Catechism Quote

Catechism of the Catholic Church

#2628

Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the "King of Glory," respectful silence in the presence of the "ever greater" God. Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.

St. Teresa of Jesus instructs her nuns (and we lay Carmelites) in the Way of Perfection to acquire true humility by dying to ourselves, because she says we love ourselves so dearly!
She says that humility and detachment from self go together.


We can see in the life of our holy mother St. Teresa her great humility. She always referred to God as "His Majesty" and was intent on pleasing him.


She also makes the point and we have probably observed this for ourselves in other individuals; the person who is truly humble does not know it! If you tell the person that you admire their humility or see humility in them, they will not believe it. And according to St. Teresa, they will strive to obtain this great virtue even though they possess it. This shows how this is truly a gift of God and that he keeps us humble by hiding these virtues from the one who possesses them.


True humility is a total gift of God. Let us pray for each other that we seek the things of heaven-virtues like humility which foster true adoration.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Tabernacle of the Week

Pope Pius X Underground Basilica

Lourdes, France

The tabernacle is to be situated in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor. The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

Catechism of the Catholic Church #1183

Today Spirit Daily http://www.spiritdaily.com/ has reported that You Tube has pulled videos of a person desecrating the Holy Eucharist in horrific ways. But some reports are not clear, the videos may still be posted on You Tube. I urge all readers of this site to sign the petition against these videos at http://www.americaneedsfatima.org/

and to make reparation by making a holy hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament when time permits.

Please pray for this person who promises to desecrate the Eucharist daily.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Novena Prayer to St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower

Novena Prayer to St. Therese

St. Therese, Flower of fervor and love, please intercede for me. Fill my heart with your pure love of God. Make me more aware of the goodness of God and how well he tends His garden. Instill in me your "little way" or doing ordinary things with extra-ordinary love. Give me the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm. Teach me your delight in God's ways so that divine charity may blossom in my heart.

Little Flower of Jesus, bring my petitions (mention here) before God our Father. With your confidence, I come before Jesus as God's child, because you are my heavenly friend.

Amen.

Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Novena to St. Therese
Fourth Day-Faith


For one whose faith is like a mustard seed, He grants miracles, and moves mountains to strengthen this faith. For His intimate friends, He works miracles before having tried their faith. But after the trial what a reward!
St. Therese

St. Therese accepted the supernatural gift of faith with a total trust and confidence in God befitting a true child of God with a pure heart. She wanted the whole world to love God as she loved him. She wanted to share this gift of faith and proclaim it to all continents of the earth, exclaiming, "I would spread the gospel to all parts of the earth even to the farthest isles. I would be a missionary but not for a few years only; were it possible I would wish to have been one from the world's creation and to remain one until the end of time."
We know from her writings that she suffered through the dark night of faith. She stated that for long years the Lord gave her no consolations, it was she says, "as if, our Lord were asleep in the boat." But she rejoices at this saying, " I love all He does."
Let us pray to our little doctor of great Love to help us to love Him as she loves Him. May we see in her shower of roses a symbol of "everything is a grace" and let us love everything He does in our lives as a shower of roses from heaven.

Novena Prayer
Loving God, open our eyes to the light of faith and truth. May your light and love sustain us at all times. May Saint Therese guide us on her Little Way and teach us to receive everything as a grace. We want to say with her: Each moment brings an opportunity to choose your will in love. In joy, in sorrow, in every circumstance of life, may our hearts rest in Yours. Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

St. Therese embracing the cross in the cloister garden.

Novena to St. Therese
Third Day-Abandonment




The heart of St. Therese's "spiritual childhood" is total abandonment to the will of God. Sometimes as Carmelites we forget the other part of Therese's message: suffering. Yes, she abandoned herself to God through holy suffering.



People who read about St. Therese for the first time, perhaps reading Story of a Soul, find her simple and sweet. This is certainly not the case when one studies her writings. I would highly recommend the book St. Therese of Lisieux her last conversations, translated by John Clarke, OCD. This book lays out page by page St. Therese's total abandonment to the will of God through heroic suffering.



This abandonment is not an attitude of o.k. whatever happens, happens, I will deal with it. No, this holy abandonment in the life of a Carmelite is found in the waiting upon the Lord in prayer from moment to moment, ready to accept the joys and sufferings that He wills. And to accept all from his loving hand with a spirit of joy and peace.



Near the end of her life when speaking of her great suffering St. Therese stated, "If i did not simply live from one moment to another it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I look only at the present. I forget the past and I take good care not to forestall the future. When we yield to discouragement or despair, it is usually because we think too much about the past or the future."



She also said, "I thank Thee, O my God, for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on me, and particularly for having made me pass through the crucible of suffering."



Let us as Carmelites pray to have the grace to imitate her total willingness to embrace the cross and rejoice in following Jesus on the narrow road of salvation.

Novena Prayer

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands...(Mention your request)

St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did, in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day. Amen

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Novena to St. Therese

Second Day-Confidence

We can never have too much confidence in the Good God. He is so mighty and merciful. As we hope in Him so shall we receive...I believe, I hope, I love.
St. Therese


Novena Prayer

St. Therese, Flower of fervor and love, please intercede for me. Fill my heart with your pure love of God. Make me more aware of the goodness of God and how well he tends His garden. Instill in me your "Little Way" of doing ordinary things with extra-ordinary love. Give me the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm. Teach me your delight in God's ways so that divine charity may blossom in my heart.

Little Flower of Jesus, bring my petitions (mention here) before God our Father. With your confidence, I come before Jesus as God's child, because you are my heavenly friend. Amen.



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Novena to St. Therese 

First Day-Spiritual Childhood

You can see that I am a very little soul and that I can offer God only very little things. I am too little to perform great actions. Jesus does not demand great actions from us but only surrender and gratitude. St. Therese

Novena Prayer

Loving God, open our eyes to the light of faith and truth. May your light and love sustain us at all times. May Saint Therese guide us on her Little Way and teach us to receive everything as a grace. We want to say with her: Each moment brings an opportunity to choose your will in love. In joy, in sorrow, in every circumstance of life, may our hearts rest in Yours.

St. Therese, pray for us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS