Spirit Singing

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:01:00 +0000

At the dawn of creation the eyes of God rested with satisfaction on the universe He had created. At a second moment He looked with pleasure on the soul of Mary, as He was about to recreate a fallen world. So fresh, unsullied, so unsurpassingly beautiful she was. He smiled on the loveliest creature that his creative love had fashioned; He saw that she was good. Her soul was a meeting-place. Here was goodness, for she was full of grace; here was beauty, for she was all-beautiful; here was truth, for here was the Word in her womb, the source of all truth. No wonder He found delight in her. Pilgrims With Mary-- Fr. John Moloney, P.P.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:34:00 +0000

CARMELITE QUOTE

St. Teresa of Jesus

Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Feast Day: October 15

How wonderful it is that He Whose greatness could fill a thousand worlds, and very many more, should confine Himself within so small a space, just as He was pleased to dwell within the womb of His most holy Mother!

Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection
by Saint Teresa of Avila

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:36:00 +0000

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY:
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

In sum, my Sisters, what I conclude with is that we shouldn't build castles in the air. The Lord doesn't look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done. And if we do what we can, His Majesty will enable us each day to do more and more, provided that we do not quickly tire. But during the little while this life lasts--and perhaps it will last a shorter time than each one thinks--let us offer the Lord interiorly and exteriorly the sacrifice we can. His Majesty will join it with that which He offered on the cross to the Father for us. Thus even though our works are small they will have the value our love for Him would have merited had they been great.

May it please His Majesty, my Sisters and daughters, that we all reach that place where we may every praise Him. Through the merits of His Son who lives and reign forever and ever, may He give me the grace to carry out something of what I tell you, amen.
The Interior Castle, Seventh Mansion, Chapter 4, No: 15-16.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 11:36:00 +0000

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face

Feast Day: October 1

To be Your Spouse, to be a Carmelite, and by my union with You to be the Mother of souls, should not this suffice me? And yet it is not so. No doubt, these three privileges sum up my true vocation: Carmelite, Spouse, Mother, and yet I feel within me other vocations. I feel the vocation of the WARRIOR, THE PRIEST, THE APOSTLE, THE DOCTOR, THE MARTYR. Finally, I feel the need and the desire of carrying out the most heroic deeds for You, O Jesus. I feel within my soul the courage of the Crusader, the Papal Guard, and I would want to die on the field of battle in defense of the Church.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Photo: R. Massaro Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Buckeye Lake, Ohio

The Virgin Mary is present in a special way, most of all as a model of faithfulness in listening to the Lord and in service to Him and to others. Mary is the one who preserved in her heart the life and actions of her Son and meditated on them, providing for us an example of contemplation. At Cana she counseled to do what the Lord commanded. Mary is an example of apostolic service. On another occasion, she waited, persevering in prayer with the apostles, for the coming of the Holy Spirit, thus giving witness to intercessory prayer. She is the Mother of the Order, Secular Carmel enjoys her special protection and cultivates a sincere Marian devotion.

The Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Washington Province) I:4

A PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CAMEL

O, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruit of the Vine, splendorous of Heaven.
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,
assist me in this my necessity.

O, Star of the Sea, help me
and show herein you are my mother.

O, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succour me in my necessity.

There are none that can withstand your power,
O, show me here you are my mother.

O, Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

THE SCHOOL OF CARMEL

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 May 2022 11:39:00 +0000

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 May 2022 23:06:00 +0000

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

EASTER SUNDAY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 08:46:00 +0000

