Congregation of the Holy Spirit

Officially known as: the Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. Or in Latin: Congregatio Beatissimae Virginis Mariae.

This is a religious congregation for men in the Catholic Church. Members are known as Holy Ghost Fathers. Or in continental Europe, & the Anglosphere, as Spiritans. Members use the postnominals: CSSp. Postnominals are letters placed after a person’s name to signify academic degrees, professional qualifications, awards, military decorations, or honorific titles (like PhD).

The order began in Paris on Pentecost Sunday, 1703. Claude Poullart des Places was a wealthy young lawyer who abandoned his social standing to become a priest. He wanted to form a religious institute for young men who wanted to become priests but were too poor to do so.

Unlike orders that focused on the elite, Claude was moved by the plight of “poor scholars.” HIs vision was a “proletariat” clergy. Priests assignments in hospitals, rural parishes, & overseas missions.

Claude was born on February 26, 1679 in the capital city of Brittany, France: Rennes. Claude was tutored at home before being enrolled at the age of 9-10 as a day student in the nearby Jesuit college of St. Thomas. Thus beginning his lifelong association with the Society of Jesus.

Graduating at 16, Claude studied at the University of Caen, Normandy. Before graduating at 22, with a Licentiate in Law from the Law School of Nantes. A licentiate in law is an individual holding an academic degree or professional certification. This is usually below a doctorate but above a bachelor’s, that authorizes them to practice law.

In 1701, Claude Poullart began his studies for the priesthood, as a boarder at the Jesuit College in Paris. His work grew quickly. The Order developed. However, Claude passed away at 29, or 31 depending on the source, of pleurisy after founding the order.

After the founder’s death, the order became fully organized. In 1765, the South American missions, in colonies such as China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand (Siam), & India under the support of the Paris Foreign missionaries arrived in Senegal, Africa.

Those in France served in various dioceses or alongside the de Montfont missionaries. This was due to the close friendship between Poullart & Louis de Montfont. The Order had trained 1,300 priests in the years leading up to 1792, when the seminary was suppressed by the French Revolution. The French Revolution saw the Spiritans have their property seized & many were executed or exiled to England, Italy, & Switzerland.

After the French Revolution only 1 member remained, James Bertout. He survived a series of hardships like being shipwrecked on his way to his destined mission in French Guiana, enslaved by the Moors, & a short stay in Senegal (where he had been sold to the English).

On his return to France, he reestablished the Order & continued its work. But he found it VERY hard to recover sufficiently from the effects caused by the Revolution.

In 1841/1842, Francis Liberman founded the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary (a.k.a. Society of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) This society is/was dedicated to serve mainly the emancipated black slaves in the French colonies. Particularly in Africa & the Caribbean.

In 1848, the Holy See asked Liberman to merge his relatively new society with the struggling Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Lieberman was made the 1st Superior General of the united groups. This effectively saving the Spiritan name & legacy.

Liberman’s approach to missionary work was revolutionary from the time. He instructed his missionaries not to “Europeanize” the people they served. Besides the missions in Africa, the society started missions in Mauritius, Reunion, & the Rodriguez Islands. In the Western Hemisphere, they had missions in Trinidad, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti, & Amazonia.

The Spiritans arrived in the United States in 1972, fleeing the Kulturkampf (persecution of Catholics) in Germany. They found a home in industrial heartlands, particularly Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Order is known in the United States for founding Duquesne University in 1878. This university was originally established to provide an education to the kids of poor immigrants working in the steel mills. It grew into a major research institution. The university’s motto (Spiritus est qui vivificat, “It is the Spirit who gives life”) reflects the order’s charism.

By the early 20th century the organization into the following provinces: France, Ireland, Portugal, United States of America, & Germany.

On December 31, 1961, 20 Spiritans: 19 Belgians & 1 Dutch man, were unalived in Kongolo (in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) by government troops during the Katanga Secession Rebellion.

In Rome, on April 24, 1979, Pope John Paul II presided over the beautification ceremony for Jacques-Desire Laval. The 1st member of the Spiritans to be honored.

Today, there are about 3,000 Spiritans serving in over 60 countries. They’re often associated with schools & chaplaincy, & missionary work.

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/11UHyBDiXR8gjWOOgxfCBW?si=6c869e423f5e4a8b

I can say that I feel very, very happy to be living and experiencing this moment in my life, in the midst of so many difficulties in society. I feel that this is a moment of hope. I think faith means to believe in the Holy Spirit, who is now doing something new even if we don’t understand what is happening. I believe in this creativity of the Holy Spirit because I feel and know that the principal moments in the history of Carmel were apparently the worst.

I believe in opening history to newness—to something new. I would like to tell people that authenticity and fidelity to God are something we need to discover now. We need to be in love.

I believe and I am very, very close to our Mother Mary. You see, if we also enter into this example of being born in Mary, there is something new that society, the Church, and Carmel are going through, and we know nothing of it. It’s not in intelligence; it’s not in our strength; it isn’t found in geniality. It is simply something that we need to receive humbly and experience.

So this is a moment of hope for me, even in the midst of difficult things. I can’t explain clearly why I feel this. People speak about the end times and there are so many announcements about the apocalypse.

But for God, it’s always a beginning.

Father Miguel Márquez Calle, o.c.d.

Excerpt from interview with Carmelite Quotes (edited for clarity)

In times of great challenge, where difficulties seem to overshadow everyday life, finding hope can often feel like a daunting task. Father Miguel Márquez Calle, Superior General of the Discalced Carmelite Order, stands as a beacon of light amidst these challenges, embodying hope and strength. His insights offer a unique perspective on navigating the sorrows and joys that life presents.

A Life Dedicated to Service

Father Miguel is a native of Plasencia, Spain, who has dedicated his life to the Discalced Carmelite Order. Elected as Superior General three years ago, he has since embraced the role with a sense of joy, presence, and adventure. As a former soccer player who has undergone multiple knee surgeries, he understands the intricacies of pain and recovery, both physically and spiritually, enabling him to bring comfort and consolation to others in difficult situations. His personal journey through hardship has given him profound empathy and insight, allowing him to connect deeply with those who are suffering and to offer genuine support and understanding.

Father Miguel’s travels have taken him to some of the most difficult places in the world, where he has stood in solidarity with those facing hardship. His visits to countries like Ukraine, Burkina Faso, and Lebanon are driven by a desire to be present with his brothers and sisters during times of need, embodying the true spirit of the Carmelite mission.

Sorrows and Joys in the Midst of Conflict

Reflecting on his experiences, Father Miguel shares, “First of all, when people ask if there are lots of sorrows or problems or difficulties, I say that there are more blessings, more joys than sorrows. But it is true that I found sorrows, and I went to meet people who were suffering in special situations of difficulty.”

One of his poignant memories comes from his visit to Ukraine, during the early stages of the war. Despite the destruction and loss, he encountered a profound sense of joy among the faithful. “In Ukraine, the faithful were singing joyfully, like I had never heard at the Easter Vigil,” he recalls. “So it was so nice to listen to the Alleluia. In that way, it was so meaningful for me.”

Father Miguel’s presence in war-torn regions is not just a testament to his courage but also to his belief in the power of community and faith. “We try to be close and be a family,” he explains. “In the sorrow, you find that they also experience a special joy in the midst of these difficult situations.”

A Moment of Hope

As the interview progresses, Father Miguel’s message of hope becomes even more profound. He states, “I can say that I feel very, very happy to be living and experiencing this moment in my life, in the midst of so many difficulties in society. I feel that this is a moment of hope.”

For Father Miguel, hope is rooted in faith and the belief in the Holy Spirit’s work, even when circumstances seem bleak. “I think faith means to believe in the Holy Spirit, who is now doing something new even if we don’t understand what is happening,” he explains. “I believe in this creativity of the Holy Spirit because I feel and I know that the principal moments in the history of Carmel were apparently the worst.”

His connection to the Virgin Mary, our Mother, also plays a significant role in his perspective. “I believe and I am very, very close to our Mother Mary,” he says. “You see, if we also enter into this example of being born in Mary, there is something new that society, the Church, and Carmel is going through, and we know nothing of it.”

Embracing New Beginnings

Father Miguel’s insights remind us that challenges often precede renewal and growth. He encourages us to embrace authenticity and fidelity to God, allowing ourselves to be open to newness. “This is a moment of hope for me, even in the midst of difficult things,” he shares. “I can’t explain clearly why I feel this… But for God, it’s always a beginning.”

In a world filled with uncertainty, Father Miguel Márquez serves as a messenger of hope, inspiring us to find joy and courage amid life’s trials. His faith, determination, and dedication to serving others remind us that even in the darkest times, there is always the potential for new beginnings.

Featured image: Father Miguel Marquez, o.c.d. was a featured speaker during the 2024 Carmelite Symposium at the Catholic University of America, sponsored by the Carmelite Institute of North America. Members of the Carmelite family from throughout North America—O.Carm. and O.C.D., friars, nuns, and laity—gathered for days of study and fellowship from 28 July through 1 August 2024. Image credits: Carmelite Quotes (Some rights reserved)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/08/03/ep17-marquezhope/

#DiscalcedCarmelite #friars #history #HolySpirit #hope #love #MiguelMárquezCalle #new #OurLadyOfMountCarmel #SuperiorGeneral

Celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with us. Join us as we explore insights from Carmelite superiors Míceál O’Neill, O.Carm. and Miguel Márquez Calle, O.C.D., and deepen your spiritual renewal with Mary.
Music credit: Sean Beeson

We would love to see this time in our lives as a time of renewal in all that has to do with our prayer in Carmel. We have the sensation that although we talk a lot about Carmel’s tradition of prayer, our daily practice of prayer does not always reflect the beautiful truths that we proclaim. What are we to do? We have to see prayer as a constant characteristic of our lives, a presence, a conversation that is continuous, intimate, simple and friendly, with a sense of God being present at all times, in our prayer that is silent, individual and communitarian, and liturgical, prayer with the Bible on our laps, prayer in moments when we are gathered at table and other moments when together we give thanks to God and ask for his blessing.

Míceál O’Neill, O.Carm.
Miguel Márquez Calle, O.C.D.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are invited to reflect on the call to renewal in our prayer life. This year, Carmelite Prior General Míceál O’Neill and Discalced Carmelite Superior General Miguel Márquez Calle have issued a joint letter titled, In Mary a Dawn of Hope: In Mary our way of Praying, emphasizing the need for a deeper, more authentic prayer life.

The quote from their letter challenges us to go beyond mere talk about the tradition of prayer and to truly embody it in our daily lives. It’s a reminder that prayer should be a constant, intimate conversation with God, present in every moment—whether silent, communal, or liturgical.

Mary, our “Stella Maris,” guides us in this journey. Her life exemplifies the active and contemplative dimensions of prayer, from her fiat—her “yes” to God—to her unwavering faith at the foot of the cross. Through praying the Hail Mary, we open our hearts to the mystery of the Incarnation, inviting God’s grace into our lives.

The joint letter also reminds us of the importance of community and trust in the Holy Spirit. Just as Mary waited with the disciples for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we too are called to embrace hope and new life, even amidst challenges.

Join us in this call to renewal. Let’s reflect on the quote above and the insights from Fathers Míceál and Miguel. Let’s ask ourselves how we can “see prayer as a constant characteristic of our lives.” What are the little things we can do to have “a sense of God being present at all times”?

Listen to our special podcast episode above or on your favorite podcast platform to aid in your reflection and find inspiration from the words of our Carmelite superiors.

Featured image: Photographer Karel Miragaya captures this tender image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Image credit: kmiragaya / 123RF (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/16/olmc-ep10/

#Carmelite #DiscalcedCarmelite #letter #Mary #MíceálONeill #MiguelMárquezCalle #OurLadyOfMountCarmel #Podcast #practiceOfThePresenceOfGod #prayer #PriorGeneral #renewal #SuperiorGeneral