Christ’s youthfulness essential in contemplation, Abp. says

An archbishop emphasized the importance of contemplation during the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel last July 16.

At the Carmelite Monastery in J.P. Laurel Avenue this city, Davao Emeritus Archbishop Most Rev. Fernando Capalla, D.D., Pontifical Mass presider re-echoed the papal exhortation of Pope Francis, ‘Christus Vivit’, that is the theme of the celebration.

“There are three things that I would like to emphasize about the youthfulness of Jesus and the youthfulness of Mary as explained by Pope Francis in his Papal exhortation — solitude, silence, and listening,” he said in his homily.

“I am borrowing the words of Fr. Henri Nouwen, a very famous spiritual writer who already died. The summary is — without silence, words lose their meaning; without listening, speaking cannot heal anymore; without solitude, community cannot save,” the Archbishop added.

In the papal exhortation, Abp. Capalla narrated, the youthfulness of Jesus refers to the age, and behavior of Jesus as a young man being a son of a carpenter who is obedient to Mary and Joseph, His parents.

“The essence of the presentation of Pope Francis of Jesus of Nazareth is that he knows that Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” he said.

The Archbishop also emphasized that those three essence of Christ’s youthfulness is essential in living a meditative life.

“When you hear about Our Lady of Mount Carmel, when you hear about Elijah, it’s about silence, listening, and solitude. These are the essence of a mystical and contemplative life — solitude, silence, and listening. This is the essential aspect of the youthfulness of Jesus,” Abp. Capalla emphasized.