Blog | Carmelite Spirituality
Why Consecrated Chastity?
Several years ago a voice was heard bellowing out in an airport waiting area,
“Chaste for 45 years!”
The surrounding space was electrified as heads turned toward us as I stood facing a non-Christian gentleman who had asked me if we practiced chastity and then posed to me the question of “How long have you been a Sister?”
Henceforth You Will Be Called
Just as God gave man dominion over the birds of the air and the fish of the sea and empowered him to name them, so Our Lord, in His love and power, names us with “a new name” as we enter the consecrated life.
Why Mary?
Why do we honor and show such regard for Our Blessed Lady? Why Mary? The number one reason is Jesus himself…
Getting To The Heart of the Matter
In our devotion to the Sacred Heart we reflect on Jesus in His humanity. John Paul II had reminded us that “In the Heart of Christ, man’s heart learns to know the genuine and unique meaning of his life and of his destiny…” Thus the devotion to the Heart of Jesus is for us as Carmelites a very real part of our pilgrimage to the Father for we can only come to Him through Jesus.
What is the Carmelite Charism? (Pt. 2)
Every religious community is unique because it lives out the charism or gift of the Holy Spirit, that vision of how to follow Christ imparted to its founder or foundress, to fulfill a need in the upbuilding of the Church and which determines the life of the community and the mission entrusted to it…
Why does my faith walk seem so lonely to me at times?
When times grow hard and the light grows dim, in times of testing and trial, it is then that the virtue of faith comes into action. Belief can be a powerful motivator, and a deep faith keeps us moving through the darkness.
What is a Charism? (Pt. 1)
In Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel Jesus tells us that He came that we might have life and have it to the full. Jesus does not measure His gifts; He gives over and above. He draws us to Himself by Truth, Beauty and/or Goodness. No one of these aspects can be expressed completely by one charism. A charism can only reflect back to us one facet of God’s perfection, yet even that facet itself is never exhausted…
Pray Always?
“Seriously? Pray always?” That is not an uncommon reaction to St. Paul’s admonition to pray always without ceasing. Does he know what we’re up against?
Keeping Faith Alive During the Dark Nights of Life
An honest cry for help cannot be ignored by the living God. “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Scripture teaches us how to cry out to God. This cry from the heart doesn’t have to be refined. It may only be a groan in the depths of the heart, but He will understand. He promised that His Word is a shield in time of battle. Shields don’t help unless we use them…
Practical Prayer Tips from the Carmelite Sisters
The important thing is that you want to pray. You yearn to spend some time with God in prayer. Each person has to find the “islands of prayer” in the sea of our frenzied activity so apparent in our culture.