"The fundamental temptation, for Jesus as for us, is to set ourselves up as rivals of God our Father," writes Discalced Carmelite friar Antoine-Marie Leduc, who reflects on Jesus' temptation in the desert.
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Quote of the day, 21 February: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
"I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection," wrote St. Thérèse. But rather than looking for a person to climb each step with her, Thérèse opted for the direct route: a lift from Jesus in his arms.
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Quote of the day, 14 February: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse believed that she had an apostolic vocation, "to travel over the whole earth" to preach Jesus' name. On 14 February 1992, St. John Paul II referred to her special calling in his ad limina speech to French bishops.
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Quote of the day, 10 November: Hermann Cohen
We recall the birth of the Servant of God Hermann Cohen on this date in 1820, with links to biographical sketches by his admirers and fellow Jewish converts. Cohen himself cries out, “I love Jesus Christ—that’s the secret of my immense peace.”
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Quote of the day, 5 September: Silvio José Báez, o.c.d.
Bishop Silvio José Báez, o.c.d. reflects on the Jesus' admonition that we must carry our own cross and follow him to be his disciple. The bishop says that "when Jesus speaks of the cross, he isn't simply talking about suffering. The cross is synonymous with extreme love, like that of Jesus."
Quote of the day, 29 August: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, always a spiritual director to her own mother, offers this word of wisdom in a letter written on this date in 1906: “The Master called the hour of his Passion ‘His hour’... When faced with great suffering or a tiny sacrifice, oh, let’s think right away that ‘this is our hour’...” Elizabeth faced great suffering in that moment of her life; was she encouraging herself, too?
Quote of the day, 14 August: Denis-Marie Ghesquières, OCD
Fr. Denis-Marie Ghesquières, OCD from the Paris Province comments on the Gospel of Luke, where we read: “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!” (Lk 12:50).
Marie du jour 2022, 15 May: Titus Brandsma
Titus Brandsma's love for Mary was contagious. He had learned to live "with Mary, for Mary, and in Mary", according to the teachings of Carmel's Marian spirituality and he explained this to his students, directees, and friends.
Marie du jour 2022, 8 May: St. Teresa of the Andes
In December 1915 St. Teresa of the Andes took a pivotal step toward her Carmelite vocation when she received permission to profess a private vow of chastity.
Marie du jour 2022, 7 May: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
For the birthday of a novice, Sr. Martha of Jesus, St. Thérèse wrote a poem on 16 July 1894. It reads, in part: "Close to you, O my loving Mother! I've found rest for my heart..."
Marie du jour 2022, 6 May: St. John Paul II
St. John Paul II reflects on the Gospel account of the woman in the crowd who raised her voice and cried out to Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"
Marie du jour 2022, 5 May: Mother Agnès of Jesus
Life is so short! What happiness it is to think of that, to tell ourselves that tomorrow we shall be in Heaven, near Jesus Who loved us enough to die for us, near Mary who loved us...
Quote of the day, 17 April: Jessica Powers
Carmelite poet Jessica Powers contemplates the image of St. Mary Magdalen, who "ran on Easter morning, her hair wind-tumbled and her cloak awry. [...] She sought, as love so often seeks and finds, a Radiance that died or seemed to die..."
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: On the evening of Love
On the evening of Love, speaking without parable, Jesus said: "If anyone wishes to love me All his life, let him keep my Word.
Quote of the day, 12 April: St. Teresa of Avila
In the Sixth Dwelling Place of the Interior Castle, St. Teresa once again commends the practice of reflection on the Passion of Our Lord: "Life is long, and there are in it many trials, and we need to look at Christ our model, how He suffered them, and also at His apostles and saints, so as to bear these trials with perfection."
The Cross, Cathedra of Infinite Love — Silvio José Báez, o.c.d.
Bishop Silvio José Báez, o.c.d. explores the theological depths of Christ's death on the cross: "The cross of Jesus is the cathedra of infinite love, limitless forgiveness, and mercy that can change the world."
Quote of the day, 16 March: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Coming to him, we shall love him always. We want him to remain, filled with peace, In our Love!
Quote of the day, 9 March: Hermann Cohen
You must try to maintain a deep peace in yourself and not allow yourself to become troubled. Ask Jesus to command the winds and the storms and bring about calm and tranquility in [your] inner life.
Quote of the day, 2 March: Blessed Chiquitunga
Jesus, my Jesus! [...] You see my weaknesses, my cowardice, my fears, my miseries! [...] I'm afraid of sacrifice, of the Cross.
Quote of the day, 24 January: Silvio José Báez, o.c.d.
With the help of the book called the Bible, we read and understand the book of life, we listen to the Lord through life's events and we prepare ourselves to respond to Him.
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