Stained Glass Flowers-Little Accounts of the Miraculous

FROM THE LIFE OF ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)



On the eve of the feast of St. Sebastian, the first year in which I was prioress at the Incarnation, at the beginning of the Salve Regina, I saw the Mother of God descend with a great multitude of angels and sit in the prioress's choir stall where there was a statue of our Lady. In my opinion I didn't then see the statue but our Lady herself. It seemed to me she looked something like she does in the painting the countess gave me; although the power to discern this was quickly taken away, for my faculties were soon held in great suspension. It seemed to me there were angels above the canopies of the stalls in the back and above the front stalls; although they were not in corporeal form, for this was an intellectual vision.

She remained for the whole of the Salve, and 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."

After this I remained in the kind of prayer I now have, that of keeping my soul present with the Blessed Trinity. And it seemed to me that the Person of the Father drew me to Himself and spoke very pleasant words. Among them, while showing me what He wanted, He told me: "I gave you My Son, and the Holy Spirit, and this Blessed Virgin.  What can you give Me?"
The Spiritual Testimonies, No. 21

Note:  The statue St. Teresa placed in the stall was an image of  Our Lady of Clemency. This statue held the keys to the monastery in its hands.









Prayer Vigil with Priests on the eve of Solemnity of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus
Saint Peter's Square, 10 June 2010.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Bishops Vow to Fight Coercive HHS Mandate

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."
Read more from the USCCB website

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Bishops Vow to Fight Coercive HHS Mandate

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."

USCCB Website

The Most Rev. Richard G. Lennon

Bishop of Cleveland

Diocese of Cleveland Website



The Most Rev. Frederick F. Campbell
Bishop of Columbus

Diocese of Columbus website

Letter addressed to the people of the Diocese of Columbus



Most Rev. Dennis Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Letter to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Leonard Paul Blair
Bishop of Toledo

Diocese of Toledo Website

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds



Saturday of Our Lady

On Thursday, January 19th, the weather was severe. Mariette was kneeling on the path. It was 7pm. The Lady appeared. Mariette asked her "who are you, beautiful Lady?"

 "I am the Virgin of the Poor."

Mariett Beco, the visionary of Banneux recently died.
To learn more about her life and death, visit the official website of the shrine
 http://www.banneux-nd.be/gb/accueil.gb.htm

Enjoy this video about the shrine in Banneux.



Prayer to Our Lady, Virgin of the Poor

Our Lady of Banneux,
Mother of Our Saviour,
Mother of God,
Virgin of the Poor,
since thou hast promised to believe in us
if we believe in thee,
I put all my trust in thee.

Deign to listen to the prayers
that thou hast asked be addressed to thee;
have pity on all our spiritual and temporal miseries.
Restore to sinners the treasure of Faith,
and give to the poor their daily bread.

Deign to relieve suffering,
to heal the sick and to pray for us,
so that thus through thy intercession,
the reign of Christ the King
may extend over all nations.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Quote




ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)
Photo: R. Massaro-Regina Health Center Richfield, Oh.

 I often undergo this scattering of the faculties; sometimes I understand clearly that my lack of physical health has much to do with it. I frequently recall the harm original sin did to us; this is the source, I think, of our being incapable of enjoying so much good in an integral way. And my own sins must be a cause; if I hadn't committed so many, I would be more integrated in good.

I also suffered another great trial. Since it seemed that I understood all the books I read that treat of prayer and that the Lord had already given me such favors, I thought I had no need of these books and so did not read them but read only lives of the saints. Since I felt so lacking in the ways they served God, reading about them seemed to benefit and encourage me. I thought it showed very little humility to think I had attained these favors of prayer, and since I couldn't bring myself to think otherwise, it grieved me very much until learned men and the blessed Friar Peter of Alcantara told me not to worry about it. I see clearly  that I haven't begun to serve God--although His Majesty grants me favors as He does to many good people--and that I am imperfection incarnate, except in desires and in loving; in these latter I see clearly that the Lord has favored me so that I might serve Him in something. It really seems to me that I love Him, but my works and the many imperfections I see in myself sadden me.

The Book of Her Life, Chap. 30, No. 17

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

St. Michael Church
Dijon France

Hear is a link to a wonderful article about Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity by Dr. Lilles who teaches Spiritual Theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Colorado.

To access the article, click on the left sidebar "Elizabeth of the Trinity's View After Communion" 

http://www.beginningtopray.com/

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Quote

ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS (EDITH STEIN):

I tried to make a copy of the sketch our Holy Father John made on a piece of paper about 5cm. in size, after the vision he had of the Crucified at the Monastery of the Incarnation. The reproduction of it in P. Bruno's book is not exactly sharp, and I am anything but an artist. But I made it with great reverence and love.

