Saturday of Our Lady

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary:

O Mary, you desire above all things to see Jesus loved; if you love me, this is the favor which I ask of you, to obtain for me a great love of Jesus Christ. You obtain from your Son whatever you please; pray then for me, that I may forever remain in His love and in His grace, and that by imitating you I may practice every virtue that is pleasing to his sacred Heart. Obtain for me a great love toward you, who, of all creatures, are the most pure and most beloved of God. And through that grief which you suffered on Calvary, when you beheld Jesus expire on the cross, obtain for me a happy death, that by loving Jesus, and you, my Mother, all through life, I may come to love you and bless you forever in heaven.

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Enjoy this website loaded with beautiful photos of the Poor Clare Nuns in Cleveland, Ohio

http://cmykstudios.com/poorclares/pictures/001.htm

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

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Carmelite Feast Day

St. Albert of Trapani, priest



Albert degli Abbati was born in Trapani in Sicily in the thirteenth century. Having joined the Carmelites and been ordained a priest, he soon became famous for his preaching and miracles. He was provincial in Sicily in 1926, and died at Messina, probably in 1307, with a reputation for purity and prayer.


Lord God, you made St. Albert of Trapani a model ofpurity and prayer, and a devoted servant of Our Lady.May we practice these same virtues and so be worthy alwaysto share the banquet of your grace.We ask this through Christ ou Lord. Amen.

(From the Carmelite Proper)

Let us remember in prayer all priests today, especially our Carmelite priests and brothers and our provincial, Fr. Grennon.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

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Catechism Quote

Catechism #2214 & 2215

The divine fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood; this is the foundation of the honor owed to parents. The respect of children, whether minors or adults, for their father and mother is nourished by the natural affection born of the bond uniting them. It is required by God's commandment.

Respect for parents derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their children into the world and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace. With all your heart honor your father,and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. Remember that through your parents you were born; what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?" (Sirach 7:27-28)

As Secular Carmelites, we should also honor our holy parents in the spiritual life: St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross. We can ask ourselves:

* Am I obedient to their teachings?

* Do I ask for their prayerful assistance each day?

* Do I honor them by respecting their sons and daughters of the Order, my brothers and sisters in Carmel?

*Do I pray for my deceased brothers and sisters?

In this "Year for Priests" let us also remember in prayer all the priests who give us the Bread of Life: Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Let us be truly grateful for the gift of ordained Priesthood in which these holy men bring us sanctifying grace by means of the Sacraments.

Let us be faithful to our Holy Parents of Carmel and ask their constant intercession for us to be faithful to holy Mother Church.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie

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Today's Saint: St. John Vianney

Patron Saint of Priests

The Holy Father has declared the "Year for Priests" in honor of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney. See the sidebar for the link to the official website of the "Year for Priests."

Before beginning your work, my dear brethren, never fail to make the Sign of the Cross. Do not imitate those people without religion who dare not do this because they are in company. Offer quite simply all your difficulties to God and say again from time to time this offering, for by that means you will have the happiness of drawing down the blessing of Heaven on yourself and on all you do.

St. John Vianney is good role model for Carmelites as he is well-known for his definition of contemplative prayer. One day while walking in church he saw one of his parishioners sitting in a pew. St. John Vianney asked him, "What are you saying to Him?" The old man replied, "Nothing. I look at him and he looks at me." That is a simple definition of the simplicity of contemplative prayer. Remember, this type of prayer is infused, a total gift of God.

Let us pray for each other, that we reach the stage of simple prayer-contemplation.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie

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Spiritual Direction with St. John of the Cross

(speaking of humble souls)

They rejoice when others receive praise, and their only sorrow is that they do not serve God as others do. Because they consider their deeds insignificant, they do not want to make them known. They are even ashamed to speak of them to their spiritual director because they think these deeds are not worth mentioning. They are more eager to speak of their faults and sins, and reveal these to others, than of their virtues. They have an inclination to seek direction from one who will have less esteem for their spirit and deeds. Such is the characteristic of a pure and simple and true spirit, one very pleasing to God. Since the wise spirit of God dwells within these humble souls, he moves them to keep these treasures hidden, and to manifest only their faults. God gives this grace to the humble, together with other virtues, just as he denies it to the proud.

Yet I believe very few souls are so perfect in the beginning. We would be happy enough if they manged not to fall into these imperfections of pride. As we will point out later, then, God places these souls in the dark night so as to purify them of these imperfections and make them advance.

The Dark Night, Bk. I, Chapter 2-3

Let us pray that we as Secular Carmelites imitate the humility of the Virgin Mary who praised God for the great things he had done for her, his lowly handmaid. Let us strive to give God the glory for any good we possess. Let us refrain from boasting about our spiritual gifts or graces that we receive. Let us imitate St. Therese, the Little Flower, who kept her good works and sufferings hidden in her heart, where God alone could be witness to it.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

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Sunday in the Year for Priests

The Sacrament of Holy Orders leaves a permanent mark on the soul, truly consecrates a person to the Lord. "Orders" indicates that a man who has been ordained has a hierarchical role in the Church and has also been consecrated by a gift of the Holy Spirit into sacred service to God, the Church, and his fellow man.
Introduction to Catholicism-TheDidache Series

If a person has true virtue, nothing whatever can change him; he is like rock in the midst of a tempestuous sea. If anyone scorns you, or calumniates you, if someone mocks at you or calls you a hypocrite or a sanctimonious fraud, none of this will have the least effect upon your peace of soul. You will love him just as much as you loved him when he was saying good things about you. You will not fail to do him a good and to help him, even if he speaks badly of your assistance. You will say your prayers, go to Confession, to Holy Communion, you will go to Mass, all according to your general custom.
St. John Vianney-Patron Saint of Priests
150 Anniversary of his death
The Year for Priests


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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Saturday of Our Lady

Our Blessed Lady, in her immense love for us, is eager to receive into her virginal hands the gift of our actions, imparting to them a marvelous beauty and splendor, and presenting them herself to Jesus most willingly. More glory is given to our Lord in this way than when we make our offering with our own guilty hands.

True Devotion to Mary #224

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS