Here is a beautiful poem By Kathleen Raine found in the Liturgy of the Hours. Enjoy this Advent meditation on the mystery of the Annunciation and the Incarnation. 

Photo: (C) Spirit Singing, R. Massaro, St. Hilary Church Akron, Ohio

Northumbrian Sequence IV

Let in the wind,
Let in the rain,
Let in the moors tonight,

The storm beats on my window-pane,
Night stands at my bed-foot,
Let in the fear,
Let in the pain,
Let in the trees that toss and groan,
Let in the north tonight.

Let in the nameless formless power
That beats upon my door,
Let in the ice, let in the snow,
The banshee howling on the moor,
The bracken-bush on the bleak hillside,
Let in the dead tonight.

The whistling ghost behind the dyke,
The dead that rot in the mire,
Let in the thronging ancestors,
The unfilled desire,
Let in the wraith of the dead earl,
Let in the dead tonight.

Let in the cold,
Let in the wet,
Let in the loneliness,
Let in the quick,
Let in the dead,
Let in the unpeopled skies.

Oh how can virgin fingers weave
A covering for the void,
How can my fearful heart conceive
Gigantic solitude?
How can a house so small contain
A company so great?

Let in the dark,
Let in the dead,
Let in your love tonight.

Let in the snow that numbs the grave,
Let in the acorn-tree,
The mountain stream and mountain stone,
Let in the bitter sea.

Fearful is my virgin heart
And frail my virgin form,
And must I then take pity on
The raging of the storm
That rose up from the great abyss
Before the earth was made,
That pours the stars in cataracts
And shakes this violent world?

Let in the fire,
Let in the power,
Let in the invading might.

Gentle must my fingers be
And pitiful my heart
Since I must bind in human form
A living power so great,
A living impulse great and wild
That cries about my house
With all the violence of desire
Desiring this my peace.

Pitiful my heart must hold
The lonely stars at rest,
Have pity on the raven’s cry,
The torrent and the eagle’s wing,
The icy water of the tarn
And on the biting blast.

Let in the wound,
Let in the pain,
Let in your child tonight.

-by Kathleen Raine

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE FEAST DAYS

Photo: R. Massaro-Carmelite Monastery-Cleveland, Ohio

Carmelite Feast Day: St. John of the Cross-Dec. 14
Happy Feast Day to all Carmelites!

Song of the Soul That Rejoices 
in Knowing God Through Faith.

A poem by St. John of the Cross

That eternal spring is hidden,

for I know well where it has its rise,

although it is night.

I do not know its origin, nor has it one,

but I know that every origin has come from it,

although it is night.

I know that nothing else is so beautiful,

and that the heavens and the earth drink there,

although it is night.

I know well that it is bottomless

and no one is able to cross it,

although it is night.

Its clarity is never darkened,

and I know that every light has come from it,

although it is night.

I know that its streams are so brimming

they water the lands of hell, the heavens, and earth,

although it is night.

I know well the stream that flows from this spring

is mighty in compass and power,

although it is night.

I know the stream proceeding from these two,

that neither of them in fact precedes it,

although it is  night.

This eternal spring is hidden 

in the living bread for our life's sake,

although it is night.

It is here calling out to creatures;

and they satisfy their thirst,

although in darkness,

although it is night.

This living spring that I long for,

I see in this bread of life,

although it is night.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE CHURCH

Dear Secular Carmelites,

The entire Church-the body of Christ- is experiencing a dark night of faith and of the spirit. Now is the time for us to remain faithful to our calling of prayer on behalf of the Church.

During this time of purgation, let us call upon Our Lady under the titles of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,Our Lady, Mother of the Church, and Our Lady, Star of the sea, to help us and guide us through this storm. 

Let us remain faithful to the charism of Carmel: to pray for priests and seminarians. Let us pray for our Holy Father, all bishops, and all those in leadership positions within the Church. May they keep their minds and hearts fixed on Jesus.

Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten us and guide us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Traditional Prayer to Our Lady, Star of the Sea

Ave Maris Stella
Hail bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest
Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.
Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy for evermore
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three
Father, Son, and Sprit
One same glory be, Amen.

  

CAUSE OF GREAT JOY: Another Carmelite Blessed!

Beatification of Venerable Marie Felice, OCD
June 23, 2018! Affectionately known as "Chiquitunga" was beatified today in Paraquay.
Contracting Hepatitis at the age of 34, her final words before dying: "How happy I am! … What a joy to meet my Jesus! … Jesus, I love you, what a sweet encounter! Virgin Mary!"

Read more about her:

https://cruxnow.com/…/paraguayan-catholics-rejoice-for-bea…/

Blessed Marie Felice, pray for us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

CORPUS CHRISTI

CORPUS CHRISTI

As secular Carmelites, we can be witnesses in the world of God's love by being a witness to our charism of prayer.  In the quotes below, our Holy Mother, St. Teresa, teaches us to linger with the Lord after receiving Him in Holy Communion.

In our busy lives, are we guilty of running out of church as soon as Mass is over?  Is it "business as usual" just a few moments after we have just received Jesus, the Bread of Life?  Of course, sometimes it is necessary for us to leave immediately, but let us take to heart the teaching of St. Teresa and stay with Our Lord after Communion.  This is a wonderful time for mental prayer, and even if we only have fifteen minutes to stay with Jesus, it is fifteen minutes of heaven that will prepare us for the challenges of the day.  

Our charism is prayer.  Let us make every effort to receive Jesus daily, if possible. Let us make our heart a dwelling place for the Living God.

Photo:  R. Massaro C)2018 Spirit Singing

​

The feast of Corpus Christi was one of St. John of the Cross' favorite feast days.  Here are a few lines of his poem The Song of the Soul that Rejoices in knowing God through Faith:

This eternal spring is hidden in this living bread for our life's sake,
although it is night.
It is here calling out to creatures; and they satisfy their thirst, although in darkness,
because it is night.

This living spring that I long for,
I see in this bread of life,
although it is night. 

From The Way of Perfection, Chapter 34:

No. 10:

...He has many methods of showing Himself to the soul, through great interior feelings and through other different ways. Be with Him willingly; don't lose so good an occasion for conversing with Him as is the hour after having received Communion. If obedience should command something, Sisters, strive to leave your soul with the Lord. If you immediately turn your thoughts to other things, if you pay no attention and take no account of the fact that He is within you, how will He be able to reveal Himself to you? This, then, is a good time for our Master to teach us, and for us to listen to Him, kiss His feet because He wanted to teach us, and beg Him not to leave.

No: 12:

But after having received the Lord, since you have the Person Himself present, strive to close the eyes of the body and open those of the soul and look into your own heart. For I tell you, and tell you again, and would like to tell you many times that you should acquire the habit of doing this every time you receive Communion and strive to have such a conscience that you will be allowed to enjoy this blessing frequently. 

St. John of the Cross, pray for us!

St.  Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

I have experienced this presence of the three Persons, which I mentioned at the beginning, up to this day which is the feast of the Commemoration of St. Paul. They are very habitually present in my soul. Since I was accustomed to experience only the presence of Jesus, it always seemed to me there was some obstacle to my
seeing three Persons, although I understand there is only one God. And the Lord told me today while I was reflecting upon this that I was mistaken in thinking of things of the soul through comparison with corporeal things, that I should know that these spiritual things are very different and that the soul is capable of great rejoicing. It seemed to me there came the thought of how a sponge absorbs and is saturated with water; so, I thought, was my soul which was overflowing with that divinity and in a certain way rejoicing within itself and possessing the three Persons.

I also heard the words: "Don't try to hold Me within yourself, but try to hold yourself within Me." It seemed to me that from within my soul--where I saw these three Persons present--these persons were communicating themselves to all creation without fail, nor did they fail to be with me.  
St. Teresa of Jesus, Spiritual Testimonies No. 14


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS