For greater things you were born
“The soul of each Carmelite raises herself to Christ, who is her heaven,
while her shadow falls in charity upon earth doing good to all people.”
– Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa
The Contemplative
Spirit of Carmel
with Apostolic Works
For greater things you were born
“The soul of each Carmelite raises herself to Christ, who is her heaven,
while her shadow falls in charity upon earth doing good to all people.”
– Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa
Our Sisters are located across the United States!
The Carmelite Sisters are currently promoting a deeper spiritual life among God’s people through healthcare, education and retreats in 12 sites from California to Florida.
BLOGS
A Sign of Contradiction
by Sister Isabelle, O.C.D. Lift high the Cross!!! There we can see what it looks like to love even unto death. There we can see what God is to the core – PURE LOVE. As we watch the firefighters work day and night to save our lives, we can see His love incarnate once...
Back to School: Why We Do What We Do
By Sister Mary Louise, O.C.D. Back to school. Usually that phrase brings to mind a set of familiar routines and predictable procedures. For much of America and even the world, that is not the case this year. Whether you are heading back to in-person or distance...
First Disciple
By: Sister Mary Colombiere The devotion of the Brown Scapular originates in the history of Our Lady of Mount Carmel when Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in the 1200s presenting to him the scapular and promised: "This is a privilege for you and your brethren:...
The Gift of Our Mothers
As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, our sisters share their remembrances of what their own mother’s taught them. We’d like to share their blessings with you.
Will You Let Her Immaculate Heart Triumph this Mother’s Day?
by: Sister Isabelle, O.C.D. On May 1st, about one week before Mother’s Day, our Archbishop Jose Gomez re-consecrated our country to Mary. With deep filial love he called to mind her promise at Fatima, that in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph. There she also...
Stand Your Ground
by: Sister Isabelle, O.C.D. Has it crossed your mind that what we are experiencing these days is similar to what it was like to live during a World War? The “greatest” generation of those who lived through the Second World War has much to speak to us of the unity,...
Sense of Humor
What Kind of Rice Is That?!By Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. I signed up to make creamy chicken soup with wild rice for our sisters’ Easter Sunday lunch. To show how clueless I am in the kitchen, I figured the rice comes in a box and the chicken comes already cooked...
Plunge into the Merciful Heart of God
By Sister Isabelle, OCD Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in YOU! These are the last words that our religious family says together each night as we kneel before Jesus in the Tabernacle. Kneeling with Mary at the foot of the Cross, with our arms outstretched...
Gift of Priesthood
Praying for priests is central to our vocation as Carmelites. On Holy Thursday, the day we commemorate the Institution of the Eucharist and of the Priesthood, we hold our priests in prayer in a special way. Praying with the words of St. Therese: "This is the vocation...
The Joy that Nothing Can Take Away
By Sr. Isabelle “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy…Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:20- 22) Jesus is calling us to a deep level of courage as we walk with Him this...
Mother Luisita’s Letter on Experiencing God’s Peace
My beloved child, May the peace of God dwell within your soul! How have you been, my child? It should always be easy to write to a mother. It is done spontaneously, understanding that everything will be well-received by a mother because the child empties his/her soul...
Our Spiritual First Responders
There are no words to adequately express the depth of appreciation in our hearts for our priests – "Alter Christus." To be another Christ is "to lay down your life for your friends" - a total gift of selfless love in serving the flock of Christ, guiding and...
His Absence Makes My Heart Grow Fonder
Yesterday I was on the phone with one of our dear friends who is wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. She is experiencing great loss at being unable to even make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament during these days of quarantine. After we spoke, my...
Behold Your Handmaid
By: Sister Jeannine Marie, O.C.D. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” These words hold within them a depth of mystery one can hardly fathom. We all know that any celebration of Mary is first and foremost a celebration of her Son, Jesus. The feast of the Annunciation is...
Brave Enough to Praise
Have you ever been in awe of how St. Paul and the early Christians could be singing songs of praise from prison (Acts 16:5)? Or how Daniel, after hearing that he was not to worship His God on pain of death, went to his home and facing Jerusalem, “…prayed, giving...
Have you heard the Call?
A vocation to the consecrated life is a specific call from God to a specific person. It is real. It is compelling. It is an invitation. The same invitation given to the apostles – “Come, follow Me.”
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If you live near or in Alhambra and are interested in volunteering at our retreat center, click here!
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