Saturday of Our Lady

Our Lady
Comforter of the Afflicted

From the life of St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes:


Following your suggestion, Rev. Father, I meditate on Saturdays upon the Virgin Mary's virtues. Our Lord told me to meditate on her purity, and then I heard a voice teaching me and explaining my Mother's purity.  I don't know what it was, but I didn't recognize the voice and asked Our Lord if it were He speaking. But He told me that it was His Mother. Then the Most Holy Virgin told me that she would reveal to me her motherly Heart, so that I could read in it how far her purity extended; so that, by imitating this virtue, I'd be able to achieve complete union with God.  After telling me all this, she told me everything I must strive to do in order to be pure and belong to God completely.
1.  That I should turn away every thought that was not of God, so that in this way I can continually live in His presence. That I should avoid every affection for creatures, so that they'll never disturb me.
2.  That I am to have no other desire but to belong more and more to God each day...
3.  That I am to be pure in my deeds: to abstain from everything that might stain me in the slightest, and do only what is pleasing to God, who seeks my sanctification...




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
______________________

Carmelite Quote

St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes:
We live for Jesus alone. And just as the angels in heaven incessantly sing His praises, so does a Carmelite echo those praises here on earth, whether near to the tabernacle where God who is Love lives imprisoned, or in the intimate depths of her soul's heaven, where faith tells her God dwells. Our vocation's objective is love, the greatest thing a human heart can possess. This love is a bonfire where the soul is consumed and made one with her God.

Visit the Carmelite Monastery Seattle, Washington

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
_______________________

Three Words of Wisdom

Yesterday, Today, Forever

...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Hebrews 7:8)

How many times have you been disappointed by a friend, neighbor, co-worker or spouse?  Yes, human nature with our weaknesses and faults is one sure thing we can bet on.  If we put our trust in people instead of the Lord, we will almost always be disappointed.

Let us look to Jesus Christ to be our strength, our consolation, and our joy!  He never disappoints us if we place our trust and hope in him.  He promised to remain with us until the end of time...then when this earthly life is over he promises to be with us forever.  As Catholics, we can say we have the best of both worlds.  We have Christ present with us in the Holy Eucharist and are able to receive him daily if we so choose, and if we remain faithful we will abide with him forever in the company of the Saints and the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. 

If we get down or depressed because we do not seem to make any spiritual progress, if we get depressed because we commit the same sins, let us look to Jesus whose mercy is always available.  His forgiveness is always available.  He doesn't cast anyone aside.  He is long-suffering and patient with his broken people.

As Catholics, as Secular Carmelites, let us pray that we may be merciful, long-suffering and patient with the weaknesses and faults of others.  For then, God will not be disappointed in us.

Visit the Carmelite Monastery in Armstrong, British Columbia

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
___________________

Saturday of Our Lady

When Pope Paul VI wished to explain how the Church closely associated with her Lord, invokes Christ and through him worships the eternal Father he looked to Mary as the exemplar. He described her as "The Virgin who listens," "The Virgin who prays," "The Virgin who offers." He put listening first.


Hers was the attention of living faith. Because she had perfect faith she was the perfect listener. She had heard and made her own of every word the Lord had spoken to her: that she was full of grace  and that the Lord was with her, and that the fruit of her womb would be blessed.


Mary, seat of Wisdom, had so much wisdom to impart, yet it was God's plan that she should speak by her silence. Mary the listener spoke so few words, and her last word was that we should listen to her Son, and to bring to our listening her obedience, "Do whatever He tells you." (Jn. 2,5).


Prayer:
Immaculate Virgin, you graciously listened to the prayers of  Bernadette; you remained beside her with a mother's vigilance in all her sufferings. Bend down your ear to my poor pleadings and make me also attentive to your word.
From Pilgrims with Mary by John Moloney P.P.

Visit the Carmelite Monastery in Arlington, Texas

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
___________________

Psalms, Prayers and Proverbs

PENANCE!  PENANCE!   PENANCE!

