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Great elephants, little pygmies, precious diamonds and the love of the missionaries. Newsletter from the Carmel in ometime during the Creation – was too late to put everything back in shall we say around the fifth or the sack again. In fact the monkeys, sixth day? – God was passing swinging through the lianas, were by Sthe intersection of the 2nd Parallel now already playing with the sack North and the 16th Meridian East. I from which they had just emerged. know of course that at that time the God smiled in amusement and global reference points had not yet decided that the monkeys had turned been quite so closely defined. And out really well. He called what he had the Good Lord certainly didn’t need created the “Forest” and decided that them to guide Him over the earth, he would need someone to take care which He had just created. But it’s of all that beauty. So then he created just to help you understand precisely the pygmies, one of the most gentle where He was at the time. For it was and peaceable peoples on earth. God here, whether through tiredness gave them the keys to the forest and from all the work of the previous left that place, somewhat reluctantly, few days or simply because He didn’t in order to start devoting himself to as yet have seven billion people the problems of mankind, who soon to worry about, that He decided after that had built their first cities. to stop and rest a while, and fell All those wonderful things, just asleep. However, He hadn’t noticed around 500 km away from where that there was a hole in the bottom I was living, surely deserved a of the sack of His immagination, personal visit. And so we decided from which there issued rivers and that a little trip to this part where waterfalls, mighty trees, precious God had rested awhile so many stones and creatures of every shape centuries before, might be the ideal and colour. And when He awoke, it spot for us also take a little break 1 Communicationes 345/06.2019 and relax a while, after the stresses Latin American sisters, Sister and strains of the first term of the Melanie, Sister Alba Maria and sister academic year. Margarita, and the teacher at the First stop on our long journey was primary school. The pygmies, as Bambio, close to the river, my brother missionaries explained one of our favourite stopping off to me, are the true inhabitants of points in the region. No sooner Central Africa. It is here that they had we arrived than the family of were truly placed by the good Lord, Brother Régis, in addition to putting whereas the other inhabitants of their whole house at our disposal, the country are in fact members of had offered us excellent locally the Bantu peoples, who arrived in produced coffee. The sun hadn’t yet Central Africa as a result of a series set, and so we took the opportunity of migrations. The parish and the to have a good dip in the river. The village in Belemboké came next morning, before continuing into being at the same time in 1973, our journey, we celebrated Mass in on the initiative of Padre Lambert, the village church. But of course in a brave French missionary. He had Bambio it is impossible to celebrate noticed that the pygmies very often Mass except in a solemn manner, lived in subjection to overlords and all the people turn up in large belonging to other ethnic groups, numbers. Priests are rarely seen almost like slaves. In creating a here, so you can imagine what parish for the pygmies alone, this it’s like if you arrive with a whole priest at the same time in fact convent full of Brothers. The enabled the birth of a pygmies-only ‘continental breakfast’ provided in village, as all around the church Bambio, needless to say, included they began to build their typical manioc and fresh game, hunted the little huts of woven branches, day before. covered in leaves, in the shape of In the afternoon we arrived in an igloo. And with all new respect Belemboké, a mission station to those who, somewhat hastily, serving only the pygmies on the maintain that evangelization was edge of the great forest. The only one of the causes of the extinction non-pygmies present in the village of indigenous cultures, in reality this were two African priests, Padre priest gave the pygmies, along with Anselm and Padre Serge, three the Gospels, their true liberty and Communicationes 345/06.2019 2 dignity, preserving both their culture the furthest southwest extremity and their traditions. And as one of the , of the most interesting aspects of wedged between Cameroon and pygmy culture, in a context in which Congo Brazzaville. The objective polygamy was widely practised, he of our excursion was to locate a found that they observed a rigorous colony of elephants and observe monogamy which married extremely them from close up. We travelled well – and it is well worth pointing on foot through a stretch of dense this out – with the Christian view of forest. Our guide, assisted by a marriage. Needless to say, though, pygmy at the head of our group, the initiative of Padre Lambert did gave us some instructions as to not altogether please