#traditional carmelite

[catholicmemoirs]

Carmelite Reading List for the Catholic Laity

This is my reading plan while I continue to adopt the lifestyle of the Traditional Lay Carmelites of Fatima. The prioress adopted the rule after "A Way of Perfection for the Laity", so I copied the list of readings from there.

Links to free downloads of Traditional Catholic texts:

Way of Perfection for the Laity

Carmelite 1953 Daily Missal (good for daily Gospel readings)

Goffine's Devout Instructions for Epistles and Gospels for Sundays and Holydays

Pictorial Lives of the Saints

Daily:

1. Holy Gospels

2. Lives of the Saints

This is the recommended list of authors in "A Way of Perfection for the Laity":

1. The Imitation of Christ

2. By St. Teresa of Avila

ii. The Book of the Foundations

iii. Minor Works

iv. The Letters

v. The Interior Castle

vi. The Life

3. By St. John of the Cross

i. Ascent of Mount Carmel

ii. The Dark Night of the Soul (The Obscure Night)

4. By St. Teresa of Lisieux: Story of a Soul

5. By St. Francis De Sales

i. Introduction to the Devout Life

ii. Treatise on the Love of God

6. By St. Alphonsus Liguori

i. True Spouse of Christ

ii. Glories of Mary

iii. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

My 2025 Liturgical Reading List

I took the list above and put a different author per month. The new liturgical year begins December 1st!

Dec: The Imitation of Christ

Jan: The Way of Perfection (St. Teresa of Avila)

Feb: Ascent of Mount Carmel (St. John of the Cross)

Mar: Story of a Soul (St. Therese of Lisieux)

Apr: Introduction to the Devout Life (St. Francis De Sales)

May: True Spouse of Christ (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

Jun: The Book of the Foundations (St. Teresa of Avila)

Jul: The Dark Night of the Soul (St. John of the Cross)

Aug: Treatise on the Love of God (St. Francis De Sales)

Sep: Glories of Mary (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

Oct: Minor Works (St. Teresa of Avila)

Nov: Visits to the Blessed Sacrament (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

Enjoy!

[vinneo3041]

Pomni of TADC as a carmelite nun...

why not?

[carmelitesaet]

Lectio Divina for May is now available to download from our website in PDF, ePub and Mobi formats: https://carmelites.org.au/lectiodivina

Proclaim his salvation day after day, declare his glory among the nations, his marvels to every people! (Ps 96: 2-3)

The practice of Lectio Divina as a way of praying the Scriptures has been a fruitful source of growing in relationship with Christ for many centuries and in our own day is being rediscovered by many individuals and groups. The Word of God is alive and active and will transform each of us if we open ourselves to receive what God wants to give us.

Join our Lectio Online group

We meet every Friday at 10am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) [You are welcome to join from other time zones, eg. Perth/Singapore/Philippines: 8am; Timor-Leste/Tokyo: 9am; New Zealand: 12pm; Los Angeles: Thursday 5pm; New York/Toronto: Thursday 8pm] to prayerfully reflect on the Gospel of the coming Sunday.

[myblissfulness]

Triduum of Prayer to the Blessed Martyrs of Compiègne - 01

Scripture Psalm 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence;    from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

How long will you assail a person,    will you batter your victim, all of you,    as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.    They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths,    but inwardly they curse.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,    for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor;    my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;    pour out your heart before him;    God is a refuge for us.

Those of low estate are but a breath,    those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up;    they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion,    and set no vain hopes on robbery;    if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;    twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,    and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all    according to their work.

Reading To Quell the Terror, Chap. 10

The power of men is extended only to what concerns my body, but God alone has jurisdiction over my soul.

Blessed Sister Saint Francis Xavier (Julie Verolot), one of three lay sisters

Prayer for the Canonization of the Martyrs of Compiègne

Lord our God, you called the sixteen Blessed Carmelites of Compiègne to show you the greatest witness to love through the offering of their blood “so that peace may be restored to Church and State.” Remember the heroic and joyful fidelity with which they glorified you. May your goodness manifest their favor at your side, by granting through their intercession the grace that we ask of you in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (mention here) Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

https://carmelitequotes.blog/

[townpostin]

Sacred Heart Convent School Celebrates Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Students Honor Carmelite Order’s Patroness with Cultural Program Jamshedpur institution reinforces Marian virtues through devotional event, emphasizing faith and humility. JAMSHEDPUR – Sacred Heart Convent School marked the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with a devotional celebration on July 15, 2024, highlighting the Blessed Virgin Mary’s significance to the Carmelite Order. Class nine…

[angeltreasure]

@caffeinatedrosary

Did you know that it’s a long standing tradition that Carmelites drink coffee using both hands in thanksgiving for the fruits of the harvest? Stay caffeinated so you can stay up and say a Rosary for your farmers tonight.

