INSPIRATION FROM THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Remember that Jesus has gone before you bearing His cross and has given His life for you upon that cross, so that you may bear your own cross and long to die on it for the love of Him. For if you die with Him, you will also live with Him; and if you have shared His suffering, you will also share His glory.

Behold how in the cross there is all and how all depends on our dying there; for there is no other way to life and interior peace except by way of the cross and by daily mortification. You can go anywhere you will, seek whatever you wish, but you will not find a higher road above nor safer road below than the road of the holy cross. 
Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chap. 12, No. 3



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

INSPIRATION FROM THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Photo: R. Massaro (C)Spirit Singing

In silence and stillness the devout soul advances and learns the hidden truths of Scripture. There it finds the salutary tears that wash away the guilt of sin, so that it grows more intimate with God as it severs itself from the clamor of the world. The more you keep away from friends and acquaintances, the more our Lord and His Angels will draw near to you.

The Imitation of Christ, Book 1:6.







Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

 A Meditation on the First Station of the Cross: 

Jesus is Condemned to Death

Photo: R. Massaro (C) 2018 Spirit Singing Cathedral of the Incarnation Nashville, TN

In the cross is the height of virtue and the perfection of all sanctity. Without the cross there is no salvation for our souls, nor hope of life eternal. Take your cross, then, and follow Jesus, and you will go into everlasting life.

Remember that Jesus has gone before you bearing His cross and has given His life for you upon that cross, so that you may bear your own cross and long to die on it for love of Him. For if you die with Him, you will also live with Him; and if you have shared His suffering, you will also share His glory. 
The Imitation of Christ, Book 2, Chap. 12, No. 2

Have you ever been falsely accused of something? Perhaps it was something very minor, but the accusation still hurt you. Maybe you still recall this event, saying to someone, "Do you remember the time so-and-so said I never returned his book?"  Perhaps, it was an accusation for something more serious that got your family members involved, your employer involved, or members of an organization involved. If we have been falsely accused we can identify with Jesus who was falsely accused and sentenced to death.

As we meditate on this First Station, we can recall the events of the false accusations against us and see that they are minor compared to what Our Lord suffered for us, however, our Merciful Savior invites us to offer to him the troubles of our heart. He is ever-ready to heal the hurtful memories we hold closely to our heart. He is ready to help us to forgive all those who have hurt us. 

As Carmelites, let us remember the teaching of our Sister and Saint, Therese, the Little Flower. She teaches us in her Little Way, to offer up these things and keep them hidden, so that only the Father sees what we are suffering and offering up for Him.  We must get over our ego that instructs us to tell anyone who will listen how we have been wronged and falsely accused. 

Scripture tells us that God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Let us strive to grow in virtue, virtue that helps us to become Christlike, so that,we become quick to forgive all those who hurt us in life.

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.






Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Words of Wisdom from the Imitation of Christ

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2017 Spirit Singing-St. Mary Church Wooster, Ohio

God wants you to learn to suffer tribulation without comfort and, submitting yourself entirely to Him, to grow in humility through tribulation. No one so deeply feels what Christ endured as one who has had to suffer as He did. The cross is always ready and waits everywhere for you; you cannot escape it no matter where you turn.

Wherever you go, you take yourself with you and you will always meet yourself face to face. Look upward or downward, within yourself or without; everywhere you will find the cross. And everywhere you must be patient if you desire interior peace and to merit a crown in heaven.

If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry you and bring you to your longed-for end, where there will be no more suffering--though this will not happen on earth. If you carry it grudgingly, it will become a burden and a heaver weight for you to carry, and yet you must bear it.

If you reject one cross, be sure that you will find another, perhaps heavier one.
The Imitation of Christ, Book 2, Chap. 12 No. 4-5.

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) teaches us that we should not go looking for additional crosses in life in order to become saints. She tells us to accept the crosses the Lord sends us each day. She also tells us that we cause our own sufferings in life because we do not know ourselves. We think we are stronger than we are and are capable of carrying a heavy cross for the Lord. How many times we fail because of our pride! 

St. Therese, the Little Flower, shows us the Little Way that leads to perfection. It's the many little crosses in life that perfect us. Look for the little crosses that come your way today. Perhaps it's encountering a disagreeable person, or a situation that will test your patience, or perhaps it's dryness or lack of consolation in prayer. Accept all of these sufferings and pray for others in the world who carry a heavier cross than yourself. 

