Bl John Soreth, Prior General

Blessed John Soreth (c.1395 – 1471) was Prior General and reformer of the Carmelite Order. During his time as Prior General he was also responsible for the creation of Carmelite communities for women and the admission of lay associates as part of the Order.

He was elected Prior General at the General Chapter of Avignon in 1451. He encouraged reform throughout the Order and travelled constantly around Europe, visiting the various communities. When, in 1468, a violent mob had broken into the church of St. Christopher and strewn consecrated hosts on the ground John fearlessly gathered them and took them to the Carmelite church. For this reason, artists sometimes picture him with a ciborium.

John Soreth died at Angers, France, in 1471 and was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1866.

The first reading from the book of Ezekiel (34:12-16,23a) speaks of the Lord as the shepherd of his people “I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest – it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.”

In the Gospel from Luke (9:57-62) Jesus speaks of the hardships of discipleship “As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go’.  Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head’. Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first’.   But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God’.  Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good-bye to my people at home’.  Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God’.”