To prepare for the Theresian Anniversary Year, we offer three reflections based on the writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The Day 3 reflection focuses on the theme of humility.
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St. Thérèse Anniversary: Triduum Day 3
St. Thérèse Anniversary: Triduum Day 2
To prepare for the Theresian Anniversary Year, we offer three reflections based on the writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The Day 2 reflection focuses on the theme of mercy.
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St. Thérèse Anniversary: Triduum Day 1
To prepare for the Theresian Anniversary Year, we offer three reflections based on the writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The Day 1 reflection focuses on the symbolism of flowers.
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Quote of the day, 31 December: St. Edith Stein
St. Edith Stein sends New Year’s greetings to her friend, philosopher Roman Ingarden. Apologizing for her formality, she writes: “All the best wishes for the New Year for the entire family!”
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Quote of the day, 27 December: St. Edith Stein
On the anniversary of St John of the Cross’s canonization, we read a quote from St Edith Stein’s “Science of the Cross,” which recounts an assault on John from an angry lover whose girlfriend John converted.
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Quote of the day, 26 December: St. Edith Stein
On the feast of St. Stephen, St. Edith Stein pauses to write to a former student; she explains the vocation “to suffer with Christ and thereby to cooperate with him in his work of salvation.”
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Quote of the day, 14 December: St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross describes with exquisite beauty the goal of every Christian: “the soul's aim is a love equal to God's. [...] In the strong union of glory,” he adds, “her love will be God's love.”
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Quote of the day, 13 December: St. John of the Cross
In the waning hours of 13 December 1591, St. John of the Cross predicted his death at midnight. Fr. Iain Matthew, O.C.D. and St. Edith Stein provide us with the account of John's holy death.
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Quote of the day, 7 December: Silvio José Báez, o.c.d.
On the vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Silvio José Báez, o.c.d. guides our meditation on the beauty of the Blessed Virgin’s life: she was the transparency of God.
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Advent II — Justice with integrity
In the Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent, we hear the prophet Isaiah speak of justice meted out with integrity. St John of the Cross asks, “what will your all-powerful justice do with the righteous and the sinner?”
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Quote of the day, 30 November: St. Teresa of Avila
Quote of the day, 30 November: St Teresa finished writing The Interior Castle on the eve of St Andrew's Day in 1577. She asked her readers to “consider our soul to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms.”
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Quote of the day, 29 November: St. Teresa of Avila
On 29 November 1638, Blesseds Denis of the Nativity and Redemptus of the Cross were martyred at Aceh, Indonesia. Learn about their mission to the Sultan and St. Teresa of Avila’s prophetic words written 60 years earlier.
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Quote of the day, 27 November: St. Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa teaches us that to watch expectantly for the One who is to come is to be attentive to the presence of the One who is already there. Her catechesis on prayer provides keys to help us be attentive.
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Advent I — Let us go up
In "The Spiritual Canticle," St John of the Cross writes, “let us go forth to behold ourselves in your beauty to the mountain and to the hill,” which is to “knowledge in the divine Word, who in his height is signified here by the mountain.” Here we share excerpts from the Saint's powerful commentary.
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Quote of the day, 11 November: St. Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa of Avila once referred to the Book of Her Life as the Book of God’s Mercies. Today, we listen to her biographer, Discalced Carmelite Father Kieran Kavanaugh, as he explains why.
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Quote of the day, 2 October: St. Raphael Kalinowski
St Raphael Kalinowski was aware of the news, even as he aged. We note that he greatly distrusted the Russian Church: "From Moscow with caution! You cannot trust her sincerity." And when delinquents attacked a Carmelite procession in Rome, he wrote, "how long, O Lord?!"
Quote of the day, 25 September: St. John of the Cross
St John of the Cross has a quick and easy reference when he discusses “joy in the delights of food” in the Ascent of Mount Carmel. Simply take a look at the rich man and his sumptuous banquet while poor Lazarus lies at his gate like a piece of garbage, attracting the attention of the rich man’s hounds.
Quote of the day, 22 September: Blessed Teresa of St Augustine
We recall the birth of Blessed Teresa of St. Augustine on this day in 1752, sharing important details about the “Act of Consecration”—not a vow of martyrdom—that she proposed to her spiritual daughters, the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Compiègne.
Quote of the day, 18 September: St. Titus Brandsma
St. Titus Brandsma’s commitment to the vow of poverty in solidarity with the poor was unshakeable. He wrote, “Without poverty, a religious is a Pharisee, a gentleman of ease pretending to be a poor man.” And in his conferences he taught, “Giving alms is our way of life.”
!["I took for my advocate and lord the glorious St. Joseph and earnestly recommended myself to him. [...] I don’t recall up to this day ever having petitioned him for anything that he failed to grant."](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t39.30808-6/336879821_1374507696727108_3000064146961560788_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=GeKBPoaKfMcAX_QOTF6&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfBQ98yZ_dpFqhPvUWdp1Cq8NMY7bwsNY0_97P0_Bcsw3g&oe=64238CFB)
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