Today's post from Proverbs comes from a friend of Spirit Singing.  This is a passage that describes the evil behavior of a wicked heart that the Lord hates.  We only have to pick up a newspaper or listen to the news to see these qualities of an evil heart displayed throughout our society.  Let us pray for light and for the conversion of sinners as Our Lady requests.

Provers 6:16-19

There are six things the Lord hates,
yes, seven are an abomination to him;
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood;
A heart that plots wicked schemes,
feet that run swiftly to evil,
The false witness who utters lies,
and he who sows discord among brothers.

For Christians who are called to follow Christ and seek purity of heart, these evil qualities, even in their most subtle form should be rooted out in us.  Let us pray for the light of the Holy Spirit who reveals these things to us in prayer.  St. Teresa teaches us that this self-knowledge is painful, but it is necessary for our spiritual growth, so that one day, with pure hearts we may cry out with St. John the Baptist, "There is the Lamb of God."  For only the pure of heart can see God.  Let us pray for each other.

Visit the Carmelite Monastery-Salt Lake City

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

HAPPY FEAST DAY OF ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

LET US CELEBRATE WITH JOY!!

Learn more about Carmelite spirituality

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
___________________

From St. Teresa of Avila:

Since these dwelling places now are closer to where the King is, their beauty is great. There are things to see and understand so delicate that the intellect is incapable of finding words to explain them, although something might turn out to be well put and not at all obscure to the unexperienced; and anyone who has experience, especially when there is a lot of it, will understand very well.

It will seem that to reach these dwelling places one will have had to live in the others a long while. Although it is usual that a person will have to have stayed in those already spoken about, there is no certain rule, as you will have often heard. For the Lord gives when He desires, as He desires, and to whom He desires. Since these blessings belong Him, He does no injustice to anyone.
Interior Castle, Chap. 1, No. 2

READ THE INTERIOR CASTLE ONLINE

Visit Annunciation Monastery

Byzantine Carmelite Nuns

Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
_______________

Carmelite Quote

To keep you from thinking that little is gained through a perfect recitation of vocal prayer, I tell you that it is very possible that while you are reciting the Our Father or some other vocal prayer, the Lord may raise you to perfect contemplation. by these means His Majesty shows that He listens to the one who speaks to Him. And it is His grandeur that speaks to the soul, suspending one's intellect, binding one's imagination,and , as they say, taking the words form one's mouth; for even though the soul may want to do so, it cannot speak unless with great difficulty.
Way of Perfection 25:1

Visit the Carmelite Monastery
Piedmont, Oklahoma-click here





Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________

Community of Taize
"Let Nothing Trouble You"
From a prayer by St. Teresa
(St. Teresa's Bookmark)

Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away
God alone is changeless
Patience obtains all things
He who possess God
Lacks nothing
God alone suffices.





Novena to St. Teresa of Jesus

LITANY TO

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer Of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.

Holy Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, whose heart was transverberated by the love of God, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, most humble servant of God, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, most zealous for the glory of God, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, truly detached from all created objects, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, great light of the Catholic Church, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, reformer and glory of the Carmelite Order, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, queen of mystical theology, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, lustrous name of Avila and Spain, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, who didst forever glorify the name of Teresa, Pray for us.
St. Teresa, wishing to suffer or to die, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O Lord, how sweet and pleasing are Thy ways!" Pray for us.

St. Teresa, desiring so much the salvation of souls, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, tasting and seeing how sweet is the Lord, even in this vale of miseries, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O death, who can fear thee who art the way to true life!" Pray for us.

St. Teresa, true lover of the Cross of Christ, Pray for us.

St. Teresa, who didst live to love, who died to love, and who wilt love eternally, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.


V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Teresa,

R.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let Us Pray

O God, Who didst replenish the heart of Thy blessed servant St. Teresa with the treasures of Thy divine love, grant that, like her, we may love Thee and suffer all things for Thee and in union with Thee, that we may gain souls for Thee, and that we may secure the salvation of our own soul. This we beg though the merits of our Savior and the intercession of Thy glorious virgin Teresa.

R. Amen.





Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
___________________

Carmelite Quote

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

O my delight, Lord of all created things and my God! How long must I wait to see You? What remedy do You provide for one who finds so little on earth that might give some rest apart from You? O long life! O painful life! O life that is not lived! Oh, what lonely solitude; how incurable! Well, when, Lord, when? How long? What shall I do, my God, what shall I do? Should I , perhaps, desire not to desire You? Oh, my God and my Creator, You wound and You do not supply the medicine; You wound and the sore is not seen; You kill, leaving one with more life! In sum, my Lord, being powerful You do what You will. Well, my God, do You want so despicable a worm to suffer these contradictions? Let it be so, my God, since You desire it, for I desire nothing but to love You.
Excerpt from Soliloquies No. 6

Bernini's Ecstasy of St. Teresa

Bernini, Ecstasy of St. Theresa from Smarthistory Videos on Vimeo.




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

POOR CLARE NUNS-CLEVELAND OHIO

POOR CLARE NUNS-HANCEVILLE, ALABAMA

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
______________________

Three Words of Wisdom

Well-Worn Path

Since I've been walking/running more this past year and taking different routes in my daily walk I have noticed the worn paths made by those who have gone before me. I especially like to walk in cemeteries, and the dirt and gravel roads in my local cemetery have certainly seen its share of those visiting loved ones. Seeing these paths and roads traveled by others became a meditation for me.

I'm sure if we think about it, there are many spiritual paths and roads in our lives, but are they well-worn?

For instance, as Secular Carmelites do we have a well-worn path in our prayer life? Or does this road look newly-paved with no sign of wear and tear?

What about the road of suffering. Is it a familiar road? A road sprinkled with our blood, sweat, and tears? Or is it a road we avoid altogether? As Christians, we are called to follow Christ by taking up our cross each day. He asks us to die to ourselves...Have we seen this road at all? Have we attempted to really put forth the effort to travel this difficult, painful, lonely road with Jesus as our only companion? Or are we still traveling the path of the senses seeking the pleasures of the world?

St. John of the Cross uses the metaphor of Mt. Carmel for spiritual union with Christ. We know that we do not have to travel this road alone. As Secular Carmelites, we have our brothers and sisters in our community to help us, we have our Carmelite Saints to help us and lead the way. And we have our Blessed Mother who cares for us, prays for us, who leads us and guides us safely to her Son.

Spiritual directors or wise spiritual friends can help us to choose the right path when we are confused or mystified about where God is leading us. Let us keep them in prayer, because they have a big responsibility in directing souls.
 
Thomas Merton wrote a now famous poem called “The Road Ahead” about the unfamiliar roads in our lives:  


"The Road Ahead"
 My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going, I do not see the road ahead of me.

 I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

 Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Sometimes it takes a heroic effort to keep traveling the well-worn path of daily life. Sometimes it takes a desperate prayer and God's grace for us to continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Let us not lose heart... Let us pray for each other!

Visit the Carmelite Monastery-Alhambra, California

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________



Carmelite Saint of the Day

ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS

AND OF THE HOLY FACE

VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

CARMELITE PROPER

Therese Martin was born in Alencon in France in 1873. While still young she entered the Carmel of Lisieux, where she lived in the greatest humility, evangelical simplicity and confidence in God. By her words and example she taught the novices these same virtues. Offering her life for the salvation of souls and the spread of the Church, she died on September 30, 1897.

An excerpt from St. Therese's  Act of Oblation to the Merciful Love of God:

O my God! Most Blessed Trinity, I desire to love you and make you loved, to work for the glory of Holy Church by savings souls on earth and liberating those suffering in purgatory. I desire to accomplish your will perfectly and to reach the degree of glory you have prepared for me in your Kingdom. I desire, in a word, to be a saint, but I feel my helplessness and I beg you, O my God! to be Yourself my sanctity!

Lauds (Morning Prayer) from the Carmel
in Lisieux, France-Feast of St. Therese (2009)

http://youtu.be/_ZY6pz4eMMQ

RAIN OF ROSES
SUNG BY PADDY KELLY






Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________