Pere Jacques inspires us to be courageous this Lent whether in the ordinary or extraordinary circumstances of life.

Pere (Father) Jacques of Jesus, O.C.D., who joined the French Resistance in opposition to the Nazis. He served as a French chaplain in WWII and was a prisoner of war (POW).

He then reopened the school "the Little College of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus." As director, he rescued at least three Jewish boys. As the Gestapo were arresting Jacques during a school day, Jacques turned to the class saying "goodbye children, continue without me.”

He was sent to multiple concentration camps and risked his life to say Mass for his fellow inmates. He would often give his ration of food to others. When the Mauthausen camp was liberated, Pere Jacques weighed 77 lbs (35 kg) and died shortly thereafter.

Pere Jacques is a Discalced Carmelite friar of deep prayer, saying: "Oh! Yes, my God, unite myself so deeply with you in silence and meditation that I always radiate you around me."

His heroic life inspires us to respond to God at every moment.

Ash Wednesday Reflection by Br. Isaiah of the Holy Face

For more information and to register for this free retreat:
http://www.retreatonline.karmel.at

Free Carmelite Online Retreat for Lent 2024

Organized by:

Discalced Carmelite Friars, USA http://www.discalcedcarmel.org
Discalced Carmelite Friars, Austria http://www.karmel.at
Discalced Carmelite Friars, Paris http://www.carmesparis.org
Discalced Carmelite Friars, Kenya https://www.ocdkenyamission.org/
ICS Publications https://www.icspublications.org


Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:13 A Heroic Risk Worth Taking
1:40 The Daily Preparation for Greatness
3:01 Living Virtuously in the Ordinary
3:38 Practical Step During Lent