SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Mary's Divine Motherhood

Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son,as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God."
Catechism No. 495

The Sisters of the Visitation
Visitation Monastery Toledo, Ohio
click here





Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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CATECHISM QUOTE

Catechism #599

Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: "This Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WITH ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

Photo: R. Massaro

"WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?"

This phrase became popular a few years ago and ended up on t-shirts, mugs, bracelets, and other novelty items.   However, if we take a deeper look at this simple question as did St. John of the Cross, we will find much needed wisdom and spiritual insight into the mystery of  becoming "Christlike."

From the Ascent of Mount Carmel:

First, have habitual desire to imitate Christ in all your deeds by bringing your life in conformity with his. You must then study his life in order to know how to imitate him and behave in all events as he would.

Wow! A few sentences and St. John of the Cross has gotten to the heart of the matter: If we want to be Christlike, we must study the life of Jesus and imitate him in all things. We might respond, "easier said than done," because of our fallen human nature. But, I would argue the point that we can achieve our goal of becoming saints if we have the desire and we cooperate with God's grace.

One of our beloved Carmelite saints, St. Therese, was known to love the Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis, and she also loved the Gospels. In fact, we can see in her writings many references to sacred scripture. We can observe the life of any saint and see that they were imitators of Christ.  How did they imitate him? Well, we know that charity above all is the highest gift and a true test of one living the spiritual life.  If we are easily irritated and put out by performing works of charity, our prayer cannot be authentic.

We can always look for the fruits of the Spirit to see if we are on the right track, we can discern if we exhibit Christlike traits. Traits such as gentleness and kindness, and of course patience.  Are we slow to anger and quick to forgive? Do we show mercy as mercy has been shown to us?

St. John of the Cross keeps us on track in the spiritual life by reminding us that we must study the life of Our Savior. Let us turn again and again to the Gospels, that his word and life and spirit penetrate the depths of our heart, that he fills us and forms us into His image. Then we can truly be a living witness of His kingdom.

What would Jesus do? What would Jesus have us do? Let us keep this in mind as we go about our daily activities.

Let us echo the words of St. Paul, Be imitators of God as his dear children. Follow the way of love, even as Christ loved you.
(Ephesians 5:1)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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TABERNACLE OF THE WEEK

ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH

AKRON, OHIO

PASTOR: REV. JAMES RAGNONI

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

October - The Month of the Rosary

The Rosary Confraternity

U.S. Lourdes Pilgrimage Office

Peace be with you!

Rosemrie, ocds

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THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

 PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18: 1-8)

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray always without becoming weary.  Perpetual prayer is hard for most of us to comprehend, but Christians are called to this vocation by virtue of our baptismal call to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

We, as Secular Carmelites, have been given a great gift in our call to contemplative prayer. Although we live in the world, our faithfulness to mental prayer each day helps us to pray while we work in the world.

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) teaches us that the Lord will give us this gift of being able to be recollected while we go about our daily activities. She wrote about the union of Martha and Mary-the spiritual union of the active and contemplative life.

Praying always without becoming weary does not mean we must burden ourselves with numerous prayers throughout the day. The lifting of our mind and heart to God is true prayer of the heart and the real definition of prayer. Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection teaches us this method in the Practice of the Presence of God.

Let us pray for each other that the Holy Spirit prompt us to raise our minds and hearts to God and the things of Heaven throughout the day. But let us also remember that if we think of Him it was He who first thought of us!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Solemnity of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Happy Feast Day to all OCD and OCDS Carmelites!

St. Teresa was born at Avila in Spain in 1515. She entered the Carmelites and made great progress in the way of perfection and was granted mystical revelations. Wishing to share in the spiritual renewal of the Church of her time, she began to live her religious life more ardently and soon attracted many companions, to whom she was like a mother. She also helped in the reform of the friars, and in this had to endure great trials. She wrote books which are renowed for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual experiences. She died at Alba in 1582.

(From the Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours)

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

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CARMELITE QUOTE

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

SOLEMNITY FOR DISCALCED CARMELITES

GENTLE REMINDER: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

IS A DAY OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE FOR ALL

SECULAR CARMELITES (OCDS)

The Lord desires intensely that we love Him and seek His company, so much so that from time to time He calls us to draw near Him. And His voice is so sweet...They come through words spoken by other good people, or through sermons, or through what is read in good books, or through the many things that are heard and by which God calls.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WITH ST. TERESA OF JESUS

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

Perhaps we don't know what love is...It doesn't consist in great delight but in desiring with strong determination to please God in everything, in striving, insofar as possible,not to offend Him, and in asking Him for the advancement of the honor and glory of His Son and the increase of the Catholic Church. These are the signs of love.

Next week the Church, and in particular, the Carmelite Order will celebrate the feast of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila). Many pilgrim souls look to her teaching for guidance and direction. Many souls who are experiencing consolation and deep prayer experiences turn to her for guidance and direction.  Her excellent teaching wrought from inspiration by the Holy Spirit and explained through her own personal experiences on prayer gives the Church and her members a holy source we can turn to again and again for spiritual direction.

The quote I have used today gives her teaching on consolations and delight in prayer, experiences given mainly to the beginner to keep the soul attracted to God. But even advanced souls may fall victim to the temptation that once consolations cease we are failing in the spiritual life.  St. Teresa tells us again and again this is not so.  Charity, namely love of God and neighbor is the true test to see if we are progressing in the life of holiness.

So we can read again her quote above and ask ourselves a few questions:

1. Do I have a great desire and determination to please God in everything? Do I give up on the life of virtue easily when things get difficult? Do I make the effort to die to my own ego in sacrificing "little things" each day and offering them up?

2. Do I pray for the Church on a daily basis? Do I disrespect Church teaching? Do I tell others I disagree with certain Church teachings? Do I criticize my pastor, my bishop, the Holy Father?

3. Do I pray that Jesus Christ be honored and glorified? Do I listen to criticism of the Church without defending her? Do I watch television shows that ridicule the Church and her priests? Do I watch shows that take the name of the Lord in vain?

Let us turn to the Holy Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Jesus. May she intercede for us and help us on the Way of Perfection. This can sometimes be a lonely road filled with obstacles and pitfalls, even delightful ones, such as spiritual consolations.  Let us follow where she leads, the summit of Mt. Carmel-Christ our Lord!




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

I saw the Mother of God descend with a great multitude of angels and sit in the prioress's choir stall wehre there was a statue of our Lady...She told me: "you were indeed right in placing me here; I shall be present in the praises they give my Son, and I shall offer these praises to Him. 
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)


Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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CARMELITE QUOTE

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

He wants us to desire the eternal; we, here below, lean towards what comes to an end. He wants us to desire sublime and great things; we, here below, desire base and earthly things. He would want us to desire only what is secure; we, here below, love the dubious.

Through his favors we can understand something of what he will give us in heaven without the intervals, trials, and dangers that there are in this tempestuous sea.

Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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Novena to St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Novena to St. Teresa of Avila

 This Novena was written by St. Alphonsus of Liguori.

First Day:


O most amiable Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the great gift of faith and of devotion to the Holy Sacrament, which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits and by those of Thy faithful spouse, to grant us the gift of a lively faith, and of a fervent devotion toward the most Holy Sacrament of the altar; where Thou, O infinite Majesty! hast obliged Thyself to abide with us even to the end of the world, and wherein Thou didst so lovingly give Thy whole Self to us.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Second Day:


O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of hope which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy holy spouse, to give us a great confidence in Thy goodness, by reason of Thy Precious Blood, which Thou hast shed to its last drop for our salvation.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Third Day:


O most loving Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of love which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most loving spouse, to give us the great, the crowning gift of Thy perfect love.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Fourth Day:


O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of great desire and resolution which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa, that she might love Thee perfectly; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most generous spouse, to give us a true desire, and a true resolution of pleasing Thee the utmost of our power.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Fifth Day:


O most kind Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of humility which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most humble spouse, to grant us the grace of a true humility, which may make us ever find our joy in humiliation, and prefer contempt before every honour.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Sixth Day:


O most bountiful Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of devotion towards Thy sweet mother, Mary and her holy spouse, Joseph, which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most dear spouse, to give us the grace of a special and tender devotion towards Thy most holy mother, Mary, and towards Thy beloved foster-father, Joseph.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:
R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Day:


O most loving Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the wonderful gift of the wound in the heart which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy seraphic spouse, to grant us also a like wound of love, that, henceforth, we may love Thee and give our mind to the love of nothing but Thee.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Eighth Day:


O most beloved Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the eminent gift of the desire for death which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most constant spouse, to grant us the grace of desiring death, in order to go and possess Thee eternally in the country of the blessed.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Ninth Day:


Lastly, O dearest Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of the precious death which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa, making her sweetly to die of love; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most affectionate spouse, to grant us a good death; and if we do not die of love, yet, that we may at least die burning of love for Thee, that so dying, we may be able to go and love Thee for evermore with a more perfect love in heaven.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY

OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

PRAY FOR US!

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CARMELITE QUOTE

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)
Feast Day: October 15

Oh, when will that happy day arrive when you will see yourself drowned in the infinite sea of supreme truth, where you will no longer be free to sin! Nor will you want to sin, for you will be safe from every misery, naturalized by the life of your God!

Then, my soul, you will enter into your rest when you become intimate with this supreme Good, understand what He understands, love what He loves,and rejoice in what gives Him joy.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

 OFFER IT UP

These words of wisdom were taught to us by the priests and nuns in our Catholic elementary school in the late 50's.  Although I do not hear these words of wisdom coming from the mouths of babes these days or even from Catholic adults, I feel these words hold a great deal of wisdom.

Our late Holy Father, John Paul II and our current Holy Father, Benedict the XVI, have both warned us about the ever-increasing spiritual diseases of our time, namely, secularism, materialism and relativism.  We are living in a society filled with individuals who have no idea of how to mortify their passions and desires and die to the ego.  "offering it up" is unheard of when everyone believes he is owed something, must have everything he desires on demand, and is opposed to obedience from anyone in authority because he is the sole authority.

If the Holy Spirit has given us the desire to humble ourselves and follow Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we should be very grateful.  If the Holy Spirit has given us the desire to unite our daily sufferings with the suffering Christ, we should be very grateful. While the church teaches that the call to holiness is for everyone, I believe that true virtue and holiness are not "common ground" walked on by the masses.

As Secular Carmelites we are called to be a witness in the world to the charism of contemplative prayer. Yes, all consecrated religious and lay people who are bound by the Evangelical Counsels should be the radiance and light of this world. If we are truly being faithful to our secular vocation we will radiate Christ and his holiness by "offering it up" on a daily basis, perhaps on a moment-by-moment basis.

Let us pray for each other. that we seek and obtain that union with Christ that we long for. May we have a true desire to be one with the suffering Christ. For only by "offering it up" through the Cross will we share in the resurrection glory of the life to come.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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St. John of the Cross-Sayings of Light and Love

Saying-#73

What does it profit you to give God one thing if he asks of you another? Consider what it is God wants, and then do it. You will as a result satisfy your heart better than with something toward which you yourself are inclined.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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