We Need More Science...

 

 

The Most Beautiful Day of My Life...

On that day

When Jesus made his home in me,

When God took possession of my heart

So completely, so well, that since that hour,

Since that secret interchange, that divine, delightful exchange,

My one desire has been to give my life,

To repay some little way his mighty love,

To the Beloved of the Eucharist

Who lives within my feeble heart,

Flooding it with his favors....

The most beautiful day of my life...

 

 

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Poems #47

 

 

 

 

A Cross...

There's a hiking trail with a small hill on it behind my home.  At the top, someone's planted a stainless-steel cross in the ground.  The monument has the words "Charlie Bremer" etched on it. 

Perhaps this person passed away or met with an untimely death.  But I could find no record of this person or the individual(s) that erected the memorial on the internet.

The ascent to this area can be challenging, but it is at the same time rewarding.

With tired legs and labored breath, one looks upward and is inspired to continue climbing, to keep moving..  Always drawing closer to the cross...

Will You?

 

 

On St. Michael...

[This article is taken from https://soulofacarmelite.com/category/st-michael/ ]

All Catholics should consecrate themselves to St.Michael who is the leader of all the armies of God. Make the consecration below and renew it often.


O St. Michael the Archangel, most Noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God, and zealous lover of His Glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just, desiring to be numbered among thy devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to thee, and place myself, my family and all I possess under thy most powerful protection.

Coming to Carmel and Marian Devotion...

Was thinking today about some words Fr. Deeney mentions in his book "Welcome to the Secular Order...".  Candidates seeking to enter the Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) will usually read this book as part of their curriculum their first or second year.

In one of the early chapters, Father talks about the qualities that are desirable for individuals seeking to enter Carmel as secular members.  Fr. Deeney remarks (rather forcefully) that one's love and honor for the Blessed Mother in and of itself does not a good Carmelite make.

A person comes to the community, a person with a great love of the Blessed Mother, who wants to wear the scapular in honor of Mary as a sign of dedication to her service...

There are so many committed Catholics who are devoted to Mary and even experts in Saint Teresa, Saint John of the Cross, or one of our saints who do not have the vocation to the Secular Order... All the other aspects of Marian life and devotion can be present, devotion to the scapular, the rosary, and other things...

It is not the spirituality, nor the study, nor the devotion to Mary...

A very frequent experience of many groups is to have a person approach the Secular Order to become a member, . . . (someone) who is very devoted to Mary, a person who has been on many pilgrimages to Marian shrines throughout the world, a person who is very familiar with many of the apparitions and messages attributed to Mary, a real authority on current Marian movements... 

There are other Marian groups and movements that might be the home for this person, but it is not the Secular Order.

Fr. P. Aloysius Deeney, OCD


Thank you Fr. Deeney.  Of course this is true.

But I might add for those of us who have made a commitment to Carmel, that our love for Our Blessed Mother is now rooted and anchored.  We have a strong desire to continue to know and learn more about this Lady and Mother.  

Indeed, our devotion for her can only increase over the years -- against a backdrop of the new Carmelite way of life. 

Carmel (of course) should mean a continued growth in Marian life and devotion...

Attitude Toward Work

Brother Lawrence explains his custom of bringing the presence of Christ with him during his day:

Completely immersed in my understanding of God’s majesty, I used to shut myself up in the kitchen. Alone, after having done everything that was necessary for my work, I devoted myself to prayer in the time that was left.

The prayer time was really taken at both the beginning and the end of my work. At the beginning of my duties, I would say to the Lord with confidence, “My God, since You are with me and since, by Your will, I must occupy myself with external things, please grant me the grace to remain with You, in Your presence. Work with me, so that my work might be the very best. Receive as an offering of love both my work and all my affections.”

During my work, I would always continue to speak to the Lord as though He were right with me, offering Him my services and thanking Him for His assistance. Also, at the end of my work, I used to examine it carefully. If I found good in it, I thanked God. If I noticed faults, I asked His forgiveness without being discouraged, and then went on with my work, still dwelling in Him.       

Thus, continuing in the practice of conversing with God throughout each day and quickly seeking His forgiveness when I fell or strayed, His presence has become as easy and natural to me now as it once was difficult to attain.