Do we truly seek the cross? Then we must mortify ourselves. That is the true cross The Imitation of Christ speaks of, Wherever you go, you take yourself with you and you will always meet yourself face to face. Look upward or downward, within yourself or without; everywhere you will find the cross. We have many opportunities each day to die to ourselves with acts of mortification.

St. John of the Cross teaches us that to love Christ is not always to seek the most convenient or easier way of doing things. Our world preaches to us daily of looking for the most convenient method of getting things done, the least painful, the least stressful, the least effort...and so on. 

Here is the admonition from St. John:

Strive always to choose, not that which is easiest, but that which is most difficult; Not that which is most delectable, but that which is most unpleasant; Not that which gives most pleasure, but that which gives least; Not that which is restful, but that which is wearisome.  St. John of the Cross

Let us pray for each other!




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Meditation on Death

Photo: R. Massaro Cathedral of the Incarnation Nashville, Tennessee





MEDITATION ON DEATH
IMITATION OF CHRIST, CHAPTER 23

The hour of death will soon come for you. See to it that you spend your time here well. There is a common saying that human beings are here today and gone tomorrow. And once they are out of sight, they are soon forgotten.

How dull we are and hard of heart, for we think only of the present and make little provision for the life hereafter! If you were wise, you would so order your life as though you were to die before the day is over.

If your conscience were clear, you would not be afraid of death. Better to give up sin than to fear death. If you are unprepared to face death today, how will you be tomorrow? Tomorrow is uncertain and you may not be here to see it.

What good is a long life if we do not use it to advance spiritually? Sad to say, it often happens that a long life adds to our guilt and not to our amendment. If only we could point to one day in our life that was really well spent! Many count the years of their conversion, but often there is little to show for it.

If it is frightening to die, it may be more dangerous to live long. You are truly blessed if you keep the hour of your death before you and prepare yourself for it...

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

The Imitation of Christ

Photo: R. Massaro-Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine-N. Jackson, Ohio

Book 3: Interior Conversation
Resting in God Above All Things

Chapter 21

Disciple:

Above all things and in all things rest, my soul, in the Lord, your God, for He is the eternal rest of the Angels and Saints. O most loving Jesus, give me this special grace to rest in You above all created things; above all health and beauty, above all glory and honor, above all dignity and power, above all knowledge and prudence, above all riches and talents, above all joy and gladness, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and promise, above all merit and desire, above all gifts and rewards that You may give or send--except Yourself--above all joy or happiness that the human mind and heart can grasp or feel; above Angels and Archangels, above all the heavenly hosts as well; above all things visible and invisible, and above all that is not You, my God...

Others may seek whatever they please, but there is nothing that pleases me--nor ever shall--but You, my God, my hope and my eternal salvation...


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, ocds

THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

A HAPPY DEATH

SS. Cosmas & Damian Church-Twinsburg, Ohio
St. Joseph-Patron of a Happy Death

For the person on the road of spiritual perfection, the thought of death should be on one's mind daily. Keeping the goal of heaven in mind helps us to make choices throughout the day that are pleasing to the Lord. We are pleasing to him when we try to respond in charity to the challenges of every day life. We please him by forgiving and showing mercy to our neighbor. We please him by bearing patiently our own sufferings and trials, as well as helping others to bear their sufferings patiently.

There are many spiritual books with the theme of preparing for death. St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote a book with that actual title, Preparation for Death.  It is an excellent book that I would highly recommend. However, recently, I picked up one of my favorite spiritual books, The Imitation of Christ, and opened to the meditation in Chapter 23 entitled, Meditation on Death.  In my opinion, it is one of the best spiritual pieces written on helping the soul to prepare for death.  Here are some excerpts from the chapter:

The Hour of death will soon come for you. See to it that you spend your time here well. There is a common saying that human beings are here today and gone tomorrow. And once they are out of sight, they are soon forgotten.

How dull we are and hard of heart, for we think only of the present and make little provision for the life hereafter! If you were wise, you would so order your life as though you were to die before the day is over.

If it is frightening to die, it may be more dangerous to live long. You are truly blessed if you keep the hour of your death before you and prepare yourself for it. If you ever saw anyone die, remember that you too must travel the same path...

Strive to do good deeds while you are well, for when you are sick you do not know what you will be able to do. Sickness does not often change us for the better. Also, few are sanctified by making many pilgrimages...

How many people will remember you and pray for you once you are dead?

Attend to those things that are to God's honor and glory. Honor the Saints and follow their example and you will have friends waiting to receive you into everlasting dwellings (Lk 16:9) when your life here is ended.
The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

In point number 4 of his meditation. He states there are 6 things the wise person seeks to obtain a happy death:

1.  A perfect contempt of the world
2.  An ardent desire to progress in virtue
3.  A love of discipline
4.  A prompt obedience
5.  A denial of self
6.  A patient bearing of all adversities for the love of Christ

Let us pray to Our Lady through the powerful prayer of the Rosary to help us at the hour of our death: ...Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

PRAYER OF BLESSED CARDINAL NEWMAN
FOR A HAPPY DEATH
FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 9


Oh, my Lord and Savior, 
support me in that hour
in the strong arms of your Sacraments,
and by the fresh fragrance of your consolations.
Let the absolving words be said over me,
and the holy oil sign and seal me,
and your own Body be my food,
and your Blood my sprinkling;
and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me,
and my Angel whisper peace to me,
and my glorious Saints (NN.) smile upon me;
that in them all, and through them all,
I may receive the gift of perseverance,
and die, as I desire to live,
in your faith, in your Church, in your service,
and in your love. Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Tabernacle of the Week

ST. COLUMBKILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CLEVELAND, OHIO

ESTABLISHED: 1956

PARISH WEBSITE

PASTOR: REV. NEIL D. O'CONNOR

If the people of ancient times showed such reverence and devotion to God in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, how much greater should be the reverence and devotion to Your presence in the Blessed Sacrament paid by me and all Christian people, as also in the receiving of the precious Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Many people travel great distances to visit the relics of Saints and marvel on hearing of their remarkable deeds. They gaze upon magnificent churches dedicated to them, paying homage to their blessed remains, wrapped with silk and covered with gold.

But You, my God; the Saint of saints, Creator of all things, and Lord of Angels, are here present on the altar before me!

O God, the invisible Creator of all the world, how wonderful are Your ways with us!

From the Imitation of Christ, Book 4 No. 8-10

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie

_______________________

Tabernacle of the Week

St. Joseph Church
Massillon, Ohio

...My soul longs for Your Body; my heart desires to be made one with You.
Give Yourself to me, Lord, and it is enough, for apart from You there is no consolation. I cannot exist without You, nor can I live if You do not visit me. Therefore, I must come to You frequently, and receive You for the health of my soul. If I do not, I shall surely faint by the wayside, being deprived of this heavenly food.
Imitation of Christ-Chapter 3-#2.


As Lay Carmelites, we are called to the Eucharistic table each day. Let us thank God for this wonderful gift of being able to receive him daily.

St. Therese once said that the Lord does not come down from heaven to wait in a gold ciborium. No, He longs for us to receive him frequently.


I recently visited the church pictured here and you can see the priest reciting Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours with the few parishioners who came early. This would be a wonderful Carmelite apostolate to start in our parish churches.











Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Tabernacle of the Week

St. Edward Church

Ashland, Ohio

Christ: Frequently go to the fountain of grace and divine mercy--the fountain of goodness and all purity--where you can be cured of your passion and vices. Then you may deserve to be made stronger and more watchful in resisting all the temptations and deceits of Satan.

This enemy is aware of the great benefit and remedy for sin contained in Holy Communion, and tries by every ruse and occasion he can to withdraw and prevent faithful souls from it.

Imitation of Christ, Chapter 19

The Church teaches that the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. For the Secular Carmelite the Eucharist is central to our vocation as well.

Our Rule states:

The liturgical life, as a perennial participation in the Paschal Mystery, nourishes the Secular Carmelites in their daily commitment to follow Christ crucified and risen. It leads toward an ever more perfect union with God, by making the pains and joys of their life an offering of praise and glory to God.

Their liturgical life will express itself chiefly through participation in the Eucharist and in the celebration of the church's Divine Office. They will, as far as possible, join in the celebration of daily Mass, and each day recite Morning and Evening Prayer from the Breviary; if possible they will recite Nigh Prayer before retiring. Article 5

If you have not begun attending daily mass and and receiving holy communion, I would highly recommend this holy practice. Our lives are so short...let us pray that not one day pass without our receiving the Lord who is waiting eagerly for us to receive Him.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS