St. John of the Cross-Sayings of Light and Love

Saying #165

If you desire to be perfect, sell your will, give it to the poor in spirit, come to Christ in meekness and humility, and follow him to Calvary and the sepulchur.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie

Carmelite Quote

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
A praise of glory is someone rooted in God by faith and simplicity; she reflects everything he is. She is a deeply quarried abyss into which he can flow and pour himself out. She is like a crystal through which he can shine and which he can see his own splendour. Someone who lets the divine Being satisfy his need to communicate all that he is and all that he does to her in this way is truly the praise of glory of all his gifts.

Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, known as Elizabeth Catez in the world, was born of a military family and died at the age of 26 as a cloistered Carmelite nun in Dijon, France. As a young woman she was known for her beauty and was a gifted pianist. She described her mission shortly before her death: "...my mission will be to draw souls to interior recollection, by helping them to renounce self in order to adhere to God in all simplicity and love." She was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Her feast day is Nov. 8

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Saturday of Our Lady

(stained glass window in St. Anthony's Church Akron, Ohio)

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel:

Flos Carmeli (Flower of Carmel)

Traditional Medieval Marian Anthem-normally sung by Carmelites after Night Prayer

Flower of Carmel, blossoming, bearing one, light of heaven,

mother of God's dear Son,

vine and virgin.

Gentle parent,

pure beyond human love,

bless your children,

star shining far above

this world's ocean.

Root of Jesse,

flower in the cradling

bud,

take us to you,

keep us with you in God,

his together.

All-chaste lily

rising despite the thorn,

strengthen, help us,

so feeble, soon forlorn,

great protectress.

Be our armor,

valiant for Christ when

war

rages round us,

hold high the scapular,

strong and saving.

In our stumbling

guide us on God's wise way,

in our sorrow

comfort us as we pray;

rich your mercy.

Holy lady,

Carmel's great friend and queen,

feast your people

from your own bliss, the

unseen

grace,God's goodness.

Key and gateway

opening on Paradise,

mother, win us

a place with you in Christ,

crowned in glory.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Tabernacle of the Week

Sorrowful Mother Shrine

Bellevue, Ohio


The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent, outside of Mass. As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Catechism #1379


Prayer in Honor of the Sorrowful Mother

Grant, we beg you, O Lord, that the Blessed Virgin Mary your Mother, may intercede for us at the throne of your mercy, now and at the hour of our death, whose most holy soul was pierced with the sword of grief in the hour of your own passion, through you, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God world without end. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Catechism Quote

Catechism-#766

The Church is born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus. For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the wondrous sacrament of the whole Church. As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam's side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross.

A Prayer of Trust

Response: Jesus, I place my trust in you

In all my temptations,

In all my weaknesses,

In all my difficulties,

In all my trials,

In all my sorrows,

In every failure,

In every disappointment,

In every discouragement,

In all my undertakings,

In life and in death,

In time and eternity.

O Jesus my prayer shall ever be: May Your holy will be done in all things, because I trust in You.

I will accept the crosses of life as I accept the joys, with a grateful heart, because I trust in You.

I will not be worried or anxious about anything, because I trust in You.

I will never lose heart in my efforts to be good, because I trust in You.

I will never doubt Your mercy or Your love, because I trust in You.

If you will have me be in darkness, may you be blessed.

If you wish to comfort me, may you be blessed.

If you wish that I be afflicted, may you be blessed.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Saturday of Our Lady

Litany of Loreto

Today's Title:

Mother of our Savior

(A Thank you to Fr. Kaylor, pastor of St. Therese parish, Brewster, Ohio for greeting me after mass and allowing me time afterward to take photos. The stained glass window and statue of St. Therese are from his church).

Let us consider that the entire Church is on retreat during this holy season of Lent. And the theme of this retreat is the life, passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Even for those members of the Body of Christ who are not inclined to focus their minds and hearts on the spiritual, the Church in a gentle way, during Lent, forces all of its members to reflect on the Passion of Christ. A subject not for the faint of heart.

It takes courage to look at the Cross, to embrace it, to lift it and carry it and hold it high and proclaim it to the world in our daily life. It also takes courage to carry our cross with great joy.
I recently heard someone say, "Lent is too long!" Is it too long because we miss our worldly attachments? Is it too long, because it hurts? Is it too long because it reminds us of death, and we may not be ready? St. John of the Cross would tell us it hurts because we are still attached to our senses-living for the body and not living in the Spirit.

For the Secular Carmelite, Lent becomes a season of joy. Of course, it is solemn and penitential, but we know that we must take up our cross, as we have promised to do, and follow the crucified and risen Lord-follow him to Calvary--follow him to the joy of the Resurrected life!


St. Therese is a Saint that we can count on to help us find the joy amid the cross. She, the one who promised to strew her flowers amid thorns, and promising that the longer and sharper the thorns, the sweeter would she sing.

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) said she would run a hundred miles from a sour-faced saint. She only said in a different way what the Gospel tells us each Lent, "wash your face and groom your hair..." Do not be like the hypocrites..." In other words, go about your business of praying and fasting, and why not do it with joy?

Our Lady sang the Magnificat in the company of Elizabeth. Her song of praise was not a one-time event. The Church asks us to remember her great joy every day as we complete Evening Prayer and sing the Magnificat. As I have written before, sometime when you think of it, stand before a crucifix and sing the Magnificat. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior....". God my Savior...

Our Lady, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us. May the world see that we are Christians by our love and by our joy!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Feast Day of St. Joseph

Prayer to St. Joseph

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Heart of the Divine Christ Child whom you hold in your arms so close to your heart all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore (Pause, mention your request). Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I am confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS