Sad News of Sr Faith

[Josefa]

Dear Beatitude,

You  have  such  a  GOOD  friend  in  heaven  !!

I recognize  this  :  I  think  / KNOW

my  grandmothers  are  interceding  for  me  all   the  time  ......

God  bless  you  !

 

[Indwelling Trinity]

Way in the past, faith would write to me asking me questions on how to prepare for Carmel. How ardent was her desire to be completely identified with her beloved. 

Good looked on that desire and gave her her hearts desire. He formed her in the crucible of his  purifying fire,and she proved worthy. 

I have never met a Carmelite who has not been tried by the fire of God's love. I am in no way implying that this only happens to Carmelites; but in a cloistered order this purification takes on a certain immediacy that may not be as obvious in a different order. Having no outside apostolates to distract oneself from from the silence and solitude one is more disposed to see oneself as we really are. That takes great faith and great love. I believe Faith has that love and stamina in her in my book she was a real carmelite in process. 

The process did not end when she was sent home from Carmel ;rather God intensified her period of purgatory and formation as a Carmelite for as I always say and I do not remember which Saint said it, but a carmelite is known from within. Good took her out of Carmel and gave her a cell and more solitude to be alone with him offering herself for others than she could ever find in a O. C. D. or O. Carm.  monastery. 

I think Jesus saw her love the Father smiled in her and the  Holy Spirit and our Mother of Carmel brought her home where her life is hidden with Christ in God. May she have eternal rest and the joy of the beatific vision. 

Please pray for us sister faith as we will pray for you and your family. 

IT

[GraceUk]

Quote

 

I was very sad indeed to read the news.   I used to post on Phatmass a few years ago and remember reading about Faith's entry into Carmel and her hopes.  RIP.

[beatitude]

Faith's funeral was today. It was a beautiful Mass, concelebrated by her parish priest and the priest who officiated at her clothing ceremony in Carmel. The extern sister from the Carmel came too, and there were all sorts of other people there - she had so many very different friends. It was a great comfort to spend time with them. As she was a fan of funky shoes, the brighter the better, a group of us had taken special care to wear something outrageous on our feet. I think we were the best-shod funeral cortege that southeast England has ever seen. It was a hard day in many respects, with lots of tears, but also many palpable reminders that the communion of saints is real and we are living it. Please continue to pray for her family, especially her brother.

[beatitude]

It feels very strange without her. Her funeral already feels so far away, and the memory has a dreamlike quality, as if it didn't really happen. Part of me still expects to hear from her any minute.

I would be grateful for your prayers, as I'm finding it extremely difficult to pray at the moment. I think I have reached the "If I ignore it, it didn't happen" stage of grieving. When I do pray, I'm comforted and in pain both at once. It's so hard to drag myself to Mass, so hard to pick up the rosary - I'd rather just blank out her death and what I feel about it, and I can't ignore anything very easily when I pray.

[Pax17]

Beatitude, I lost a dear high school friend to breast cancer more than five years ago, and part of me still hopes she will be there when I pick up the phone.  At the same time, she is with me...the funny things she used to say are now part of my vocabulary.  I can remember her facial expressions, and know how she would respond to people and situations I encounter.

The pain will ease, and Faith will always be with you.

 

[Chiquitunga]

Oh my goodness I am so surprised and sad to hear this..........

I remember her very well! I sent her some Carmelite stuff in the mail including the Teresa of Los Andes movie. she watched the whole thing. I remember following her story......

I am so sorry for your pain beatitude.... I will pray for both of you. I am sure Faith is thinking and praying for you. she is the first I have heard of from this phorum going home to Our Lord. May she Rest In Peace! Sr. Faith (as she was a Sister at heart), pray for us!

[Sister Leticia]

Dear Beatitude, there is no roadmap for grief. Yes, people have written about and defined different stages, but each person has to travel this road in their own way, and the stages can be zigzag roller-coaster. What is a comfort for one might not help another - be it prayer, looking through old photos, eating chocolate or whatever. In the same way we work out how best to massage an aching limb, or which treatment is best for an aching head, so we each need to work out what is the best treatment for our aching hearts. 

So just try and go with the flow. Make sure you care for yourself, and don't succumb to anything which doesn't seem good, but also don't force yourself. There will be light - and it will probably come unexpectedly, but it will come. As Pax says, the pain will ease, and you will know that Faith is with you.

 

[nikita92]

On 2/21/2018 at 11:58 AM, Pax17 said:

Beatitude, I lost a dear high school friend to breast cancer more than five years ago, and part of me still hopes she will be there when I pick up the phone.  At the same time, she is with me...the funny things she used to say are now part of my vocabulary.  I can remember her facial expressions, and know how she would respond to people and situations I encounter.

The pain will ease, and Faith will always be with you.

 

Please remember- "The spirit lives, as long as the living remember" Old Indian saying ;*)