June 11-13, 2021 
Texas Regional Lay Carmelite Silent Retreat
June 11-13, 2021
Retreat Master: Fr Leopold Glueckert
“Carmelites of the 20th Century”
Making the final turn on to the grounds of Holy Name Retreat Center, I left behind all the chaos and busyness of my day. The statue of Jesus with open arms welcomed me into the parking area with “Give me your sick, your blind, your sinners, give me your saints to be inspired” chiseled in stone. I had arrived!
The weekend Texas Regional Lay Carmelite Retreat with Fr Leopold Glueckert began and I opened my heart and mind to be inspired!
Pulling my suitcase behind me, I entered the foyer for check in. I was greeted by 3 friendly faces of our Lay Carmelite family, given my room assignment, schedule of events and a map to navigate the grounds. My room was straight down the hall. I found it to be very comfortable, modest, and accommodating, everything I needed and nothing I didn’t. Furnished with a cozy bed, personal bath, and reading area, I found the quaint desk nook perfect to organize my materials. As I settled in, I reviewed our program and my area of responsibility. Each of us welcomed an opportunity to do our part. My part was 2nd reader at the Masses each day. Our schedule included Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer together in the Chapel with resonating voices that lifted my spirit. We attended Mass each day, and enjoyed 3 meals a day in the Dining Hall, and conferences with Father Leo. We had time to wander in the beautiful grounds, the meditation gardens, the Stations of the Cross, or sit in rocking chairs around angels’ statues to reflect and pray. 
Father Leo presented a series of very interesting conferences on “Carmelites of the 20th Century” with reviews of Carmelite history during times of worldwide disease, social unrest, economic turmoil, and wars.
He began with a review of the period 1900-1939. This was a time of recovery for Carmel from near death in the previous century. It included World War I, post-war crises, the weakening of democratic institutions, and a fear of Soviet Russia and world revolution. However, under Prior General Elias Magennis, our Order experienced much growth with new provinces and restructuring, while the Discalced Carmelites also experienced a period of strong growth.
In Germany, when Hitler’s Nazi party seized power it played on fear, nationalism and racism with discrimination against the church. Titus Brandsma, a Dutch Carmelite friar and professor of philosophy, opposed Nazi ideology. He traveled and gave lectures in New York, Chicago, Washington and Niagara Falls. He was known as the “dangerous little friar”. His opposition to the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands and his defense of the freedom of the Catholic press led to his arrest in January1942. He was sent to the Dachau concentration camp where he ministered to other prisoners in the clergy block until his death by lethal injection July 26, 1942. Titus was beatified November 3, 1985 by Pope John Paul II.
Edith Stein ( St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) was born on Yom Kippur into a devout German Jewish family but considered herself an atheist in her teen years. She earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916. After reading the life of Saint Teresa of Avila, Edith converted to Catholicism in 1922 and taught at a Catholic school in Speyer. Her desire to become a Discalced Carmelite nun, was discouraged by her mentor but with increasing persecution of the Jews in Germany Edith was compelled to resign from teaching in April 1933. She entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Cologne in October 1933 and in 1934 she received her novice religious habit taking the name Teresia Benedicta a Cruce. For her safety, she and her sister Rosa were transferred to the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Echt, The Netherlands.
In retaliation for the Dutch bishops’ condemnation of Nazi racism all Jewish converts were arrested. Edith and Rosa were among the many arrested and were sent to their deaths in the Auschwitz concentration camp, August 9, 1942. Edith accepted what God willed for them and in her last days continued to minister to people, especially to children, with a cheerful attitude. Her motto was “Ave crux, spes unica” meaning “Hail to the Cross, our only hope”. Edith was beatified May 1, 1987 by Pope John Paul II, then canonized by him in 1998.
Father Leo reviewed the lives of several notable Carmelites, Prior General Elias Magennis, Prior General Hilary Joseph Doswald, Prior Provincial Louis of the Trinity, Blessed Hilary Januszewski, and Father Jacques Bunel to name a few. Hilary Januszewski was the prior of the Carmelite Community in Krakow. He was sent to Dachau with other Poles and was executed by the in 1945. FatherJacques Bunel was a Discalced friar and a headmaster at a Carmelite boarding school. He attempted to hide Jewish boys at the school but was denounced and sent to the Mauthausen prison camp. Liberated in 1945 he died a few weeks later of tuberculosis, and weighed only 75 pounds.
Father Leo continued his conferences with a review of the second half of the 20th century – the politics, the rebuilding of Carmel, Vatican Council II, the Popes and the Carmelite Priors General.
As our weekend retreat was concluding, the soft chatter of excitement filled the air. We spoke of what we learned, congratulated the newly Professed in the Order, spent time with those we knew, and with those we were getting to know. We were one amazing community, or should I say “family”, united in each Morning, Evening and Night prayer liturgy!
As I pondered the weekend, I walked away with a deeper sense of wonder and gratitude for the Carmelites who paved the way for us today. My ideal way is not to hurry through the day to find time to “pray and be spiritual” but to remember I am called to walk with the Spirit of Christ in every breath I take. My good days, bad days, easy days, and hard days, are all part of my journey to serve the Lord wherever I am and in all that I do. I am humbled that God has called me and that I said “yes”.
-- Review by Elaine Herd