[cruger2984]

The Pretty Cures and its Saints: Smile Pretty Cure!

LONG. TIME. COMING. 2012 is the year that is all gon' crazy - from the Linsanity takeover, Obama got re-elected as the Commander-in-Chief, Loreen winning in Baku, to the end of the Mayan calendar (and it's not the end of the world as we know it). So, without further ado, here are the Smile Cures with their birthdays corresponding with feast days that is honored and recognized by the Roman Catholic Church!

January 10 - Miyuki Hoshizora (Cure Happy)

St. William of Donjeon (Guillaume de Donjeon): French prelate of the Cistercian order who served as the Archbishop of Bourges from 1200 AD until his passing. He was also known for his deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and for his conversion of sinners, and oversaw the construction of the new archdiocesan cathedral that his predecessor had authorized and in which he himself would be buried. It had been claimed that he performed eighteen miracles in life and a further eighteen in death.

May 8 - Akane Hino (Cure Sunny)

The Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel: Traditionally in the Liturgy of the Church, there are two feasts of St. Michael in the Universal Calendar: May 8 and September 29. According to the Roman Breviary, the feast was instituted to thank God for a military victory achieved at Monte Gargano, Italy, on May 8th in the year 663, through the intercession of St. Michael.

December 14 - Yayoi Kise (Cure Peace)

St. John of the Cross: Spanish Carmelite priest, mystic and friar, who is a major figure of the Counter-Reformation in Spain, and he is one of the thirty-seven Doctors of the Church. John is known for his writings, and was mentored by and corresponded with the older Carmelite Teresa of Ávila. Both his poetry and his studies on the development of the soul, particularly his Noche Obscura, are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature and among the greatest works of all Spanish literature. Canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

October 9 - Nao Midorikawa (Cure March)

St. Louis Bertrand: Spanish Dominican friar, confessor, missionary, and religious brother who is known as the ’Apostle of South America.’ After his ordination by St. Thomas of Villanova, he went to South America for his missionary work. According to legend, a deadly draught was administered to him by one of the native priests. Through Divine interposition, the poison failed to accomplish its purpose. There is a town festival, called La Tomatina in Buñol, Valencia, in his honor along with Mare de Déu dels Desemparats.

February 10 - Reika Aoki (Cure Beauty)

St. Scholastica: According to a tradition from the 9th century, she is the twin sister of St. Benedict. She is the foundress of the women’s branch of Benedictine Monasticism, and is the patron saint of nuns, education, and convulsive children, and is invoked against storms and rain, due to a narrative that can be found in the Dialogues by St. Gregory the Great.

March 17 - Ayumi Sakagami (Cure Echo)

St. Gertrude of Nivelles: 17th century Benedictine abbess who, with her mother Itta, founded the Abbey of Nivelles, now in Belgium. She is the patron saint of travelers, gardeners, against plague and cats.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (October 1)

On October 1, Catholics around the world honor the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux on her feast day.  

Thérèse was born on 2 January 1873 in Alençon, France, to pious parents, both of whom are scheduled to be canonized in October 2016.

Her mother died when she was four, leaving her father and elder sisters to raise her.

On Christmas Day 1886, Thérèse had a profound experience of intimate union with God, which she described as a “complete conversion.” 

Almost a year later, in a papal audience during a pilgrimage to Rome in 1887, she asked for and obtained permission from Pope Leo XIII to enter the Carmelite Monastery at the young age of 15.

On entering, she devoted herself to living a life of holiness, doing all things with love and childlike trust in God.

She struggled with life in the convent but decided to make an effort to be charitable to all, especially those she didn’t like.

She always performed little acts of charity and sacrifices, not caring how unimportant they seemed. 

These acts helped her come to a deeper understanding of her vocation.

She wrote in her autobiography that she had always dreamed of being a missionary, an Apostle, a martyr – yet she was a nun in a quiet cloister in France. How could she fulfill these longings?

“Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was burning with love.

I knew that one love drove the members of the Church to action, that if this love were extinguished, the apostles would have proclaimed the Gospel no longer, the martyrs would have shed their blood no more.

I understood that Love comprised all vocations, that Love was everything, that it embraced all times and places...in a word, that it was eternal!

Then in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my Love...my vocation, at last I have found it...My vocation is Love!”

Thérèse offered herself as a sacrificial victim to the merciful Love of God on 9 June 1895, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

The following year, on the night between Holy Thursday and Good Friday, she noticed the first symptoms of Tuberculosis, the illness which would lead to her death.

Thérèse recognized in her illness the mysterious visitation of the divine Spouse and welcomed the suffering as an answer to her offering the previous year. 

She also began to undergo a terrible trial of faith, which lasted until her death a year and a half later. 

“Her last words, ‘My God, I love you,’ are the seal of her life,” said Pope John Paul II.

Thérèse died on 30 September 1897.

Since her death, millions have been inspired by her ‘little way’ of loving God and neighbor.

Many miracles have been attributed to her intercession. She had predicted during her earthly life that “My Heaven will be spent doing good on Earth.”

Saint Thérèse was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997 — 100 years after her death at the age of 24.

She is only the third woman to be so proclaimed, after Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa of Avila.

St. Thérèse once wrote:

'You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them."

Pope Pius XI beatified her on 29 April 1923 and canonized on 17 May 1925.

The roses are the most traditional attribute associated with the iconography of Saint Therese of Lisieux.

She is often depicted holding roses or surrounded by roses, or throwing roses from heaven, or holding a crucifix covered with roses.

In her writings, she often used flowers and roses as metaphors, either to refer to herself or to the acts of love she wanted to do.

She referred to herself as the "Little Flower of Jesus" in the garden of God. 

[ascendingaeons]

Bright Awakenings and Dark Nights

“When water gets caught in habitual whirlpools, dig a way out through the bottom to the ocean. There is a secret medicine given only to those who hurt so hard they can’t hope. The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.”

- Jalaluddin Rumi (tr. Coleman Barks), “My Worst Habit”

Have you ever felt as though something you've always known was suddenly foreign? That you no longer knew who you were, what you were doing, or perhaps even what you believed? More times than not, I would say one feels this way for a simple reason: they are evolving. There eventually comes a time when one's old values, beliefs, and way of doing things grow too stagnant and must be discarded. But the process of laying such things to rest can be terribly frightening and often painful. Society is rooted in tradition, and suddenly changing course is not always looked upon favorably. But I will tell you a secret from my own experience: doing so was the most liberating thing I have ever done.

It is not uncommon for a person who has walked the same path for so long to become disillusioned. I've found that such disillusionment grows at a steady drip, but we never really notice it until we're drowning in an ocean of it, with no sense of direction or end in sight. It becomes more and more apparent that the only way out of this inner desolation is just so—within the depths of ourselves. But to reach that sacred core we must begin tearing away at all the excess we've gathered, discarding every shred of the past that has started to fester and consume us. For some of these things, doing so may feel like a significant loss or even betrayal, so we take great care in releasing them with gratitude and tenderness. However, this is not always the case. This is perhaps one of the rarest moments in your life where you are utterly alone with yourself. It is very fitting that this experience has been coined the Dark Night of the Soul.

The phrase "Dark Night of the Soul" is attributed to Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest and mystic of the sixteenth century. It originally referred to a spiritual crisis experienced by the devout on their path to union with God. That expression does do it justice, as a Dark Night feels as though one's link to the numinous is entirely severed, nearly to the point of abandonment. In magickal terminology, the experience is akin to Crossing the Abyss. Human beings are creatures of both light and shadow, order and chaos, so it falls to reason that one cannot experience a continuum of enlightenment or bliss without the mediation of ignorance and despair. However, I find that one does not have to be religious or spiritual to experience a Dark Night of the Soul.

A Dark Night of the Soul manifests as a period of psychological and spiritual stagnation that touches the very core of one's being. It is not a trial or punishment but rather a rite of passage, an ordeal to bring about psychocentric cohesion and evolution. In the pall of a Dark Night one experiences a profound sense of doubt surrounding the most significant aspects of their religious or spiritual practice and values. Every experience, connection, and victory find themselves prone to scrutiny. Where once stood great passion and intrigue, only dryness and insufficiency will reign.

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience." That is a quote that I've seen more often on metaphysical blogs and websites. Its source is disputed but is commonly attributed to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in his book "The Joy of Kindness." The source of this quote is not the subject of this essay, but its nature—insofar as I understand it—is.

A Dark Night of the Soul is not an entirely spiritual phenomenon. Anyone can experience it under the right conditions. The seasoned author that can no longer bear to jot down a single passage, despite it being the only career that's ever ignited their passions. The sole survivor of a car crash, now faced with a life without their loved ones. The cloistered nun confronting the depth and breadth of eternity. The magician who, after years of education and prowess, is forced to face himself and his peerless degrees of contradictions.