those who had how to behave if we should come thereby lost their free labour force, face to face with an elephant or a and he received a number of threats. gorilla. As for the hippopotamus, But the man who intervened and he had no particular instructions to came to his defence was Bokassa, give us, but simply told us that it is the ‘famous’ ruler of what was better not to come face to face with then known as the Central African them at all. In the end he asked us Empire. He declared that if anyone to remain silent to avoid attracting did any harm to this priest, it would the attention of the animals. And my be as though they had done the same confreres and I immersed ourselves thing to the Emperor himself. From in a silence still stricter than we then on these little lords of the forest are required to observe in the were able to continue living happily monastery, in the evenings, after the and in peace, though of course they prayer of Compline. A few metres knew nothing of the umpteenth, and further on, while crossing barefoot dubious, peace accord for Central over a small stream, we saw huge Africa that had just been signed in footprints in the ground. Our guide Khartoum. was not kidding us – the elephants After spending the night among had indeed passed through here the huts of the pygmies, we set out shortly before us. After almost for Bayanga, where we planned to an hour’s walking, we climbed visit the Dzanga-Sangha National up onto a viewing platform built Park. This park lies deep in the specially for the purpose of watching forest of the Congo River basin, in these most magnificent of God’s 3 Communicationes 345/06.2019 creatures, which were accustomed in large trees and inhabited by to come here to a watercourse monkeys, which was once the site of around midday to drink. It was an the town prison. In order to reach impressive spectacle, far exceeding the ancient mission station, founded our expectations. There were around in 1939 and situated on the other a hundred elephants there. But side of the river, we had to drive our according to our guide, within this vehicle onto a barge, bobbing on one area of forest they have counted the river. We arrived almost as the around 4000 elephants altogether. sun was setting and were welcomed An amazing heritage that makes this by Sister Ines, an elderly Spanish little and uncontaminated corner of nun who had prepared us a meal of nature somewhere almost unique antelope and shrimps for dinner. in the world, and one that certainly Next morning, walking through the held our attention for several hours. town, we were astonished by the In the afternoon we headed back sheer number of ‘bureaux d’achat’ north. Once again we crossed selling gold and diamonds on every through the tropical forest. To street corner. For in fact we were in describe it as luxuriant would hardly one of the many zones in Central do it justice. Our route followed a Africa where the ground beneath us little trail of red earth, that seemed is particularly rich in these precious to timidly ask permission of the minerals. And it is a painful thing, majestic trees and shrubs, with their both to me and to my confreres, great leaves, which towered above to ask ourselves the frustrating us with lofty pride like plumed question as to why this country, sentinels, as though offended by our which literally sleeps on gold and very presence. Finally we arrived in diamonds, should be condemned to Nola, where we spent the night. Nola live in such extreme poverty while is a picturesque small town, situated others alone are able to profit from at the confluence of the Kadeï and its riches. Mamberé rivers which together At midday we arrived in Berberati, form the source of the great Sangha one of the largest cities in Central River, the undisputed kingdom Africa. We were invited to lunch by of vast numbers of hippopotami. the youngsters of the Centro Kizito, At the point where the two rivers an initiative established to rescue meet there is a small island, covered children and young people who were Communicationes 345/06.2019 4 victims or perpetrators of violence, met the young Bishop Dennis many of them orphans and some Agbenyadzi, who is originally of them former members of armed from Ghana and who entertained groups or youngsters who have spent us by telling us a few of his own terms of varying length in prison. missionary experiences, in particular Sister Elvira, an Italian missionary involving the eight years he spent as sister who doesn’t mince her words a parish priest among the pygmies of and cannot stand orphanages, is Belemboké. After this we headed still the originator of this community, further north and halfway along our which seeks to restore their dignity route, made a stop at the Touboutu to dozens of children by helping Falls. Next we arrived in Carnot, them to learn a trade, agriculture, another centre of the gold and music, sport and above all the art of diamond trade. We were welcomed living together without hurting one by Padre André, an elderly another. “Sara mbi ga zo – Help me missionary originally from Belgium. to become a man” is the demanding