Category: Newsletters by Year

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…

Holy Simplicity

Holy Simplicity

Simplicity in life and in our spiritual life is what our loving God desires for us. God, Who is holiness and simplicity itself, and Who made us in His Own image, urges us by His grace in our souls, to become like Him. The lesson of simplicity is really all about detachment and trustful abandonment to God and His Providence – all for love’s sake and for the life that we must share with God. It’s about love!

In WEBSITE NEWS we give the history and describe the beautiful symbolism behind devotion to the Infant of Prague, as well as spiritual reading suggestions and suggestions for Advent.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we share pictures of our projects from the last few months, especially new gowns we made for the renovation of our own Infant of Prague statue. Read More….

King and Center of All Hearts

King and Center of All Hearts

In times of worldwide unrest, we instinctively look for answers and for someone to lead us out of it; a leader who could pacify the unruly chaos that rules society and so troubles humanity. The sublime prayer of the Litany of the Sacred Heart addresses Our Lord with many worthy titles that both proclaim and petition His Heart’s mercy to help, guide and lead us. One of these is Heart of Jesus, King and Center of all hearts, have mercy on us!

In WEBSITE NEWS We share devotionals related to the Sacred Heart, including many different images for enthronement in the home.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we review some of the events in the Monastery the past few months, from the late Winter storm to our latest vestment project. Read More….

Our Lord in the desert
Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline

Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline

The time of Lent is perhaps the only time that some people think to take stock of their lives with some measure of seriousness. That is a good thing – and this “taking stock” is meant to become a habit in the spiritual life. Indeed, it is something serious Christians do every day. It is called examination of conscience. How do we make a good examination of conscience?

In WEBSITE NEWS we introduce a new book Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline, as well a new Passin of Christ relic badge, Gregorian chant streaming, and Pastel colored Easter candles.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we remember many deceased persons related to our Carmel. 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…

Ecce Mater Tua

Ecce Mater Tua

The greatest gifts are often given to us in the midst of trouble and sorrow. We may not recognize them at the time, but later on, when time has passed, we gain some understanding of the treasures bestowed in sorrow. Behold the hill of Calvary and the Holy Cross – no treasure can compare with the wealth of good that came to all the world, for all time, to every soul from Love Crucified. With redemption and the victory over sin and death, we also received a Mother. In the history of the Church, God’s Mother and ours has revisited her sorrows by visiting earth – always with a message of compassion for our peace. What can we learn from our compassionate and sorrowful Mother?

In WEBSITE NEWS speak briefly about the rosary, St. Therese, and our new St. Michael relic badge.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we celebrate the First Profession of one of our novices. Read more…

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Model of the Interior Life

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Model of the Interior Life

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has as its particular trait dedication to the interior life. What is the interior life? What is its importance and how do we grow? How is the Blessed Mother a perfect model and teacher for us? The liturgical Feast days of the past few months (Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, and Sacred Heart) follow closely upon the Paschal Season and Pentecost. These three mysteries encapsulate as precious fruits of the Redemption, providing sure direction for our spiritual life.

In WEBSITE NEWS we give many reading recommendations for aid in the interior life. We also introduce our eBay store as a payment solution for U.K. and E.U. customers.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we review some projects from the past few months: vestment projects, raising a litter of puppies and others. We also take a brief look at our time. Read More….

In His Likeness

In His Likeness

In these few short years, when we have seen so many changes in the “landscape” of the world – personally, socially, culturally, politically, morally, emotionally – we felt it very fitting and timely this Lent to give further emphasis to devotion to the Holy Face and its original and ongoing purpose.

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added several images of the Holy Face to our selection of religious art. Each image has a special history and background.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we recently enshrined an image of the Holy Face in our new oratory. We also introduce the four puppies that were born at the Monastery last month. 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….