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APOSTOLATE of the
LITTLE FLOWER
Vol. 85 No. 1 Spring 2017
2
EDITOR
Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte-Luna, O.C.D.
CO-EDITOR
Cheyenne Raine Cisneros
PUBLISHER
Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Little Flower
ADMINISTRATOR
Gloria Acosta
PICTURES
Carlos Ramirez
Apostolate of the Little Flower ISSN (1049-
9520) is published quarterly by the Discalced
Carmelites of the Province of Saint Thérèse, lo-
cated at 906 Kentucky Ave, San Antonio, Texas,
78201.
Business and Editorial Offices:
824 Kentucky Ave
San Antonio, Texas, 78201.
Accounting and Circulation Offices:
Discalced Carmelites of the Province of St. Thérèse
906 Kentucky Ave
San Antonio, Texas, 78201.
Apostolate of the Little Flower is a non-profit
Publication whose purpose is to spread devotion to
Saint Thérèse and to assist the Discalced Carmelite
Friars in their various ministries. Call (210) 735-
9126 to subscribe.
Postmaster:
Send address changes to
P.O. Box 5280
San Antonio, Texas 78201
All writers , consultants, and staff contribute to
this magazine on a volunteer basis and receive no
remuneration for their services except for the
editor. Free-lance articles are accepted in accord
with this genre of publication. Unsigned articles
are attributable to the editor.
All photographs of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
and Holy Face, OCD are used with the permis-
sion of the Office Central, Lisieux, France.
SPIRITUALITY of
ST. THÉRÈSE and the CARMELITES
— St. Teresa of Avila and the Spirituality of Lent
— The Killer and the Saint: Pranzini and Thérèse
— Lent: An invitation to a Deeper Experience of
Merciful Love, and an Opportunity to Share it
4
6
8
ILLUMINATING the BASILICA
— Our Little Flower Basilica Celebrates the 18th
Anniversary of its Dedication
— Lumen Gentiumm Award 2017 and
Lenten Retreat/ Retiro Cuaresmal
— Holy Week Schedule
— 2017 Musical Shower of Roses
12
15
17
19
PROVINCE of ST. THÉRÈSE
— + Fr. John Michael Payne of the Child Jesus
20
CONTENTS:
3
From the Desk of the Editor
Dearest readers of the Little Flower Magazine,
Praise be Jesus Christ!
On behalf of the Carmelite Community here in San Antonio, our Little
Flower Magazine collaborators, it is a great pleasure to be with you once
again through this publication.
In this issue, we look to our Carmelite saints for inspiration in our Lenten practices. St. Teresa of
Jesus, as set forth in an article on page 4 by Ezequiel Machado, OCDS, describes the foundations
for a life of prayer: love, detachment and true humility. In an article by Fr. Emmanuel Nnadozie,
OCD, on page 8, we look at some of the ways St. Thérèse, The Little Flower, teaches us about
God’s merciful love as a father. On page 6, you can read the account of St. Thérèse’s prayers for
a triple murderer, whom she called her “first child.”
Every year is a blessing and opportunity for us to continue sharing with you what is happening in
our Basilica and the apostolate we offer throughout the variety of ministries. The Lord has been
so good to us and we give thanks for your constant support. The devotion of our beloved St. Thé-
rèse made possible the construction of this beautiful building; the celebration of its 18th anni-
versary of dedication as a Minor Basilica is a precious gift for the Carmelites of the Province of
St. Thérèse, and for our parishioners and visitors.
May the Lord bless all of you and give us wisdom and love as we continue our mission in the
Church through the Teresian Charisma.
Fraternally with my love and blessing,
Rev. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte-Luna, O.C.D.
Editor
4
SPIRITUALITY of
ST. THÉRÈSE and the CARMELITES
ST. TERESA OF AVILA AND THE SPIRITUALITY OF LENT By Ezequiel Machado
Lent is the penitential season in the Church’s liturgical year; it begins
with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal
Mystery (Easter Triduum). During Lent, the Church reflects the forty
days that Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer (CCC 540,
1095, 1438).
The Gospel of Mathew is traditionally proclaimed on Ash Wednes-
day; the penitential tone is set when Chapter 6 is read to remind us
what is the proper way and the right disposition to give alms, to pray and to fast – the way Je-
sus Christ did and taught:
1 “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you
will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give alms,
sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4
so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I
say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and
shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in se-
cret will reward you.
[7 And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that
they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows
what you need before you ask him.
9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy king-
dom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily
bread; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 and lead us
not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. 14 for if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their tres-
passes, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.]
16 And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their
faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting
may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees
in secret will reward you.” (Mt 6, 1-16)
5
At the beginning of her reform of the Carmelites, St Teresa of Jesus was asked by the nuns of
her first foundation – the monastery St Joseph in Avila – to teach them how to pray. In her re-
sponse, she chose the spirit of Lent as her guide; she chose the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 6.
Her answer to the cloistered nun’s request was The Way of Perfection her first didactic book. In
it, she presents her meditations on the Our Father, the prayer of the Lord – the centerpiece of
chapter 6 of the Gospel of Mathew.