We visited his church of Notre Dame motto of this ambitious initiative de la Mamberé which, though sadly that has been driven with such now in a poor state of repair, stands tenacious courage by Sister Elvira like a gem of mediaeval art that has for several years now, with the help landed by chance like a meteorite in of several families and in the face this spot. of not a few difficulties. One of my Travelling onward towards , confreres, after visiting the centre, our penultimate stop and the place proposed Sister Elvira as president of where we first opened our mission the Central African Republic, even in 1973, we became immersed in if only for a single term. I doubt a fascinating and animated debate very much if Sister Elvira has any about nature, history, beauty, and the ambitions in this direction, but at emotions of a European and those any rate, just this year the president of an African... De gustibus non of the Italian Republic formally est dispuntandum, as the ancients recognised her achievements by used to say. But I was not among awarding her the honorary title of the ancients here, but among the Commendatore of the Order of young, for the most part, and the Merit of the Italian Republic. argument became quite heated, to In the Cathedral of Berberati we say the least. In the end, though, my 5 Communicationes 345/06.2019 opinions and my aesthetic canons like hidden diamonds, are working were quite plainly in the minority. quietly and without fuss for the So I confessed myself defeated and Kingdom of God. To each of them I we moved on to less contentious had put the inevitable question: “So issues. In Baoro, as guests of our how long have you been here then?” Carmelite confreres, we visited An indiscreet, even impertinent the catechists’ school, which had question, as if I were asking for the just been reopened. It was started combination of a strongbox that originally many years ago by our didn’t belong to me. The missionary confrere Padre Nicolò, the founder in question would smile and close of our mission there, but closed his or her eyes – as though to show again shortly after. Now it has been the need to look back over each year revived, thanks to the determination spent in that place – and then say of Padre Odilon, who is dedicating the number, humbly yet proudly himself with passion to the at the same time, as though it formation of the ten catechists living were a secret he or she would have there with their families. preferred not to reveal, as though As we travelled the last few it were the number of carats of the kilometres back to Bangui I thought most precious diamond, the secret of back over the places and above all their own life, given for the Gospel the people we had met during our and for this people. journey: the missionaries, both men and women, who have fallen Warmest greetings from Bangui in love with this country and who, Padre Federico IX Ibn Arabi International Symposium of MIAS-Latina. At the University of Mysticism - Ávila bout to begin the celebration well as of other authors and related of its first ten years of subjects, held its ninth International existence, MIAS-Latina (Ibn symposium at the University of AArabi Society Latina), a secular and mysticism in Avila, between the 10th independent cultural association, and 12th of May. These are annual dedicated to spreading knowledge of symposia that have usually been the work of the great Sufi poet and held, almost always, in spring, in the mystic from Murcia, Ibn Arabi, as city of Murcia. Communicationes 345/06.2019 6 There have been other symposia, poets of the Persian Sufi tradition, during the last years, in cities such or the Beguines such as Hadewijch as Seville or Barcelona, but this of Antwerp, among others, were year, 2019, has a special meaning taken into consideration during for MIAS-Latina, as we organize the symposium. Likewise, although and celebrate with the collaboration the centre of the content revolved of CITeS and its University of around the Sufi and Christian mysticism. Mystics, it was not wanted to lose The symposium has been in sight of a broader perspective when preparation for just a year now speaking about Hindu poetry and counted on the participation (for example, Râsa Lîlâ) or of the of 19 specialists, both in the work Primitive and Indian cultures (as in of Ibn Arabi and other related the inaugural conference). authors, because what is intended During the course of the in the symposium is to discuss the symposium, the annual awards relationships between the different of MIMAS-Latina were given forms of language, and very to the Portuguese philosopher particularly poetry, and attempts and writer Paulo Borges (2019 to express mystical experience and Taryumán Prize), to the musician knowledge. An experience as human and researcher Eduardo Paniagua as universal. (2019 Barzakh Prize) and the Poets such as Fernando Pessoa, Juan philologist and librarian Luisa Mora, Ramón Jiménez, Clara Janés, Saint representing the Islamic “Félix María John of the Cross or Saint Teresa Pareja” library of Madrid (2019 of Jesus, in addition to the great Hikma Prize).

