Carmelite wisdom to encourage & inspire
St. Edith Stein explains how the love of Christ impels virginal souls "to descend into the darkest night": in this way, they resemble the Virgin of virgins who, beneath the cross, became the Mother of Grace.
St. John of the Cross exclaims: "the Mother of God and all things are mine, and God himself in mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me."
In the Gospel reading for Third Sunday of Easter, Jesus asks Peter, "do you love me more than these?" Saint Thérèse explains in a letter that she makes Peter's response to Jesus her one and only prayer before the Tabernacle: "My God, you know that I love You."
In a letter written for Céline's 22nd birthday, St. Thérèse explains why God didn't create her sister to be an angel in heaven: "it is because He wants you to be an angel on earth... He wants angel-apostles, and He has created an unknown little flower, who is named Céline, with this intention in mind...."
Cardinal Anders Arborelius writes that every "event in life is somehow a participation in the mystery of Christ, which is taking place here and now... Here and now, we live His Passion and Resurrection."
St. John of the Cross states that "God is not inclined to work miracles. When he works them he does so, as they say, out of necessity." St. John offers the Journey to Emmaus and other resurrection appearances to prove his point.
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."
"Whoever is imbued with a lively faith in Christ present in the tabernacle, whoever knows that a friend awaits here constantly—always with the time, patience, and sympathy to listen to complaints, petitions, and problems—this person cannot remain desolate..."
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..."
At the foot of your Cross, Beloved… Jesus, my crucified Love I just told you again to take My heart without ever giving it back to me...
In St. Teresa's commentary on the Our Father, she writes, "if we return to Him like the prodigal son, He has to pardon us. He has to console us in our trials. He has to sustain us in the way a father like this must."
Each one of us is invited to a personal friendship with Jesus. Teresa of Avila speaks about prayer as friendship. We can always remain with our friend Jesus and find our joy in Him, because He rejoices in us.
Bishop Báez explores the two strong words that Simon uses to describe his failure on a fishing expedition: "night" and "nothing", words that are familiar to Carmelites. The bishop explains that "Jesus doesn't want us to be failures, victims of the Night and of the Nothing."
I made a covenant with my eyes not to be watching to see what beauty might come down to me. Christ is my beauty; Him alone I see.
O most glorious Virgin Mary, most sweet mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, my good Advocate, have mercy on me...
A picture of Jesus crucified slipped from her missal. No one was collecting the blood he had shed. Thérèse decided that she would henceforth remain, in spirit, at the foot of that cross to collect that blood for sinners.
At Cana, seeing the married couple's anxiety which they cannot hide, for they have run out of wine, in your concern you tell the Savior, hoping for the help of his divine power.
For the one who possesses Jesus possesses all; He is the treasure of treasures. In Him alone we find our joy and not in the creature.
No one has looked more deeply into the hidden abyss of the divine life than [St John]. Therefore, he proclaims the mystery of the eternal birth of the Divine Word in the liturgy each feast day during the days of Christmas.
In regard to his parents, Christ was completely submissive and never evaded their authority. When necessary, he explains to his parents in confidential conversations and gentle words, just who he is and just what lies ahead according to the ancient prophecies.
Carmelite Quotes 
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