Tag: Carmelite Customs

Defending God

Defending God

“In our time more than ever before, the greatest asset of those disposed toward evil is the cowardice and weakness of good men, and all the vigor of Satan's reign is due to the easygoing weakness of Catholics.” – St. Pius X As we see the world marching on its obstinate path away from God, we take heart in the example of souls who did believe, did hope and indeed loved! And were instruments of good and grace to transform the world, not only in their own time, but in centuries to come. These were the souls who found strength in understanding deeply their own weakness - and God's mighty strength. St. Teresa and St. Therese are two familiar names, but we also remember Blessed Nuno Alvarez, who was a knight become Carmelite, and St. Joan of Arc, who battled for the reign of Christ the King.

During this month of the rosary, in WEBSITE NEWS we remember other types of prayer beads called Chaplets.

These past few months have been full of projects – maintenance projects, landscaping projects, repair projects – and in COMMUNITY NEWS we share pictures of just a few of them. We also answer a question asked by many of our readers, “what are Carmelite recreations like?” Read More….

Freedom and the Martyrs of Compiegne

Freedom and the Martyrs of Compiegne

The day after the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is the feast day of the Martyrs of Compiegne, sixteen Carmelite Sisters who were put to death during the French revolution for remaining faithful to their religious life. We briefly visit their story, which is not well known, and discuss the irony – that though these woman were imprisoned and put to death for their Faith, not many experience the true freedom that they had. What exactly is freedom? To do whatever we want? “Liberty in the eyes of the world, is freedom to disobey as well as to obey, freedom to do evil as well as to do good. True liberty, according to the saints, is not freedom to disobey but only to obey, it is not freedom to do evil, but only to do good... It is the power to say with Satan: "I will not obey." ... If liberty is thus understood, clearly it is impossible to see how Jesus was free, He who never rebelled against divine authority or the commandments of His Father, and who could not rebel against them.” - Fr. Reginald Garrigous-Lagrange

In WEBSITE NEWS we have re-designed our Sacred Heart relic badge and describe the history of this devotion, beginning with Saint Margaret Mary herself. We also give suggestions for good spiritual reading.

All-night Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the highlight of our COMMUNITY NEWS. We also finished a vestment dedicated to St. Therese, the first face we have attempted with embroidery! Read More….

Advent and the Liturgy

Advent and the Liturgy

Beginning another liturgical year is meant to bring us all back to a vivid remembrance of God's purpose and plan of Redemption—and the call to holiness that His redemptive work has won for us. "Now during the season of Advent, our Lord knocks at the door of all men's hearts—at one time so forcibly that they must notice Him, at another, so softly that it requires attention and vigilance to know that Jesus is asking admission. He comes to ask them if they have room for Him, for He wishes to be born in their house.” – Abbot Dom Gueranger

In WEBSITE NEWS we give some good gift ideas for Christmas.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we give answers to some of the questions most frequently asked us by our readers: What do the Sister eat? What do the Sisters read? Do the Sisters use medicine and medicinal herbs like the monasteries of old? Read More….

The Rosary and The Carmelite Shield

The Rosary and The Carmelite Shield

This is the month of the Holy Rosary: “The Most Holy Virgin, in these last times in which we live, has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Holy Rosary. She has given this efficacy to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the religious communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations, that cannot be solved by the Rosary.” – Sister Lucia

We also answer a longstanding and good question some of our friends and readers have had—and that is about the meaning of the Carmelite Shield.

In WEBSITE NEWS the new calendar is available, and we also recommend some good spiritual reading about St. Therese.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we celebrated another first profession for one of our novices. We have also been busy growing vegetables and doing some small landscape projects. Read More….

Our Lady of the Rosary

Our Lady of the Rosary

October celebrates and honors in a special way Our Blessed Mother under this title—and the prayer and sacramental we call the rosary. We share with you thoughts from a special talk we received on the Feast Day about the words in the final prayer of the rosary “imitate what they contain (the mysteries of the rosary), and obtain what they promise.”

In WEBSITE NEWS we share with you details and photographs about how we make our rosaries.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we strive to fulfill St. Teresa’s request that the Carmelite life be dedicated to prayer and sacrifice, especially for priests, as we celebrate her feast day. Read More….

The Month of the Sacred Heart

The Month of the Sacred Heart

June is the month dedicated by the Church to honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus. What more beautiful devotion could there be than that of recalling, contemplating, confiding in, and returning God’s love for us?

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added many First Communion holy card to our site, to help commemorate this special day for any First Communicants you may know.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we celebrated the first profession of one of our novices. It was a special day with a quiet celebrations and private ceremony. We also finished a beautiful gold and blue solemn vestment set in honor of the Blessed Mother, a project we have been working on for quite some time! Read More….

The Two Teresas

The Two Teresas

October also brings us to the celebration of the feasts of the “Two Teresas”: Our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Our Mother, and Our dear Sister in heaven.

In WEBSITE NEWS we already begin to prepare for Christmas and once again give a book review from the Sisters.

In COMMUNITY NEWS, so very many of you ask how our new vocations are doing, and they are indeed well and facing with alacrity and enthusiasm the varied challenges of a new life. From a variety of different background, they are all learning together the different Carmelite customs and duties. Read More….

Queen of the May

Queen of the May

May is especially the month of Our Lady.” Here in Carmel, the Sisters cherish a tender affection and dedication to Mary. We have our own customs for making this month special.

In WEBSITE NEWS we give book reviews written by the Sisters – some of our favorite spiritual titles!

In COMMUNITY NEWS we describe the different steps to the religious life, Postulancy, the first year of the Novitiate, the taking of temporary vows, and finally the final profession and veiling. Read More….

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

On November 9th, Carmelites celebrated the centenary of the holy death in 1906 of a saintly, young Sister who loved God ardently and most fruitfully, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Divine Indwelling in the soul was the hallmark of her life and led her to give her life to God in Carmel.

In WEBSITE NEWS we were found to find some “spiritual” Christmas ornaments that reflect the true meaning of Christmas. We have also added Christmas books to our site.

In COMMUNITY NEWS our new postulants have settled in well and learn new things every day. We also talk about the Carmelite custom of chanting the Salve Regina every Saturday. Read More….

St. Bartholomew’s Day

St. Bartholomew’s Day

This feast day marks a special one for Carmel, since it is the day that Our Holy Mother St. Teresa founded the first Monastery of the reform 444 years ago. We mark the anniversary with a special procession in thanksgiving for our Carmel.

In WEBSITE NEWS “build a custom rosary” has continued to be improved, now allowing for side medals. We have expanded our offering of crucifixes and other religious art.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we celebrated the clothing ceremony of one of our novices, whose family came all the way from Poland to attend. Read More….