community of Sisters sitting in pews

Family Spirit

By Sister Timothy Marie, O.C.D.

When I hear the words “family spirit” so many, many thoughts crowd into my mind. “Family Spirit” is a concept that includes so many things that it is hard to include them all here. I guess it could be summed up as “Life” with its good times and bad times and all the time in between.. We love, we suffer, we grow, we forgive. All of this can bind us together deeply.

When I entered the Carmelite Sisters, a new concept of family was introduced to me. I’ve reflected on it many times since. It is a concept focused on God….the Holy Trinity. This new concept introduced me to the Holy Trinity as the union of three divine Persons in loving, infinite, ultimate communion one with another. And all families are a reflection and extension of the Holy Trinity. And that is the family spirit that should abide in all families, as well as in our Carmelite family. It takes the Holy Spirit’s help to understand this even a little.

This amazing truth is way over my head. Through prayer, God can and will enlighten us if we ask. “Come Holy Spirit!”

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