Third Order of Carmelites - Imus

25/05/2026

TOC-Imus , as part of our JPIC advocacy on Integrity of Creation and in line with the Holy Father, Pope Francis' Laudato Si on the care for our common home, held a formation on Eco-Spirituality by our parish' representatives to the 'Ministri Ng Kalikasan' 05.24.26

Excerpt from the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si:

At the conclusion of the lengthy reflection on Laudato Si, which has been both joyful and troubling, it was proposed that we offer two prayers. The first we can share with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator, while in the other we Christians ask for inspiration to take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus.

A prayer for our earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

A Christian prayer in union with creation

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!
Amen.🙏

25/05/2026

May 25: Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Carmelite Virgin
Protector of the Third Order of Carmelites

Mary Magdalene bore the surname of the noble family of Pazzi in Florence. Already by the 15th century, the Pazzi family exercised great political power. She was born on 2nd April 1566, given a good education and, from her childhood, she had a deep sense of the presence of God, a great love for the Eucharist and a longing to live a penitential life. Contrary to the usual practice but, with the consent of her confessor, she was allowed to make her first communion at the age of ten years. When she was seventeen years, she was accepted by the Carmelite nuns of Saint Mary of the Angels in Florence, her native city. During her novitiate, she had a serious illness which lasted for two months and brought her close to death. As a result, she was allowed to anticipate her profession. However, she recovered and for three years she was assistant mistress of novices, then sacristan, and, for a further six years, mistress of novices. Also, for a period, she had charge of the junior professed and in 1604 she was elected subprioress. Her continuous physical sufferings and severe spiritual trials were a great burden but she was enriched by God with extraordinary graces. She died on 25th May 1607. She was beatified in 1626 and canonized on 28th April 1669.

In 1668, in preparation for her canonization, her body was declared miraculously incorrupt. Her relics are located in the Monastery of Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi in Careggi.

In addition to her deep spiritual life, she observed conscientiously her religious vows and led a hidden life of prayer and self denial. She was filled with a burning desire for the renewal of the Church: keenly aware of the urgent need for reform, yearning to see it spread, and offering herself so that the "anointed ones" (i.e. priests) would once again be a witness to the world and that the lapsed would return to the Church. "The central theme in her spirituality (although not thought out in a fully systematic fashion) is love; we are created by God with love and by love, and such is the means by which we must turn to him; love is the measure of how far the soul has returned to God. The principal function of love is to unite the soul to God. The spiritual life is like a circle, inspired by love, which in God has both its point of departure and its moment of arrival." Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi had also a great devotion to Our Lady and she was a significant inspiration in the development of Carmelite Marian devotion to the "Most Pure Virgin", claiming that the beauty of Mary lay in her purity, which was what had made her one with the Word in her divine maternity.

Her mystical experiences were written in five "original manuscripts", that is the notes which were written by her nuns recording all that she did or said during her ecstasies and her "overflowings of divine love". These notes were later revised by the saint herself. They are entitled: Forty Days, Conversations, Revelations and Understandings, Trials and Renewal of the Church, together with her Sayings and Letters.

Father,
you love those who give themselves completely to your service,
and you filled Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
with heavenly gifts and the fire of your love.
As we honor her today,
may we follow her example of purity and charity.

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

Amen.

16/05/2026

𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝟏𝟔 | 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐊, 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 & 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑

Saint Simon Stock was a holy Carmelite priest born in England around the 12th century. According to tradition, he lived a life of prayer and penance from a young age, even spending time in solitude inside the hollow trunk of a tree, which is believed to be the origin of his surname “Stock.” He later joined the Carmelite Order and became known for his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and his leadership in strengthening the Carmelite community throughout Europe.

Saint Simon Stock is best remembered for his strong connection to the Brown Scapular devotion. Tradition says that on July 16, 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and gave him the Brown Scapular as a sign of protection and salvation for those who wear it faithfully. Because of this, he became one of the most beloved saints in the Carmelite tradition. His life continues to inspire many Catholics to live with humility, prayer, and devotion to Mary.

PRAYER
God of love, you called Saint Simon Stock to serve in you in the family of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Through his prayers help us, to live in your presence and to work for salvation of all. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever Amen.

Saint Simon Stock, pray for us!

12/05/2026

03/05/2026

03/05/2026

Cavite Delegates to the Lay Carmelites 2026 Asian Congress in Cebu.

Flos Carmeli Community- Our Lady Queen of Peace
St. Peter Thomas Community- Sto. Niño Parish
St. Andrew Corsini Community- Our Lady of Pillar (Imus Cathedral)

01/05/2026

Asian Lay Carmelites celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Protector of the Order of Carmelites, with a Holy Mass

01/05/2026

Delegates of Region 6- John of the Cross to the Lay Carmelite Asian Congress 2026, Cebu, Philippines with National Prior, Bro. Arnold and Regional Councilor, Sis. Lei.

30/04/2026

Day 1
Session 1 - Governance: the Gift of Servant Leadership in TOC Communities and Lay Autonomy given by Fr. Christian Buenafe, OCarm