Dark Nights are the culmination of a process often long-overdue. While they can be triggered by a profound experience or change in one's life, the necessary elements were already present; the significant trauma or conclusions drawn are merely the catalyst sufficient to dismantle one's outlook on life. While not always the product of severe trauma, the Dark Night of the Soul shares some of its symptoms. It should not be considered a case of cognitive dissonance but rather the instance of one's existential outlook being rendered inadequate or obsolete. The Dark Night of the Soul is an existential crisis derived from the singular act of being forced to face one's Shadow.

The Shadow is the aspect of the psyche associated with uncertainty and negativity. All that one would deny, ignore or repress is personified in the Shadow. What we do not appreciate within our Shadow we tend to project onto others; what we dislike about others, we dislike about ourselves. The process of integrating the Shadow in this way mirrors what some attribute to "ego-death" or, to be more precise, the dissolution of the former or transitory aspects of one's being into the sum composite of the Self. This occurs through what I can describe as forceful submergence into one's Shadow, the horrible aspects of the unconscious made strenuously conscious. The experience is comparable to the tribulation of Pandora, for once unleashed so thoroughly, these demons cannot be suppressed.

“Upon the dark road you are traveling, do not seek out the light, the illusion, the fallacy and incessant need for all things external. Have no fear, take the darkness as your comfort because you are the light shining in the dark. You just need to find the spark.”

- L.J. Vanier, Ether: Into the Nemesis

The Dark Night of the Soul can be an utterly egregious and painful experience; during my first and second ventures, I made several considerations at taking my own life. The Abyss can either herald great awakenings or consume the aspirant entirely. I do not find that human beings are inherently flawed or born with sin. We are each an unfoldment into the expanse of completion. Just as Michelangelo sought to bring forth his angels from within the marble, so too is the human being a nexus in the process of becoming.

Central to the Dark Night of the Soul is a period of stumbling through overgrown paths. I would argue that some of the primary purposes of life are growth and learning, for human beings have always been compelled to seek out the truth underlying the forbidden, uncover the mysteries of the universe, and wander in the dark in search of themselves.

A Dark Night of the Soul is a uniquely transformative yet traumatic experience. Severe trauma and loss leave a shock to one's system. In their wake, one is often left with two choices. First, they can become bitter and resentful, clouding their perception with the view that the world is a terrible, unjust place and that humanity is an irredeemably cruel species. In this mindset, nothing can be improved, and any attempts at closure are washed away with the incoming tide. However, it is possible to channel feelings of grief or misfortune into something more productive, such as helping others or improving oneself. These negative attributes can be welcomed into our conscious self in doing so.

If I could go back in time and give one word of advice to my younger self as he was drowning in that murky ocean, I would tell him to be kinder to himself. The process of a Dark Night is often what I would consider a purge. Not only did I find myself disavowing old beliefs and values, but I also began sorting through my possessions and re-evaluating relationships. One learns a great deal about themselves and the sphere of their life in such disconnect and isolation.

I was once told a fitting parable given to a friend by a female shaman. Every year on the cusp of winter, the bear retreats to the solitude of a cave. Surrounding himself in mulch and soft earth, he begins to hibernate until such time that the sun returns and the earth awakens from her slumber. As the bear emerges from the murky depths of his cave, he finds himself in a world altogether different from the one he left behind. In such times of utter uncertainty and despair, sometimes the best thing we can do is become as the bear in the cave. In changing ourselves, we change our relation to the world.

There is an almost supernatural wisdom to be found in those who live closer to the heart of the cosmos. Medicine men and women, cunning folk, and healers are only part and parcel of a greater current of understanding. Is it any wonder that we gaze upon our grandparents as children in awe and wonder? They are immersed in the same sacred waters that we have only just emerged from, but, even more, they have lived! They have traversed such plateaus of light and darkness that our young minds can barely just fathom, and their stories, wisdom, and jokes fill us with joy and excitement for another tomorrow. Such, I have found, is life—regardless of age, there are always times to learn, dream, and retreat to the depths of inner space. There is always Work to be done.

In the Dark Night of the Soul, as in all aspects of life, gratitude is everything. A wise person once taught me that we should express nothing short of love for the parts of ourselves trying to kill us. I struggled with this initially. It is better to treat negativity with acceptance and rationality instead of revulsion, considering that these manifestations could be masking a greater truth. Just as people lash out when they are hurt or afraid, so too does the conscious mind react violently to the subversiveness of the Shadow. But if one were to approach these uncertainties—all of which are innate, mind you—with love and openness, the path to recovery can begin at a much smoother pace. That shift in awareness has helped me overcome one of the most challenging times in my life.

