts in your service.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

EVENING PRAYER

Hymn

As messenger of the Most high,
Teresa from her home would fly,
Good tidings of the Heavenly King
To heathen lands afar to bring,
Or yield for Christ her gentle life,
In ruddy streams of martyr strife.

But death with sweeter aspect came,
Awaiting her with rapturous claim.
Ecstatic pangs delight her soul,
And, conquered by their strong control,
She falleth, wounded from above
By piercing lance of heavenly love.

Oh, flaming victim! may thy dart
Enkindle every frozen heart,
That upward mounting, one with thine,
They rise, consumed with fire divine.
And may thy pleading safely keep
Thy nations from the burning deep.

All praise unto the Father be,
And to the Son eternally,
With joyful harmony repeat
All praise unto the Paraclete,
The Blessed Trinity adore
With reverent homage evermore.

88.88.88.
Regis superni nuntia

Antiphons and psalms of the current weekday.

Reading

Jude 20-21

You, my dear friends, must use your most holy faith as your foundation and build on that, praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves within the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.

Responsory

℟ You are * the temple of the living God. Repeat ℟
℣ And the Spirit of God dwells in you, * the temple of the living God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
℟ You are * the temple of the living God.

Canticle of Mary

Ant. Let my heart rejoice in your salvation; let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me.

Intercessions

Christ loved his Church and gave his life for her that she might be holy: let us pray to Christ that his Church may be holy and spotless in all her members:

℟ Be with your Church, Lord Jesus.

You are the Head of the Church and the source of all her grace; — may all your people be joined to you in faith and love, and realize that they are the living and holy members of your body. ℟

You founded the Church on Peter and the apostles, and through them you teach us the truth and lead us in green pastures; — enlighten and guide those you have placed over your Church, and confirm our faith so that in them we may hear your voice leading us to life. ℟

You choose some to announce the Good News by teaching, baptizing, calling to repentance, and offering in your memory the Eucharistic Sacrifice; — as the harvest is great, and the laborers few, send laborers into your harvest. ℟

You choose some of your friends to follow you more closely in your poverty, your chastity and your obedience, for the building up of the Church; — with Mary as their Mother and teacher, may all religious cling to you and show forth your life within them as they serve the Church. ℟

You made your people one body and one spirit in the unity of faith and baptism; — may all whom you have redeemed preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace. ℟

You died for our redemption and rose so that we could have life; — may all who have died in your love and await the revelation of your glory rejoice at the eternal banquet in the company of your saints. ℟

Our Father …

Prayer

Almighty God,
you filled the heart of Saint Teresa of Jesus, our Mother,
with the fire of your love
and gave her strength to undertake difficult tasks
for the honor of your name.
Through her prayers
may the power of your love fill our hearts also
and stir us to ever more generous efforts in your service.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

09/08/2026

The first World Meeting of OCDS Carmelites in the history of the order took place July 23–26 in Ávila, Spain.

27/07/2026

July 28
BLESSED JOHN SORETH
Priest
Optional Memorial
In the houses in France: Memorial

John Soreth was born at Caen in Normandy and entered Carmel as a young man. He took a doctorate of theology in Paris and served as regent of studies and provincial of his province. He was prior general from 1451 until his death at Angers in 1471. He restored observance within the Order and promoted its reform, wrote a famous commentary on the Rule, issued new Constitutions in 1462, and promoted the growth of the nuns and the Third Order.

From the Common of Men Saints (Religious), except the following:

MORNING PRAYER

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. Be faithful ’til death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Prayer

Lord God,
you willed that Blessed John Soreth
should renew religious life
and establish communities for women
in the Order of Carmel.
May his prayers and merits
help us to be ever more faithful
in following Christ and His Mother.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

EVENING PRAYER

Canticle of Mary

Ant. This faithful man made his city strong and renewed the faith of sinners.