ALLELUIA!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

LITANY FOR HOLY WEEK

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 11:41:00 +0000

St.Joan of Arc Church Canton, Ohio

Jesus, Son of God,
Have mercy on us

Jesus, Son of the Sorrowful Mother,
Have mercy on us

Jesus, Redeemer of the world
Have mercy on us

Jesus, meek and humble of heart
Have mercy on us

Jesus, burning with love for us
Have mercy on us

Jesus, abandoned by the apostles
Have mercy on us

Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver
Have mercy on us

Jesus, agonizing in the garden
Have mercy on us

Jesus, betrayed by Judas' kiss
Have mercy on us

Jesus, denied by Peter
Have mercy on us

Jesus, mocked and scorned
Have mercy on us

Jesus, condemned unjustly
Have mercy on us

Jesus, bound and blindfolded
Have mercy on us

Jesus, struck and spit upon
Have mercy on us

Jesus, crowned with thorns
Have mercy on us

Jesus, scourged at the pillar
Have mercy on us

Jesus, laden with the heavy cross
Have mercy on us

Jesus, burdened with our sins
Have mercy on us

Jesus, crucified between two thieves
Have mercy on us

Jesus, suffering on the cross
Have mercy on us

Jesus, obedient unto death
Have mercy on us

Jesus, who died for us
Have mercy on us

Jesus, placed in the tomb
Have mercy on us

Jesus, raised from the dead
Have mercy on us

Jesus, salvation for all
Have mercy on us

Jesus, mediator for us with the Father
Have mercy on us

Jesus, our peace and reconciliation
Have mercy on us

Jesus, fount of love and mercy
Have mercy on us

May all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Source: Written by Esther Potter, resident of Akron, Ohio, when she was 95 years old.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 01:25:00 +0000

Photo Source: Escola do Carmelo

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us!

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

WORDS OF WISDOM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 23:31:00 +0000

Words of Wisdom by St. Macarius, bishop

Photo: R. Massaro

When a house has no master living in it, it becomes dark, vile and contemptible, choked with filth and disgusting refuse. So too is a soul which has lost its master, who once rejoiced there with his angels. This soul is darkened with sin, its desires are degraded, and it knows nothing but shame.

WOE to the path that is not walked on, or along which the voices of men are not heard, for then it becomes the haunt of wild animals.

WOE to the soul if the Lord does not walk within it to banish with his voice the spiritual beasts of sin.

WOE to the house where no master dwells, to the field where no farmer works, to the pilotless ship, storm-tossed and sinking.

WOE to the soul without Christ as its true pilot; drifting in the darkness, buffeted by the waves of passion, storm-tossed at the mercy of evil spirits, its end is destruction.

WOE to the soul that does not have Christ to cultivate it with care to produce the good fruit of the Holy Spirit. Left to itself, it is choked with thorns and thistles; instead of fruit it produces only what is fit for burning.

WOE to the soul that does not have Christ dwelling in it; deserted and foul with the filth of the passions, it becomes a haven for all the vices.

When a farmer prepares to till the soil he must put on clothing and use tools that are suitable. So Christ, our heavenly king, came to till the soil of mankind devastated by sin. He assumed a body and, using the cross as his plowshare, cultivated the barren soul of man...

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 05:06:00 +0000

Photo: R. Massaro-Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Walsh University Canton, Ohio

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help, with greatest confidence I present myself to you.

I implore your help in the problems of my daily life.

Trials and sorrows often depress me; painful privations bring heartache into my life; often I meet the cross.

Have pity on me, compassionate Mother.

Take care of my needs, free me from my sufferings or if it be the will of God that I should suffer still longer, grant that I may endure all with love and patience.

Mother of Perpetual Help I ask this in your love and power. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE QUOTE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:21:00 +0000

Carmelite Quote

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Feast Day: November 8

I believe that the people who are the really happy ones in this world are those who have enough contempt and forgetfulness of self to choose the cross as their portion!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 05:17:00 +0000

This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues unceasingly from the consent which she gave loyally at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up into heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #969

May she hold each child of God in the palm of her hand and in her heart.

(photos:statue in St.Colette Church, Brunswick, Ohio)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
____________________

Carmelite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 08:57:00 +0000

Photo Source: Wikipedia

St. Raphael Kalinowski

1835-1907

From a letter to his parents describing his call to Carmel:

A year ago there came to me, like an echo, a voice from the grilles of Carmel. This voice was clearly addressed to me and I have accepted it; it was a salvific voice from the infinite mercy of God commanding me. I can only exclaim, 'I will sing the mercies of the Lord forever.'

St. Raphael founded a Carmelite monastery in Wadowice, Poland the city where our late Holy Father, Pope St. John Paul II was born. To learn more about this little-known Carmelite saint, read Saint Raphael Kalinowski: An Introduction to His Life and Spirituality available from ICS Publications.

Thought for today: Could you describe your conversion/call to Carmel in just a few short sentences as St. Raphael has done? What would you say if someone asked you?

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 12:12:00 +0000

Saturday of Our Lady

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 04:01:00 +0000

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Photo: R. Massaro

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 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.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 23:47:00 +0000

CARMELITE QUOTE

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila):

Knowing ourselves is something so important that I wouldn't want any relaxation ever in this regard, however high you may have climbed into the heavens. While we are on this earth nothing is more important to us than humility. So I repeat that it is good, indeed very good, to try to enter first into the room where self-knowledge is dealt with rather than fly off to other rooms. This is the right road.

Interior Castle I 2:9

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Carmelite Saint of the Day-Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 05:30:00 +0000

Photo: R. Massaro Lourdes, France

St.Teresa Benedicta of the Cross , OCD

Feast Day: August 9

known in the world as Edith Stein

A prayer to St. Teresa

Lord, God of our fathers,

you brought St. Teresa Benedicta

to the fullness of the science of the cross

at the hour of her martyrdom.

Fill us with that same knowledge;

and, through her intercession,

allow us always to seek after you, the supreme truth,

and to remain faithful until death to the covenant of love

ratified in the blood of your Son

for the salvation of all men and women.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

"Love will be our eternal life."

Edith Stein

Read about St. Teresa

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/edith_stein.htm

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 10:52:00 +0000

Prayer To Our Lady of the Scapular

Carmelite Monastery Cleveland, Ohio

O Most Blessed and Immaculate Virgin, ornament and splendor of Carmel, you who look with an eye of special kindness on those who wear the Blessed Habit, look down also upon me and cover me with the mantle of your special protection. Strengthen my weakness with your power; enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom; increase in me faith, hope and love. Adorn my soul with such graces and virtues as will ever be pleasing to your divine Son and to you. Assist me in life, and console me in death, with your most holy presence, and present me to the most Holy Trinity as your devoted servant and child; that I may eternally bless and praise you in paradise. Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Feast of St. Elijah

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 03:31:00 +0000

St. Elijah

Feast Day: July 20

Prophet and Our Father
Carmelite Solemnity

The prophet of God, Elijah, was the first leader of monks, from whom this holy and ancient way of life took its origin. For he, having reached divine contemplation and filled with the desire for higher things, withdrew far from the cities, and laying aside all earthly and worldly things, was the first to begin to devote himself to following the religious and prophetic eremitical life, which, under the inspiration and command of the Holy Spirit, he initiated and formulated. Then God appeared to him and commanded him to flee from normal human habitation and hide himself in the desert away from the crowds, and thereafter live like a monk in the desert according to the way of life made known to him.

Excerpt from The Ten Books on the Way of Life and Great Deeds of the Carmelites, Felip Ribot, O.Carm.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

The Martys of Compiegne: Feast Day July 17

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 11:32:00 +0000

Photo Source: discalcedcarmel.org

https://carmelitenuns.uk/the-blessed-carmelite-martyrs-of-compiegne/

On 17 July we commemorate the 16 Blessed Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne, Mother Teresa of St Augustine and Companions, who were executed on 17 July 1794 during the French Revolution.

The Sisters had refused to comply with the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, a law passed in 1790, which subordinated the Catholic Church to the revolutionary government, confiscated all Church land and banned religious orders. The Carmelites of Compiègne resisted the suppression of their monastery and so were arrested in June 1794 and imprisoned at the former Visitation convent of Compiègne, where they offered themselves daily for the peace of France and the Church. On 17 July they were tried in Paris, convicted of treason and sentenced to death by guillotine. Providentially, they were wearing their outlawed religious habits, since their only secular clothes were being washed on the day of the trial.

The Sisters were then transported in tumbrels among a group of 40 condemned prisoners to the place of execution at the Place du Trône, Paris. On the journey, the Sisters chanted the combined Offices of Vespers and Compline. This included the Miserere, the penitential Psalm 50: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness…” and concluded with the Salve Regina. Eyewitness accounts report that the usually hostile crowds along the route were strangely silent.

