St Raphael Kalinowski’s years of hard labor in Siberia became a great grace that prepared him for life as a Carmelite: he knew that life’s biggest and most difficult problems are resolved on one’s knees.
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Quote of the day, 21 August: St. John of the Cross
In one memorable passage from the Ascent of Mount Carmel, St. John of the Cross explains how the Gospel passage concerning the narrow gate or narrow door is an excellent illustration of the Ascent of Mount Carmel: "Indeed the gate is very narrow, more so than you think."
Quote of the day, 11 June: Brother Lawrence
After 42 years with the Discalced Carmelites in Paris, Brother Lawrence wrote to a nun: "We must never stop working, since in the spiritual life, not to advance is to go backward."
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, 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, 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."
Quote of the day, 19 November: St. Raphael Kalinowski
St. Raphael of St. Joseph provides an answer to the question, "How does one become perfect and holy?"
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 9
St. Teresa concludes that when we sell out to God's will, we become his slaves, just as he became a slave through obedience for our sake; so she says that it matters not how much time we spend praying or working — obedience is key.
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 8
True union with God, St. Teresa says, is union of our wills with His. She states that lack of obedience is an indicator of the presence of self-will and self-love. "Make your will one with God's. This is the union that I desire and would want for all of you."
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 7
St. Teresa speaks plainly today: in order to acquire the treasure of perfect conformity to God's will "there is no better way than to dig and toil in order to excavate from this mine of obedience."
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 6
St. Teresa proposes obedience as the solution to the "interior battle" between our self-will and God's will for us: "it means making Him Lord over the free will He has given us."
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 5
Having stated previously that "there is no path that leads more quickly to the highest perfection than obedience," today St. Teresa intends to explain why, in her opinion, obedience "is the quickest or best means for reaching this most happy state."
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 4
St. Teresa drives to the heart of her teaching on prayer, obedience, and perfection: "there is no path that leads more quickly to the highest perfection than obedience."
St. Teresa of Avila Novena 2021: Day 3
St. Teresa reflects on the example of the layman she met and how "the fulfillment of the duties of obedience and charity" led to an amazing "improvement in spiritual things". Her conclusion is that "the Lord walks among the pots and pans" to help us.
Quote of the day, 1 June: Brother Lawrence
If the ship of our soul is still beaten by the winds or the storm, we must wake the Lord who is resting there, and he will immediately calm the sea
A Brief Description of the Soul and the Spiritual Life from Saint Teresa of Avila — Clarifying Catholicism
Saint Teresa of Avila clearly describes the necessity of the spiritual life
Carmelite spirituality: apostolic or contemplative?
Carmelite spirituality is not contemplative and apostolic. It is apostolic because it is contemplative
Marie du jour 2020: 14 May
Did the Blessed Virgin lead a complicated life?
Quote of the day: 30 April
Contemplation is a precious gift of God.
Quote of the day: 16 January
I do my work in simple faith before God, humbly and lovingly
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