How to be holy in this modern day.

1. Being an OCDS:
A Calling to
Holiness
"Teacher, what must I do to
have eternal life?"
- Mt. 9:16

2. O all-blessed, immaculate Virgin,
ornament and glory of Mount
Carmel, you who does look with most
gracious countenance on those who
have been clothed with your venerable
livery, look kindly also on us and
take us under the mantle of your
maternal protection.

3. Strengthen our weakness with your
might; enlighten the darkness of our
heart and mind with your wisdom,
particularly in this talk on your
feast day; increase us in our faith,
hope and charity.

4. So adorn our soul with graces and
virtues that it may always be dear to
your Divine Son and you. Assist us
during life, comfort us in death with
your most sweet presence,

5. and present us as your children and
faithful servant to the most Holy
Trinity, that we may be enabled to
praise and extol you in heaven
forever.
AMEN.

7. Concordia was a public
elementary school
teacher in Iloilo City.

8. She was also an active
member of the Order
of Discalced Carmelites
Secular in Jaro, Iloilo.

9. She took the
opportunity of being in
public service to share
the Good News of the
Lord.

10. Sometimes, she would bring
some of her pupils to the
Adoration Chapel to pray using
her own money for the fare.

11. There, she would
tell her pupils to
pray in silence and
adore the Blessed
Sacrament.

12. She encourages her
pupils to be close to God
by making friends with
the saints like St.
Therese of the child
Jesus.
To be continued...

13. Is Concordia living a
Holy Life?

14. Therefore all in Church, whether
they belong to the hierarchy or are
cared for by it, are called to holiness,
according to the apostle's saying: 'For
this is the will of God, your
sanctification.'
- Lumen Gentium 39

15. Why are we
called to
holiness?

16. 'Christ, the Son of God, who with the
Father and the Spirit is hailed as
"alone holy", loved the church as his
Bride...and endowed her with the gift
of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.'
- Lumen Gentium 39

20. Holiness in the Old Testament

21. Holiness for Jesus Christ
If you wish to be perfect,
come, follow me. (Mt. 19:21)

23. "I like to contemplate the
holiness present in the
patience of God's people:
in those parents who raise
their children with
immense love, in those
who work for their
families, in the sick, in
elderly religious who
never lose their smile."
-Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exultate

24. Secular Discalced Carmelites

27. We are called to be
"Saints Next Door".
- Gaudete et Exultate

28. Who are the
'Saints next Door'?
People who may not be
officially canonised but can
be decisive in bringing
about.

29. "Certainly the most decisive
turning points in world history are
substantially co-determined by
souls whom no history book ever
mentions. And we will only find out
about those souls to whom we owe
the decisive turning points in our
personal lives on the day when all
that is hidden is revealed."
- St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

30. Little did Concordia
know that one of her
pupils was inspired by
her.

31. One of her pupils was
moved and loved the
feeling of being in the
presence of the Holy
Eucharist in the
Adoration Chapel
where she brought him
along with his
classmates.

32. The boy grew up
serving the church. and
He eventually became
a teacher like
Concordia.

33. After years of discerning,
the boy entered the
religious life as a Discalced
Carmelite.

34. And that boy is currently
giving a talk to the OCDS
of Parañaque.

35. O God, through the new leaven
of the Gospel, you call men
and women and empower
them to serve you faithfully in
secular life. Grant that they
may fervently imitate the
example of Blessed Josepha,

36. O God, through the new leaven of
the Gospel, you call men and
women and empower them to sand,
through her intercession, work
tirelessly as true Christians to build
up your kingdom by fulfilling their
duties in the world. Amen.
Bl. Josepha Naval Girbes,
pray for us!