At the beginning of her book (Ch. 4) St Teresa lays out the proper foundations for a life of
prayer:
“I shall enlarge on only three things, which are from our constitutions, for it is very important
that we understand how much these three things help us to possess inwardly and outwardly the
peace our Lord recommended so highly to us.
“The first of these is love of one another; the second is detachment from all created things; the
third is true humility, which even though I speak of it last, is the main practice and embraces all
others” (W4, 4).
St. Teresa’s connection to the spirituality of Lent is now clear: love of one another relates to
alms giving; detachment points to fasting; and, the essence of prayer is rooted in humility. This
is Teresa’s masterful insight to a life of prayer for her nuns and to all of us today.
Humility is a relational word that acknowledges that God is the creator and man is indeed the
creature. The virtue of humility shows that God is the author of all Good and humanity recog-
nizes their total dependence on God and on His goodness and mercy. In the words of the
Church, humility avoids inordinate ambition of pride, reveals a contrite heart, and provides the
foundation for turning to God in prayer (Cf. CCC 2559).
St. Teresa by highlighting humility solves the situation presented by Jesus in the Gospel of
Matthew: “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them” (Mt 6,1);
piety to be seen by men is pride; and the antidote of pride is the virtue of humility, as Teresa
rightly points out.
Therefore, to obtain the inner and outward peace that the Lord promises, St. Teresa’s counsels,
for a fulfilling life of prayer, is to be centered in humility – for
it embraces fully both alms giving and fasting; in her words, it
embraces both love of neighbor and detachment of all things.
Thus, immersed in the virtue of humility, our prayer life will
flourish and the spirituality of Lent will always present in
your life.
Ezequiel L. Machado has been a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular
Order (OCDS) for the past 27 years and holds a master’s degree in Theolog-
ical Studies (MTS) from Madonna University in 2015. Mr. Machado has been
a volunteer and Faith Formation teacher at the Basilica of the Little Flower
for the past 10 years.
6
THE KILLER AND THE SAINT:
PRANZINI AND THÉRÈSE
From Chapter V of The Story of a Soul
In The Story of a Soul, the Carmelite nun St. Thérèse of Lisieux recounts the conversion story of
Henri Pranzini, a triple-murderer whom St. Thérèse feared would die impenitent. Calling Henri
her “mon premier enfant” (my first child), she “wanted at all costs to keep him from falling into
hell, and to succeed I employed all means imaginable, feeling that of myself I could do nothing. I
offered to God all the infinite merits of Our Lord.” After Henri’s execution in 1887, Thérèse
learned of his last moments:
“He turned, took hold of the crucifix the priest was holding out to him, and kissed the sacred
wounds three times! Then his soul went to receive the merciful sentence of Him who declares
that in heaven there will be more joy over one sinner who does penance than over ninety-nine
who have no need of repentance!
“One Sunday, closing my book at the end of Mass, a picture of Our Lord on the Cross half
slipped out, showing only one of His Divine Hands, pierced and bleeding. I felt an indescribable
thrill such as I had never felt before. My heart was torn with grief to see that Precious Blood fall-
ing to the ground, and no one caring to treasure It as It fell, and I resolved to remain continually
in spirit at the foot of the Cross, that I might receive the Divine Dew of Salvation and pour it
forth upon souls. From that day the cry of my dying Savior--"I thirst!"--sounded incessantly in
my heart, and kindled therein a burning zeal hitherto unknown to me. My one desire was to give
my Beloved to drink; I felt myself consumed with thirst for souls, and I longed at any cost to
snatch sinners from the everlasting flames of hell.
“In order still further to enkindle my ardor, Our Divine Master soon proved to me how pleasing
to him was my desire. Just then I heard much talk of a notorious criminal, Pranzini, who was
sentenced to death for several shocking murders, and, as he was quite impenitent, everyone
feared he would be eternally lost. How I longed to avert this irreparable calamity! In order to do
so I employed all the spiritual means I could think of, and, knowing that my own efforts were
unavailing, I offered for his pardon the infinite merits of Our Saviour and the treasures of Holy
Church.
7
“Need I say that in the depths of my heart I
felt certain my request would be granted? But,
that I might gain courage to persevere in the
quest for souls, I said in all simplicity: "My
God, I am quite sure that Thou wilt pardon this
unhappy Pranzini. I should still think so if he
did not confess his sins or give any sign of sor-
row, because I have such confidence in Thy
unbounded Mercy; but this is my first sinner,
and therefore I beg for just one sign of repent-
ance to reassure me." My prayer was granted
to the letter.
My Father never allowed us to read the pa-
pers, but I did not think there was any disobe-
dience in looking at the part about Pranzini.
The day after his execution I hastily opened
the paper, La Croix, and what did I see? Tears
betrayed my emotion; I was obliged to run out
of the room. Pranzini had mounted the scaf-
fold without confessing or receiving absolu-
tion, and the executioners were already drag-
ging him towards the fatal block, when all at
once, apparently in answer to a sudden inspira-
tion, he turned round, seized the crucifix
which the Priest was offering to him, and
kissed Our Lord's Sacred Wounds three
times... I had obtained the sign I asked for, and
to me it was especially sweet.
“Was it not when I saw the Precious Blood
flowing from the Wounds of Jesus that the
thirst for souls first took possession of me? I
wished to give them to drink of the Blood of
the Immaculate Lamb that It might wash away
their stains, and the lips of "my first born" had
been pressed to these Divine Wounds. What a
wonderful answer!
“After receiving this grace my desire for the salvation of souls increased day by day. I seemed to
hear Our Lord whispering to me, as He did to the Samaritan woman: "Give me to drink!" [3] It
was indeed an exchange of love: upon souls I poured forth the Precious Blood of Jesus, and to
Jesus I offered these souls refreshed with the Dew of Calvary. In this way I thought to quench
His Thirst; but the more I gave Him to drink, so much the more did the thirst of my own poor
soul increase, and I accepted it as the most delightful recompense.”
“I heard talk of a great
criminal just condemned to
death for some horrible
crimes; everything pointed
to the fact that he would die
impenitent…. I felt in the
depths of my heart certain
that our desires would be
granted, but to obtain cour-
age to pray for sinners I
told God I was sure He
would pardon the poor, un-
fortunate Pranzini; that I’d
believe this even if he went
to his death without any
signs of repentance or with-
out having gone to confes-
sion. I was absolutely con-
fident in the mercy of Je-
sus. But I was begging Him
for a “sign” of repentance
only for my own simple
consolation.”
— St. Thérèse of Lisieux
8
LENT: AN INVITATION TO A DEEPER EXPERIENCE
OF MERCIFUL LOVE, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE IT
By Fr. Emmanuel Nnadozie, OCD
The Holy Season of Lent is offered to us as a spring time of God’s
grace and as a season to renew ourselves in the experience of God’s
merciful love – given in the form of prevenient grace and in the form
of pardon and forgiveness. It is a time to experience and receive God’s
compassion and merciful love, and a season to share this love with others. It is eminently a time
to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the solemn feast of the Lord’s resurrection – the feast
of Easter.
In the Season of Lent, the Sacred Liturgy puts before us certain important spiritual themes for
our meditation: temptation and trials, failure and grace, repentance and conversion, fasting and
discipline, penance and prayer, almsgiving; mercy and compassion, renewal, adoption, and re-
generation. But the greatest of these themes presented to us is perhaps the theme of the merciful
love of our Heavenly Father, which encompasses the Paschal Mystery of Christ, (the themes of
pain and suffering, and the passion, death, and the Resurrection of Christ) with which we con-
clude the Holy Season of Lent. It is a theme that ties all the other themes together as sub-plots in
the one big design of our redemption and salvation in Christ.
WHAT IS MERCIFUL LOVE?
First, Merciful Love is not a thing—He is a Person! Merciful Love is the great love that God, our
Heavenly Father, bears us. Secondly, to fully understand God’s merciful love, we need to under-
stand our relationship to Him as our Father. Lent offers us the opportunity to delve more deeply
and intimately into the mystery of the Fatherhood of God, and our own filial adoption. We are
not just admirers of a distant but generous God. We are not slave-worshippers of a just and unre-
lenting God; we are called to be the sons and daughters of a merciful Father, who has loved us so
much with such tender love as to be willing to pay the ultimate price for our redemption through
the death of His Son, so that we would have new life in Christ. Familiar images and symbols
convey to us the richness embedded in this concept of merciful love.
IMAGES OF THE GOD AS MERCIFUL FATHER
Ash Wednesday calls us to an awareness of the presence of our Heavenly Father in all we do.
The Lenten liturgy reminds us that we have a Heavenly Father who is not only aware of what is
going on in our lives (including our prayers, penance, and almsgiving), but he is really interested
in our lives and cares for us even when we rebel against him, as in the Gospel of the 4th Sunday
of Lent. The whole point in the story of the Prodigal Son is the large-heartedness of the Father.
He shows mercy and compassion when we have repented of our sins and failures (the theme of
repentance and conversion), and even declares a feast when we come back to him (the theme of
grace).
9
The image we get from the story of the Prodigal Son is not one of what is happening between
strangers. It is the image of a family relationship: of what is happening between father and son.
Here, we get a picture of the father accepting back his repentant son (the theme of re-adoption
and regeneration). It is an image filled with intimacy, tenderness, compassion, nurturing and fa-
thering!
These images relate to the characteristic good qualities of a parent. God, like a good parent, is
committed to caring for us, no matter what it takes, only that he is even more tender in his care
than the most tender of mothers! “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no com-
passion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Is. 49:15). In
this passage, Yahweh God assures his people of His constant, unchangeable, and tender remem-
brance, and care of them. The passage is made even more eloquent in speaking about the unsur-
passable love of God for his people when it shows that although earthly parents may at times be
unmindful of their children, God’s “eyes” and “heart” are constantly watching over his people.
In fact, they are carved in the very palms of his hands! (cf. Is. 49:16). Our sense of being adults,
at times, prevents us from fully realizing, and whole-heartedly entering this parent-child relation-
ship with God.
ST. THÉRÈSE ILLUSTRATES GOD’S FATHERHOOD
St. Thérèse’s understanding of God shows an appreciation of Him as a Father, who has a heart
full of love, mercy, and compassion.
“Let us suppose that the son of a very clever doctor, stumbling over a stone on the road, falls
and breaks his leg. His father hastens to him, lifts him lovingly, and binds up the fractured limb,
putting forth all his skill. The son, when cured, displays the utmost gratitude, and he has excel-
lent reason for doing so.”
In this illustration given by Thérèse, we have a case of a post factum merciful love and care of
the father who after the son had been wounded comes lovingly with a remedy. The father’s com-
passion is discovered after the fall had taken place. It comes from behind the event of the col-
lapse. Thérèsealso talks about God’s mercy from an a priori perspective—a merciful love ex-
perienced in advance of any actual fall or brokenness.
“But let us take another supposition. The father, aware that a dangerous stone lies in his son's
path, is before-hand with the danger and removes it, unseen by anyone. The son, thus tenderly
cared for, not knowing of the mishap from which his father's hand has saved him, naturally will
not show him any gratitude, and will love him less than if he had cured him of a grievous wound.
But suppose he heard the whole truth, would he not in that case love him still more? Well now, I
am this child, the object of the foreseeing love of a Father ‘Who did not send His son to call the
just, but sinners.’ He wishes me to love Him, because He has forgiven me, not much, but every-
thing. Without waiting for me to love Him much, as St. Mary Magdalen did, He has made me un-
derstand how He has loved me with an ineffable love and forethought, so that now my love may
know no bounds” (Story of a Soul, Chap IV)
God precedes her and with a foreseeing merciful love that takes care of everything beforehand.
“Your love has gone before me since I was a child. It has grown with my growth,” she declares.
10
JESUS IS THE LIFE-IMAGE OF THE MERCIFUL FATHER
In the Book of Deuteronomy, God’s posture towards his people is represented by the image of a
protective mother, symbolized by the mother eagle: “As an eagle that stirs up her nest, and flut-
ters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, and he bore them on his feath-
ers.”
In the New Testament, this mother-bird imagery is resumed. Here it is Jesus himself who summa-
rizes his care for Jerusalem in the metaphor of a mother hen who lovingly gathers her chicks un-
der her wings in the moments of peril: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often I have longed to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37). Jesus re-
flects the same kind of tender loving care that Yahweh has for his people.
All of Jesus’ words and actions and His very Person, reflect the Heavenly Father’s love. All
about him are oriented toward this goal: to show us the Father’s Face and bring us to know the
Father and love Him from his (Jesus’) way of being Son—totally Son— and entrust ourselves to
the Heavenly Father. Jesus is the Light that has come into this world to reveal to us the Face of
the Father, and that is why he says: “He who has seen Me has seen My Father, because I am in
My Father and My Father is in me!” And this is why also Jesus referred to His Father with that
most tender and familiar expression which Hebrew children, in their earliest years, use to call
their fathers: “Abba!” This is how He taught us to call His Father when we pray.
LENT IS A TIME TO APPRECIATE OUR FATHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Jesus models for us what it means to be sons and daughters of a Mer-
ciful Compassionate Father. There is no doubt that he knew the Fa-
ther’s great love and approval of him: “Then from the cloud came a
voice (from heaven) that said: ‘This is my chosen Son, listen to him.’
It demands more than a feeling for our failures.
It asks us to enter more deeply into the profundity of this relationship,
and like the Prodigal Son, there to redis-cover the merciful love of
the Father; and thus, come to the renewal of our filial relationship
with God as He restores us to the dignity of his authentic sons and daughters (the theme of re-
newal and regeneration).
The Prodigal Son came back a long way off—The Father ran out to meet him
He came back in shame and depression—The Father met him with compassion and kisses
He came back unworthy to be called son—The Father restored him with dignity
The Prodigal Son came back in rags—He was restored with the finest robes
He came back barefooted—He was adorned with the best sandals
He came disenfranchised—the Father gave him the ring of royalty and
belonging
He came back hungry—the Father declared a feast, killing the fattened calf
He came back as though mourning—the Father declared a celebration with music and rejoicing He
came back disgraced—The Father gave him back his honor
Above all, he came back a slave, like any in his Father’s House—The Father restored his sonship!
11
In a way, the Prodigal Son killed his Father, by asking for what can only be given after his Fa-
ther’s death—his share of the Father’s estate. In a sense, it took the symbolic death of the Father
(his departure from the Father) to come to the realization that he would only starve to death out-
side of the Father’s House. When we return to an intimate relationship with the Father—and back
into his dwelling place, we come to a realization of God’s grace. Lent is a time not just to re-
member that Jesus died for us; it is eminently a time to return to the Father’s House and to the
Father’s embrace of love because of that death.
IN GOD’S MERCIFUL LOVE IS ALL GRACE
Now, concerning the actual moments of failures, Thérèse’s insight shows that the Father’s mer-
ciful love still overshadows any faults that we may commit, provided we are repentant. Here is
what she writes in a letter to a priest who was despondent about his own struggles:
“I picture a father who has two children, mischievous and disobedient, and when he comes to
punish them, he sees one of them who trembles and gets away from him in terror, having, howev-
er, in the bottom of his heart the feeling that he deserves to be punished; and his brother, on the
contrary, throws himself into his father's arms, saying that he is sorry for having caused him any
trouble, that he loves him, and to prove it he will be good from now on, and if this child asks his
father to punish him with a kiss, I do not believe that the heart of the happy father could resist
the filial confidence of his child, whose sincerity and love he knows. He realizes, however, that
more than once his son will fall into the same faults, but he is prepared to pardon him always, if
his son always takes him by his heart. ... I say nothing to you about the first child, dear little
Brother, you must know whether his father can love him as much and treat him with the same
indulgence as the other” (LT 258: To Fr. Belliere, July 18, 1897).
The love revealed to St. Thérèse in the Person of our Lord was a merciful love, and it is as
"Merciful Love" that she always speaks of it. In God’s merciful love “all is grace.”
During this season of Lent, we would have opportunity to exercise ourselves in charity. Let us
not let them pass us by. May we truly strive to become in word and deed, in this Holy Season,
like our Heavenly Father!
12
ILLUMINATING the
BASILICA
OUR LITTLE FLOWER BASILICA CELEBRATES the
18TH ANNIVERSARY of its DEDICATION
Granting the Title of Minor Basilica
Many people do not know what a Minor Basilica is or what is
its significance or obligations as a Papal Church. Here is an
extract of the document “DOMUS ECCLESIAE” (Norms for
the Granting of the Title of Minor Basilica Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Novem-
ber 9, 1989).
Churches wishing to petition the Holy See for the granting of
the title Minor Basilica should contact the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship to obtain the questionnaire
mentioned in section II below. Use the "Contact Us" link at the top-right of the page, select Divine Worship as
the office, and mention "Minor Basilica application" in your message.
"The house of the Church" or the house of God and of the Christian community has always stood out as one
of the special signs of holy Church herself, the Bride of Christ, present and on pilgrimage in the world.
The beauty and glory of a church and its fitting arrangement for liturgical celebrations have at various times
been ordered by appropriate norms.
Among the churches of any diocese the cathedral church holds the first place and the greatest dignity. In it is
placed the cathedra, the sign of the Bishop's teaching authority and power, as pastor of the same diocese and
the sign of communion with the Roman cathedra of Peter. Next there are the parish churches, which are the
homes of the various communities of the diocese. In addition, there are shrines to which the Christian faithful
of the diocese or of other local Churches go on pilgrimage.
Among these churches and others of different categories are found some that have particular importance for
liturgical and pastoral life. These may be honored by the Supreme Pontiff with the title of minor basilica,
thereby signifying their particular link with the Roman Church and the Supreme Pontiff.
Norms concerning minor basilicas were established after the Second Vatican Council in the Decree Domus
Dei promulgated on July 6, 1968 by the Sacred Congregation for Rites (Acta Apostolicae Sedis 60 [1968],
536-539).
Attentive to more recent liturgical documents and after the experience of the passing years, the Congregation
for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments considers it opportune to adjust the aforementioned
norms to present circumstances as follows.
I. CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE TITLE MINOR BASILICA
1. A church for which the title of basilica is proposed must have been dedicated to God by a liturgical rite
and must stand out as a center of active and pastoral liturgy, especially through celebrations of the Most
Holy Eucharist, of penance, and of the other sacraments, which celebrations set an example for others
on account of their preparation and realization according to liturgical norms and with the active partici-
pation of the people of God.
13
2. To further the possibility of truly carrying out worthy and exemplary celebrations, the aforesaid church
should be of an appropriate size and with a sufficiently large sanctuary. The various elements required
for the liturgical celebration (altar, ambo [lectern], celebrant's chair) must be placed according to the
requirements of the restored liturgy (cf. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, nos. 288-318).
3. The church may enjoy a certain renown throughout the diocese, for example, because it has been con-
structed and dedicated to God on the occasion of some particular historical and religious event, or be-
cause the body or significant relics of a saint are reserved in it, or because some sacred image is there
venerated in a special way. The historical value or importance of the church and the worthiness of its
art are also be considered.
4. So that, as the liturgical year progresses, the celebrations of the various seasons may be carried out in a
praiseworthy manner, a fitting number of priests is necessary; they are to be assigned to the liturgical
and pastoral care of the church, especially for the celebration of the Eucharist and penance (there should
also be an appropriate number of confessors who at stated hours are available to the faithful). In addi-
tion, a sufficient number of ministers is required as well as an adequate schola cantorum, which is to
encourage the participation of the faithful with sacred music and singing.
