Novena to St. Therese

St. Teresa of the Andes

This wonderful film about the Discalced Carmelite Saint is available through Ignatius Press.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
______________________

THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

CHANNEL OF PEACE

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

St. Henry Church Nashville, TN

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

A short, familiar prayer from a beloved and well-loved Saint: Francis of Assisi.

Recently, St. Francis of Assisi has made a great come-back of sorts in the modern world in which we live.  The election to the papacy of Cardinal Jorge Borgoglio has brought to light once again the remarkable life of St. Francis.

To me, the Prayer of St. Francis encapsulates the life of virtue and holiness in a few, short, masterful stanzas.  It is masterful in its homily of the soul totally forgetful of self.  It's a hymn of a soul who has died in Christ. It's a song of one who has been resurrected and become a new creation in Christ. It is the anthem of the Blessed in Heaven.

Do you know anyone who possesses such lofty and heroic virtue?  Do you know someone who walks the earth as though they did not exist?  These saintly souls walk among us with one foot already in heaven.  We only need to recall the life of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Her entire life was an open book of the Gospel.  She was totally transformed in Christ and gave witness to a life of virtue: a living icon of the Beatitudes.

We may declare, "Oh, yes," I know someone who is like this. But we must be careful in our discernment. Just as the church takes a long and in-depth study of a soul before they proclaim sainthood. We can make hasty judgments and put people on pedestals because they are nice or easy to get along with. But the true test of virtue comes with just that, testing.  The virtues are fashioned and made perfect through the Cross. Saintly souls have had the love of God born in their heart and they are willing to lay down their life for God and the conversion of their neighbor.

We have to be careful that we do not paint St. Francis in a light of sweet and romantic devotion, a serene and happy person who loved birds and the sky and nature.  He's not just a champion for the environment. We must see him in the depth of his excruciating and painful love of God, born of a mystical union between him and Christ that we will never comprehend. A mystical love and union that is born from the Cross.

He always lived upon the Cross, never seeking to avoid fatigue or trouble, concerned only in fulfilling the will of God in and through himself.
The brothers  who lived with him know how at every instant the name of Jesus was on his lips; and with what tender love and sweetness he conversed with him.
First Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano

How do we live out the beatitudes in our daily life?  How do we become a channel of peace?  It takes great courage and humility.  The saints make it look easy!  It is born from hard work of dying to our ego.  Virtue is born from prayer as St. Teresa of Jesus teaches us.  In practical terms being a channel of peace may be described in a person who:

*Listens 
This person listens with the heart to another.  They are not just "waiting" for the opportunity to speak when the other person is finished. This person may not have anything to say. They may just be at peace being present to the other person who needs to share.

*Forgives
This person forgives easily, quickly, and doesn't hold a grudge. They will treat the offending party as if nothing happened, even if they were deeply hurt. They reflect God's virtues of slow to anger and quick to forgive.

*Embodies Meekness
This person's whole being personifies gentleness and kindness. This attitude or beatitude, brings peace to the hearts of others.  A meek person brings peace to any tense situation. A meek person is humble and patient with himself and others. This is born from a soul that is docile, one who lets God form him in the life of virtue.
Recently, our Holy Father, Francis gave a homily about meekness. He stated,"Christians need to recover the value of meekness, particularly when they are tempted to speak ill of one another."A meek person is non-threatening to others. A meek person is a reflection of the peace that comes from the heart of God.

*Possesses Joy
This person who is a peacemaker is filled with joy. A joy that the world cannot give.  Sometimes people are suspect of people who are genuinely happy. It's because the world does not understand the deep joy that comes from a peaceful heart that is removed from all attachment to the pleasure of worldly goods.

*Loves
Love is the crowning glory of the heart of a peacemaker. It is sacrificial love. It is a heart of a martyr, ready to give all for God and neighbor. It loves when it does not make sense. It is a faithful and enduring love. It is a heart full of mercy and compassion for the sinner. It endures all things. As St. Paul says:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (I Cor. 13:4)

St. Francis is a model for all Christians, especially for us as Secular Carmelites, for he was faithful to his vows. He was  faithful to Lady Poverty, Sister Chastity, and Sister Obedience. He was faithful unto death.  This is the final prayer of St. Francis:

Praise be to Thee my Lord for our sister bodily death
From whom no living man can flee;
Woe to them who die in mortal sin,
But blessed they, who shall be found in Thy most holy Will:
To them the second death can do no harm.
(From his Canticle of the Creatures)

Our new Pope, Francis, has wisely chosen St. Francis as his patron. In our world of secularism, materialism and individualism, we are reminded of the humble little Troubador of the Lord. Only a person who is filled with the peace of God can bring this peace to others and go about their daily activities singing the praises of God.

From Death to Life

Each year on October 3, the Franciscan Order celebrates the Transitus of St. Francis. Let us pray for each other that God may give us the grace to die to our self and live a life of peace and virtue. May we be ready to welcome "Sister Death."















Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE QUOTE

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

Carmelite Monastery Cleveland, Ohio

The day chosen for my entrance into Carmel was April 9, 1888, the same day the community was celebrating the feast of the Annunciation, transferred because of Lent. The evening before, the whole family gathered round the table where I was to sit for the last time. Ah! how heartrending these family reunions can really be! When you would like to see yourself forgotten, the most tender caresses and words are showered upon you, making the sacrifice of separation felt all the more.

Papa was not saying very much, but his gaze was fixed upon me lovingly. Aunt cried from time to time and Uncle paid me many affectionate compliments...

On the morning of the great day, casting a last look upon Les Buissonnets, that beautiful cradle of my childhood which I was never to see again, I left on my dear King's arm to climb Mount Carmel.
The Story of a Soul




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

theDivineMercy.org

(For prayers, chaplet, etc.)

Watch EWTN Live at Noon for 

Divine Mercy Devotions

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THE STATIONS OF LIGHT 

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

Prayed from Easter until Pentecost

1.   Jesus Rises from the dead

2.   The Disciples Find the Tomb Empty

3.   The Risen Lord Appears to Mary Magdalene

4.   The Risen Lord Appears to Two Disciples on the Road to 

      Emmaus

5.   The Risen Lord is Recognized at the Breaking of Bread

6.   The Risen Lord Appears to His Disciples

7.   The Lord Gives the Power to Forgive Sins

8.   The Lord Confirms the Faith of Thomas

9.   The Risen Lord Meets His Disciples on the Shore of Lake 

      Tiberias

10.  The Risen Lord Confers the Primacy on Peter

11.  Jesus Entrusts the Disciples with the Universal Mission

12.  Jesus Ascends into Heaven

13.  Waiting for the Holy Spirit with Mary, the Mother of Jesus

14.  The Holy Spirit Descends

Read more about this devotion

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

SPIRITUAL LIFE DICTIONARY

TODAY'S TERM: THAUMATURGIS

St. Gregory Thaumaturgis

Photo: Public Domain

Miracle worker. A title given to certain saints outstanding for having performed miracles during their own lifetime or since their death. Among others are St. Gregory (213-70), Sts. Cosmas and Damian (third century), St. Nicholas (fourth century), and St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231). (Etym. Latin thaumaturgus; from Greek thaumatourgos: thauma, wonder + -ergos, "working," from ergon, work.)

Source: CatholicCulture.org

Carmelite Bishop, St. Andrew Corsini-Thaumaturgis

Photo: Courtesy of Carmelnet.org

Learn more about St. Andrew Corsini















St. Anthony of Padua-Thaumaturgis

Photo:R.Massaro(C)2013SpiritSinging

St.Edward Church Parkman, Ohio

Learn more about St. Anthony




The Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy












Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Stained Glass Scapulars-Reflections on the Rule of the Secular Carmelites

Photo: R.Massaro(C)2013SpiritSinging

Just a few short days ago all of the members of the Catholic Church who were present for Mass at the Easter vigil or at Mass on Easter Sunday renewed their baptismal promises. It is fitting then, that the Order of Carmel asks each of its members to renew their promises during the Easter season.

Our Rule states:

Article 12:

By the promise made to the community in the presence of the Superior of the Order or his Delegate, the person becomes a full member of the Secular Order. By this commitment members strive to acquire the necessary training to know the reasons, the content and purpose of the evangelical lifestyle they are undertaking. The promise heightens and enriches the baptismal commitment in the Secular Carmelites. This includes those called to married life, both as spouses and as parents. This promise is renewed once a year at Easter time.


Members should prepare to renew their promises with prayer and reflection and thanksgiving.  It is also a good time to start this "new year' with an examination of conscience to see where we have failed to live up to our promises and the living out of the beatitudes in our daily lives.

It's good to celebrate the anniversary of our promises.  Do you remember the date of your promise?  This should be as important as remembering  and celebrating our baptismal date. If one is married, the wedding anniversary date should be remembered with joy and thanksgiving with the intention of trying to be more faithful to the vows more than ever.  Remember, when we made our Carmelite promises it was a spiritual marriage to the order and to our local community. We took on a new name (religious title) and made a commitment to the community that we would strive to help each other achieve union with God, just as husbands and wives make this commitment to help each other reach heaven.

Here are some questions for discernment:

*Have I been faithful to mental prayer?
*Have I been faithful to the obligations of the Secular Carmelite?
*Do I fast on the designated vigils of the Carmelite Saints?
*Have I missed meetings out of laziness?
*Do I foster fraternal charity within the community?
*Do I know the names of the members in my community?
*Do I pray for the members of my community on a daily basis?
*Do I pray for the superiors of the order on a daily basis?
*Do I pray for the deceased members of the order?
*Do I pray for the Carmelite missions?
*Do I pray for the priest I have spiritually adopted for the year?
*What is the date of my temporary profession? My final profession? My Carmelite vow?
*What is my religious title?
*What is my active apostolate?    Am I faithful to it?

These are just a few questions we can ask ourselves.  For Carmelites, we know that our main obligation is mental prayer.  If we are not praying, if we are not being faithful to the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, we must strive to begin again. Remember, even our Holy Mother, St. Teresa gave up prayer for about 2 years.  She said this was one of the greatest mistakes of her life.  She tells us over and over again to never give up prayer.

Here is the promise formula. It's good to read it over while meditating to prepare to renew the promise/vow.


I, _________________, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in response to God's call, sincerely promise to the Superiors of the Order of the Teresian Carmel and to you my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites, for three years (or the rest of my life). I confidently entrust this, my promise, to the Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel.


Let us pray for each other!



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS