Spirit Singing

Sunday, September 19, 2010

CARMELITE QUOTE

A poem by Saint. Elizabeth of the Trinity

written Sept. 24, 1906

Peaceful was the night and deep the silence
When my boat set sail on the open sea.
Gilding over the boundless ocean on the loveliest
of journeys.

All was hushed beneath the vault of heaven
As if listening to the voice of the Eternal.
Suddenly the waves arose, engulfing my light
barque--

It was the Trinity opening out to me:
In that divine abyss I found my deepest center.
No more will you find me at the water's edge;
I have plunged into infinity, where I belong.
With my Three I live at peace, in the wide
freedom of eternity.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie,ocds
______________________

Saturday, September 18, 2010

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Images of Our Lady

and the Grotto at Lourdes, France

The rain produced some unusual effects

The Lourdes theme for this year:

The Sign of the Cross

John Paul II's

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes

Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman, Blessed by the Most High! Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era, We join in your song of praise, to celebrate the Lord’s mercy, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord, Glorious Mother of Christ! Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word, Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word, and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit, attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows, Mother of the living! Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve, Be our guide along the paths of the world. Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ, to stand with you before the innumerable crosses on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith, First of the disciples! Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always to account for the hope that is in us, with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love. Teach us to build up the world beginning from within: in the depths of silence and prayer, in the joy of fraternal love, in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie,ocds
____________________

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Stained Glass Scapulars-Reflections on the Secular Carmelite Rule

Photo: R. Massaro

From the Constitution of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites:

Taking into account the origins of Carmel and the Teresian charism, the fundamental elements of the vocation of Teresian Secular Carmelites can be summariezed as follows:

( I have skipped point a to comment on point b).

b): To seek a mysterious union with God; by way of contemplation and apostolic activity, indissolubly joined together, for service to the Church.

The above point of our Constitution says concisely what we as Secular Carmelites are seeking: spiritual marriage through love of God and neighbor by way of contemplation. Yes, the Constitution is very clear, this union is most mysterious, indeed! Many saints have tried to explain this mysterious union. Our holy Carmelites St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, have been proclaimed doctors of the Church because of their marvelous teaching on the mysterious union between the soul and God. As Carmelites we must turn to them again and again for help and direction on the road of prayer.

We may first ask ourselves, even though we are Secular Carmelites, are we seeking this mysterious union with God? Have we settled for less--something other than becoming a saint?

We must not be discouraged when we are experiencing the mysterious union of God in the dark night of faith. We cannot and will not understand everything in this life. St. John of the Cross clearly teaches that our minds cannot understand God. We will experience great peace when we surrender as little children and trust that he will lead us to him safely if we are obedient to those in authority over us: the Magisterium, our Carmelite doctors and saints, our Carmelite provincial and our local council.

St. Therese, one of the greatest saints of modern times was led by the dark night of faith. She did not experience visions or revelations, nor did she desire these things. Her way of spiritual childhood of trust in the loving Father whom we know loves us requires the pure heart of a child of God. Only He can purify and sanctify us. Let this be our desire: a pure heart that experiences the mysterious union of love between God and the soul and lives out this love in service to our neighbor by acts of charity and mercy.

Let us pray for each other.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
___________________

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

OUR LADY OF SORROWS

I recently returned from my pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. I remembered all of the readers of Spirit Singing in my prayers at Our Lady's Shrine. I'll share some pictures of the shrine in the coming days.

SEVEN SORROWS OF OUR LADY

The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus. (Gospel of Luke 2:34)

The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family. (Gospel of Matthew 2:13)

The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. (Luke 2:43)

The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross. (Luke 23:26)

The Crucifixion, where Mary stands at the foot of the cross. (Gospel of John 19:25)

The Descent from the Cross, where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms. (Matthew 27:57)

The Burial of Jesus. (John 19:40)

Sorrowful Mother Shrine-Bellevue, Ohio

Website

Sunday, September 5, 2010

THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

TODAY'S (ALMOST) THREE WORDS:

PRAY, HOPE , DON'T WORRY

(St. Pio, Feast Day: Sept. 23)

These simple words of wisdom from St. Pio bring to mind the teaching of our Carmelite Saint: Therese of Lisieux. St. Therese teaches us that we cannot worry about the past, it is finished and over. And we cannot worry about what will happen tomorrow, it has not arrived. We can only live in the present moment and give God our all and be obedient to His will in each moment of the day.

We can save ourselves much pain and emotional suffering if we take these words to heart. The Christian who trusts in the Lord and does not worry about what has happened or what will happen will truly have peace of heart.

Pictures from the Shrine of Padre Pio in Barto, Pennsylvania

Click here to visit the website