Because of the work I am doing I live almost constantly immersed in thoughts about our Holy Father John. That is a great grace.  A scientia crucis (knowledge of the Cross) can be gained only when one comes to feel the Cross radically. I have been convinced of that from the first moment and have said, from my heart: Ave, Crux, spes unica! (Hail Cross, our only Hope!)


Drawing by St. John of the Cross

 Only those who are saved, only children of grace, can in fact be bearers of Christ's cross.  Only in union with the divine Head does human suffering take on expiatory power. To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one's feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father's right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels-this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.

 

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Saturday of Our Lady

Photo: R.Massaro St. Brendan N. Olmsted, Ohio

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Mary

I offer you, my holy Mother Mary,

all my thoughts and all  my actions,

all my prayers and all my acts of charity,

all my faith and good works,

and all the sacrifices that I make today.

Give me the grace to do everything in my life

with a pure intention

and a desire to please God.

I consecrate myself to your Holy

 and Immaculate Heart,

and I pray, through the merits

 of your intercession,

that I may adore the Divine Heart of Jesus

and through His mercy

obtain the grace of conversion

 and the remission of my sins.

O Mary, my Blessed Mother, watch over me

and protect me from all sin

and evil throughout this day.

Amen.

NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville

On a recent trip to Nashville, I made my way to the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. It was a beautiful and grace-filled visit. I want to thank Sr. Mary Emily (Vocation Director) for her warm welcome and hospitality. It was great to find out that she is a fellow Ohioan and is from a town not far from where I grew up!

The sisters were having adoration of the Blessed Sacrament the day I visited.  I am grateful to have been able to pray in the company of the sisters for a very special intention.

Thank you, Sister Mary Emily, for your most gracious hospitality.  May God bless you and your community!

Please visit their beautiful website:
http://nashvilledominican.org/


And don't forget to read the wonderful vocation stories under "Sister Profiles."

http://nashvilledominican.org/Community/Sister_Profiles


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Three Words of Wisdom

"DO NOT DISTURB"

I'm sure at one time or another we've seen a sign posted somewhere that stated, "Do Not Disturb." Perhaps you've heard someone echo these words on occasion.  Occasions such as, "Do not disturb me, I'm busy!" "Do not disturb me, I'm sick."  "Do not disturb me, I'm praying."  Wow! Ouch! This is one that is really painful to hear. Too busy praying to help, or to listen to someone in need? Perhaps we've been the one proclaiming these words.

We could save ourselves some heartache in life if we expected to be interrupted, if we expected to receive the "spiritual curve ball" from God; pitches thrown to test our humility and patience.We may claim we want to "grow in holiness, " but when the opportunities arise, we miss them.

When I was growing up, we were told by the priests and the nuns to "practice virtue."  Do you know of anyone who is so boldly holy that they willingly go into the battle of their weakness? I know of one particular person, a Saint, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.  In her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, she writes of her reluctance to face the battle, and like a coward she retreated from an ongoing situation that tested her patience.  She prayed that she would become a bold soldier for the Lord and acquire the virtue of patience. 

 St. Therese was no different than any of us.  She was fully human with weak human nature that she had to overcome.  This gives us hope!  And this is why the Catholic Church has lifted up St. Therese and her writings by bestowing upon her the lofty title "Doctor of the Church and Doctor of Love." She teaches us that holiness is accessible to all.  It only takes doing little things with great love. This may sound sappy and sweet to the person who reads Therese for the first or second time. Stick around, she will amaze you with the depth of her love and spirituality. Divine love  entered her heart and made His dwelling with her.  A love so deep and knowledgeable that could not be described, for as she stated to her Mother Superior, "Reverend Mother, if I were to tell you all that God has revealed to me about charity, you would hear the music of heaven!"

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), another Doctor of the Church instructs her nuns that they must leave their prayer in order to attend to the sick or to perform duties in the monastery.  She didn't want the nuns to be caught up in "self-absorption" in prayer.  Yes, she even teaches that there is a time to resist the spirit.  Yes, I will repeat that. St. Teresa of Jesus teaches that there is a time to resist the spirit.  But, you must have the knowledge and wisdom to know when. This self-knowledge, sometimes painful, is only obtained through prayer and learning through trials and struggles in daily living.

We are all in the battle of overcoming ourselves in every day life. Whether we are tested at home, at work, or with friends, we are all called to respond with charity. The Kingdom of Heaven is full of people, who reflect the patience, the compassion, the mercy and love of God. The key is they desired it.  May this be our desire. May God give us the desire of our heart.



