Spirit Singing

Sunday with the Saints

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:50:00 +0000

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

Born in Spain in 1542, John learned the importance of self-sacrificing love from his parents. His father gave up wealth, status, and comfort when he married a weaver's daughter and was disowned by his noble family. After his father died, his mother kept the destitute family together as they wandered homeless in search of work. These were the examples of sacrifice that John followed with his own great love -- God.

When the family finally found work, John still went hungry in the middle of the wealthiest city in Spain. At fourteen, John took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered from incurable diseases and madness. It was out of this poverty and suffering, that John learned to search for beauty and happiness not in the world, but in God.

After John joined the Carmelite order, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform movement. John supported her belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. But many Carmelites felt threatened by this reform, and some members of John's own order kidnapped him. He was locked in a cell six feet by ten feet and beaten three times a week by the monks. There was only one tiny window high up near the ceiling. Yet in that unbearable dark, cold, and desolation, his love and faith were like fire and light. He had nothing left but God -- and God brought John his greatest joys in that tiny cell.

After nine months, John escaped by unscrewing the lock on his door and creeping past the guard. Taking only the mystical poetry he had written in his cell, he climbed out a window using a rope made of strips of blankets. With no idea where he was, he followed a dog to civilization. He hid from pursuers in a convent infirmary where he read his poetry to the nuns. From then on his life was devoted to sharing and explaining his experience of God's love.

His life of poverty and persecution could have produced a bitter cynic. Instead it gave birth to a compassionate mystic, who lived by the beliefs that "Who has ever seen people persuaded to love God by harshness?" and "Where there is no love, put love -- and you will find love."

John left us many books of practical advice on spiritual growth and prayer that are just as relevant today as they were then. These books include: Ascent of Mount Carmel , Dark Night of the Soul and A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ .
(From Christian Classics Ethereal Library)

Some of the Literary works of St. John of the Cross include:

The Ascent of Mount Carmel

Dark Night of the Soul

The Spiritual Canticle

The Tomb of St. John of the Cross

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:51:00 +0000

Photo: R.Massaro St. Charles Borromeo Parma, Ohio

MARYTOWN
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

National Shrine of St. Maximillian Kolbe
Live TV-Online Adoration
Morning Prayer, Mass, Stations of the Cross and more...

Watch live video from Marytown on www.justin.tv

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:14:00 +0000

THE HOLY FATHER'S MESSAGE FOR LENT

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Sunday with the Saints

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:41:00 +0000

ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 17

SAINT OF THE SACRED HEART

DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART AND THE NINE FIRST FRIDAYS

PARAY LE MONIAL SANCTUARY IN FRANCE

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:11:00 +0000

ST. TERESA OF JESUS OF THE ANDES
A LETTER TO HER FRIEND

...Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity used to say: "God is heaven and God is in my soul." We have heaven in our soul then. Well now, what do they do in heaven? They love, contemplate and glorify God. this is what we must do here: love Him above everyone else. One who loves is always thinking of the beloved. Let's think of Him continually, but since that's impossible, at least let's think of Him very often. Let's contemplate Him there, in the depth of our soul, united to us. Let's contemplate Him praying to His eternal Father for souls and for sinners, and let's unite ourselves with that divine prayer. Let's contemplate Him, working at our side. Now I look at Him as I write and unite myself with Him. Let's contemplate Him joyfully-says Saint Teresa-at Tabor, when we're happy; and sad, as He was in the garden, if we're sad; and do it that way in every situation. Let's contemplate Him in His creatures. Then it'll e easier for us to have charity. If we're humiliated, let's accept this for His sake. If we're praised, we're praised for Him. If we serve, we serve Him...And finally, in heaven His praises are being sung and He's glorified in His works; let's be like Elizabeth of the Trinity then in praise of His glory.

THE CARMELITE NUNS OF ERIE PENNSYLVANIA

(click on photo)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

TABERNACLES

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:07:00 +0000

ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH

MARION, OHIO

Parish Website

St.MaryMarion - create free slideshows

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Sunday with the Saints

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:34:00 +0000

Today's Saint: St. Faustina

John Paul II's Act of Entrustment
(Use the Translate Button)

Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Poland

Read more about the Divine Mercy Devotion

How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Feast Day of Our Lady Of Lourdes-Wold Day of the Sick

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:05:00 +0000

LOURDES LIVE WEBCAM

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Our Lady of Lourdes-Feast Day, February 11

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This is an article I wrote for the 150th Jubilee of Lourdes back in December. I think it's appropriate to share it again on this feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Lourdes-Live Webcam

It has been written that St. Bernadette desired to be a Carmelite nun but because of her poor health was not able to enter the Order. She eventually entered the Sisters of Charity at Nevers, France.

The 18th and final apparition of our Lady to Bernadette took place on July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Our Lady remained silent during the final meeting with Bernadette. They looked at each other with love. This holy exchange is a perfect example of Our Lady of Mt.Carmel as our role model of perfect contemplation.

As Carmelites, the main point of our rule is allegiance to Jesus Christ, and an offshoot of that main point is to imitate the Virgin Mary who pondered the Word in her heart. We can see in the life of St. Bernadette how Mary led her to contemplation.

Let's start at the beginning: In the first apparition, Mary shows herself to Bernadette, smiles at her but remains silent.

Do you remember your first encounter with Christ? The moment he first called you to intimate friendship with him? How difficult was it to pray from the heart for the first time?

Second Apparition: Bernadette throws holy water at the apparition. People tell her it could be the devil.

After the invitation from Christ, we begin to doubt that we are worthy to be loved by Him. We ask ourselves, "Is this from God?" Family members and friends wonder what is going on with us!

Third Apparition: Our Lady asks Bernadette, "Would you do me the kindness of coming here for fifteen days?" "I do not promise you happiness in this life but in the other."

Our Lady asks us to remain faithful in prayer, faithful to our commitment as Carmelites to seek the face of God in prayer on behalf of the Church. We must die to ourselves and experience joy in God alone. Worldly things no longer attract us.

Fourth, Fifth, Sixth & Seventh Apparitions: Bernadette and Our Lady deepen their friendship. They pray together and even laugh together.

In the life of Carmel, our prayer life becomes deeper when we trust in the Lord as little children. We run to him and tell him everything; the joys and sorrows of our life. He is there to cry and laugh with us.

Eighth Apparition through the Twelfth: Our Lady with an air of sadness repeats: "Penance, penance,penance." "Pray to God for sinners. " She asks Bernadette to kiss the ground for sinners...to eat the grass for sinners.

Now that our relationship with our Beloved has grown stronger he asks us to suffer with him, to take up our cross after him. The life of a Carmelite is a penitential one. Sometimes as Lay Carmelites, we forget this aspect of our rule. We may adhere to the required prayer and spiritual reading, but do we really desire to mortify ourselves for the love of Christ?

Our Rules states:
The Secular Carmelite highly esteems the invitation of the Lord to deny himself and willingly to take up his cross daily and follow Him; he will, therefore, gladly mortify himself in union with the sacrifice of Christ, remembering, too, our Holy Mother Teresa's remark that "prayer cannot be accompanied by self-indulgence."

The Secular Carmelite will be especially faithful to the Church's penitential discipline. He will also, in accordance with the promptings of grace, and as far as circumstances will allow, make use of other means of mortification, particularly on those days and at those seasons that have a distinctive penitential character.

The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Apparitions: Our Lady asks Bernadette to "go tell the priests that people should come here in procession and that a chapel should be built here."

Bernadette is sent on mission. Our Carmelite apostolate in which we share in the missionary life of the Church. Whatever that may be, making rosaries, helping the poor and the sick, teaching others about our Catholic faith-we must step outside of ourselves, for our vocation is not just between me and God.

Sixteenth Apparition: Feast of the Annunciation. Our Lady reveals her name: "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Bernadette has been faithful to Our Lady's request, to her commitment to meet our Lady for fifteen days. She is rewarded.

Bernadette reminds me of the apostle John at the foot of the Cross in which Our Lord entrusts her to his home. Now, Bernadette, stands before Our Lady on behalf of the Church ready and eager to hear her beautiful name: Immaculate Conception!

Seventeenth Apparition: Miracle of the candle. Bernadette in ecstasy.