A new biography in Spanish on Saint Teresa of Jesus r. Daniel de Pablo Maroto edition of what the author already presents to readers a new published in 2015 and carries the biography of Saint Teresa, title of Mi Teresa [My Teresa], as an Ffrom the FONTE GROUP expression of the author’s personal publishing house of spirituality contact with the saint during many (Iberian Province, Spain). It is a years of study and reflection. second, edited and augmented This new edition contains important 7 Communicationes 345/06.2019 novelties, such as the inclusion of and biographers of the saint, the various data resulting from the biography faces the question about research carried out by various the topicality of Teresa and wishes authors during the 5th centenary of to reach out not only to believers, the birth of Santa Teresa. but also to those who approach, In addition to some original with a freedom of spirit and without discoveries by the author that prejudice, this exceptional witness to will undoubtedly generate a transcendence. debate between the historians Improvements to the “Father Silverius” classroom of the Teresianum n order to offer a better service has been refurbished and the audio to the students who attend our installation has been improved and pontifical Teresianum Faculty, enhanced. In addition, there has Iwith help from the General Curia been installed a professional video some works of improvement have projector and two tele cameras been carried out in classroom 1, with built-in microphones for live dedicated to Fr Silverius of Saint streaming and recording of events Teresa, that can extend what is in the classroom, with HD quality. carried out in the Aula Magna. In addition, classroom 1 is now Thus, all the benches of the connected by audio and video to the classroom have been changed, Aula Magna, so that it can be used as replaced by others that include a an auxiliary space in cases where the socket for the use of computers in latter is fully occupied. the classroom. The Presiding table Congress on Saint John of the Cross in the Teresianum n the 9th and 10th of May, interdisciplinary manner the process an International Congress of purification of the memory, a on St John of the Cross was human faculty, through hope, a Oheld at the Teresianum, with the theological virtue, not limiting title: “Memory and Hope in Saint oneself to the analysis of the precise John of the Cross”. The objective of chapters of the Third Book of the the Congress was to analyse in an Ascent of Mount Carmel, in which Communicationes 345/06.2019 8 the saint deals directly with the between people and societies. question, but by taking into account The Congress ended with a round the whole of his work. table discussion in which the The approaches taken during the speakers addressed, in the light of days of the Congress from philology, the conferences given, the topicality philosophy, biblical and spiritual of St. John of the Cross’s invitation theology, as well as from sociology, to leave behind memories (positive showed the effectiveness of St John or negative) to build an increasingly of the Cross’s proposal, rooted in better future, at the individual and theological tradition and also valid collective level. at an Anthropological level, to the In the Faculty’s web page (www. point of being able to shed light on teresianum.net) can be found the situations of crisis and reconciliation link to the YouTube account, in that require a necessary exercise which all the conferences can be of hope, which annuls painful found. memories sustaining confrontation News from the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Peru he “Our Lady of Mt Carmel” • Second day: Human formation Association of monasteries of • Third day: Community Project Discalced Carmelite nuns of We Sisters were left very happy TPeru met together for almost a week and grateful to Father Rafal for from the 20th to the 25th of May having kindly agreed to give us this present year. these lectures and for the clarity and On the 20th, 21st and 22nd of May, simplicity of his exposition. God the course was held for Prioresses reward you father. and delegates in two segments: In the evenings we were assisted In the mornings, we had formation by our Discalced Carmelite friars, conferences, via online, with Fr Rafal Fr Alfredo Amesti - Commissar Wilkowski OCD., Secretary of the in Peru, Fr Ángel Zapata - General for the nuns, who developed Ecclesiastical Assistant, and Fr very interesting topics every day: Pedro Zubieta - Canonist, reading • First day: The