Category: Christmas and Advent

All Saints of Carmel

All Saints of Carmel

As the liturgical year comes to a close, this presentation of all of the victors in the Heavenly court not only honors God’s work in them, but is meant to spur us on and give us courage during this “last lap” of the Liturgical Year. Holy Mother Church directs our gaze to the end of time, to the end of our time at our death. But she also puts before us all of these holy examples of people just like ourselves – full of human weakness, besought by trouble and sorrows, tempted by the world and the devil – as a compelling lesson and encouragement.

We also have many new products to share for Advent and Christmas Read More….

The Epiphany Season

The Epiphany Season

The Feast of Epiphany follows the traditional “twelve days of Christmas” on January 6th. Still of the Christmas cycle, it celebrates the “Manifestation” of Christ to men. It is the Feast, commemorating the adoration of the wise men, that was chosen by St. Teresa for the formal renewal of vows.

We also invite you once again take part in the Candlemas blessing of candles on February 2nd. Read more…

The End and the Beginning

The End and the Beginning

In the masterpiece of the Divine Liturgy of Holy Church, we hear much about the end of time in these final weeks of the liturgical year. The theme that dominates the Last Sunday after Pentecost and the First Sunday of Advent is the end of time and the Final Judgement. This theme is the link that draws together the end of this year of grace and the beginning of the next, setting us once again on the path that will make present Christ in all of the mysteries of His Redemption. Let us strive more fervently each year to live them in more deeply, more completely than in years past.

We also share all of our new items for Christmas, relic badges, handmade ornaments, and Christmas scented candles. Read More….

Candlemas

Candlemas

This feast marks the official end of the “Christmas season,” and serves as something as a fulcrum between the first part of the liturgical year, Christmas and Epiphany, and the second part, Lent, Passiontide, and Easter. For while the joy and charm of Christmas and the Birth of the Christ Child are renewed with prayers that proclaim Him “the Light of the World,” this event in Our Lord’s life was His “Offertory” – the prelude to His sufferings and redemptive work. It is also the day designated for the special blessing of candles, an important Sacramental for the Church.

We also introduce new our new offering of scented candles and give suggestions for Lenten reading. Read more…

Look Up, Lift Up Your Head

Look Up, Lift Up Your Head

Throughout the important Feastdays celebrated this past month (Christ the King, All Saints Day, Commemoration of the Poor Souls), one cannot help but turn one’s thoughts to one’s own eternal destiny. The joys of Heaven, the purifications of Purgatory….all are brought before our minds just as the Liturgical Year comes to a climax. It is the intention of Holy Mother Church that we turn our meditations towards our death and judgment, and ultimately the Last Judgement, which is both the theme of the last few Sundays of the year and the focus of the penitential season of Advent.

Meditating on the Last Judgement, and even our own death, has a very specific and salutary purpose in the spiritual life: it serves as both warning and consolation.

In WEBSITE NEWS we explore some of the meaning Catholic meaning behind popular Christmas customs and give recommendations for Spiritual Reading. Read more…

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

“O Emmanuel!” (God with us) This is the last of the “O Antiphons,” and it will be sung today during Vespers. It is the final heartrending plea of Holy Mother Church before the great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. We must all make this plea our own, perhaps more than ever before in our own lifetimes. Read More….

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace

Most people desire peace. They desire peace of mind and of heart, peace with themselves, in their families and friendships, peace at work and at home. They have a constant yearning for it, but so often, it seems ever out of reach. Perhaps it seems out of reach because many don’t know what peace really is. In this newsletter we discuss what peace is and how it is attained.

In WEBSITE NEWS we remember some chaplets that would be good to pray in these times, most especially the Rosary, which was recommended to us by Our Lady of Fatima: "Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world."

In COMMUNITY NEWS we describe a “normal” day at Carmel, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night. Read more…

Thoughts for Advent

Thoughts for Advent

We share a few thoughts and meditations as we get ready to start the season of Advent and a new Liturgical year.

In WEBSITE NEWS many suggestions for spiritual reading and show samples of some of our new Christmas card designs.

In COMMUNITY NEWS thank God for the blessing of the new building and share some pictures from our daily work. Read more…

Carmelite All Saints Day

Carmelite All Saints Day

It has long been the custom of Catholic Religious Orders to have a separate day, usually in November, to honor their own particular saints. Today, November 14th, is Carmelite All Saints Day . Again, just as on November 1st, the emphasis is on those whose feast day is not on the regular liturgical calendar, and those "unknown" Saints. We would like to introduce you to a few of these Carmelites - holy, prayerful, apostolic, heroic, and in love with Christ Our Lord: St. Peter Thomas, Blessed John Soreth, Blessed Fances D’Amboise, Sister Marie of Saint Peter, Mother Elias, and many others.

In WEBSITE NEWS we discuss the importance of Patron Saints, and the practice of using or wearing patron Saint medals. Of course there are preparations to be made for the season of Advent, and we are still working on our new website.

The biggest announcement in COMMUNITY NEWS is the start of a new building project. Read More….