The “yes” to the family

“To make home as beautiful as a church and the Church as familiar as home”: it is the leading theme of the exhibition “Life is love”, dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, installed in the beautiful church on Avenue de la Toison d’Or, not far from Brussels’ “European district” and near the convent of the Carmelite fathers, whose prior, Fr. Angelo Lanfranchi, draws a balance of the Week of the Family that has just ended with Gianni Borsa for SIR Europe.Between the end of September and the beginning of October your community proposed communal prayer sessions, oases of silence, formation on the value of the family, workshops for children and parents, guided tours to the St. Therese exhibition. How did this idea originate? “The idea took shape after a visit to Lisieux, the city of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, and the related possibility of preserving the relics of her parents, Louis e Zélie Martin, beatified in 2008. In our era reflection on the value of the family, on the sacrality of marriage, on the love that should mark the relations between spouses and between parents and children has gained primary importance. We thus decided to avail ourselves of this beautiful example of Christian family. Louis and Zélie and their children (of 9 that were born only 5 daughters survived – ed.’s note) represent infinite, precious love. The Martin family, who belonged to late 19th century French bourgeoisie, every day of their life embodied the principle of mutual donation, the sanctification of relations between spouses, and the responsibility of children’s education”.A “ferial sanctity” we would say today …“Exactly. History has passed on to us the story of a very united family which turns to God in their daily joys and difficulties. The care of the household, their professional activity, the children’s school, the relations with neighbors and their prayers are all guided by faithfulness to the Gospel and unfaltering yearning for sanctity. In this sense, the parents of Saint Theresa, beatified together by Pope Benedict XVI, represent a light also in our times. As Christians they are not relegated to the sacristy. Rather, they are committed to living their faith in the world”. In the writings of Carmelite nun Theresa of Lisieux, who died prematurely at 24, was proclaimed Saint in 1925 and then raised to the altars as the Patron Saint of all Catholic missions (1927) and as Doctor of the Church (1997), we read: “I am grateful for my exceptional parents … God made me be born in a holy land”. The sanctity of her mother and father was thus already clear to the eyes of their daughter? “The Martin family lived in difficult times, which affected the social and cultural realms. The Church was experiencing major challenges. However, the love experienced in the household – the strong bond of the spouses and their total dedication towards their children – was unswerving. Maternity, paternity and filiation are the expression of the pure and explicit quest for God. Faith is the “totality” in this family. This theme will be addressed during the Week. To this regard, the words of the archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles, Msgr. André-Joseph Léonard, pronounced in the opening Mass are extremely significant. The bishop recalled the immense need for clarity and light within and around the family. He encouraged the faithful to cherish it whilst supporting its vocation, mission and its social role. There is the need for a great ‘yes’ to the family, he said. Carmelite community and charisma have been present in Belgium since 1610. Also the Week of the Family was inscribed within the initiatives aimed at recalling 400 years of the mission. Passing by the convent we notice there is work in progress… what is the meaning of caring for the temple? “It is our belief that given the 400th anniversary of our presence in Brussels the care of the ‘brick church’ exemplifies the care and the erection of the ‘inner Church’: a community that progresses in God and towards God. Missionary zeal always needs to be strengthened and fuelled by prayer and by the Word, leading to charity and to the establishment of the city of men”. “Carmel Vespers” for the 400th celebrations in BelgiumFive friars live in the convent of the Discalced Carmelites. After having proposed the Family Week in conjunction with the Carmelite Ecclesial Movement, the community is nearing the closing of the celebrations marking the order’s 400 years in Belgium. “The spirit of St. Theresa has permeated this land for four centuries”, the prior said. “It is a fact we joyously bear witness to today”. A concert under the high patronage of the Queen of Belgium (the “Carmel Vespers” by Georg Friderich Haendel) performed by the Chamber Choir of Namur accompanied by the “Les Agrémens” orchestra (www.carmesbruxelles.be), will take place on October 14.