Second day of Lenten spiritual exercises in the Vatican. The interview with the preacher, father Léthel
Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia are currently engaged in second day of the Lenten spiritual exercises. A day marked by Marian themes, but not limited to, compared to John Paul II. The title of the first of the three ideas proposed by the preacher - the Discalced Carmelite Father François-Marie Léthel - so says "The big science of the saints" (St. Louis Marie de Montfort) in Heaven as on Earth: Scientia blessed scientia fidei scientia amoris (from Fides et Ratio to Novo Millennium Ineunte). The cover the second meditation Totus Tuus Christocentric and Marian Karol Wojtyla, as a common thread throughout his life (Jn 19, 25-27, and Letter to the men and women religious of the Montfort Family of 8 December 2003), while the third meditation will be the glory of love, faith and hope experienced by John Paul II with Mary. During the week of spiritual exercises, which will end next Saturday, are suspended all the proceedings of the Pope, including the Wednesday general audience. Amedeo Lomonaco Léthel father asked the spirit in which it is prepared for this retreat: 
R. - I was deep in prayer, I said yes. The great event was the beatification of John Paul II, so I had to set the course of spiritual exercises as a preparation for the beatification of John Paul II. For me, then, this is a mission, something that comes from God I feel very little before this, but I trust the Lord and Lady.
D. - Why did you choose the theme of the exercises: "The light of Christ in the heart of the Church, Pope John Paul II and the Theology of the Saints"?
R. - For many years the study of saints. This theme of holiness has always been the center of all my theological research. The saints are the great witnesses of the holiness of the Church and therefore, through their testimony, their thinking, experience, shines the light of Christ. John Paul II is the Pope's holiness and his Beatification is the official recognition of his holiness. And 'that the Pope has proclaimed more saints and blessed. And 'the Pope who brought the Saints not only as examples of Christian perfection, as well as theologians in the highest sense, as connoisseurs of God presented them as porters, in today's world, this light of Christ.
D. - How to develop his meditations?
R. - Already the Vatican Publishing House has prepared for the participants, a very nice booklet and put on the cover a painting by Fra Angelico, which represents the circle of Saints. The saints of heaven shake hands with one another. For me, this picture is the icon of these exercises. We start then by Pope John Paul II: it is he who, in the grace of his beatification, this guide provides an immediate circle and the hand to the two Saints more attached to him. First St. Louis de Montfort, who inspired his "Totus Tuus". Immediately after giving a hand to St. Therese of Lisieux, whom John Paul II had proclaimed "Doctor", expert of science love. St. Therese of Lisieux shake hands with the two great Doctors of the science of faith, which Anselm and Thomas, who cited John Paul II in Fides et Ratio ". I also wanted to integrate the two Saints, the late Middle Ages: St. Catherine of Siena and St. Joan of Arc who lived a very dramatic moment for the world and the Church. There were so many problems, so many wounds. There will then lay two: the venerable Conchita Cabrera de Armida, a great mystic, and Beata Chiara Luce Badano, who died in 1990, which is also the first blessed of the Focolare Movement. We will end with the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19. The final meditation is really dedicated to St. Joseph, the patron of the Baptism of the Pope circle will end with him.
D. - How important is this experience for the community of Discalced Carmelites?
R. - This choice of the Pope certainly touched me personally, but was also a great joy for my brother. E 'therefore something that we live in the community. All the Order of Caramel, the Caramel, pray for the Pope, but also for the Carmelite preacher. It 'something that truly involves the whole Carmelite family.
D. - It involves the whole Carmelite family and involves the whole community of believers. What wishes to the faithful for this Lent 2011?
R. - I wish to take a deeper awareness of their vocation to holiness . Too often the faithful believe that the Saints are a bit 'as aliens, meaning people without faults, but is not so. Saints were people like us , with their limitations, their wounds had committed in their sins, but at some point they decided to follow Jesus completely. This is what I wish all the people of God, even to prepare for this great event that will really be something great for everyone: the beatification of John Paul II. Preparations must be made more aware of taking personal vocation to holiness and making progress in prayer, Christian life, in charity toward others. (Vv)
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