service of authority and reviewing in groups the texts in communities of Discalced of our future Statutes, which had Carmelite nuns. been previously distributed for 9 Communicationes 345/06.2019 study in the communities, in order de la Cruz from the Ayacucho to be presented to the Assembly for monastery. approval. Substitute: M. Ketty de Jesús from On the 23rd, 24th and 25th of the Nuestra Señora del Carmen May was held the IX ORDINARY monastery, also known as Carmen ASSEMBLY, with participation of Alto de Lima. the whole member monasteries (12), And in accordance with the future represented by their Prioresses and Statutes that we have approved Delegates. and which will be presented to the On the second day of the Assembly, Holy Congregation for approval we elections were held with the elected: following results: Bursar: M. Edith de Jesús from President: M. Liliana de la Sagrada the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Eucaristía, from the monastery of monastery also known as Carmen San José of Arequipa Alto de Lima. First Counsellor: M. Elena de We ask your prayers so that the la Reina del Carmelo from the Lord and the Virgin of Carmen will Nazarenas monastery of accompany our journey for the good Discalced Carmelite nuns in Lima of our Association which will soon Second Counsellor: M. María change its title to Federation, always Guadalupe del Niño Jesús from the remembering the words of our Piura monastery mother Saint Teresa of Jesus: “Now Third Counsellor: M. María de Jesús we are beginning, and let them strive from the monastery of san Vicente to advance always from good to de Cañete better “(F. 29: 32). Fourth Counsellor: M. Juana Teresa Meeting of the General Councils he General Council of the House of the OCarm friars, in Carmelites and the Definitory Gort Muire, Dublin, between the of the Discalced Carmelites, 27th and the 30th of May. This Tat which presided their respective meeting was part of the periodical Fathers General, Fernando Millán, meetings which both councils have OCarm, and Saverio Cannistrà, together and which are normally OCD, met recently at the Provincial held in Rome. However, a longer Communicationes 345/06.2019 10 meeting is held every so often in today’s world. As is traditional, after which, apart from dealing with the the meeting is over, a conclusive issues concerning collaboration document will be prepared to share between the two Orders, a formation with all the members of the Teresian topic is addressed. In this case the Carmel and the Ancient Observance. chosen argument was Mission in Topicality of St John of the Cross n addition to the International on St John of the Cross can be Congress held at the Teresianum, founded in this institute. which we reported this month As for written publications, two Iin our news service, there are some interesting books have recently seen events that highlight the pertinence the light: a biography written by Fr. of Saint John of the Cross and the Bruno Moriconi in Italian, published interest in his works nowadays. by Edizioni OCD with the title “Il In Murcia recently, from the 21st Prigionero di Toledo. Juan de la to the 23rd of May, some days were Cruz, poeta di Dio” [The prisoner spent in interdisciplinary study of Toledo. John of the Cross, poet on the saint, with two conferences of God] and a commentary on the given by Frs José Vicente Rodríguez “Spiritual Canticle”, a posthumous (professor at the CITeS-University work by Fr. Eulogio Pacho, edited of mysticism) and Emilio Martínez by Fr. Ciro García in the Editorial (professor at the Teresianum). In Monte Carmelo of the Fonte group, addition, the occasion was used of the Iberian Province. to reflect upon the influence of Finally, let us not forget the awaited John of the Cross on art: music, International Congress - already the painting, sculpture and cinema. third in the series dedicated to Saint The conference was organized by John of the Cross - to be held in the Theological Institute of the the CITeS-University of mysticism “Saint Fulgentius” seminary of the in Avila from the 2nd to the 8th Diocese of Cartagena, the Discalced of September next. As usual, you Carmelite friars of Caravaca and can participate in the Congress in the Discalced Carmelite nuns of person or by means of the internet. Algezares. It is hoped that, taking For information on the program and into account the success of the registration, we invite you all to visit meeting, a specific chair for Studies the website: www.mistica.es.

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