Tag: Statues

The Apostles’ Retreat

The Apostles’ Retreat

It was during these days of the “first retreat” between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost that the Apostles underwent the last and most difficult part of their spiritual training. The season of Pentecost is the season of sanctification. Throughout our life, it is our turn to “fight the good fight” and carry Christ’s truth and victory banner into the world.

We also remember the anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima and all her message means for the modern world.

In WEBSITE NEWS we give suggestions for reading during this holy Liturgical season, introduce some new images of Blessed Mother, and give an update on our attempts to update the rosary ordering process on our website.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we finally finished the big vestment project we have been working on for the last four years – a solemn vestment set for Easter. We share pictures and stories of how a solemn set like this is made. 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…

The Sacred Hearts and Fatima

The Sacred Hearts and Fatima

This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima. In the June apparition, Our Lady showed us Her Immaculate Heart and asked for reparation. We look at a side by side comparison between the apparitions and requests of the Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary, and those made by Our Blessed Mother at Fatima. We also bring to mind the miracle at Hiroshima, that community that miraculously survived the nuclear bombing because of their faithfulness to Our Lady’s message.

In WEBSITE NEWS we look at the history of Sacred Images such as pictures, their importance as sacramentals, their meaning, and the aid that they can be to our spiritual life.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we concentrate on the beautiful procession we were able to have in honor of Our Lady, as well as the many other projects that are keeping us busy. Read More….

“With Zeal I Have Been Zealous for the Lord God of Hosts”

“With Zeal I Have Been Zealous for the Lord God of Hosts”

On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we remember briefly the history of this ancient devotion. The Feast of St. Elias is also this month. Why is it his quote, “with zeal I have been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts,” the motto of Carmel? What exactly is zeal? Have we lost the meaning of this important virtue in our days, where passion and fervor for one’s belief is looked upon as fanaticism? We trace this characteristic of Carmel throughout the Order’s history, starting with St. Elias and ending with St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, who in her all-consuming passion for the glory God became “Patron of the Missions,” despite being a cloistered Carmelite Nun: “How long do you halt between two sides? If the Lord be God, follow him.” (3 Kings 18:21).

In WEBSITE NEWS we have added resin statues to our selection of statues, a more economical option than the wood-carved ones. In honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel we also study the history and meaning behind the brown scapular, an extension of our habit!

In COMMUNITY NEWS we give an update on the new puppy in Carmel, who (it seems) has captured the hearts of our readers! Vestment work, gardening, and battling infestations of wasps and hornets…we have been keeping busy in Carmel! 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….

Divine Providence

Divine Providence

Who among us is without personal, family, health, and economic troubles these days? How should we all face these trials, sometimes so overwhelming and so humbling? The Christian’s answer lies in the beautiful mystery of Divine Providence. There is a divine purpose in whatever occurs in our lives, and we must strive to see that purpose in every person, every event, every joy, and every pain that we experience.

In WEBSITE NEWS we have been concentrating on our scramentals apostolate. Just what are sacramentals? We always like to explain what they are by borrowing a definition most familiar to Catholics of all ages: A sacramental is an outward sign, instituted by Christ through His Church to give grace.

In COMMUNITY NEWS we have finished the new shrine to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and are busy preparing the garden for winter. Read More….

Death, Advent, and Hope

Death, Advent, and Hope

The thought of death is not, and must not be, a morbid thing. No. Correctly seen, this life of time, given by God, is only temporary and but the brief, passing trial that must bring us to eternity. Our Lord and His Saints teach us this incessantly. These are good thoughts to lead us into the liturgical season of Advent. For in this season of penitential, yet joyful anticipation, the Church continues these thoughts, as She presents for our reflection the coming of Christ Our Lord, not only in time, but also at the end of time.

In WEBSITE NEWS we have made available many beautiful woodcarvings of the Infant of Prague, the Guardian Angels, and some of the Saints. They are imported from Italy, and we are very pleased with the quality!

In COMMUNITY NEWS not only did we celebrate the clothing of one of our Novices, but we also celebrated the citizenship of our Sister from England. We are also improving on the Our Lady of Mount Carmel shrine in our courtyard. Read More….