27/07/2026

July 27
SAINT TITUS BRANDSMA
Priest and Martyr
Optional Memorial

Born in Bolsward (The Netherlands) in 1881, Saint Titus Brandsma joined the Carmelite Order as a young man. Ordained a priest in 1905, he earned a doctorate in philosophy in Rome. He then taught in various schools in Holland and was named professor of philosophy as Rector Magnificus. He was noted for his constant availability to everyone. He was a professional journalist, and in 1935 he was appointed the ecclesiastical advisor to Catholic journalists. Both before and during the N**i occupation of the Netherlands he fought, faithful to the Gospel, against the spread of N**i ideology and for the freedom of Catholic education and of the Catholic press. For this, he was arrested and sent to a succession of prisons and concentration camps where he brought comfort and peace to his fellow prisoners and did good even to his tormentors. In 1942, after much suffering and humiliation, he was killed at Dachau. He was beatified in 1985 and canonized by Pope Francis on 15 May 2022.

From the Common of One Martyr, except the following:

Prayer

Lord our God, source and giver of life,
you gave to Saint Titus the Spirit of courage
to proclaim human dignity and the freedom of the Church,
even in the throes of degrading persecution and death.
Grant us that same Spirit
so that in the coming of your kingdom of justice and peace
we might never be ashamed of the Gospel
but be enabled to recognize your loving-kindness
in all the events of our lives.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

26/07/2026

OCDS Sto. Niño de Cebu Community
Monthly Meeting with Rev. Fr. Ariel Dutosme.

Faithful attendance at the monthly community meeting is of paramount importance in the lives of Secular Carmelites. It is here that we receive our lifelong Formation in the Teresian Carmel as well as spiritual nourishment, support and opportunity for growth among our fellow OCDS.

23/07/2026

July 24
BLESSEDS MARY PILAR OF SAINT FRANCIS BORGIA MARTÍNEZ GARCÍA, MARY SAGRARIO OF SAINT LOUIS GONZAGA MORAGAS CANTARERO AND THEIR COMPANIONS
Virgins and Martyrs
Optional Memorial

In one single memorial, we remember our sisters who were martyred in the Spanish Civil War, which lasted from 1936 to 1939. Mary Pilar of St. Francis Borgia (born at Tarazona on Dec. 30, 1877), Teresa of the Child Jesus and of St. John of the Cross (born at Mochales on March 5,1890), and Mary Angeles of St. Joseph (born at Getafe on March 6, 1905), Discalced Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of Guadalajara, Spain, were martyred on July 24, 1936, and beatified by Saint John Paul II on March 29, 1987. Mary Sagrario was born at Lillo (Toledo) on 8th January 1881. A pharmacist by trade, she was one of the first women in Spain to be admitted to this qualification. Through her spirit of prayer and her love for the Eucharist, she was a perfect embodiment of the contemplative and ecclesial ideal of the Teresian Carmel. She was martyred on 15th August 1936, a grace for which she had longed; she was beatified by Saint John Paul II in 1998.

Those who wish to celebrate two specific commemorations today may observe the optional memorial of the three Blessed Martyrs of Guadalajara, and on August 16, Blessed Mary Sagrario.

From the Common of Martyrs or the Common of Virgins, except for the following:

OFFICE OF READINGS

The Second Reading

Strophe 30,7-8

From the Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross

The flowers of virginity and martyrdom

“We shall weave these garlands flowering in your love and bound with one hair of mine.”

This verse most appropriately refers to Christ and the Church, for in it, the Church, the Bride of Christ, addresses Him saying: let us weave garlands (understanding by garlands, all the holy souls engendered by Christ in the Church). Each holy soul is like a garland adorned with the flowers of virtues and gifts, and all of them together form a garland for the head of Christ, the Bridegroom.

The loving garlands can refer to what we call aureoles; these are also woven by Christ and the Church and are of three kinds:

The first kind is made from the beautiful flowers of all the virgins. Each virgin possesses her own aureole of virginity, and all these aureoles together will be joined into one and placed on the head of Christ, the Bridegroom.

The second aureole contains the resplendent flowers of the holy doctors. All these aureoles will be entwined into one and set upon the head of Christ over that of the virgins.

The third is fashioned from the crimson carnations of the martyrs. Every martyr has an aureole of martyrdom, and these red aureoles woven together will add the final touch to the aureole of Christ the Bridegroom.

So beautiful and fair will Christ the Bridegroom be with these three garlands when He is seen in heaven.

