I wouldn’t want to presume, but I suppose most of us, before leaving the house, check ourselves in the mirror. Maybe we do it in the morning as we’re brushing our teeth, spotting that new grey hair or that extra wrinkle. How we present ourselves to the outside world is very often of great importance, we all know the saying ‘first impressions last a lifetime’! Yet if we are not careful, this small conformity to the world begins to creep deeper and deeper into our lives. Until one day, we may find that we become completely overwhelmed by what others may think of us, and what we should be like, rather that accepting who we truly are. In the same way, if we are successful, and we know it, there could be a danger of allowing that to turn itself into something that, rather than be constructive in our lives, becomes destructive.
The world is presented as an ever-changing environment, and we can quite easily feel as though we are being left behind. Sometimes because we simply want to say that something else is more important to us. The previous Prior General of the Order, Fernando Millán Romeral, wrote that ‘it is a world in which we live as slaves to personal image, slaves to ‘the look’’[1]. I don’t know about you, but this is not a world I want to live in! In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that ‘God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise’ and ‘the weak things of the world to shame the strong’ (1 Corinthians 1:27). Now we are not at all in the business of shaming people, but what I think we can recognise here is that that which the world tells us is important, is not so for God. Whatever our society suggests is an essential trend will simply pass away when compared to God’s simple, yet eternal call to love.
It may appear a little of a drastic shift in focus, but I think that the story of this little-known Carmelite saint (who we celebrate today, 6th November) can be a sign for us of holding true to the simplicity of the Gospel. He was born into the Portuguese nobility, and from the age for 14 fought in various campaigns to secure the independence of Portugal and to return its King to the throne. Rising quickly to the top of Portuguese military circles because of his excellent leadership, Nuno was named by King Juan I as Constable of Portugal, a title that would not only elevate him amongst his peers, but also stirred popular adoration for Nuno, their great protector. After the death of his wife, Nuno abandoned this noble life, discarded his military titles and became a Carmelite friar, choosing to live in one the priories which he (as a nobleman) had sponsored for construction. Refusing further to be ordained, Nuno, (now Br. Nuno of May) lived a quiet life of prayer and simplicity, offering all he had to God. What may have been great for many, became a nothing to Nuno. The riches and glory that many would have aspired to were discarded so that Nuno could turn his heart to God alone. It reminds me of St. Paul again, but this time to the Philippians when he writes ‘for Him I have accepted the loss of all things, and look on them as rubbish if only I can gain Christ and be found in Him’ (Philippians 3:8).
For me, St. Nuno of Mary presents a challenge. If one so powerful and famous could give up so much, what can I do so that I to can live only for Christ? I think Nuno, following Christ’s example, show us that we must not live separate from the world, but be a living witness to God’ love from within. As Carmelites, we speak of our call to live in the midst of the people. From here, we can show that whilst the world changes and fashions drift in and out of popularity, the love of God does not.
Whilst St. Nuno himself did not write anything, we have instead the inscription from his tomb which I think, is a perfect summary not only of his life, but of a life that we could aspire to imitate in our own journey of faith.
Here lies that famous Nuno, the Constable, founder of the House of Bragança, excellent general, blessed monk, who during his life on earth so ardently desired the Kingdom of Heaven that after his death, he merited the eternal company of the Saints. His worldly honors were countless, but he turned his back on them. He was a great Prince, but he made himself a humble monk.
St. Nuno of Mary, pray for us.
Matthew Janvier O.Carm
[1] ‘en un mundo en el que vivmos escalvos de la imagen personal, del ‘look’. (translation my own)