II. OFFICES AND DUTIES PROPER TO A BASILICA IN THE LITURGICAL
AND PASTORAL AREAS
1. In a minor basilica the liturgical instruction of the faithful is to be promoted by establishing groups con-
cerned with liturgical activity, by special courses of instruction given in a series of conferences, and by
other programs of this kind.
Among the special activities of a basilica may be especially mentioned the study and popularization of
documents coming from the Supreme Pontiff and the Holy See, especially those pertaining to the sacred
liturgy.
2. The celebrations of the liturgical year are to be prepared and carried out with great care, especially the sea-
sons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
During Lent, in places that preserve the traditional form of gathering the local Church in the manner of
the Roman "stations,” it is highly recommended that a basilica be chosen for celebrating this kind of sta-
tion (cf. Roman Missal, the beginning of Lent; Ceremonial of Bishops, nos. 260-262).
The word of God is to be diligently proclaimed either in homilies or in special sermons.
The active participation of the faithful is to be pro-
moted both in the Eucharistic celebration and in the
celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, especially at
Morning and Evening Prayer.
In addition, approved forms of devotion are to be
suitably fostered.
3. Since the celebration of the liturgy takes on a
more noble form when it is carried out in song, care
must be taken that gatherings of the Christian faith-
ful be associated with the singing of the various parts
of the Mass, especially those found in the Ordinary
(cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 54; Sacred Con-
gregation for Rites, Instruction Musicam Sacram,
March 5, 1967).
14
In a basilica where the faithful from different nations or languages frequently come together, it is useful
that they should know how to sing together in Latin the profession of faith and the Lord's Prayer, using
more simple melodies like those composed in Gregorian chant which is "proper to the Roman Litur-
gy" (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 116; General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 41).
4. To make clear the particular bond of communion by which the minor basilica is united with the Roman
cathedra of Peter, every year there must be celebrated with particular care:
1.the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle (February 22);
2.the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29);
3.the anniversary of the Supreme Pontiff's election or inauguration into the
supreme ministry.
III. CONCESSIONS CONNECTED WITH THE TITLE OF MINOR BASILICA
1. The day on which the concession of the title of basilica to a certain church is publicly announced should
be prepared for and observed in a festive way with appropriate sermons, prayer vigils, and other celebra-
tions, all taking place not only on the days immediately preceding the proclamation of the title but also on
those immediately afterwards.
On all these days, provided there does not occur a liturgical day listed in no. I, 1-4 or II, 5–6 of the table of
precedence in the Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, there may be celebrated the
Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours of the title of the church or of the Saint or of the holy image which is es-
pecially venerated there; or "For the Particular Church" or "For the Pope" (cf. Universal Norms for the Li-
turgical Year and the Calendar, no. 59).
On the day of the proclamation itself, the Mass of that day is celebrated or one of the Masses indicated
above, according to the norm of the rubrics. At the beginning of the celebration, before the Gloria, the apos-
tolic brief or decree of concession by which the church is raised to the status of basilica is read in the ver-
nacular.
2. The faithful who devoutly visit the basilica and within it participate in any sacred rite or at least recite the
Lord's Prayer and the profession of faith may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions
(sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Supreme Pontiff):
1.on the anniversary of the dedication of the same basilica;
2.on the day of the liturgical celebration of the title;
3.on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles;
4.on the anniversary of the granting of the title of basilica;
5.once a year on a day to be determined by the local Ordinary;
6.once a year on a day freely chosen by the each of the faithful.
3. The papal symbol, that is, "crossed keys," may be exhibited on banners, on furnishings, and on the seal of
the basilica.
4. The rector of the basilica or the person in charge of it may wear in the exercise of his office — over the
cassock or the religious habit and the surplice — a black mozetta with red piping, buttons, and button holes.
From the offices of the Congregation, this ninth day of November 1989, the Feast of the Dedication of the
Lateran Basilica.
15
LUMEN GENTIUMM AWARD 2017
This award is bestowed upon an individual Catholic member of a parish who has demonstrated by their life,
service, and ministry a participation in the mission of Christ Jesus and the Church. The criteria for the award
are:
The individual is to be a practicing Catholic layperson, not a
priest, deacon, or religious, who manifests an understanding of the
teachings of the Church and has been graced with a life formed in
the Catholic spiritual tradition.
The individual has used his/her talents to deepen the life of the
Church in the parish or has served in an extraordinary way the
ministry of the parish.
The nomination for the award has been advanced by the pastor
and pastoral council of the parish, and the nominee has accepted
and will be available to receive the award.
Mr. Homer Cadena 2017
Award Recipient
Mr. Homer Cadena’s countless hours in various ministries serve as
an example to all of us. Through his service, he has demonstrated
the meaning of “Loving our neighbor.” He has been instrumental
in organizing and leading St. Vincent de Paul Society programs for
over 30 years, serving the most needy of our community. He is a
spirited leader that has served in finance committees, parish coun-
cils, festival committees, Archbishop’s appeal campaigns and much
more. At his 80 Years of age, Mr. Cadena can always be counted on to support and lead efforts for the com-
mon good of his community. The Carmelite Fathers and the Little Flower Community are grateful to Mr. Ca-
dena for his service and dedication.