Therefore, we shall weave these garlands, the soul says, flowering in your love.

The flower of these works and virtues is the grace and power they possess from the love of God. Without love, these works will not only fail to flower, but they will all wither and become valueless in God’s sight, even though they may be perfect from a human standpoint. Yet, because God bestows His grace and love, they are works that have blossomed in His love.

“And bound with one hair of mine.” This hair is her will and the love she has for the Beloved. This love assumes the task of the thread in a garland. As the thread binds the flowers together, so love fastens and sustains the virtues in the soul. As St. Paul remarks: “Charity is the bond of perfection” (Col 3:14).

Responsory

R/. Even if you should have to suffer for justice’s sake, happy will you be. Do not be afraid and do not stand in awe of them, but adore the Lord Christ in your hearts * always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
V/. It is better, if God so wills it, to suffer and do good deeds than to do evil, * always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.

MORNING PRAYER

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. This life, I live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God who has loved me and given himself for me.

Prayer

Father, strength of the humble,
you sustained in martyrdom the virgins
Blessed Maria Pilar, (Maria Sagrario) and companions.
As they willingly shed their blood for Christ the King,
may we, through their intercession,
be faithful to You and to your Church until death.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

EVENING PRAYER

Canticle of Mary

Ant. What joy when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

22/07/2026

July 23
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,
MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE
Memorial

The Blessed Virgin Mary was eternally predestined, in the context of the Incarnation of the divine Word, to be the Mother of God. As decreed by divine Providence, she served on earth as the loving Mother of the divine Redeemer, His associate, uniquely generous, and the Lord’s humble servant. She conceived, bore, and nourished Christ; presented Him to the Father in the Temple; and was united with Him in His suffering as He died on the cross. In a completely unparalleled way she cooperated, by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity, with our Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason, she is Mother to us all in the order of grace’ (Lumen Gentium, the Constitution on the Church, 61).

From the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, except the following:

OFFICE OF READINGS

The Second Reading
Hom. 4

From the homily of St. Cyril of Alexandria preached at the Council of Ephesus

Our access to the fountainhead of grace is through Mary

Hail Mary, Mother of God, august treasury of the whole world, unquenchable torch, crown of virginity, scepter of orthodoxy, temple indestructible, and place of the uncontainable, mother and virgin. Through you is named blessed in the holy gospel He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hail Mary! You contained the uncontainable in your holy virginal womb. Through you the Trinity is glorified; through you is the cross named precious, and adored throughout the whole world; through you heaven exults; through you angels and archangels rejoice; through you demons are put to flight; through you the devil, the tempter, fell from heaven; through you the fallen creature is taken up to heaven; through you the whole created world, gripped in the madness of idolatry, come to a recognition of the truth; through you comes about holy baptism for believers; through you the oil of gladness; through you churches have been founded through the whole world; through you nations are led to repentance.

What need is there to speak at length? Through you the only Son of God shone His light for those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; through you prophets foretold what was to come; through you apostles preach salvation to the nations; through you the dead are raised to life; through you kings reign, through the Holy Trinity.

What man can sing adequately the praise of Mary? She is both virgin and mother! The wonder astounds me. Shall the Builder be forbidden to inhabit the temple He has built? Shall He be despised who chose His handmaid for His mother?

See then, all things rejoice. May it be ours to fear and bow before the unity of the Trinity, to worship and tremble in awe before the indivisible Trinity, as we sing praises of the ever-virgin Mary, that is the holy Church, and of her Son and immaculate spouse; for to Him is glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Responsory

R/. With confidence let us draw near to the throne of grace, * so that we may receive mercy, and find grace when we are in need of help.
V/. To you do we cry, blessed Virgin, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears, * so that we may receive mercy, and find grace when we are in need of help.

MORNING PRAYER

Canticle of Zechariah

Ant. It is I who give birth to all noble loving and the holy gift of hope. From me comes every grace of faithful observance; from me all promise of life and vigor.

Prayer

God of eternal wisdom,
in your providence, you willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary
should bring forth the Author of Grace,
and take part with him
in the mystery of man’s redemption.
May she obtain for us grace in abundance
and bring us to the haven of everlasting salvation.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

EVENING PRAYER

Canticle of Mary

Ant. Our salvation is in your hands, O Mother; smile upon us, and we shall be happy in our service of the Lord our King.

