Carmelite wisdom to encourage & inspire
St. Edith Stein writes an old friend in Switzerland to ask if she could assist to obtain entry permits and visas for herself and her older sister Rosa, who has been an extern sister and outside sacristan at the Carmel of Echt since 1 July 1939.
Joseph Mazurek was born in 1891 at Baranowka, near Lubartow, Poland. He entered the Discalced Carmelite Order in 1908, taking the religious name Alphonsus Mary of the Holy Spirit. He was ordained a priest and appointed as a professor while dedicating himself to the education of youth. Afterward, he served in his Order as prior and bursar. In 1944, after having been arrested by the troops that had invaded his country, he was shot on 28 August at Nawojowa Gora, near Krzeszowice.
Ana Garcia was born at Almendral, Castille, in 1549. In 1572 she made her profession as a Carmelite in the hands of St Teresa at Saint Joseph’s, Avila. The Saint later chose her as her companion and nurse, and she subsequently brought the Teresian spirit to France and Belgium, where she proved herself, like Teresa, a daughter of the Church in her great zeal for the salvation of souls.
St Mary Magdalen of the Incarnate Word was born in Florence in 1566. She had a religious upbringing and entered the monastery of the Carmelite nuns there. She led a hidden life of prayer and self-denial, praying particularly for the renewal of the Church and encouraging the sisters in holiness. Her life was marked by many extraordinary graces. She died in 1607.
When Sister Maria Lucia, the Fatima visionary entered the Carmel of Coimbra, the Prioress showed Lucia to her cell after the morning Mass. Above the door she saw the name of the cell: "Immaculate Heart of Mary". There was a verse addressed to its inhabitant: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge."
Carmel desired to bring together in one single memorial its own martyrs who, in different locations in Spain, bore witness during the long and bloody Civil War (1936-1939). Mentioned in this memorial are Father Angel Maria Prat Hostench, O. Carm., killed with his community in Tarrega in 1936, and Father Lucas of St. Joseph O.C.D., killed with his fellow friars in Barcelona, also in 1936. In this memorial, we also remember the groups from Lérida, Tarragona, Toledo, Olot, Terrasa, etc.
Here's an update four years after the beatification of Chiquitunga, Blessed Maria Felicia of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the professed Discalced Carmelite nun from Paraguay who was beatified 23 June 2018
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.
On Easter Sunday, 17 April 2022, Father General Miguel Márquez Calle sent video greetings to the entire Order from Bucha, Ukraine. From the burial ground where the friars had just prayed for the dead, he wished to extend resurrection greetings: "to all the Order we wish you a Happy Easter where death does not have the last word." Watch his video with our English subtitles.
Out of the thank-you letters that St. Edith Stein wrote after her first profession, her letter to Mother Petra Brüning is touching: "out of the great riches of grace on this Easter day, I let all those have a share who have given me something of their heart to take along into Carmel." We explain some of the customs that Edith mentions in her letter.
Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, better known as Madame Acarie, spared no effort in introducing the Discalced Carmelite nuns into France
This week, let’s take time to meditate on chapters 22 and 23 of Luke's gospel. Fr. Denis-Marie Ghesquières, OCD writes, "the evangelist chose the events of the Passion to bear witness not so much to the cruelty of men as to the goodness of Jesus towards these same people. They all are the object of his mercy: the women, the executioners, the thieves crucified with him, and even the leaders of the people."
Blessed Elia of St. Clement entered the Carmel of Bari on this date in 1920. She wrote, "Lord, I've heard your voice, I'm flying to Carmel."
Commenting on the Gospel story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, Fr. Denis-Marie Ghesquières, OCD writes, "Jesus challenges each one of the onlookers to search his heart and, faced with the woman's sin, to question himself! A new path can open up by setting out from the truth about oneself in the presence of Jesus..."
"He made a document, I saw the writing: it is in all languages... A founder!… my heart leaps with gladness. [The Carmel of Nazareth] is endowed!"
I took for my advocate and lord the glorious St. Joseph and earnestly recommended myself to him...It is an amazing thing the great many favors God has granted me through the mediation of this blessed saint, the dangers I was freed from both of body and soul.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote a small play about the flight into Egypt and St. Joseph has a speech in the play about God's goodness and mercy. God "will magnificently reward not only the striking things done for Him, but also the simple desires to serve Him and love Him, because He sees everything."
St. Joseph placed before my eyes all the graces with which God had favored me
I began to have devotion towards several saints, but, before all, to the holy angels and to St. Joseph, whom, in my childlike simplicity, I took to be an angel.
All the Sisters with their veils raised came to greet me with such affection that I was embarrassed. They asked me when I was coming. I told them in May. Then one went to look at the calendar... It turned out the seventh was the Feast of Saint Joseph, and they commended me to him.
Carmelite Quotes 
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