Congratulations!
LENTEN RETREAT ~ RETIRO CUARESMAL
“Listen to God and see the other one”
(on the Lenten message of our Holy Father Pope Francis)
“Escuchar a Dios y Mirar al otro”
(sobre el mensaje cuaresmal del Santo Padre el Papa Francisco)
PRESENTERS-PRESENTADORES
Fr. Raul Reyes, O.C.D. (English)
Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte-Luna, O.C.D. (Español)
WHEN-CUANDO
Saturday, April 8 ~ Sabado 8 de Abril
8am (Begin with Mass at the Basilica) -1pm (Ends with lunch)
FOR REGISTRATION
Call at 210.735.9126 Ext. 116
or stop by the
Administration Office
824 Kentucky Ave
(Left to Right) Mrs. Annie Cadena, Mr. Homer
Cadena, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller
M.Sp.S., and Fr. Luis Belmonte OCD (Pastor).
16
HOLY THURSDAY and GOOD FRIDAY
at the BASILICA
2016
Washing of the Feet
(Left to Right) Deacon Rodriguez, Fr. Luis and Fr. Gregory
reading the Passion of Christ.
17
LITTLE FLOWER BASILICA
Holy Week ~ Semana Santa
Sunday, April 9th:
Palm Sunday
Masses: 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30am, 9:00 am (Spanish),
11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm (Spanish)
April 13th:
Holy Thursday- Jueves Santo
10:00 am Morning Prayer
6:00 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
(Adoration till Midnight)
April 14th:
Good Friday- Viernes Santo
10:00 am Morning Prayer
3:00 pm Adoration of the Cross and
Communion Service
April 15th:
Holy Saturday- Sabado Santo
10:00 am Morning Prayer
12:00 pm Via Matrix
9:00 pm Easter Vigil
April 16th:
Easter Sunday-Domingo de Pascua
Masses: 8am, 10am (Spanish), 12pm,
2pm and 6:30 pm (Spanish)
April 17th-22nd:
Octave of Easter- Octava Pascual
Masses: 12pm and 5:30pm
(Saturday Mass is at 8am)
18
EASTER at the
BASILICA
2016
19
2017 MUSICAL SHOWER of ROSES 20
th Anniversary 1997-2017
On Sunday, April 23, 2017, the Basilica will
host the San Antonio Mastersingers and the
Children Chorus of San Antonio for our 20th
annual celebration of “A Musical Shower of
Roses.” This event has become a marvelous tra-
dition for the Basilica and a way in which the
Discalced Carmelite Fathers contribute to the
cultural life of the people of San Antonio
through the presentation of fine choral music.
Long ago, we chose the title of “A Musical
Shower of Roses” to refer to our annual concert
with the Mastersingers. The title for this concert
is a play of words referring to
St. Thérèse’s promise to let fall a shower of ros-
es after her death. Obviously St. Thérèse has never become idle in heaven. She has kept her promise.
We firmly believe that one of the ways in which St. Thérèse continues her work of blessing the world is
through her National Shrine and Basilica in San Antonio. When people come to the Shrine, they find their
spirits uplifted by the marvelous spiritual art that is on display. The beauty of the art becomes a way for God
to speak to the soul. The same is true of music, as was noted by our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on the occa-
sion of the third anniversary of his Pontificate on April the 24th 2008, he spoke of the universal value of mu-
sic and said that there is “a kinship between music and hope, between song an eter-
nal life.” If this is true, then the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
has become a place where this kinship between music and hope can be experi-
enced.
Many people, including the director of the Mastersingers, Mr. John Silantien, have
noted that for a musical concert the Basilica is top notch in terms of acoustics. In
other words, the Basilica’s acoustic qualities contribute to the purity of the sound
coming from the human voice and from musical instruments.
On April 23rd the human voice will be on display, as the San Antonio
Mastersingers present works by Gioacino Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle.
20
PROVINCE of
ST. THÉRÈSE
+ Fr. John Michael Payne of the Child Jesus
(1941-2017)
Father John Michael Payne, of Little Rock, was born on August 11, 1941. His name was Patrick John Payne.
In the Discalced Carmelite order he was known as John Michael of the Child Jesus. He was born in San Fran-
cisco, CA, but became a Texan when Mr. Morgan, his pappy, and Georgina Mahoney Payne, his mother,
moved to Mount Pleasant, TX. He finished high school in Mount Pleasant and entered Saint Joseph Seminary
at Saint Benedict Abbey in Covington, LA. In 1963, he graduated from St. Joseph’s Seminary and joined the
Discalced Carmelite Friars. He was professed as a Discalced Carmelite on July 20, 1964 at Marylake in Little
Rock, AR. He went on to study philosophy in Santa Clara. Finishing Philosophy in 1966, he continued his
studies of Theology in Washington, D.C. at Catholic University. He was ordained on June 13, 1970. Through-
out his years as an ordained friar in the Province of St. Thérèse, Father John Michael served the province in
many capacities. He served in the cathedral parish in Dallas, TX, and served as Superior of Houston, TX in
the mid-1970’s. He was given the task of coordinating the withdrawal of the friars from our foundation in Bel-
laire, within the broad Houston metropolis. (The Province was in the process of consolidating its sparse per-
sonnel). Then he went on to serve in our house of prayer in Dallas. He was assigned to the house and parish in
San Antonio, TX. He worked for many years as Spiritual Director of the Secular Order of our Province of St.
