THE GROWTH OF THE APOSTOLATE
Since 1969, the Apostolate has grown throughout the British Isles and also in the following countries: Ireland, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Canada, America, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Grenada, Trinidad, St Lucia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, the Seychelles, Lebanon, Aden and Malta.
Approval and blessing for the work has been given by Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, while priest and religious, world-wide, have given great encouragement and support.
The seed sown in 1969 has rapidly become a great Powerhouse of Prayer and people everywhere are linked together in a great community of Eucharistic adorers. It is felt that St Julian Eymard, saint of the Holy Eucharist, writing in 1851 aptly sums up the whole purpose of the Association. “I have often reflected on the cure for the universal indifference which infect so many Catholics to so alarming a degree, and I have found only one, the Eucharist, the love of the Eucharistic Jesus." Loss of faith comes first from loss of love; the icy cold of death, from the absence of fire. We must apply (that) ”, he said “the torch of love to the luke-warm souls that think themselves devout, but are not so, because they have not fixed their centre of life in Jesus in the tabernacle. Devotion that has not a tent on Calvary and one near the tabernacle, will not result in solid piety and will never accomplish anything great”
Julian’s whole work was to adore Our Lord perpetually on his throne of grace and love; to offer him unceasing thanksgiving for the unspeakable blessing of the Eucharist, to carry on at the foot of the Eucharist a perpetual mission of prayer and supplication for the Christ, for peace among rulers, for the conversion of sinners. Such was the perpetual occupation of St Julian Eymard, and such is the constant occupation for the Association of our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Like all works of God, the Apostolate embraces all peoples – hundreds of non-Catholics join us in the Rosary Circles and Anglican Churches and Communities have formed Rosary Groups. ‘Teach-in days’, Retreats, Home Rosary Groups, Block Rosary Groups, Bible study Groups, Conferences and Rosary Rallies have all come into being as a consequence of our love of the Eucharistic Jesus.
It is as if the power of Jesus, himself, has been tapped and from its source the waves of discipleship have spread far and deep. Furthermore, the direction in which the prayer life of the Association is taking is that of caring for their neighbourhood. People from Rosary Circles are now tending the sick, the housebound, the lapsed and those in need in their neighbourhood. Married couples particularly are doing this by keeping open home where anyone can visit, especially those in need. They help all and without suiting their own conveniences and comforts. They are available to people in distress and where help is required. They are, with the Church, concerned with the world at large. It means sharing self with others and enjoying to the fullest extent being used by God for the benefit of other people. These open homes are places where peoples of all faiths and no faith at all can meet with Christians and welcome real values. An open home is a place where Christianity is lived in practice, rather than in theory. This might be called for short: Neighbourhood Mission.
Every couple whose prayer life is firm and enduring, whether young, middle aged or old, have this inspiring vocation beckoning to them on their doorstep. Our Lord wants to make his Incarnation more effective through you. Our Lady is saying: “Do whatever he commands you”