Embrace the rejected through gratitude. Viktor Frankl put this into his own words in his book Man's Search for Meaning, laying the foundation for logotherapy upon the principle of finding meaning in suffering. This powerful message illustrates that even the ugliest traumas have value, that we have value despite our worst experiences. No lesson or trauma is permanent; if you can learn something, you can without a doubt unlearn it and replace it with something else. It is when certitudes persist past their efficacy that we find ourselves suffering.

There is always a degree of meaning to be found in suffering or misfortune, though I would not go as far as to say that every pitfall must be regarded as a sign. Suffering is, by design, not intended to be permanent. It is a reaction to extenuating pressure or imbalance, whether of the body or mind; such reactions are intended to be broken.

Apprehension of the Dark Night of the Soul is derivative of religion and secularism. An apt representation in scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 13:12, which says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known." While I am not myself Christian, I understand that this passage states that all things are possible through the divine. I view it as a vivid illustration of the process of Crossing the Abyss and coming face-to-face with one's inmost Self, an experience from which there is no turning back.

The Abyss is an impartial maelstrom that rips away the disingenuous and superfluous, leaving only the authentic and essential in its wake, and at the heart of this storm is a looking glass into our immaculate entirety. One's emergence from the Dark Night of the Soul is very much a rebirth, one that can occur several times in a lifetime. It is an experience that leaves one feeling altogether lighter and bearing newfound confidence, serving as a reminder that our inner demons, such as they are, are not to be purged but instead confronted.

Imagine if your life up to the point of the Dark Night was a colorful painting, all of the hues and shades perfectly representing who you had become through hard work and investment. You believed that this was the real "you," the most authentic version that has existed thus far. Then the canvas gets coated with egregious black ink, almost like the beginning of a very long, arduous wake-up call. After so long, you only have the memory of that colorful painting representing your once upon a time. You become detached from reality; how far this spirals will be proportionate to how deeply you were invested in your canvas.

Eventually, you start to notice shapes and colors in the inky darkness. The murk in your mind begins to clear as some unseen alchemy begins to bring definition to your inner chaos. The cold becomes more bearable, and the psychic torment starts to wane. You will start to feel lighter, more genuine. You had previously thought that you were less than who you once were, and while this was practically true, you've been looking at it all wrong. It wasn't that you used to be more, but that you once had far greater excess.

Suddenly, slowly the colors start to become noticeable again until the plethora upon your canvas is before you once again. The colors are different from what you remember, seemingly so long ago. They are no longer merely qualitative or expressive strokes upon your canvas. As you pay close enough attention, you reach into the depths of their nature, and it is almost as if you can hear them. This seems remarkable to you, as though you see your life with fresh eyes, and for a time, you experience a state of genuine bliss.

Comparing the venture through the Dark Night of the Soul to a storm is not inaccurate. By their very nature, storms are created due to imbalance and will continue until their energy and momentum are redistributed. In this case, a Dark Night will continue until a particular lesson is internalized. I have noticed through my own experiences that the wisdom attained has been diametrically opposed to my overall experience.

I have had three significant spiritual awakenings to date, each one preceded by a Dark Night of the Soul. These awakenings have greatly improved my quality of life, changed how I interact with the world, and redefined my spiritual practice. Simply put, they are:

1. Be true to your inmost Self.

A recurring theme in Aleister Crowley's Book of the Law is the correspondence between the True Will of the inner cosmos and the momentum of the outer cosmos. When you exist in harmony with your true nature—that which has always shone within you and perseveres beyond the breath of the ego—the universe will rearrange itself to accommodate your Will. When you suppress your true nature, you will suffer. Put another way, if you approach a task with enthusiasm, others will notice this and resonate in kind. If you walk into a room assuming the worst, it's likely the worst will come to pass. Energy is fundamental to life, and we are life made aware of itself.

2. Death is not something to be feared.

It's entirely possible that after experiencing two of the worst years of my life, my psyche became flooded with the idea of death, thus desensitizing me to the notion. However, I began communicating with one of my spirit guides during this time. I discovered that rather than torment or shame, traumatized souls are met with healing and compassion regardless if their death was self-inflicted—a sentiment that is heavily shunned in the western world, serving only to contribute to a culture rooted in preserving shame. Since then, I have read over a dozen books on the subject. My appreciation for the gift of life has only grown. Try to imagine for just a moment the sensation of a lifetime of weight being lifted from one's shoulders or the first genuine breath taken in what felt like decades, not from an act of aggression but one of compassion. It is only when one releases their hold on something that they can begin to grasp its value. It was the next lesson that would teach me the gravity and importance of a life.

3. You are loved.

At the time, I assumed I had replaced one benighted existence for another. And yet, it turned out to be a gift beyond measure. Circumstances had forced me to let go of a great many certitudes as I found myself caring for my dying father. The last of my self-constructed walls began to strip down, leaving only my Self in the wake of undoing. I was faced with the most humbling of truths, that regardless of how I had been treated or how I learned to speak to myself, I was still capable of giving love—and receiving it. I learned with absolute certainty that all things under the sun are wont to perish, save for the iridescence of love. Love isn't merely something waiting to awaken, but rather something resonating throughout each moment. The strength and degree of its resonance at any given moment depends entirely upon us. It was here that I found myself truly understanding what Viktor Frankl meant when he committed these words to paper:

"Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress... Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

"Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases to be of importance."

Every choice and reaction are, knowingly or not, weighed against the fulcrum of Love and Fear. These are not scales by which we are condemned to a lake of fire but rather the lens through which we find ourselves. Love yourself, and you shall find the capacity to love others uninhibited. Forgive yourself, for the most egregious burdens are those shouldered from within.

While sounding somewhat clichéd, these simple truths were strenuous for me to truly apprehend after a lifetime of trauma. These realizations were reinforced by twenty years of study and spiritual practice. I did so much research during these periods, desperately trying to understand what these experiences were wont to tell me. I desperately sought answers during these times, as I know others likely will be. I am writing this in the hope that my experiences can help others.

No matter how dark things seem, don't give up. There is always a light above your dark ocean, always a sun outside your cave. You'll find that your thoughts and actions carry more weight than your negative thoughts might allow you to witness. Each of us is unique, irreplaceable, and beyond value. Find meaning in your sorrow, embrace your scars with pride, for they have served to create a stronger, more perceptive person. Many individuals who enter healing professions do so because they have suffered themselves. It is the greatest act of love to help another suffering through the same ordeal that you once did. Believe in yourself, and all else will follow.

“So through endless twilights I dreamed and waited, though I knew not what I waited for. Then in the shadowy solitude my longing for light grew so frantic that I could rest no more, and I lifted entreating hands to the single black ruined tower that reached above the forest into the unknown outer sky. And at last I resolved to scale that tower, fall though I might; since it were better to glimpse the sky and perish, than to live without ever beholding day.”

- Howard Phillips Lovecraft, The Outsider

[mercurywit55]

Dark Night of the Soul

The “Dark Night of the Soul” is a concept often associated with a profound and challenging spiritual experience. It’s a term used to describe a period of intense inner crisis, where an individual may undergo deep emotional and spiritual suffering.

During the Dark Night of the Soul, a person may grapple with feelings of despair, emptiness, and a sense of spiritual abandonment. It’s seen as a transformative process, where the individual faces and transcends their inner struggles, ultimately leading to spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Notable figures like Saint John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila have written about the Dark Night of the Soul within a Christian mystical context, but similar themes can be found in other spiritual traditions as well. It’s considered a crucial phase in the journey toward deeper self-awareness and connection with the divine.

1. Origins in Christian Mysticism:

Saint John of the Cross, a Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar, is often credited with popularizing the term through his poem "Dark Night of the Soul" in the 16th century.

The dark night is seen as a purgative process, where the soul undergoes a profound purification, stripping away attachments and illusions that hinder spiritual growth.

2. Stages of the Dark Night:

The Dark Night is typically described in two main stages: the Dark Night of the Senses and the Dark Night of the Spirit.

The Dark Night of the Senses involves purifying the external and sensory aspects of the individual, while the Dark Night of the Spirit delves into the purification of the soul's deeper, spiritual layers.

3. Symbolism and Metaphor:

Symbolic imagery is often used to describe the experience, such as a journey through a dark wilderness, a night of deep contemplation, or a spiritual desert.

The darkness represents the feeling of being separated from the divine, undergoing a period of inner obscurity and unknowing.

4. Universal Themes:

While rooted in Christian mysticism, the concept of the Dark Night has parallels in various spiritual traditions.

In Hinduism, it aligns with the idea of facing challenges and purifications on the path to self-realization. In Buddhism, it resonates with the notion of confronting suffering and transcending attachments.

5. Transformation and Renewal:

The ultimate purpose of the Dark Night is seen as a transformative journey, leading to a profound union with the divine and a higher state of spiritual awareness.

It's not a permanent state but a passage that, when navigated with perseverance and surrender, can lead to spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with one's true self.

