28 April: Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Guggiari Echeverría
April 28
BLESSED MARIA FELICIA OF JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT GUGGIARI ECHEVERRÍA
Virgin
Optional Memorial
María Felicia Guggiari Echeverria, familiarly known as Chiquitunga, was born in Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (Paraguay) on January 12, 1925. As a member of Catholic Action she dedicated herself enthusiastically to the service of children, the poor, and the sick, up until the moment, when, at the age of thirty, she entered the Carmel of Asunción. In January 1959, learning that she had been struck by infectious hepatitis, with great generosity and apostolic spirit, she devoted her state of life to God. Thus, she returned to the Father on April 28, 1959, at the age of 34. She was beatified by Pope Francis on June 23, 2018.
From the Common of Virgins, or of Women Saints: Religious
Office of Readings
Second Reading
From the “Spiritual Writings” of María Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Virgin
(Personal Diary, pp. 192, 223-224, 245, 290; Asunción, Paraguay, 2011)
The apostolate, whether it be prayer or action, is my vocation
I want to develop my life of union with my God, a deep intimacy that costs me so much. How much I would really like to talk to him, without worrying about the time, the moment or the place! I need it so much that I hope to be able to have those days to fill myself up with my God so as later to be able to let his word, his example, his life, overflow into all souls!
You know these times of struggle that I am going through. Are they a trial for me, Jesus? Give me strength, oh divine Risen Lord! There are moments of utter discouragement. How will this lack of understanding from my family end, especially from my father? What attitude should I adopt? I am no longer distressed by my state as such, because my consecration is made with all my heart. No, that’s not what worries me; but, in this state of total abandonment that I’m gradually embracing, what will its new face be?
But why am I so troubled, Lord? If I have given myself to you and abandoned myself to you, what am I afraid of? I don’t understand why the Lord is asking me to give myself to him and, above all, I fear this second detachment more than anything else because of its repercussions on people other than myself. Jesus, can’t you make them see some of this too? I beg you, my Lord, to take me, if necessary, or to cripple me before I give in or turn away from you. What would life be worth? What would become of me then? Give me strength for the fight and above all give me much, much love; ardent love for you, Jesus in the Eucharist, for the ideal, for souls. Make me a true apostle!
In the midst of it all, I feel that the apostolate, whether it be prayer or action, is my vocation. But where exactly? My consecration to the Lord is complete; nothing belongs to me anymore, nor do I belong to myself. I am impatient because I would like to see myself definitively where I need to be. I suddenly feel a little dejected, downcast, perhaps a little physically unwell.
So, Jesus, in my dryness, I thank you, my God, for the gift of your mercy, for allowing your blood to wash away once again the multitude of my sins, and what sins, Lord!
I surrender myself to you, I don’t know to what, but I surrender; with dread, though, and with cowardice, but I surrender. As never before, I am feeling your power, my dependence on you; and, even so, you see and know how I am! Only with your mercy, trusting in it, do I throw myself into something that surpasses all human strength and even more so my own. Have mercy on me! Help me to want what you want, Jesus. Mother full of grace, you are my Mother! I throw myself into your hands, Mary! Help me to remember all the things I have learnt, how many there are, and to make the most of them, my Mother. Firstly: to live in the convent as if there were only God and I.
Secondly: to see in each of my sisters the image of God, the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity. Third: to be a constant source of consolation for all, without ever overstepping the limits of holy obedience. Fourth: to base my perfection, not on what creatures can appreciate, but on what my Creator knows. Fifth: to die in order to live and to live in order to love.
Responsory
Cf. Phil 3: 8b. 10; Rom 6: 8
R/. For Christ I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Alleluia. * That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings. Alleluia.
V/. If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Alleluia. * That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings. Alleluia.
Prayer
O God,
who in the Virgin Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
gave us an excellent witness of love towards your Son
grant, that, following her example,
we may live in the spirit of the beatitudes
and offer our lives for your glory and the salvation of the world.
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. Amen.
We are grateful to our Discalced Carmelite Friars for providing the English texts of liturgical offices published after the 1993 edition of the Carmelite Proper—Liturgy of the Hours.
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