Tag: Carmelite Recreation

Independence Through Submission

Independence Through Submission

In recent newsletters, we have offered for your interest and devotion a discussion of the Vows of Religious Profession. We have spoken about Poverty and Chastity, both as virtue and vow; and we have tried to relate the important aspect of virtue to the Christian life of every one of us who belong to Christ – the vocation all Christians have to holiness, those who are not professed religious, as well as to Religious.

In this newsletter we consider the last vow of Obedience, the one that people find most difficult! The trouble is that it is hard to renounce what we all cling to most closely, what practically makes up the core of our personality: the independent use of our liberty. But in this is the gift that loving obedience is. Yes, the whole perfection of spiritual life – and the whole of true freedom – consists in the renouncement of self-will, as St. Bonaventure tells us.

We discuss the vow of Obedience as lived in religious life, the virtue as it leads to Faith, and how Obedience heals the very root of sin, and is therefore a good Lenten Penance.

In WEBSITE NEWS we give suggestions for Lenten reading and introduce several new children’s books and Missals.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we are working on sewing projects, including new habits for an upcoming clothing ceremony. We are keeping in our prayers all of those who have effected by the corona virus. Read more…

An Advent Novena

An Advent Novena

The “Christmas Novena” is a beautiful short prayer to help us prepare for the great feast of Christmas, Starting on the Feast of St. Andrew. St. Andrew, the brother of St. Peter, was known for his great love of the Cross and is a reminder to us where what the Nativity was only the beginning of, Christ’s act of Redemption. “O good Cross, made beautiful by the body of the Lord; long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you out; and now you are ready for my eager soul.” – St. Andrew

Early December we have the Feast of two Carmelite Martyrs, Blessed Denis of the Nativity and Blessed Redemptus of the Cross.

In WEBSITE NEWS we review the history behind the Miraculous Medal, and study the deep symbolism and lessons contained in its design – a design made by the Blessed Mother Herself! We also added an Advent chaplet to our site.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we update you on our many projects, and deal with a subject that is constantly being enquired about. “Please tell us how you became Sisters.” Every person’s path, story behind their vocation, is unique. Read More….

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….

Why must we do Penance?

Why must we do Penance?

Once again it is the season of Lent, and we have again taken up the Christian warfare against sin in and around us. The true Christian always has the answer to the question, "Why do we suffer?" And closely related to that question, especially during Lent, is, "Why must we do penance?" The questions remain at the heart of many sorrowful, confused lives - and they are answered by the most sound, consoling responses, all rooted in the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Saints and the holy friends of God give us the key to understanding suffering.

In WEBSITE NEWS we look at the history behind and symbolism contained in the St. Benedict Medals. It is the only medal blessed by the Church with a special exorcism and is very powerful against the devil! Holy water is also a very powerful weapon against temptations, and we briefly discuss its significance, especially in light of the upcoming feast of Easter. Our Lenten newsletters also always contain suggestions for good Lenten spiritual reading.

A beautiful vest in honor of St. Joseph, complete with green velvet and intricate embroidery, is finally finished. We share some of the adventures with you in our COMMUNITY NEWS section, along with an important discovery we made for the Lenten Carmelite diet, fava beans! Read More….

Fires and Floods

Fires and Floods

The events of this long, difficult summer have kept us from writing a newsletter sooner! Our sincere thanks to all who have emailed and written with concern to ask about our safety during the June forest fires and the heavy rains and floods of September. Sadly, many who have not faith, question how a loving God could allow such devastation to take place. And even those who do have faith very often do not understand why we suffer. Why are we left to our loneliness and loss? Has God forgotten us, our troubles, our need? On the contrary, the God of heaven and earth - our sovereign, strong, living God - sends and permits trouble and sorrow for the very purpose of making us know our need and to draw us from the superficial things of life. "Suffering, when accepted in the right spirit, enhances the understanding: it reveals the secret nature of things and shows everything as it is.

In WEBSITE NEWS we are still working on the new website, and have added a woodcarved image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to our site. We decided to embroider the tiny scapulars for this image ourselves!

In COMMUNITY NEWS the Black Forest Fire only a few miles from us encouraged us to do some mitigation on our own property. We were able to have a procession to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Read More….

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fatima, and The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fatima, and The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The founding Mothers of our Carmel chose the name of our Monastery, Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Hearts, largely because of their devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. At Fatima, Our Lady promised that if her requests were fulfilled, God would grant the world a time of peace, but there can be little doubt that the solemn requests of Our Lady at Fatima have not been fulfilled. What do Carmelites do when faced with this heartbreaking reality?

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added some new books to our site.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we mention the large fire that destroyed many homes only thirteen miles from us. We also tell he special story of an adoption that was arranged between families of the Carmelite Sisters. Read More….

Lent in Secret

Lent in Secret

But before Carmel's yet deeper retreat from the world during these Holy Forty Days, we pass onto you a few lessons the Church offers her children to guide them through this time. "No Lent," the St. Andrew Missal instructs, "is worthy of the name without a personal effort of self-reformation, of leading a life more in accordance with God's commands and an attempt by some kind of voluntary self-denial to make reparation for past negligence.

A wonderful Carmelite Saint who faithfully followed the Savior's example in mortification was St. Teresa Margaret of the Divine Heart.

In WEBSITE NEWS we have expanded our cord rosary options.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we continue our Liturgical sewing work. We also comment on St. Teresa’s words: “God save us from sad-faced saints!” Read More….

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Greetings to you all as we celebrate Carmel’s great Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This feast is not only for Carmelites, but is beloved by all of Mary’s children, since so many of them wear her Scapular. “Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel indicates a strong call to the interior life…” – Divine Intimacy

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added Third Order Ceremonial Scapulars to our site.

We share some stories of the community in COMMUNITY NEWS - vestment projects, fresh produce from the local markets, and friendly teasing amongst the Sisters. Read More….

End of the World

End of the World

People are not only wondering about tomorrow, but about the last tomorrow—the end of time, the end of all things, the day when God sends His angel to announce, “Time is no more!” For in world events, do we not all hear the echo of Christ’s own words? There will be “wars and rumors of wars … nation will rise against nation…there will be pestilences and famines and earthquakes…But all these things are the beginnings of sorrows…iniquity will abound, the charity of the many will grow cold…”

In WEBSITE NEWS we give ideas for meaningful Christmas gifts.

COMMUNITY NEWS find us creating another shrine on our grounds, this one to Our Lady of Fatima, besides dealing with some critter infestations on the grounds and some stories shared from our recreations. 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….