Thérèse. Several terms he served as Superior in our Novitiate House in Little Rock, AR; and this is where he
died on the afternoon of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 8, 2017.
21
Little Flower Carmelite Mass Association
The Eucharist, as celebrated in Mass, was greatly valued by St. Thé-
rèse, the Little Flower, the patroness of our Province. In her autobiog-
raphy, The Story of a Soul, St. Thérèse describes the joy she experi-
enced upon receiving her First Communion, a joy that continued
throughout her adult life as a Carmelite nun, serving as sacristan in her
cloistered community. The Discalced Carmelite Friars would like to
offer you the opportunity to enroll your family, friends and loved ones
in the Little Flower Mass Association, named in honor of our beloved patroness.
As a token of your love, we will send a Mass Certificate to the family member or friend whom you wish to receive the
enrollment. This enrollment originates a process of prayer that culminates in the remembrance of the one enrolled into
the Masses and prayers of Discalced Carmelite Friars at her National Shrine in San Antonio, Texas.
Enrollment Benefits:
Membership enrollment in the Mass Association is for one year and includes the following benefits:
Remembrance in a sung Mass every Saturday in the chapel of our Carmelite Nuns and offering of the Eucharist at
the Basilica as well as on the following days: – Christmas Day, Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19), Solemnity of
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16), Solemnity of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower (October 1), Solemnity of St. Teresa
of Jesus (October 15), All Souls Day (November 2 for enrollees who have died).
Remembrance in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours by the Discalced Carmelite Friars
Enrollments are for Both the Living and the Deceased
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Carmelite Mass Association Order Form Dear Discalced Carmelite Fathers, please enroll:
[ ] Individual ($25 donation) [ ] Family ($50 donation)
Person(s) enrolled _________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
[ ] Deceased [ ] Living [ ] Anniversary of Death [ ] Wedding Anniversary
[ ] Birthday [ ] Other
Mail certificate to:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________State: ___________Zip: _______________________
Mail to:
Rev. Fr. Luis Gerardo Belmonte-Luna, O.C.D.
824 Kentucky Ave.
San Antonio, Texas 78201
22
The Tomb Chapel The most consoling thought of the National
Shrine of the Little Flower is the one that grati-
tude alone has built this beautiful edifice. The ros-
es our Little Saint let fall so abundantly upon
those who sought her help have inspired the erec-
tion of this Shrine of love.
In this National Shrine is the “TOMB CHAPEL”
of the Little Flower, a very sacred spot, wherein
the walls are also lined with the names of the liv-
ing and departed who shall forever be remem-
bered in the prayers.
This Tomb Chapel of St. Thérèse is exactly like
the one at Lisieux where her blessed remains re-
pose. So natural does her representation appear that all idea of death is lacking. It is a foretaste of the bliss
which we see; the repose of a soul after the ecstasy of beholding God.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Burn a vigil light for your prayer intentions in the Tomb Chapel of St. Thérèse at the Basilica of the Na-
tional Shrine of the Little Flower.
Dear Discalced Carmelite Fathers, please accept my gift offering of:
[ ] $3.00 to burn a vigil light in the Tomb Chapel of St. Thérèse.
Name:_____________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________
City:____________________________State:_____________Zip:_____________
23
Saint Thérèse Painting Perhaps the most treasured work of art at the Basilica is
the painting of Saint Thérèse created by the saint’s own
natural blood sister, Celine (Sr. Geneviève of the Holy
Face). The painting was a gift from the Discalced Car-
melite Nuns from the convent of Carmel in Lisieux,
France. Oral history states that the painting traveled to
Rome for the event of Thérèse’s canonization by Pope
Pious XI at a ceremony on May 17, 1925.
Prints are available for purchase at $40.00 (please add
$10.00 for shipping fee) and includes a certificate of
authenticity. Prints are 20” x 26” and printed on high
quality linen stock.
My Novena Rose Prayer O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and
send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the fa-
vor I now place with confidence in your hands… (Mention specific requests). Saint Thé-
rèse, help me to always believe as you did, in God’s great love for me, so that I may imitate
your “Little Way” each day. Amen.
ORDER FORM
Dear Carmelite Fathers, please send me a copy of the 20”x
26” print of Saint Thérèse. I’m including my check of
$_________ for ___ print(s) plus $10.00 for shipping fee.
Name: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________
City: ___________________________State: _________Zip:
24
APOSTOLATE OF THE LITTLE FLOWER
P.O. Box 5280
San Antonio, Texas. 78201
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PERIODICALS
POSTAGE PAID
SAN ANTONIO
TEXAS