In previous issues of our magazine, we mentioned that on November 6, 2006, the Church will commemorate the centenary of the death of the significant saint and spiritual teacher, the Blessed Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity, a Discalced Carmelite.
The Discalced Carmelite monastery in Dijon, where Elisabeth lived and died, has released a 45-minute DVD titled “Elisabeth de la Trinité, un amour excessif” (Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity, an extraordinary love) on this occasion, and is involved in producing a film named after the affectionate variant of Elisabeth's name: “Sabeth”.
The city of Dijon, associated with Elisabeth's life, will commemorate her anniversary with various initiatives throughout the year from June 11, 2006, to June 2007.
A Discalced Carmelite from Belgium, Fr. Conrad de Meester, has published a long-awaited biography of Elisabeth titled “Il m’a aimée” (He loved me) and a book of documentary material about Elisabeth called “Elisabeth vue et entendue par les témoins” (Elisabeth through the eyes and ears of witnesses). His fellow brother, Fr. Jean Clapier, is preparing a book of theological studies titled “Elisabeth de la Trinité: l’aventure mystique” (Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity: a mystical adventure) with a circle of co-authors.
Current information about these activities can be found on the website: http://elisabeth-dijon.org
We would like to help ensure that the anniversary of Blessed Elisabeth can be experienced as well as possible by the readers of the magazine Karmel and by believers in our country, therefore we addressed the following question to various parties:
Are you planning to commemorate the mentioned anniversary? Will it be accessible to a wider circle of interested parties?
Fr. Jan Fatka, O.Carm., director of the Carmelite Publishing House:
For the anniversary of Blessed Elisabeth, we are preparing a traveling exhibition that, through 14 panels sized 70 × 100 cm, aims to engage the public with the life and spirituality of Blessed Elisabeth through a captivating combination of visual and documentary material with text. At the same time, we will remind visitors on www.ikarmel.cz and in other promotional materials about two books previously published by our publishing house on this Carmelite mystic: The Prayer of Blessed Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity (with the subtitle: My God in the Trinity, I worship you) and Elisabeth of the Holy Trinity (with the subtitle Life in God's Praise).
Fr. Vojtěch Kohut, OCD,
assistant professor teaching spiritual theology at KTF UK in Prague:
We have essentially already started commemorating this anniversary, as we began the Year of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity with a triduum before her liturgical memorial last year (November 5–7, 2005). On that occasion, we reflected together in the church of St. Benedict among the Prague Discalced Carmelites on Elisabeth's posthumous mission (guided by reflections from Fr. Jean Rémy), on her theology of prayer (with the help of comments from Fr. Redempta Valabek, O.Carm., and Fr. Conrad de Meester, OCD), and also considered Elisabeth's advice for the life of prayer (as presented by Jean Lafrance). I also prepared litanies to Blessed Elisabeth, where the individual invocations consist of her own statements about who she is or would like to be in the Church. The text of these litanies is made available to the readers of the magazine Karmel in the pages of this issue. I assume that this triduum will be repeated this year on the same days, but probably rather at the Prague Infant Jesus Shrine.
Another significant activity will be this year's Day of Spirituality, which celebrates its first small jubilee (10 years) and will be dedicated to the figure of Blessed Elisabeth. Speakers from France are invited: Fr. Jean Rémy, Fr. Dominique Garnier, and Fr. Patrick-Marie Févotte. We hope to add one Czech speaker as well. The Day of Spirituality 2006 will take place on May 20 in Prague, and the venue and exact program of the entire event will be published as soon as possible, I hope.
Other activities are smaller and rather internal in nature: they involve communal reading of Blessed Elisabeth's texts or individual lectures or formation meetings within our male and female communities, as well as gatherings of the members of the secular (so-called third) order.
Sister Miriam of the Child Jesus, OCD, prioress of the Carmel of St. Joseph in Prague:
We began celebrating Blessed Elisabeth in 2005 with the triduum mentioned by Fr. Vojtěch. This year we also plan a triduum before her feast (lecture, short adoration, blessing), led by Fr. David, OCD, in our church. It will be accessible to everyone, including those who may have already heard the previous triduum. We would also like to have images of Blessed Elisabeth published along with her prayer or thoughts.
Sister Marie Amáta of the Sorrows of the Mother of God, OCD, prioress of the Carmel of the Mother of God in Dačice:
We asked Fr. Vojtěch, OCD, for a triduum that he had in Prague. It will likely take place in November around the feast of Elisabeth, depending on Fr. Vojtěch's time availability. We would like to invite the public of Dačice to this. It will involve a lecture and an evening Mass (on each day of the triduum).
Sister Taddea (Carmelites of St. Teresa), superior of the Carmel of Edith Stein in Prague-Košíře:
In addition to the regular celebration of Elisabeth's liturgical memorial in November 2006, we are preparing a weekend retreat inspired by the spirituality of Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity in cooperation with the Prague academic parish at the Church of the Most Holy Savior. However, we will provide the exact date and further information later in the newsletter and on the website of the Salvatorian parish (possibly also on ours, if we can manage to get them up and running in time...).
