De Colores...

 

 

 

"Janua Coeli"

During the last years of her life and during her last illness, St. Elizabeth often referred to Mary as “Janua Coeli” (Gate of Heaven).  

She was seen often in the presence of the statue of the Virgin of Lourdes.

Elizabeth carried this statue with her almost continuously – even when she was absent from the infirmary.

 

 

 

  

 

Mary And the Carmelite Saints

This is a little project that describes the relationship of several famous Carmelite Saints and the Most Blessed Virgin Mary:

• St. Teresa of Jesus
• St. John of the Cross
• St. Therese of Lisieux
• St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
• St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
• St. Teresa of the Andes
• St. Mary of Jesus Crucified
• St. Raphael Kalinowski

English and Spanish versions are available.

The online booklet is available here:

http://anyflip.com/fmnq/bdqn  (English, Black Background)
http://anyflip.com/fmnq/lkpq  (English, White Background)
http://anyflip.com/fmnq/vrfw  (Spanish, Black Background)


The booklet can be downloaded (PDF format) here:

Mary Booklet -- English, Black (PDF -- English, Black Background)
Mary Booklet -- English, White (PDF -- English, White Background)
Mary Booklet -- Spanish, Black (PDF -- Spanish, Black Background)


There is also a 5-part video series on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEaPq9IxkbtW8f-VQlR5rboFghlFqwN42

In Union and Moved By the Spirit...

God alone moves these souls [who have reached habitual union with God] toward those works that are in harmony with his will and ordinance, and they cannot be moved toward others. Thus the works and prayer of these souls always produce their effect.

Such were the prayer and the works of our Lady, the most glorious Virgin raised from the very beginning to this high estate, she never had the form of any creature impressed in her soul, nor was she moved by any, for she was always moved by the Holy Spirit.

St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt. Carmel, Book 3, 2:10

Let Go Of Your Plans...

 

 

Preparation for Communion...

St. Therese lived in the presence of the Blessed Mother when fulfilling the most important act of the day: receiving Holy Communion. This was her method of preparing:

 

I picture to myself my soul as an open field from which I ask the Blessed Virgin to remove the obstacles which are my imperfections…At the moment of Communion, I sometimes imagine my soul is a child of three or four years, who has just come from play, hair disheveled, and clothes disorderly and soiled. These are the injuries that I meet in combating with souls…. Then comes the Blessed Virgin and in a moment makes me respectable looking and fit to assist at the Banquet of the Angels without shame (Autobiography, 254)

 

 

 

In Praise of Mercy...

To give worthy praise to the Lord's mercy,
we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother,

for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You,
because She is chosen from among men and angels.

Through Her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us.

Through Her, man became pleasing to God;

Through Her, streams of grace flowed down upon us.

(St. Faustina Diary, 1746)