The Dark Night of the Soul is a complex and nuanced concept, interpreted in various ways across different spiritual and philosophical traditions. It underscores the idea that periods of darkness and challenge can be integral to the process of spiritual development and self-discovery.

[catholicmemoirs]

Book references on prayer & meditation in The Way of Perfection for the Laity

Sheehan's Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine

Cardinal Lercaro's Methods of Mental Prayer

Publications by Catholic Truth Society

[iamfitzwilliamdarcy]

Every year on July 16th is such a joyous occasion for all Carmelites throughout the world because we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelite Order!  Pray with us as we joyfully prepare for this wonderful feast of our Lady.  And we pray in a special way for our sisters preparing to make their finals vows.

Each day we will meditate on one of the most beautiful prayers ever written, the Flos Carmeli (Latin for “Flower of Carmel”).  Tradition tells of St. Simon Stock praying with a passionate intensity to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel during a time of great distress and hardship for the Order. With fervor and faith, he prayed the Flos Carmeli prayer which he wrote, and Our Lady answered that prayer. Thus, for seven centuries the Flos Carmeli continues to be prayed to the Blessed Mother with the firm faith that she will answer its request with her powerful help.

[republicsecurity]

Monastic Rescuers

Nestled amidst the bustling precincts of the Rescue Corps are sanctuaries of contemplation and devotion—monasteries inhabited by monks who embrace the dual calling of religious dedication and life-saving service. These devoted individuals embody a centuries-old legacy, harking back to the ascetic practices of the Carmelites and other ancient orders.

A Glimpse into the Unseen: Guided Tours of Monastic Life

For the curious and the spiritually inclined, guided tours of these monasteries offer a window into the lives of these modern-day monks. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of devotion, witness ancient rituals that have endured through the ages, and gain insight into the unique balance they strike between contemplation and action.

As you traverse the hallowed halls of these monastic retreats, you'll discover a profound harmony between sacred tradition and modern necessity. The monastic rescuers, veiled in humility and guided by their unwavering faith, stand as a testament to the enduring union of service and spirituality within the heart of the Rescue Corps.

Vows of Virtue: Poverty, Obedience, and Service

In a world marked by rapid change, these modern-day monks have chosen to follow the sacred vows of their spiritual forebears: poverty, obedience, and service. Bound by their sacred oaths, they seamlessly transition between the tranquil solace of the monastery and the demanding rigors of rescue operations.

Heralds of Silence: The Helmets of Humility

A practice both emblematic and enigmatic, the monks who serve within the Rescue Corps often observe the vow of silence and solitude—a profound commitment to introspection and inner peace. When interfacing with the public these dedicated souls choose to shroud themselves in anonymity, donning helmets that obscure their faces. This humble gesture serves as a powerful reminder of their devotion, as they seek to channel the essence of their service and honor the sanctity of silence.

The Chapel of Respite: Reflection and Reverence

Discover the inner sanctum of the monastic retreat—the Chapel of Respite. Ornate carvings and intricate stained glass windows create an ambiance of reverence, inviting visitors to partake in moments of quiet prayer or simply marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship. Join the monks in their daily prayers and experience the spiritual connection that infuses every corner of this sacred space.

Welcome to the Spiritual Haven: A Guided Tour by a Resilient Monk

Greetings, seekers of wisdom and insight. I am Brother AL0RN, a humble servant of the divine path within the Rescue Corps' monastic order. As we embark on this journey through our hallowed halls, I invite you to open your hearts to the serenity and dedication that define our way of life.

Follow me to the Scriptorium, where the ancient art of transcription flourishes. Through the vocoder, my words may sound distant, but my commitment to preserving knowledge and enlightenment remains resolute. Bear witness to the meticulous craftsmanship that has safeguarded wisdom for generations.

As we traverse the Gallery of Service, reflect on the unity of purpose that binds our monastic family. My obscured visage is a testament to our dedication to humility and service, reminding us that it is our actions, not appearances, that define our calling.

In the Hall of Unity, where silence yields to shared introspection, I invite you to pose your questions. The vocoder may cloak my voice, yet I am here to illuminate the harmonious convergence of devotion and duty that defines our existence.

Remember, dear guests, that the veil that separates us is symbolic of the sacrifices we make in our unwavering commitment to our path.

