Carmelite wisdom to encourage & inspire
We recall the beatification of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara on this day in 1986. St. John Paul II called the day "extraordinary" in "raising to the glory of the altars" this Carmelite founder from India.
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We recall the birth of Venerable Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament on this day in 1619. Her devotion to the "Little King of Grace" and his statue in the Carmel of Beaune inspired her to have unshakeable trust in the Infant Jesus.
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Brother Lawrence comforts a sick nun, saying: "God indeed knows what we need, and everything he does is for our good." Brother Lawrence urges us to recognize and accept God's loving action.
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"I am the light of the world," says the Lord. Jessica Powers writes, "I know love, not a vise. I see aright, set free in morning on this ledge of light." Join the poet as she sings of God, who is like "a thousand acres."
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Knowledge of "the abyss of the Infinite divine" is something to be desired, says Blessed Marie-Eugène. He describes St. Teresa of Avila's high esteem for such knowledge.
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On the anniversary of the deportation to Auschwitz 3 February 1944 of the 3 students who were sheltered by Père Jacques de Jésus, Yad Vashem World Center for Holocaust Research remembers them all.
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"Christ is my utmost need," writes poet Jessica Powers. "I cling with all my strength unto a nail-investigated hand." This poem is a testament to the poetic genius of Powers, known in religion as Sr. Miriam of the Holy Spirit, OCD.
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Henri Grialou was born in Aubin, in Aveyron (France), on December 2, 1894. After his priestly ordination on February 4, 1922, he was captivated by the doctrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and St. John of the Cross and decided to join the Discalced Carmelites. After serving as superior in France, in 1937 he was elected to serve as a General Definitor of the Order in Rome. In 1948, he was appointed Apostolic Visitor of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in France and religious assistant to their federations. From 1955 he was able to devote himself full-time to the secular institute Notre Dame de Vie, which he started in 1932. He died in Venasque on March 27th, 1967, the feast day of the institute. He was beatified in 2016 by Pope Francis.
On 2 February 1922 St. Edith Stein received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Here we read the recollections of her novice mistress, with added commentary by scholar, translator, and editor Father John Sullivan, O.C.D.
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St. Zélie Martin was an admirer of Blessed Marie of the Incarnation—better known as Madame Acarie, who was born 1 February 1566. Marie Martin recalls her mother's desire to be as generous as Barbe Acarie.
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On 31 January 1579 St. Teresa wrote a memorable letter to her nuns in Seville to encourage them in the midst of a great trial: the learned and talented prioress was unjustly deposed from office and an ill-equipped nun was appointed in her place. In this letter we read some of the great pearls of Teresian wisdom: pithy phrases of encouragement to aid her nuns in distress.
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On 30 January 1226, Pope Honorius III signed the bull "Ut vivendi normam," which approved St. Albert's Rule and guaranteed the existence of the Carmelites. Tradition indicates that the Virgin Mary herself appeared in a dream to the Pope, recommending the approval of the Order, and announcing the sudden death of two of its principal enemies.
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St. John Paul II reminded the faithful gathered for the beatification of Teresa of the Andes that she "put the beatitudes into practice" and "incarnated in her life the most perfect example of holiness, Christ Himself."
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St. John of the Cross echoes the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas at several points in his writings. In discussing revelation in Book II of the Ascent of Mount Carmel, John adheres closely to Thomistic teaching in the Summa Theologiae.
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In a beautiful prayer, St. Henry de Ósso praises and honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, the "Queen, Lady, Protectress and ornament of the whole Catholic Church."
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St Edith Stein's time of postulancy was moving quickly. In January 1934 she wrote: "As I stand in our peaceful choir I cannot thank God enough for having lifted me out of the whirlwind and set me in this profound peace, that I have done nothing to deserve."
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St. Henry de Ossó y Cervelló was born at Vinebre, Catalonia, Spain, on October 16, 1840, and was ordained a priest on September 21, 1867. He was an apostle to young people in teaching them about their faith and inspired various movements for the teaching of the Gospel. As a spiritual director, he was fascinated by St. Teresa of Jesus, the great teacher in the ways of prayer and Daughter of the Church who is better known in the English-speaking world as St. Teresa of Avila. In the light of her teaching, he founded the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus (1876) dedicated to educating women in the school of the Gospel and following the example of St. Teresa. He gave himself to preaching and the apostolate through the printing press. He underwent many severe trials and sufferings. He died at Gilet, Valencia, Spain, on January 27, 1896. He was canonized on June 16, 1993, in Madrid, by St. John Paul II.
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St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, a great disciple of St. Paul, describes the life of faith: "it matters little to the soul whether it feels God or not, whether He sends it joy or suffering: it believes in His love."
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St. Zélie Martin and her sister Marie-Louise were raised in a strict family atmosphere. Reading the biography of the gentle St. Francis de Sales inspired Marie-Louise at age 29 to enter the Visitation monastery.
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St. Edith Stein describes clashes between the state and Church, but she notes that it works both ways. The state can have "excessive claim to power" and the Church can exercise its teaching mandate "wrongfully."
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Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. ~ St. Teresa of Avila
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