OCDS Manila

01/08/2026

The Way of Holiness: 31 Days on the Path to Sainthood

Holiness is not reserved for a chosen few. It is God's invitation to every heart.

Throughout this month of August, we invite you to join us on a 31-day journey of simple, practical steps toward a deeper friendship with God. Each day offers one small challenge inspired by the Gospel and the Carmelite spirit—a reminder that sanctity is found not only in extraordinary deeds, but in ordinary acts of love, prayer, humility, and faithful perseverance.

Take one step each day. Pray with us. Reflect with us. Let God transform your heart little by little.

May this journey inspire us to seek Christ more earnestly, love more generously, and trust more completely in His grace.

"Be holy, for I am holy." — 1 Peter 1:16

Holiness is not achieved in one day—it is chosen every day.

22/05/2026

Gospel of the Day (John 17,20-26)

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day/2026/05/21.html

22/05/2026

Gospel of the Day (John 17,11b-19)

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.
I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth."

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day.html

21/03/2026

Sharing

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 || 𝗝𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀

This year, as we mark the Jubilee for St. John of the Cross, we celebrate the 300th Anniversary of his Canonization (1726) and the 100th Anniversary of his Proclamation as a Doctor of the Church (1926). On December 27, 1726, Pope Benedict XIII canonized St. John of the Cross. 200 years later, on August 24, 1926, Pope Pius XI declared him a Doctor of the Universal Church, recognizing his profound spiritual, mystical, and theological writings.

In line with these two important celebrations this year, the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Philippine Province of St. Teresa of Jesus are publishing several books about the saint.

The first to be released is "𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙤𝙙." This book contains personal reflections on the collected maxims of the saint titled Sayings of Light and Love.

Soon to be out on Easter!