Carmelite wisdom to encourage & inspire
On 6 October 1571 St Teresa left the Carmel of Medina del Campo to return to Avila as prioress of the Monastery of the Incarnation, where she was once a member. Fr Kieran Kavanaugh explains this trying situation, including the reasons why an Apostolic Visitation was needed and the concrete human and financial challenges facing Teresa.
When Uncle Isidore Guérin died on this date in 1909, Céline was crushed in spirit, anguished that she could not be at her family’s side. She wrote to her cousin Jeanne, “if only you knew… how cruel the Rule seems at moments such as these...” But then she paused to reflect: “nothing of what we do for God is cruel” but sometimes it’s very painful, she added.
Carmelite scholar Father François de Sainte-Marie shares several gems of wisdom from Blessed John Soreth concerning the Carmelite Rule. Here's one example" "Do you want to get to heaven? Embrace the baseness of poverty and it will be yours..."
"The Apostle would have us keep silence, for in silence he tells us to work. As the Prophet also makes known to us: Silence is the way to foster holiness. Elsewhere he says: Your strength will lie in silence and hope."
When the Carmelite Prior General visited Avila in February 1567, St. Teresa "arranged that he come to St. Joseph's" and the bishop assisted in making the arrangements. Father General was so impressed he sent patent letters authorizing St. Teresa to found more monasteries. The first letter was dated 27 April 1567.
In a poem that St. Teresa wrote for the profession of a Carmelite nun, she encourages the young religious to prepare for spiritual combat: "Sleep no longer, sleep no more, for now, there is no earthly peace."
Since man's life on earth is a time of trial, and all who would live devotedly in Christ must undergo persecution, and the devil your foe is on the prowl like a roaring lion looking for prey to devour...
You must use every care to clothe yourselves in God's armour so that you may be ready to withstand the enemy's ambush.
It is from Christ Himself, brother, that you will learn how to love Him.
Albert, called by God's favor to be patriarch of the church of Jerusalem
Your are to fast every day, except Sundays, from the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
You must use every care to clothe yourselves in God's armour
St. Albert of Jerusalem wrote a Rule for the hermit brothers on Mt Carmel
All of the Carmelites proclaim Elijah to be their guide and father
The scapular is essentially a habit
Suddenly, a very bright light came into my soul
Their example: loyal and faithful to the end
The whole Order commends our departed to God’s mercy
Our saints have likewise been zealous to save souls
We recall our brothers and sisters who once dedicated their lives to continual prayer
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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
Monasterio de las Batuecas Carmelitas Descalzos
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