SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

At the dawn of creation the eyes of God rested with satisfaction on the universe He had created. At a second moment He looked with pleasure on the soul of Mary, as He was about to recreate a fallen world. So fresh, unsullied, so unsurpassingly beautiful she was. He smiled on the loveliest creature that his creative love had fashioned; He saw that she was good. Her soul was a meeting-place. Here was goodness, for she was full of grace; here was beauty, for she was all-beautiful; here was truth, for here was the Word in her womb, the source of all truth. No wonder He found delight in her. Pilgrims With Mary-- Fr. John Moloney, P.P.

 CARMELITE QUOTE

St. Teresa of Jesus

Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Feast Day: October 15

How wonderful it is that He Whose greatness could fill a thousand worlds, and very many more, should confine Himself within so small a space, just as He was pleased to dwell within the womb of His most holy Mother!

Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection

by Saint Teresa of Avila

 

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

 

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY:
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2017 Spirit Singing- Regina Health Center Richfield, Ohio

 In sum, my Sisters, what I conclude with is that we shouldn't build castles in the air. The Lord doesn't look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done. And if we do what we can, His Majesty will enable us each day to do more and more, provided that we do not quickly tire. But during the little while this life lasts--and perhaps it will last a shorter time than each one thinks--let us offer the Lord interiorly and exteriorly the sacrifice we can. His Majesty will join it with that which He offered on the cross to the Father for us. Thus even though our works are small they will have the value our love for Him would have merited had they been great.

May it please His Majesty, my Sisters and daughters, that we all reach that place where we may every praise Him. Through the merits of His Son who lives and reign forever and ever, may He give me the grace to carry out something of what I tell you, amen.  
The Interior Castle, Seventh Mansion, Chapter 4, No: 15-16.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

 CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face

Feast Day: October 1

To be Your Spouse, to be a Carmelite, and by my union with You to be the Mother of souls, should not this suffice me? And yet it is not so. No doubt, these three privileges sum up my true vocation: Carmelite, Spouse, Mother, and yet I feel within me other vocations. I feel the vocation of the WARRIOR, THE PRIEST, THE APOSTLE, THE DOCTOR, THE MARTYR. Finally, I feel the need and the desire of carrying out the most heroic deeds for You, O Jesus. I feel within my soul the courage of the Crusader, the Papal Guard, and I would want to die on the field of battle in defense of the Church.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Buckeye Lake, Ohio

The Virgin Mary is present in a special way, most of all as a model of faithfulness in listening to the Lord and in service to Him and to others. Mary is the one who preserved in her heart the life and actions of her Son and meditated on them, providing for us an example of contemplation. At Cana she counseled to do what the Lord commanded. Mary is an example of apostolic service. On another occasion, she waited, persevering in prayer with the apostles, for the coming of the Holy Spirit, thus giving witness to intercessory prayer. She is the Mother of the Order, Secular Carmel enjoys her special protection and cultivates a sincere Marian devotion.

The Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Washington Province) I:4

A PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CAMEL

O, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruit of the Vine, splendorous of Heaven.
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,
assist me in this my necessity.

O, Star of the Sea, help me
and show herein you are my mother.

O, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succour me in my necessity.

There are none that can withstand your power,
O, show me here you are my mother.

O, Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

THE SCHOOL OF CARMEL

 

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

 

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

EASTER SUNDAY

ALLELUIA!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

LITANY FOR HOLY WEEK

Photo: R.Massaro(C)2020 Spirit Singing

St.Joan of Arc Church Canton, Ohio

Jesus, Son of God,                                              
Have mercy on us

Jesus, Son of the Sorrowful Mother,                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, Redeemer of the world                              
Have mercy on us

Jesus, meek and humble of heart                          
Have mercy on us

Jesus, burning with love for us                              
Have mercy on us

Jesus, abandoned by the apostles                          
Have mercy on us

Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver                      
Have mercy on us

Jesus, agonizing in the garden                              
Have mercy on us

Jesus, betrayed by Judas' kiss                              
Have mercy on us

Jesus, denied by Peter                                          
Have mercy on us

Jesus, mocked and scorned                                  
Have mercy on us

Jesus, condemned unjustly                                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, bound and blindfolded                                
Have mercy on us

Jesus, struck and spit upon                                  
Have mercy on us

Jesus, crowned with thorns                                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, scourged at the pillar                                  
Have mercy on us

Jesus, laden with the heavy cross                          
Have mercy on us

Jesus, burdened with our sins                                
Have mercy on us

Jesus, crucified between two thieves                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, suffering on the cross                                  
Have mercy on us

Jesus, obedient unto death                                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, who died for us                                          
Have mercy on us

Jesus, placed in the tomb                                      
Have mercy on us

Jesus, raised from the dead                                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, salvation for all                                            
Have mercy on us

Jesus, mediator for us with the Father                    
Have mercy on us

Jesus, our peace and reconciliation                        
Have mercy on us

Jesus, fount of love and mercy                              
Have mercy on us

May all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Source: Written by Esther Potter, resident of Akron, Ohio, when she was 95 years old.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

 Photo Source: Escola do Carmelo

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us!

Saturday of Our Lady

Photo: R. Massaro Lourdes, France (C) 2018 Spirit Singing

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

WORDS OF WISDOM

 Words of Wisdom by St. Macarius, bishop

Photo: R. Massaro

When a house has no master living in it, it becomes dark, vile and contemptible, choked with filth and disgusting refuse. So too is a soul which has lost its master, who once rejoiced there with his angels. This soul is darkened with sin, its desires are degraded, and it knows nothing but shame.

WOE to the path that is not walked on, or along which the voices of men are not heard, for then it becomes the haunt of wild animals.

WOE to the soul if the Lord does not walk within it to banish with his voice the spiritual beasts of sin.

WOE to the house where no master dwells, to the field where no farmer works, to the pilotless ship, storm-tossed and sinking.

WOE to the soul without Christ as its true pilot; drifting in the darkness, buffeted by the waves of passion, storm-tossed at the mercy of evil spirits, its end is destruction.

WOE to the soul that does not have Christ to cultivate it with care to produce the good fruit of the Holy Spirit. Left to itself, it is choked with thorns and thistles; instead of fruit it produces only what is fit for burning. 

WOE to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it; deserted and foul with the filth of the passions, it becomes a haven for all the vices. 

When a farmer prepares to till the soil he must put on clothing and use tools that are suitable. So Christ, our heavenly king, came to till the soil of mankind devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his plowshare, cultivated the barren soul of man...

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

Saturday of Our Lady

Photo: R. Massaro-Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Walsh University Canton, Ohio

       Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help, with greatest confidence I present myself to you.

I implore your help in the problems of my daily life.

Trials and sorrows often depress me; painful privations bring heartache into my life; often I meet the cross.

Have pity on me, compassionate Mother.

Take care of my needs, free me from my sufferings or if it be the will of God that I should suffer still longer, grant that I may endure all with love and patience.

Mother of Perpetual Help I ask this in your love and power. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE QUOTE

 

Carmelite Quote

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Feast Day: November 8

I believe that the people who are the really happy ones in this world are those who have enough contempt and forgetfulness of self to choose the cross as their portion!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

Saturday of Our Lady

This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues unceasingly from the consent which she gave loyally at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up into heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #969

May she hold each child of God in the palm of her hand and in her heart.









(photos:statue in St.Colette Church, Brunswick, Ohio)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________

Carmelite Quote

Photo Source: Wikipedia

St. Raphael Kalinowski

1835-1907

From a letter to his parents describing his call to Carmel:

A year ago there came to me, like an echo, a voice from the grilles of Carmel. This voice was clearly addressed to me and I have accepted it; it was a salvific voice from the infinite mercy of God commanding me. I can only exclaim, 'I will sing the mercies of the Lord forever.'

St. Raphael founded a Carmelite monastery in Wadowice, Poland the city where our late Holy Father, Pope St. John Paul II was born. To learn more about this little-known Carmelite saint, read Saint Raphael Kalinowski: An Introduction to His Life and Spirituality available from ICS Publications. 

Thought for today: Could you describe your conversion/call to Carmel in just a few short sentences as St. Raphael has done? What would you say if someone asked you?

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

 

Saturday of Our Lady

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Photo: R. Massaro

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  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.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

CARMELITE QUOTE

 St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila):

 Knowing ourselves is something so important that I wouldn't want any relaxation ever in this regard, however high you may have climbed into the heavens. While we are on this earth nothing is more important to us than humility. So I repeat that it is good, indeed very good, to try to enter first into the room where self-knowledge is dealt with rather than fly off to other rooms. This is the right road.

Interior Castle I 2:9

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS