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
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
Persevere
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D A few months ago, we were taking stock of our lives as we closed out 2021 and entered 2022. Hopefully, many of us took some time to reflect upon how we wanted to grow in freedom and maturity by looking at the areas...
New Beginnings
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D Another January 1st. This time it’s 2022. We have no idea what this year will hold. For some, this statement brings a sense of excitement, for others fear. But, do you know there is one thing we can be certain of?...
You are Good
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. Individually, we’re each going through our own life journey…whatever that looks like. Interpersonal struggles. Struggles with the past. Struggles within the family. Struggles at work. Struggles to pray. Struggles to...
A Truly Random Carmelite Musing
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. Praised be Jesus Christ! Greetings to Alanna (you know who you are) to Rose (you know who you are) and to Sylvie (if you don’t know who you are, you’re in trouble). ? It’s nice to know that someone is actually...
Remembering
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. It seems as if every day something happens that deeply impacts or changes the trajectory of life for at least one person we know. Every day. It could be illness, a change in one’s job, a birth, graduation, getting...
A Letter from Mother Luisita to read during times of Worry and Anxiety
A Letter from Mother Luisita to read during times of Worry and Anxiety Be very united with Our Lord so that your prayer may be continual, and at the same time, full of confidence in God. Be entirely at peace. What we have to do, myself included, is to become saints,...
Resistance
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. No one likes to be told what to do, when to do it, or how to do it. When this happens, something inside of us puts up resistance, it’s almost like an instinctive reflex. Even little ones seem to thrive on saying...
St. Therese
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. I did not like St. Therese. At all. First off, prior to the convent, I was a bit clueless about saints. Saints did not feel like real people. Their holy cards always looked a bit too “fake”. I also didn’t know...
Special People
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. What makes someone special? Do you see yourself as a special person? Would you look at your parents and siblings and think they are special people? Your neighbors down the street? Your friends from school, your...
Hiking Life: Attaining the Summit
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. While walking along the mountain paths of Wrightwood, thoughts of life and how I approach life kept filtering through my mind. The altitude, the creaking knees, the inclines (and I mean the INCLINES!), the pace, the...
Self-Knowledge
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. It is likely that many of us think we know ourselves pretty well. And why not? We live in our own skins, don’t we? We know our likes and dislikes, we value our own thoughts, opinions and insights, we like the way we...
Mother Luisita’s Letter: To Read During Times of Discouragement and Depression
My beloved child, So, you are feeling depressed? And sad? I understand that you are feeling as if your soul is troubled. Is it true? I’d like this letter to be as close as possible to a real face-to-face visit with you. Ay, my child, I can’t agree with you! You can’t...
Glass Half Empty or Half Full?
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. This reflection comes from someone who is not naturally a super optimistic person. Meaning, I tend to see the glass half empty – so when it becomes even emptier, I’m not disappointed. On the other hand, when the...
Grace-Filled Maturity
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. Age. One of my favorite topics. I’m actually teased endlessly in the convent because of this. Let me tell you why. As I grow older (whatever that means) I find it fascinating. People never look their age to me...
Proper Perspective
Carmelite MusingsBy Sister Mary Scholastica, O.C.D. This probably happens to everyone, especially as one grows older, but I find myself regularly marveling at how quickly time passes. And somehow in living each day however we choose to live it, it’s forming us,...
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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