On reaching the place of execution, Mother Teresa intoned the Te Deum, and then the Veni Creator Spiritus. Then all of the Sisters renewed their vows and Sr Constance, the youngest and still a novice, joined in, thus making Profession before mounting the scaffold. Sr Constance was the first to die, after kneeling for the blessing of her Prioress, and kissing a small staute of Our Lady. As she approached the guillotine, she intonedLaudate Dominum Omnes Gentes(Psalm 117) : “O praise the Lord, all you nations; acclaim him all you peoples. Strong is his love for us; he is faithful for ever.” This was taken up by all the Sisters, who continued to sing, with diminishing voices, until all had died. Usually executions were accompanied by shouting and cheers but there was only silence.

Sr Constance waved aside the executioner and his two assistants and approached the guillotine unaided. It is likely that the executions continued in order of religious profession. We know that Mother Teresa was the last. The 78 year old Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified was heard to say to the executioners “I forgive you, my friends. I forgive you with all that longing of heart with which I would that God forgive me!” The bodies of the Carmelites were buried in a Mass grave.

Many believe that the sacrifice of Mother Teresa of St Augustine and her community brought about the end of the ‘Reign of Terror’, which happened just 10 days later on 27thJuly 1794. Their story has captured the popular imagination, inspiring a novella by Gertrud von le Fort, a play by Georges Bernanos and an opera by Francis Poulenc. They were beatified by Pope St Pius X on 27 May 1906.

There is a British connection with the Compiègne Martyrs. The English Benedictine community of Cambrai were ejected from their monastery in 1792 and imprisoned at Compiègne. From June 1794, the Carmelites joined them, although they were detained separately. The Benedictine community testified to the holiness of the Compiègne sisters and believed that the Carmelites’ martyrdom saved their own lives. It may also be that their English nationality prevented them from being executed for treason. They remained in prison until April 1795, and were then banished to England, where they eventually settled at Stanbrook Abbey. Their only ‘possessions’ were the secular clothes of the Carmelites, which they wore. The surviving pieces of cloth and one espadrille are now venerated at Stanbrook as relics.

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 9

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 02:18:00 +0000

O Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Carmel, I thank you for having been pleased by your scapular to receive me under your special protection.

I promise that I will always be your faithful child and that I will always honor you  and strive to imitate your life of faith  and intimate union with your Son. 

I beg you dear Mother to be my Patroness and Protectress amid all the dangers of life  and to obtain for me the special favor I now implore and the grace of final perseverance.

(Mention your petition)

May the holy scapular which I wear in your honor as a sign of your maternal love and care for me ever remind me to be faithful to you and your Son Jesus.

May you guide me through life, protect me against sin and be a fruitful source of blessings for me from your Son, Jesus.

In the hour of my death, protect me against the assaults of hell, and assist me to arrive safely at the everlasting joys of heaven. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Carmel, pray for us. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray, 

O God, you honor the Order of Mount Carmel with the special title of the Most Blessed Mary, Ever Virgin, and Mother of your Son. Mercifully grant that through her maternal protection , we may deserve to arrive at everlasting union with You. 

Act of Consecration

Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, Queen Beauty of Carmel, I, this day, while wearing your holy scapular, choose you as my Mother and Queen. In order that my whole life may be entirely devoted to you, I consecrate myself to your Immaculate Heart. May the holy scapular of Carmel which I am resolved to wear day and night until death be for me a mirror of humility and chastity, an emblem of modesty and simplicity, an eloquent symbol of unceasing prayer and a special sign of my consecration to your Immaculate Heart. O illustrious Queen of Carmel, may the holy scapular inspire me to live in the spirit of my consecration all the days of my life. May it keep my body pure and my soul holy and may it lead me under your guidance to that degree of Christian perfection, to which God has called me. Then, when my last hour comes, may this “Sign of Salvation” save me from the fires of hell and the pains of purgatory according to your glorious promises, so that as soon as possible, I may join you, my Mother and Queen in the unending bliss of paradise. Amen.

Spirit Singing

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

THE SCHOOL OF CARMEL

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

EASTER SUNDAY

LITANY FOR HOLY WEEK

Saturday of Our Lady

WORDS OF WISDOM

Saturday of Our Lady

CARMELITE QUOTE

Saturday of Our Lady

Carmelite Quote

CARMELITE SAINT OF THE DAY

Saturday of Our Lady

Carmelite Saint of the Day-Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Feast of St. Elijah

The Martys of Compiegne: Feast Day July 17

The Blessed Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 9