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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Saturday of Our Lady

Photo:R.Massaro-St. Augustine Barberton, Ohio

Threefold Offering in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I.  Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the daughter of the eternal Father, and to thee I consecrate my soul and all of its powers. Hail Mary, etc.

II.  Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the Mother of the only-begotten  Son, and to thee I consecrate by body with all its senses. Hail Mary, etc.

III. Holiest Virgin with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the spouse of the Holy Ghost, and to thee I consecrate my heart and all its affections, praying thee to obtain for me from the ever blessed Trinity all the graces which I need for my salvation. Hail Mary, etc.

THE CARMEL OF KAZAKHSTAN



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Carmelite Quote

Photo: R. Massaro-St. Luke Church Danville, Ohio

All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. this is what we were founded for. We are descended from those holy fathers of ours on Mount Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure-the priceless pearl we are talking about--in such solitude and with such contempt for the world.


We must remember those holy fathers of ours who have gone before us, the hermits whose lives we are trying to imitate. We must remember our real founders, those holy fathers whose descendants we are. It was by way of poverty and humility, we know, that they came to the enjoyment of God...


For love of our Lord I beg them to remember how quickly everything comes to an end and what a favor the Lord has done in bringing us to this Order...We must have the holy audacity to aspire, with God's help, to be like them. The struggle will not last long, but the outcome will be eternal.

PRAYER OF ST. TERESA
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.






Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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Spiritual Direction with St. John of the Cross

Speaking of locutions and how souls can be deceived:

...Yet some intellects are so lively and subtle that, while recollected in meditation, they reason naturally and easily about some concepts, and form locutions and statements very vividly, and think these are indeed from God. But that notion is false, for an intellect somewhat freed from the operation of the senses has the capacity to do this and even more with its own natural light and without any other supernatural help. Such an occurrence is frequent. And many are deluded by it into thinking that theirs is the enjoyment of a high degree of prayer and communication from God; consequently they either write the words down themselves or have others do so. But it comes about that the experience amounts to nothing, nothing substantial in the line of virtue comes from it, and it serves for no more than to induce vainglory.

These people should learn to give importance to nothing other than sincere effort, the establishment of their wills in humble love, and suffering in imitation of the life and modifications of the Son of God. This is the road to the attainment of every spiritual good, and not that other of profuse interior discourse.

Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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Saturday of Our Lady

...Crosses are the most precious gifts God can give His creatures; and the creature's acceptance of them is the most pleasing sacrifice it can offer its Creator.


If the crosses He intends for you are heavy, that means He has great plans for your sanctification. Do you want to prevent those divine plans being fulfilled?

Your disturbance and fears will not take the crosses from you, whatever you do; you must carry them. What, then, is the wiser thing for you to do?


It is to submit, my child, to all that God bids you do. You must say: The Lord is master; Let Him do with me as He thinks best (Lk 1,38).

Then you will see God moved by your submission; faithful to His promises, He will make lighter than you thought possible the crosses which from a distance seem so heavy...
Imitation of Mary Bk II Chap. 8 No.






Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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TABERNACLES

Cathedral Parish of Saint Columba

Youngstown, Ohio

The Most Reverend George V. Murray, S.J.

Bishop of Youngstown



St. Columba Cathedral - Free Slideshow Maker


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

Bl. Kuriakos Elias Chavara, priest

Learn more about this Carmelite Saint

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ST. THERESE

JANUARY 2

Far from resembling those heroic souls who from their childhood use fast and scourge and chain to discipline the flesh. I made my mortifications consist simply in checking my self-will, keeping back an impatient answer, rendering a small service in a quiet way, and a hundred other similar things.

I have a longing for those heart-wounds, those pin-pricks which inflict so much pain. I know of no ecstasy to which I do not prefer sacrifice. There I find happiness, and there alone. The slender reed has no fear of being broken, for it is planted beside the waters of Love. When, therefore, it bends before the gale, it gathers strength in the refreshing stream, and longs for yet another storm to pass and sway its head. My very weakness makes me strong. No harm can come to me, since in whatever happens I see only the tender hand of Jesus...Besides, no suffering is too big a price to pay for the glorious palm.

I endeavored to practice little hidden acts of virtue, such as folding the mantles which the Sisters had forgotten and being on the altar to render them help. I had also a great attraction towards penance, although I was not allowed to satisfy the desire. Indeed the only mortification I was permitted was the overcoming of my self-love, which did me far more good than any bodily penance could have done.

Bl. Louis and Zelie Martin the holy parents of

St. Therese

The Martins' Beatification at Lisieux



  

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

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Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

(Photo: R. Massaro-Icon-Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Akron, Ohio)

The Theotokos: God-Bearer

AKATHIST HYMN TO OUR LADY

Visit the Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Agatha, Ontario

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

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