Our Lady has led Bernadette on the road of deep prayer. Now she experiences God with her whole being. She has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa explain in great detail about deep mystical experience in prayer. We know that this type of gift is just that-pure gift, infused by God. As St. Teresa says, it cannot be produced by one's own effort. St. Bernadette experienced Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Silent Prayer, at the Grotto in Lourdes. Let us pray for each other that we imitate the humble virgin, Bernadette and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, to be open and available to listen the Word of God, proclaim it to the world, and meditate on it in our hearts day and night.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

The Cell of St. Therese-The Carmel of Lisieux

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000

SUBMIT YOUR PETITION TO BE PLACED IN THE CELL OF ST. THERESE

(Don't forget to use your translate button) If you still have a problem, click on "Intentions de priere" on left side bar and then click on "Envoyer une intentions de prière"

THE SISTERS HAVE OPENED THEIR ARCHIVES!!!!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:59:00 +0000

From the writings of St. Raphael Kalinowski:

Tomorrow is November 2, the day of the faithful departed. When I was still a boy, I dreamed I would die on All Souls Day. Whether I die on that day or not, no matter what happens, I still confess it is always good. Then I salute you cordially, and I ask you, come what may, to say a De Profundis for my soul.

(From a letter to his friend, Fr. Nowakowski)

(St. Raphael's dream came true, in a way. He died on November 15, the feast of All Souls of Carmel.)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:38:00 +0000

Photo: R. Massaro Lourdes, France

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

FEAST DAY: FEBRUARY 11

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Chapel

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Carmelite Chapel-in-the-Mall

Peabody, Ma.

This chapel is dedicated to the "Little Flower" St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Cardinal O'Malley at the Rededication of the Chapel-in-the-Mall

Visit their page on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/search/results.php?q=carmelite&init=quick&tas=0.17434125460998545#!/pages/Carmelite-Chapel-in-the-Mall/127723955487

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Stained Glass Flowers-Little Accounts of the Miraculous

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

FROM THE LIFE OF ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

On the eve of the feast of St. Sebastian, the first year in which I was prioress at the Incarnation, at the beginning of the Salve Regina, I saw the Mother of God descend with a great multitude of angels and sit in the prioress's choir stall where there was a statue of our Lady. In my opinion I didn't then see the statue but our Lady herself. It seemed to me she looked something like she does in the painting the countess gave me; although the power to discern this was quickly taken away, for my faculties were soon held in great suspension. It seemed to me there were angels above the canopies of the stalls in the back and above the front stalls; although they were not in corporeal form, for this was an intellectual vision.

She remained for the whole of the Salve, and she told me; "You were indeed right in placing me here; I shall be present in the praises they give my Son, and I shall offer these praises to Him."

After this I remained in the kind of prayer I now have, that of keeping my soul present with the Blessed Trinity. And it seemed to me that the Person of the Father drew me to Himself and spoke very pleasant words. Among them, while showing me what He wanted, He told me: "I gave you My Son, and the Holy Spirit, and this Blessed Virgin. What can you give Me?"
The Spiritual Testimonies, No. 21

Note: The statue St. Teresa placed in the stall was an image of Our Lady of Clemency. This statue held the keys to the monastery in its hands.

Prayer Vigil with Priests on the eve of Solemnity of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus
Saint Peter's Square, 10 June 2010.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:35:00 +0000

Bishops Vow to Fight Coercive HHS Mandate

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."
Read more from the USCCB website

SEND EMAIL TO CONGRESS

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Bishops Vow to Fight Coercive HHS Mandate

USCCB Website

The Most Rev. Richard G. Lennon

Bishop of Cleveland

Diocese of Cleveland Website

The Most Rev. Frederick F. Campbell
Bishop of Columbus

Diocese of Columbus website

Letter addressed to the people of the Diocese of Columbus

Most Rev. Dennis Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Letter to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Most Rev. Leonard Paul Blair
Bishop of Toledo

Diocese of Toledo Website

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:50:00 +0000

On Thursday, January 19th, the weather was severe. Mariette was kneeling on the path. It was 7pm. The Lady appeared. Mariette asked her "who are you, beautiful Lady?"

"I am the Virgin of the Poor."

Mariett Beco, the visionary of Banneux recently died.
To learn more about her life and death, visit the official website of the shrine
http://www.banneux-nd.be/gb/accueil.gb.htm

Enjoy this video about the shrine in Banneux.

Prayer to Our Lady, Virgin of the Poor

Our Lady of Banneux,
Mother of Our Saviour,
Mother of God,
Virgin of the Poor,
since thou hast promised to believe in us
if we believe in thee,
I put all my trust in thee.

