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