Come Holy Spirit. [...] Come, you who, descending into Mary, caused the Word to take flesh: effect in us by grace what you accomplished in her by grace and nature.
Quote of the day, 25 May: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi
Marie du jour 2022, 24 May: St. Louis Martin
St. Louis Martin wrote to his wife, St. Zélie Martin to describe his happiness when he was able to visit the shrine of Notre-Dame des Victoires on a business trip to Paris: it "is like a little heaven on earth."
Marie du jour 2022, 23 May: Paul-Marie of the Cross, OCD
Father Paul-Marie of the Cross explains the meaning of the Marian title, "Beauty of Carmel." For Carmelites, Mary is the brightness of eternal light...
Marie du jour 2022, 22 May: St. Teresa Margaret Redi
St. Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart was heroic in her charity and compassion, especially for the sick in the infirmary of the Discalced Carmelite monastery of Florence. When one of the nuns who was mentally infirm became quite insane, St. Teresa Margaret asked to be allowed to care for the nun, although it was terrifying. The Saint would kneel and pray before a statue of the Blessed Mother every time she would need to enter the patient's locked room.
Quote of the day, 22 May: Père Jacques of Jesus
How urgent it is for us to call on the Holy Spirit as we enroll, figuratively speaking, in the University of Divine Love! What do we have to do in order to benefit fully from our master’s lessons? First, we must consciously acknowledge the impossibility of progressing in prayer apart from our master. Recall the... Continue Reading →
Quote of the day, 19 May: Sr. Rachel, O.C.D.
Sr. Rachel of the Quidenham Carmel in England gently cautions us to examine how we do penance: are we enthusiastic, engaging in night vigils and severe fasts, or do we choose moderate, sustained ascetical practices? Sister describes the risks and benefits to both approaches.
Quote of the day, 16 May: St. Edith Stein
In her article for the Augsburg Post in March 1935, St Edith Stein mentioned the origin of the brown scapular of Carmel: "the Blessed Virgin appeared to the general of the Order, Simon Stock, an Englishman, and gave him the scapular." Edith takes this piece of Carmelite tradition and firmly plants it within the Order's Marian spirituality.
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, 14 May: Blessed Chiquitunga
Today we share a simple, beautiful little prayer to "little mother Mary" the "Virgin of the stars" that was written by Chiquitunga and could easily be memorized.
Quote of the day, 14 May: St. Teresa of the Andes
On 14 May 1919, St. Teresa of the Andes wrote, "I'm now in Carmel eight days. Eight days of heaven. I feel divine love in such a way that there are moments when I believe I'm unable to endure it..."
Quote of the day, 6 May: Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew
Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew was beatified on this date in 1917. Pope Benedict XV invoked her as a "defender of the peace" in the midst of World War I
Quote of the day, 3 May: Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence says that the practice of the presence of God is "the essence of the spiritual life, and it seems to me that by practicing it properly you become spiritual in no time."
Marie du jour 2022, May 1: St. John of the Cross
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."
Quote of the day, 1 May: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
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."
Quote of the day, 27 April: St. Teresa of Avila
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.
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."
Quote of the day, 7 April: St. Edith Stein
"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..."
Quote of the day, 5 April: St. Teresa of the Andes
We recall that on this date in 1920, St. Teresa of the Andes requested the last Sacraments as she lay dying from typhus. We recall the peace she experienced when going to confession two years earlier.
Quote of the day, 4 April: St. Teresa of Avila
We celebrate the baptism of St. Teresa with an excerpt from the Book of Her Life: "He never tires of giving, nor can He exhaust His mercies. Let us not tire of receiving."
Quote of the day, 30 March: Blessed Titus Brandsma
Blesed Titus’ chief preoccupation in Amersfoort Camp was the needs of others. He had been in the camp barely two weeks when dysentery struck. Hundreds around him died, but Titus recovered enough to be released from the infirmary on March 30, 1942, the Monday of Holy Week that year. During his convalescence he visited those who were worse off than he was.
Carmelite Quotes 
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