Deign to listen to the prayers
that thou hast asked be addressed to thee;
have pity on all our spiritual and temporal miseries.
Restore to sinners the treasure of Faith,
and give to the poor their daily bread.

Deign to relieve suffering,
to heal the sick and to pray for us,
so that thus through thy intercession,
the reign of Christ the King
may extend over all nations.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:50:00 +0000

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)
Photo: R. Massaro-Regina Health Center Richfield, Oh.

I often undergo this scattering of the faculties; sometimes I understand clearly that my lack of physical health has much to do with it. I frequently recall the harm original sin did to us; this is the source, I think, of our being incapable of enjoying so much good in an integral way. And my own sins must be a cause; if I hadn't committed so many, I would be more integrated in good.

I also suffered another great trial. Since it seemed that I understood all the books I read that treat of prayer and that the Lord had already given me such favors, I thought I had no need of these books and so did not read them but read only lives of the saints. Since I felt so lacking in the ways they served God, reading about them seemed to benefit and encourage me. I thought it showed very little humility to think I had attained these favors of prayer, and since I couldn't bring myself to think otherwise, it grieved me very much until learned men and the blessed Friar Peter of Alcantara told me not to worry about it. I see clearly that I haven't begun to serve God--although His Majesty grants me favors as He does to many good people--and that I am imperfection incarnate, except in desires and in loving; in these latter I see clearly that the Lord has favored me so that I might serve Him in something. It really seems to me that I love Him, but my works and the many imperfections I see in myself sadden me.

The Book of Her Life, Chap. 30, No. 17

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:43:00 +0000

St. Michael Church
Dijon France

Hear is a link to a wonderful article about Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity by Dr. Lilles who teaches Spiritual Theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Colorado.

To access the article, click on the left sidebar "Elizabeth of the Trinity's View After Communion"

http://www.beginningtopray.com/

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:56:00 +0000

ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS (EDITH STEIN):

I tried to make a copy of the sketch our Holy Father John made on a piece of paper about 5cm. in size, after the vision he had of the Crucified at the Monastery of the Incarnation. The reproduction of it in P. Bruno's book is not exactly sharp, and I am anything but an artist. But I made it with great reverence and love.

Because of the work I am doing I live almost constantly immersed in thoughts about our Holy Father John. That is a great grace. A scientia crucis (knowledge of the Cross) can be gained only when one comes to feel the Cross radically. I have been convinced of that from the first moment and have said, from my heart: Ave, Crux, spes unica! (Hail Cross, our only Hope!)

Drawing by St. John of the Cross

Only those who are saved, only children of grace, can in fact be bearers of Christ's cross. Only in union with the divine Head does human suffering take on expiatory power. To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one's feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father's right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels-this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:19:00 +0000

Photo: R.Massaro St. Brendan N. Olmsted, Ohio

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Mary

I offer you, my holy Mother Mary,

all my thoughts and all my actions,

all my prayers and all my acts of charity,

all my faith and good works,

and all the sacrifices that I make today.

Give me the grace to do everything in my life

with a pure intention

and a desire to please God.

I consecrate myself to your Holy

and Immaculate Heart,

and I pray, through the merits

of your intercession,

that I may adore the Divine Heart of Jesus

and through His mercy

obtain the grace of conversion

and the remission of my sins.

O Mary, my Blessed Mother, watch over me

and protect me from all sin

and evil throughout this day.

Amen.

NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:05:00 +0000

On a recent trip to Nashville, I made my way to the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. It was a beautiful and grace-filled visit. I want to thank Sr. Mary Emily (Vocation Director) for her warm welcome and hospitality. It was great to find out that she is a fellow Ohioan and is from a town not far from where I grew up!

The sisters were having adoration of the Blessed Sacrament the day I visited. I am grateful to have been able to pray in the company of the sisters for a very special intention.

Thank you, Sister Mary Emily, for your most gracious hospitality. May God bless you and your community!

Please visit their beautiful website:
http://nashvilledominican.org/

The Secular Carmelite readers of Spirit Singing will find the "Nine Ways of Prayer" of St. Dominic very interesting and inspiring.

http://nashvilledominican.org/Charism/St_Dominic/Nine_Ways_of_Prayer

And don't forget to read the wonderful vocation stories under "Sister Profiles."

http://nashvilledominican.org/Community/Sister_Profiles

Slideshow by Rosemarie, ocds

Nashville Motherhouse - slide show

Peace be with you! Rosemarie, ocds

Three Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:47:00 +0000

"DO NOT DISTURB"

I'm sure at one time or another we've seen a sign posted somewhere that stated, "Do Not Disturb." Perhaps you've heard someone echo these words on occasion. Occasions such as, "Do not disturb me, I'm busy!" "Do not disturb me, I'm sick." "Do not disturb me, I'm praying." Wow! Ouch! This is one that is really painful to hear. Too busy praying to help, or to listen to someone in need? Perhaps we've been the one proclaiming these words.

We could save ourselves some heartache in life if we expected to be interrupted, if we expected to receive the "spiritual curve ball" from God; pitches thrown to test our humility and patience.We may claim we want to "grow in holiness, " but when the opportunities arise, we miss them.

When I was growing up, we were told by the priests and the nuns to "practice virtue." Do you know of anyone who is so boldly holy that they willingly go into the battle of their weakness? I know of one particular person, a Saint, St. Therese of the Child Jesus. In her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, she writes of her reluctance to face the battle, and like a coward she retreated from an ongoing situation that tested her patience. She prayed that she would become a bold soldier for the Lord and acquire the virtue of patience.

St. Therese was no different than any of us. She was fully human with weak human nature that she had to overcome. This gives us hope! And this is why the Catholic Church has lifted up St. Therese and her writings by bestowing upon her the lofty title "Doctor of the Church and Doctor of Love." She teaches us that holiness is accessible to all. It only takes doing little things with great love. This may sound sappy and sweet to the person who reads Therese for the first or second time. Stick around, she will amaze you with the depth of her love and spirituality. Divine love entered her heart and made His dwelling with her. A love so deep and knowledgeable that could not be described, for as she stated to her Mother Superior, "Reverend Mother, if I were to tell you all that God has revealed to me about charity, you would hear the music of heaven!"

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), another Doctor of the Church instructs her nuns that they must leave their prayer in order to attend to the sick or to perform duties in the monastery. She didn't want the nuns to be caught up in "self-absorption" in prayer. Yes, she even teaches that there is a time to resist the spirit. Yes, I will repeat that. St. Teresa of Jesus teaches that there is a time to resist the spirit. But, you must have the knowledge and wisdom to know when. This self-knowledge, sometimes painful, is only obtained through prayer and learning through trials and struggles in daily living.

We are all in the battle of overcoming ourselves in every day life. Whether we are tested at home, at work, or with friends, we are all called to respond with charity. The Kingdom of Heaven is full of people, who reflect the patience, the compassion, the mercy and love of God. The key is they desired it. May this be our desire. May God give us the desire of our heart.

The Carmelite Nuns in Chile-with information about St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes and a new foundation of Carmel in northern Chile. (double-click screen to enlarge)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
_________________

Wether we've heard these stinging words or offered them up on our own,

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Photo:R.Massaro-St. Augustine Barberton, Ohio

Threefold Offering in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I. Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the daughter of the eternal Father, and to thee I consecrate my soul and all of its powers. Hail Mary, etc.

II. Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the Mother of the only-begotten Son, and to thee I consecrate by body with all its senses. Hail Mary, etc.

III. Holiest Virgin with all my heart I worship thee above all the angels and saints in paradise as the spouse of the Holy Ghost, and to thee I consecrate my heart and all its affections, praying thee to obtain for me from the ever blessed Trinity all the graces which I need for my salvation. Hail Mary, etc.

THE CARMEL OF KAZAKHSTAN

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Rosemarie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:38:00 +0000

Photo: R. Massaro-St. Luke Church Danville, Ohio

All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. this is what we were founded for. We are descended from those holy fathers of ours on Mount Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure-the priceless pearl we are talking about--in such solitude and with such contempt for the world.

We must remember those holy fathers of ours who have gone before us, the hermits whose lives we are trying to imitate. We must remember our real founders, those holy fathers whose descendants we are. It was by way of poverty and humility, we know, that they came to the enjoyment of God...

For love of our Lord I beg them to remember how quickly everything comes to an end and what a favor the Lord has done in bringing us to this Order...We must have the holy audacity to aspire, with God's help, to be like them. The struggle will not last long, but the outcome will be eternal.

PRAYER OF ST. TERESA
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion
is to look out to the earth,
yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good
and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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