Blog | Carmelite Spirituality

Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry. It was a transition between his hidden life and his public ministry. For thirty years, He lived in hiddenness; now, He steps into His mission. The New Year is like that—a threshold moment. We leave behind what was and step into what will be.

we hear the account of the resurrection when John ran to the tomb and it says, ‘He saw and believed’. But I thought faith has been described as believing without seeing or having a full understanding of something yet believing in it.

I find myself thinking about the many people who are celebrating this Advent after losing their loved ones and homes to the effects of hurricanes on the east coast or to the devastating fires in southern California.

Isaiah speaks of the One who is coming to restore us. He will feed us, heal us, and restore our sight by removing the veil and web that prevents us from recognizing Him.

Is there anything sweeter than receiving a gift from a little child? Every mother who has been the recipient of a “present” from the sticky hands of her toddler can tell you that the gift is precious, and not because it’s useful to her.

Gratitude. It is the song of the heart that every soul can sing and every ear delights to hear. Its fragrance has the capacity to expand the heart and open the eyes of all who smell its sweet aroma. But how does this happen?

I wonder how we would each live if we knew that today was our last day on earth. We sisters have attended many funerals throughout these past months, from those who’ve lived long and full lives, to a child barely beginning life, a young woman who died tragically saving the life of another, and a husband and father lost suddenly to a heart attack.

Time—a word that affects all of us. Thoughts on time probably happen to everyone, especially as one grows older, but I find myself regularly marveling at how quickly time passes.

Want to increase joy in your life? Delight in life as it is, and not as you consciously or unconsciously expect it to be. This was St. Therese’s secret.