– witness of joyful faith and care for Carmel
Fr. Gorazd Cetkovský, O.Carm.
Five years ago, God unexpectedly took away from Carmel in our country a generous supporter, a wise counselor, and a persistent encourager, Fr. Redemptus Valabka. As we provide a brief summary of his biographical data, let us remind ourselves, who had the opportunity to know him personally, to vividly recall our encounters with him and “rekindle within us the flame of God’s gift” (according to 2 Tim 1:6), which God stirred in us through his humor, his tenacity, and the firm grip of his hand. And for those who did not know him personally, may they at least receive a sense of him through our grateful memories and stories. Let us ask about his legacy for us and how to keep this legacy alive even after five years.
Fr. Redemptus was born on July 3, 1934, in Shelton, Connecticut. Immediately after high school, he entered the Carmelite Order, and after making his perpetual vows on August 15, 1957, his superiors sent him to Rome to study at the order's theological school. After being ordained a priest on July 25, 1960, he continued his studies in theology in Rome and later began to teach it.
With the exception of the years 1982–83, he lived in Rome thereafter. He lectured, taught, heard confessions, and took on many other responsibilities. He wrote several books and edited the magazine Carmel in the World. Wisely and friendly, he dedicated himself to a wide range of students, religious persons, and others, spreading encouragement and zeal for Carmel and its flourishing through his joyfulness and authenticity in faith.
From 1980 to 1996, he served as the General Postulator of the Order (preparing processes for the beatification and canonization of new saints of the Order), and from 1983 to 2001, he was also responsible for the care of the third order and Carmelite lay people around the world.
Because his parents came from Wallachia, he spoke Wallachian dialect and understood Czech. This enabled him to be a liaison between the Order’s superiors in Rome and the Carmelites in Czechoslovakia during the totalitarian years, when practically no one was able to speak English or Italian. His visit to our country in 1985 and then in March 1990, when he accompanied Vice-Provincial Fr. Johann Steneker during the first visitation after the fall of totalitarianism, and in November 1990 with General Prior John Malley, was significant.
Even in the following years of free contact with the outside world, Fr. Redemptus accomplished much for the Carmelites and Carmelite sisters in Bohemia and Moravia, as well as for students and guests from our country in Rome. He always paid special attention to the missionary sisters of the work Donum Dei.
During a summer stay in his American homeland, he had a serious traffic accident in the summer of 2003, from the consequences of which he died a few days later, on August 5 – the feast of Our Lady of the Snows.
(From the exhibition on the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Carmelites in Kostelní Vydří.)
