ST. RICHARD CHURCH
NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO
Diocese of Cleveland
Established 1950
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Seven Songs of the Spirit-First Song: Wisdom
Photo: R.Massaro(c)2011SpiritSinging
St. Charles Borromeo Church-Parma, Ohio
"No one can say 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit" St. Paul I Cor 12:3
Seven Songs of the Spirit: Wisdom, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, Knowledge, Understanding, Fear of the Lord.
First Song: WISDOM
Wisdom is the highest gift imparted by the Spirit. St. Bernard tells us that " It is the supernatural Gift of the Holy Spirit which enables us to know God and to rejoice in perfect love." Wisdom enlightens the mind and inflames the heart with love for God.
In the song, "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman", we sing in supplication to Our Lady to, "Teach us the Wisdom of God." She who is full of grace, full of virtue, the sinless spouse of the Holy Spirit, is indeed the Blessed One we can call upon for the Spirit of Wisdom.
Mary, the first disciple, showed us how to rejoice in the Lord. Often, her Magnificat is remembered as a one-time event that she proclaimed during her visit to Elizabeth. But Our Lady’s Magnificat will be sung throughout time and eternity; Her hymn of praise will never be silenced. Our Lady eternally sings in the Spirit, "My Soul Magnifies the Lord..." When we give ourselves totally to Mary we enter into the chapel of her soul, as St. Louis Marie de Montfort instructs us to do and join in her hymn of praise. With Mary, we sing a blessed and glorious hymn of love inspired by the Spirit of Wisdom to the Most Holy Trinity.
Secular Carmelites are called to imitate the Virgin Mary, who pondered the Word in her heart.
Our Rule states:
The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a particular place in the life of a Carmelite. She is, first of all, his model of fidelity to grace and constancy in God’s service. She is also Mother of the whole Order, which enjoys her special patronage. The Secular Carmelite’s interior life must be permeated by an intense devotion to Our Lady. Exteriorly, too, he will honor her daily by some particular act, and by wearing the brown Scapular of Carmel.
Our vocation of prayer and contemplation on behalf of the Church is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Our Lady, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, help us to sing the Wisdom of God!
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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Thursday, July 28, 2011
CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY
BLESSED JOHN SORETH
Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Carmelite Quote
From the life of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
(Edith Stein)
Feast Day: August 9
Referring to her entry into the Carmelite monastery, she wrote of the pain of leaving her mother:
She covered her face with her hands and began to weep. I stood behind her chair and held her silvery head to my breast. Thus we remained for a long while, until she let me persuade her to go to bed. I took her upstairs and helped her undress, for the first time in my life. Then I sat on the edge of her bed till she herself sent me to bed...I don't think either of us found any rest that night."
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Carmelite Saint of the Day
SOLEMNITY OF ST. ELIJAH
PROPHET AND FATHER OF CARMEL
...Wherever we direct our mental gaze, there we may be said to stand. That is why Elijah said: "The Lord lives, in whose sight I stand." He did indeed stand before God, for his heart was intent on God. That the Jews gazed at the pillar of cloud and stood at the doors of their tents in adoration, has this meaning: when the human mind perceives these high and heavenly things--albeit in image--the elevation of its thought has already lifted it free from the limits of its bodily habitation; and although it is denied sight of the divine substance, it humbly adores him whose power it can already see by spiritual illumination.
Scripture Reading from Evening Prayer I for this feast:
The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought for its fruit.
(James 5:16c-18)
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Sunday, July 17, 2011
Carmelite Quote
ELIJAH THE PROPHET AND FATHER OF CARMEL
FEAST DAY: JULY 20
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command. Answer me, Lord! Answer me, that this people may know that you, Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses.
(I Kings 19:36)
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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Saturday, July 16, 2011
Carmelite Saint of the Day
Happy Feast Day to all Carmelites!
Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
FLOS CARMELI
(Flower of Carmel-Ancient Hymn to Mary)
Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, splendor caeli, virgo puerpera singularis.
FLOWER of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden; Splendor of heaven, Childbearing yet maiden. None equals thee.
Mater mitis sed viri nescia Carmelitis esto propitia stella maris.
Mother so tender, Who no man didst know, On Carmel's children Thy favors bestow. Star of the Sea.
Radix Iesse germinans flosculum nos ad esse tecum in saeculum patiaris.
Strong stem of Jesse, Who bore one bright flower, Be ever near us And guard us each hour, who serve thee here.
Inter spinas quae crescis lilium serva puras mentes fragilium tutelaris.
Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee.
Armatura fortis pugnantium furunt bella tende praesidium scapularis.
Strongest of armor, We trust in thy might: Under thy mantle, Hard press'd in the fight, we call to thee.
Per incerta prudens consilium per adversa iuge solatium largiaris.
Our way uncertain, Surrounded by foes, Unfailing counsel You give to those who turn to thee.
Mater dulcis Carmeli domina, plebem tuam reple laetitia qua bearis.
O gentle Mother Who in Carmel reigns, Share with your servants That gladness you gained and now enjoy.
Paradisi clavis et ianua, fac nos duci quo, Mater, gloria coronaris. Amen. (Alleluia.)
Hail, Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see. Amen. (Alleluia.)
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Carmelite Saint of the Day
Happy Feast Day to all Carmelites!!
Saint Teresa of Jesus of the Andes
In her own words:
Since I was about seven years old, there was a very great devotion born in my soul to my Mother, the Most Holy Virgin. I told her everything that happened to me, and She spoke to me. I heard her voice clearly and distinctly in my soul. She advised me and told me what I must do to please Our Lord. I thought that this was something natural, and it never occurred to me to speak of what the Most Holy Virgin was telling me.
From the time of my First Communion, Our Lord spoke to me after Communion and told me things I'd never suspected; and even when I asked Him, He would tell me things that were going to happen, and then they really did occur. But I went on thinking that everybody who went to communion was treated this way.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Three Words of Wisdom
THE LITTLE THINGS
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| (Photo: R. Massaro) |
In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us the Parable of the Sower. Have you ever planted a garden? If you have, you will know how unbelievably small a seed can be. It is amazing how such a little thing can blossom into a fruit or vegetable and become food for our body. Even Scripture describes the tiny mustard seed: "...It is the smallest seed of all, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes so big a shrub that the birds of the sky come and build their nests in its branches." (Matthew 13:32).
How do we use the "little things" in life? Do we take little annoyances, inconveniences, etc. to help us grow in virtues, such as patience and humility? Do we use the "little things," the negative seeds people scatter our way to prevent us from growing in holiness? Have we let a "little thing" become a great big thing, such a big thing that it has broken relationship with our neighbor and with God? Families who have broken relationships will relate that the reason they are not speaking to someone was over a "little thing." Sometimes, they cannot even remember what they were upset about. And then year-after-year the relationship remains broken.
As Secular Carmelites, we can look to the Doctor of Love, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, for inspiration. She is our great model in the "little things" of life. She turned the smallest of daily annoyances into great victories of dying to self. Popes have referred to her as the "greatest Saint of Modern Times." Why is this? Why does she deserve such a lofty title? Many people misunderstand her teaching of spiritual childhood. For those of us who have studied her writings, it is clear that she is a spiritually mature child of the living God!
St. Therese never left the monastery, yet she became a great saint by embracing the little things in daily life that God sent her way. Many of us will never leave our homes, jobs or families to become great missionaries, but we can be great witnesses to those we live with and to those we work with, if we accept with grace and humility the "little things" life has to offer. May the Lord free us from getting upset over little things and help us to see the great things he has in store for us.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Stained Glass Flowers-Little Accounts of the Miraculous
From the Life of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila):
This Father began to lead me to greater perfection...He told me to commend the matter to God for some days and to recite the hymn Veni Creator so that God might give me light about the better course of action. One day, having spent a long time in prayer and begging the Lord to help me please him in all things, I began the hymn; while saying it, a rapture came upon me so suddenly that it
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| (Photo: R. Massaro) |
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Poetry Tree
(Photo: R. Massaro)
CHRIST HAS NO BODY
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which is to look out
Christ's compassion to the world;
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about
doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.
A poem by St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)
This beautiful poem by St. Teresa is a great encouragement to us, that whatever we do to our neighbor we do in the name of Christ. It is also a way to look at the "Little Way" of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Maybe we can't do much or do great things, but we can offer a smile, a touch, a kind word, all in the name of Christ. We are his witnesses in the world. Let us remember to use our bodies for evangelization, let us be his missionaries of mercy by using our very physical being to show gentleness and compassion to all those we meet.
Let us pray for each other!
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds______________________
Friday, July 1, 2011
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Photo:R.Massaro(c)2011SpiritSinging
Lourdes, France
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Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You and with true sorrow for my sins, I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You.
Protect me in the midst of danger, comfort me in my afflictions, give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs,Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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