20/07/2026

New Carmelite Blesseds!

On November 7, 2026, three Discalced Carmelites will be beatified along with many other fellow martyrs who gave their lives for the faith in the Diocese of Santander between 1936 and 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

On 22 May 2026, during the Audience granted to His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Leo XIV authorised the said Congregation to promulgate a number of Decrees, including the martyrdom of the Servants of God Francisco González de Córdova and 79 Companions, priests, religious, seminarians and lay faithful, killed between 1936 and 1937 out of hatred for the faith, within the territory of the Diocese of Santander (Spain), in the context of the same persecution. Among this group of martyrs from the Iberian Peninsula are three Discalced Carmelite religious, namely Athanasius of the Sacred Heart (Gregorio Aguinagalde Aguirreche), a professed priest; Ruperto of the Cross (Ruperto Andueza Larraya), a professed religious; and Maximino of the Virgin of Carmel (Maximino Sáez Martínez), a novice religious, of whom we present brief biographical notices below.

ATANASIO OF THE SACRED HEART

(Gregorio Aguinagalde Aguirreche) Professed Priest OCD – Martyr – 1870–1936

He was born in Régil (Guipúzcoa) on 12 March 1870. He made his temporary profession on 27 June 1886 and his perpetual profession on 30 June 1889. He died in Santander on 30 December 1936.

On 27 December, ‘Red’ emissaries took him away from the house where he was staying in Santander, after the community had been expelled from the convent on 13 August 1936. Fr Atanasio never hid the fact that he was a priest and a Carmelite. Taken from the house, he was imprisoned, and there he spontaneously confessed to being a Carmelite religious and encouraged those imprisoned with him. On 30 December, he was taken out of prison together with Fr Arco, a Jesuit, and, as happened to others, it is believed that he was taken to Cabo Mayor and, after being shot, thrown into the sea.

RUPERT OF THE CROSS

(Ruperto Andueza Larraya) Professed member OCD – Martyr – 1897–1936

He was born in Garroes (Navarre) on 27 March 1897 and made his temporary profession on 1 December 1926. He died in Santander on 18 November 1936.

He was sacristan at the convent in Santander. After being forced to leave the convent due to the revolution, he was taken to a house. On 17 November 1936, he was taken prisoner by militiamen, making no secret of the fact that he was the sacristan of the Carmelite convent. On the evening of 18 November, he made his confession to Father Augusto, who had also been arrested there, and was taken away by the militiamen. It is presumed that the same fate befell him as the others: he was shot at Cabo Mayor and thrown into the sea.

MAXIMINO OF OUR LADY OF CARMEL

(Maximino Sáez Martínez) OCD Novice – Martyr – 1916–1936

He was born in Burgos on 16 December 1916 and began his novitiate on 20 November 1935. He died on board the ship Alfonso Pérez off the coast of Santander on 27 December 1936.

Assigned by obedience to the residence in Reinosa (Santander), he was caught up in the military uprising of 18 July 1936. He was 18 years old. He hid in a house for a few days, but the owners, fearing discovery and consequent reprisals, told him to find another place. He wandered the streets for who knows how long and was arrested by the ‘Reds’ as a suspect and spy. He was imprisoned for a while and then released, but was later arrested again and never released, being taken to Santander and imprisoned on the ship Alfonso Pérez. Following a bombing raid by the Nationalist air force and in retaliation, angry mobs stormed the ship on 27 December 1936, and he fell victim to the gunfire of the outlaws. He had recently turned 19.

20/07/2026

Letter to the Whole Order of our Father General on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16, 2026)

DOWNLOAD PDF

20/07/2026

"Elijah represents the prophetical tradition of Carmel and is an inspiration to live in the presence of God, seeking him in solitude and silence with zeal for God’s glory.

The Secular Carmelites live the prophetic dimension of Christian life and Carmelite spirituality by promoting God's law of charity and truth in the world, above all by making themselves the voice for those who cannot, on their own, express this love and this truth."

(OCDS const. Art. 5)