THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

KEEPING A SECRET

Are you able to keep a confidence?  Do you see this as a special virtue? It is my opinion that this "virtue" is becoming extinct in our world, especially in the light of social networking.  People want to tell the whole world what is going on in their lives, revealing personal details about themselves and their friends.

What about living this virtue in the workplace? Are we in a position that requires us to keep information confidential?  Do we abide by this policy?  Do we manipulate people to get information in the workplace for our benefit? These are all questions that can serve as an examination of conscience.

I'm sure we have all experienced the person who has approached us saying, " Don't tell anyone, but..."  Or, " I'm not supposed to say anything, but..." When this statement shows its ugly head, we should stop the person in their tracks before we give them permission to reveal a confidence.  We should do this charitably, of course, by simply saying, "I'm sorry, please don't tell me, I don't need to know this." 

St. Bernadette is an example of heroic virtue in keeping a confidence. In her apparitions, she was given three secrets from our Lady that she never revealed her entire life.  People tried to get her to reveal the secrets.  They tried to figure it out by asking her certain questions. She would simply reply, "They concern only me." Some people may argue that she had special help from Our Lady to keep the secrets.  I respond that this same grace from the Holy Spirit is available to us, as well. 

When we think of heroic virtue in a saint, we don't usually think of the virtue of being able to keep hidden the secrets of the Lord. Human nature usually cries out for us to reveal to all who will listen what special favors the Lord has given to us.  In the spiritual life, people can get caught up in "journaling," writing down every experience that takes place and analyzing and record keeping...this can be a form of vanity and spiritual pride. 

What about the virtue of keeping silent about our spiritual woks and good deeds? Do we tell people we are fasting?  Do we tell people we are keeping a prayer vigil?  Do we tell people we get up early or stay up late to pray?  Do we account all we have done in charity in the past week?  Do we tell people about our every ache and pain and family problem and work problem and so on? Can we not suffer these things in silence to mortify ourselves and foster the virtue of humility? Can we not keep hidden these sufferings so that they go unnoticed in the world, but pleasing in the Lord's eyes? Let us challenge ourselves to live like the saints.  When reading a saint's biography, consider that there was so much more about the person that was left unsaid. May God be praised!

St. Therese of the Child Jesus' charism in the spiritual life was to keep favors hidden. She wanted to keep hidden her sacrifices and sufferings, her works of mercy and works of charity for the other sisters.  She had a pure heart that was motivated to please God alone. 

There are exceptions to this hidden spirituality of St. Therese and we can see this in the Order of Carmel in our Carmelite Doctors of the Church: St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila). St. Teresa wrote about her mystical experiences under obedience. She was not one to keep lengthy journals about these experiences, for she writes that if we have a true experience of God it will be impressed upon our heart and we will remember it forever.  She even stated that she had experiences of which the memory never faded, even after 20 or more years had passed.

It takes another virtue, humility, to keep a confidence entrusted to us by the Lord and by our friends.  Secrets of the hearts between lovers are intimate details that should be kept between lovers.  In the spiritual life, when God favors us with experiences of his great love for us, it is impossible to put these encounters  into words, a "built-in" mystical help from the Holy Spirit to help us to remain humble.

From the Imitation of Christ:

Those who confide their secrets to others, cautioning them not to repeat them to a soul, often cannot keep their own secrets, but betray both themselves and their confidants. From such foolish talk and such imprudent people, defend me, O Lord, that I become not their victim, or commit the same fault.

Let us pray for each other.

"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2018 Spirit Singing Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine North Jackson, Ohio

St. John of the Cross' love for Our Lady:

Among his favorite feasts, besides those of the Blessed Trinity and Corpus Christi, were the feasts of the Blessed Virgin. In his prison cell, on the Vigil of the Assumption, after nine months of severe privation, he was asked what he was thinking of. He replied, "I was thinking that tomorrow is the feast of our Lady and that it would give me great joy to say Mass."

From the Collected Works of St. John of the Cross Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. and Otilio Rodriguez, O.C.D.

Ancient Hymn to Our Lady of Mount Carmel 

Listen to the hymn in Gregorian Chant

(click on image)

Flower of Carmel

Blossoming Vine,

Splendor of heaven!

Child-Bearing Virgin,

Immaculate one,

Yet tender Mother,

On all Carmel's children

Graces bestow,

Star of the Sea!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2018 Spirit Singing

Blessed are you, O Mary, for in you have been accomplished the mysteries and enigmas of the prophets. You were prefigured for Moses in the burning bush and in the cloud; for Jacob in the heavenly ladder; for David in the ark of the covenant; for Ezekial in the gate closed and sealed. And now, their mysterious words are realized. Glory be to the Father, who sent His only Son to manifest Himself through Mary, to deliver us from error and to glorify His memory in heaven and on earth.

                                                  Attibuted to Balai Episcopus of Aleppo, 5th Century Syrian writer




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Spiritual Life Dictionary

Editor's Note: I wrote this article a few years ago.  I believe it's important to post it again. One has only to read or watch the news to see how this sin is pervading our culture, and, in particular, the news media, especially with all the reporting of "Fake News."

In this New Year, let us be resolved to say only the good things people need to hear, things that will really build them up instead of tearing them down. Life is too short. Do you want to spend your time trashing others or would you rather be an apostle of peace and mercy to all those you meet?  

SPIRITUAL LIFE DICTIONARY

TODAY'S TERM: DETRACTION

I recently heard and excellent homily concerning the sin of detraction.  This homily is a good reminder for us to be on guard against the sins we commit against our neighbor and the harm that our words can cause another.  For clarification, keep in mind that the sin of calumny involves telling lies about another person. The sin of detraction involves revealing the hidden faults of another that seriously damage that person's reputation. Detraction is a sin against the virtues of Justice and Charity.

It's sad that in our weak and sinful human nature, we resort to revealing the faults and failings of family members, friends, and coworkers in order to make ourselves look good in the eyes of others. Sometimes, when there is not much to talk about, instead of talking about what the Lord has done for us, we end up talking about others behind their back.  How many times have we spiritually "thrown someone under the bus" when they were not present? How many people involved in that conversation defended the party who was not present? Perhaps someone in the conversation uttered those not-so-wise words, "But, it's true, so it's not gossip,!" to justify their sin. Reading the definition of this sin and listening to the homily will be a wake-up call for many of us.

Here is the definition of detraction from a Catholic dictionary:

Detraction:

Covers those sins commonly referred to as uncharitable talk; it is unjustly depriving another of his good name behind his back, either by calumny or by saying that which is true; in the latter case there is no right to publish what is true against him without just cause if it is not publicly known, for every man has a right to his good reputation so long as he can retain it. But for a just cause (e.g., the public good, or to protect the innocent) the secret sin of another may be made known. The degree of seriousness of detraction is in accordance with the harm done to the person detracted and the malice of the speaker; being a sin against justice as well as charity it leaves an obligation of making restitution as far as possible. He who by listening to detraction encourages it actively or passively sins equally with the detractor.

A Catholic Dictionary by Donal Attwater

Although we have focused on the person who is guilty of detraction, let's not forget that perhaps we, ourselves, have been the victim of someone speaking about our faults. Let us remember that to grow in virtue, we can accept this humiliation and unite ourselves with  Our Lord who was often humiliated in this way. We can read the lives of the saints to learn how they handled similar situations.  Most saints were ready and willing to reveal their faults and failings to the entire world, such was their humility. If we want to be saints we must be willing at all times to put others in a good light and to "Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them. "

(Ephesians 4:29) As Secular Carmelites, we can look to our Holy Mother, St. Teresa. She writes over and over again about the spiritual harm that comes to souls that seek "honor" and a good name. 

If we are devastated by the things others say about us and lose peace over what people think about us, I'm afraid we still have a long way to go in the spiritual life. Let us persevere in prayer which brings self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is the truth that is revealed to us, about us, from the Holy Spirit. Although this may be painful at times, He gives us the grace to persevere and not to despair.  He strengthens us so that in time, the hurtful and sinful things people say about us will never disturb our interior peace, for our aim is to please God and not man.

Homily: The Sin of Detraction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJGeh_Q1sS0


Let us pray for each other!

Rosemarie, OCDS

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

As Secular Carmelites we are called to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary who pondered the Word in her heart.  As we celebrate the Word made flesh in this Christmas season, let us renew our devotion to our Mother, Mary, who is Queen and beauty of Carmel.  

If you have made the total consecration to Mary according to the teaching of St. Louis de Montfort, I would encourage you to renew your total consecration to her on this feast day. It is said that Pope St. John Paul II recited the entire total consecration prayer to Our Lady every day!  Perhaps, we could say a shorter version of the consecration prayer each day:

Oh Mary, my queen and my mother, I give myself entirely to you. And to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am yours, keep me and guard me, as your own property and possession. Amen.

Photo: R. Massaro Sacred Heart Bethlehem, Ohio (C)2018 Spirit Singing

Please enjoy this beautiful excerpt from one of my favorite books: 
Pilgrims with Mary.


Let us go on pilgrimage to the heart of Mary. Out of the darkness of this world we pass through the gateway of the enclosed garden to find ourselves in a garden of delights. Here is an unending variety of rarest flowers always in bloom--the virtues that flourish in her Immaculate Heart.

The Heart of Mary beats with the most pure love. Men would love God with their lips but their hearts are often far from him. Mary's heart never went astray...Right through life every joy and sorrow experienced by the Heart of Jesus found its echo in the heart of his Mother.

Pilgrims with Mary by Fr. John Moloney, P.P.





Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS