28 April: Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Guggeri Echeverría

WORKING TRANSLATION*

April 28
BLESSED MARIA FELICIA OF JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Virgin

Optional Memorial

Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (Maria Felicia Guggiari Echeverría), commonly known as Chiquitunga, was born in Villarrica del Espiritu Santo, Paraguay on January 12, 1925. At the age of 16, she enthusiastically joined Catholic Action and took care of the elderly, the sick, and prisoners. This fruitful apostolic experience, supported by the daily Eucharist, resulted in her consecration to the Lord. She entered the Carmel of Asunción on February 2, 1955, characterized by a life of dedication, deep humility, and great generosity, enveloped in a healthy joy; the motto of her life was: “I OFFER EVERYTHING TO YOU, LORD”. She died at the age of 34, accepting her illness with serenity. She was beatified on June 23, 2018, by the delegate of Pope Francis, Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B.

From the Common of Virgins

Office of Readings

Second Reading
From the writings of Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
(Positio, vol. II. Diarios Íntimos; pp. 323, 311, 308, 295, 54, 319, 294, 320, 335; Ltr. 47, p. 622; Ltr. 2b, p. 376)

Amidst all this, I feel that the apostolate, whether of prayer or of action, is my vocation

Amidst all this, I feel that the apostolate, whether of prayer or of action, is my vocation. My consecration to the Lord is done; nothing belongs to me anymore, nor do I belong to myself…. But why do I worry, Lord? If I have given myself to You and abandoned myself to You, what do I fear? My Jesus, my only Master, true Master of all my love, for whom I have given and surrendered and accepted ALL! I too would like one day to become a Saint. Give me strength for the struggle and above all give me much, much love, ardent love for You, Eucharistic Jesus, for the Ideal, for souls, make me a true apostle. In all the works I am doing, I try to put the seal of our Christian spirit, because I want everything to be saturated with Christ, and wherever I am, I can leave a ray of His light…. Not because it is me, You know that, Lord!

There, there I intend to be and to fulfill the Holy Father’s request: The presence of the Christian woman in today’s world, and to work until the day has twenty-five hours, until I fall surrendered with happiness for having had everything and having given everything, especially this affection, Lord, which, renewing my offering, I place it once again at your feet: I offer you everything, Lord! I saw myself more than once walking calmly… walking through homes, lavishing even just a smile as a spontaneous fruit of the grace pulsating in our souls, lighting up our bosom with Love, Divine Love. To be apostles, Lord, what a beautiful dream. I never imagined that I would be so happy, bringing comfort to those whose pain makes our life possible.

I want to embrace everything. May I always have a song and a smile on my lips, even if in my heart I bear the wounds of disappointment and misunderstanding, and even if everything around me collapses, may I sing your glories and say to you, “Thank you, Lord!” I am relatively calmer, almost indifferent, as if absent from all things. Above all, I want to increase my life of union with my God, deep intimacy, which I find quite difficult. How much I would really like to converse with Him, without worrying about times, moments, and places! I need it so much that I hope to be able to have those days to fill myself with my God and then be able to overflow his word, his example, his life in all souls!

I, on the other hand, have already decided on my vocation: I do not see my happiness outside of a total surrender, of abnegation and sacrifice, and of constant immolation of my life for the glory of God and the salvation of souls and the sanctification of priests!

On Wednesday, February 2, with a simple ceremony, God and the Virgin Mary willing, I will leave everything behind me, to embrace Him alone, the only one who can satisfy the unfathomable anxieties of the heart. My God, Most Holy Trinity, Jesus Crucified, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I will ask only one thing of you, for the rest, the rest will truly come to me and you will give it to me in addition. What I ask for is Love to be able to love, and with it, I will lack nothing, I will have nothing to spare.

Responsory

R/. Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. * Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (alleluia).
V/. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. * Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (alleluia).

Prayer (Official)

O God,
who in the Virgin Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
gave us an excellent witness of love towards your Son
grant, that, following her example
we may live in the spirit of the beatitudes
and offer our lives for your glory and the salvation of the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

*This working translation from the Spanish text is the blogger’s own work product, provided as a reference for our readers. This office is based on the official Spanish text, kindly provided by the Central American Province of the Discalced Carmelite Friars; the Discalced Carmelite General Curia provided the closing prayer. We await the complete official English translation approved by the Holy See.