Stained Glass Scapulars-Reflections on the Secular Carmelite Rule

The liturgical life, as a perennial participation in the Paschal Mystery, nourishes the Secular Carmelite in his daily pledge to follow Christ crucified and risen toward an ever more perfect union with God, by making the pains and joys of this life an offering of praise and glory to God.
His liturgical life will express itself chiefly in the Eucharistic sacrifice and in the recitation of the Church's Divine Office. He will, as far as possible, recite Morning and Evening Prayer from the Breviary; if possible he will recite Night Prayer before retiring. (Article 5-The Secular Carmelite Rule)

Many beginners in Carmel, and also those who have a desire to pray the Liturgy of the Hours get discouraged in the beginning because they think the Divine Office is too complicated to understand. There are many helps to this problem if the person will persevere. The Liturgy of the Hours comes in four volumes and also has a one volume version called "Christian Prayer." They both have guides available that shows the pages one should be on for each day of the year.
There are also links to online Liturgy of the Hours, such as Universalis and ebreviary.com. I have also recently discovered Divine Office. com. For all those who are new to praying the Liturgy of the Hours, please visit this wonderful site that has audio for the daily prayers. You can listen and pray with the text that is provided, too.

Divine Office

Our Rule calls us to this universal prayer of the Church each day. It's good to get in a regular habit of praying it at the same time each day so that we become faithful to it, because this is part of our obligation as Secular Carmelites.
We can look at the beginning of the Article from our Rule which states that we have a daily pledge to follow Christ. This daily pledge includes our daily responsibilities and obligations such as praying the Office, being faithful to mental prayer, attending mass when possible, and so on.
The Rule also states that the Liturgical life helps to make the joys and pains of this life and offering of praise and glory to God. We know that Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity desired to be a "Praise of his glory." We know, too, that she had the same obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours that we have. May she obtain for us a great desire to express our worship by praying faithfully the Office each day.
In our local community we can help those who are struggling with learning the Office. And this should be part of the formation of new people.
The praying of the Office is a beautiful way of expressing our love and trust in God through the praying of the Psalms. We can get in the frame of mind and prepare ourselves for Morning Prayer from the Office by rising from bed and beginning the opening prayer: "O God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me." As Secular Carmelites we could also add, ...Lord make haste to help me pray the Office, make haste to help me to meet you in mental prayer, make haste to help me make my way to the Eucharist...

Let us pray for each other--each day in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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