[emvidal]

Thanks to my friend Christine Niles for clearing up the silly rumors about Sr. Lucia being assassinated and replaced with an imposter. The only thing worse than a stupid liberal is a stupid conservative. Anyone who is going to spread the ridiculous nonsense about the "fake Sr Lucia" please unfriend me right now. Now. I mean it. I just blocked a long time friend for perpetuating such stupidity. It is such antics that make so-called "traditional" Catholics look crazy. Plus it is a terrible calumny against the Discalced Carmelite Nuns with whom Sr. Lucia of the Immaculate Heart of Mary lived. People who wonder about it please watch this: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/fwbd-fake-sr-lucy?fbclid=IwAR2EJVZ0KDrUi75wcpjZ0V61GmVw1mHeJwtDIB-xE59J8rvc0Ryq-bKg80M

[bylagunabay]

Angel of God my guardian …

CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL.

It is a pious tradition that the Archangel Michael revealed to a holy person that he would be well pleased by his bringing into use the following prayers in his honour and in honour of all the angelic host; and that he would repay those who practiced this devotion with signal favors, particularly in such times as the Catholic Church should experience some special trial.

In this belief, a holy Carmelite nun of the convent of Vetralla in the diocese of Viterbo, who died with the reputation of sanctity in the year 1751, made it her delight to practice this method of prayer, commonly called the "Chaplet of St Michael;" and it was at the instigation of the nuns of her convent that his Holiness Pius IX., by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites dated August 8, 1851, granted the following Indulgences –

1 An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time the Chaplet is said.

2 An indulgence of 100 days daily to anyone who carries this Chaplet about him or kisses the medal with the representation of the holy angels appended to the said Chaplet.

3 A plenary indulgence once a month to everyone who says daily this Chaplet, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, he shall pray for the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church and the safety of the Sovereign Pontiff.

4. A plenary indulgence, with the conditions above named, on -

a St. Gabriel the Archangel, March 24.

b Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael, May 18.

c Feast of the Archangels, September 29.

d Holy Angel Guardians, October 2.

To gain these Indulgences, a Chaplet must be used consisting of nine Pater Nosters, and three Ave Marias after each Pater Noster, with four Pater Nosters at the end; with corresponding salutations being said at the same time in their proper order, with the antiphon and prayer at the end us given below.

- Raccolta

 THE CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]

1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity.

Amen.

2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection.

Amen.

3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility.

Amen.

4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.

Amen.

5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation.

Amen.

6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil.

Amen.

7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience.

Amen.

8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven.

Amen.

9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven.

Amen.

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

Concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

[silvestromedia]

SAINTS FOR JULY 24

St. John Boste, 1594 A.D. One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He was born at Dufton, at Westmoreland, England, and studied at Oxford. Becoming a Catholic in 1576, he went to Reims and received ordination in 1581. John went back to England where he worked in the northern parts of the kingdom and became the object of a massive manhunt. He was betrayed, arrested, and taken to London. There he was crippled on the rack and returned to Dryburn near Durham. On July 24, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered. John was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as a martyr of Durham.

Sts. Wulfhade and Ruffinus, 7th century. Wulfhade and Ruffinus (d.c. seventh century). Martyrs of England. Little is known about them with any certainty, although according to tradition they were two princes of Mercia who were baptized by St. Chad and were swiftly executed by their pagan father. They were martyred at Stone, Staffordshire

Bl. Maria Pilar Martinez Garcia & Companions, Roman Catholic Carmelite nun, with Maria Angeles Valtierra and Teresa Garcia y Garcia. They were killed in Guadalajara, Spain, by communists in the civil war. Maria Pilar Martinez was an older nun from Tarazona, Zaragoza.Feastday July 24

Bl. Maria Angeles of Saint Joseph was a Carmelite nun at the monastery of Guadalajara, Spain. She was one of hundreds of martyrs during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. Feastday July 24

Bl. Joseph Fernandez, Roman Catholic Dominican Martyr of Vietnam. He was sent there in 1805 as an ordained priest and appointed provincial vicar of the mission. He was beheaded. Feastday July 24

ST. CHRISTINE, VIRGIN AND MARTYR-Like many ancient martyrs, Christina was a young woman who, on account of her love of Christ, found enemies within her own family. She was tortured by her own father to induce her to renounce her faith. After his death, the torture continued, until, shot by arrows, she won the crown of martyrdom.

ST. CHARBEL MAKHLOUF, PRIEST

St. Menefrida, 5th century. Patron saint of Tredresick, in Cornwall, England. She belonged to the family of Brychan of Brecknock.

St. Declan. St. Declan First bishop of Ardmore in Ireland July 24 was baptized by St. Colman, and preached the faith in that country a little before the arrival of St. Patrick, who confirmed the Episcopal see of Ardmore, in a synod at Cashel in 448. Many miracles are ascribed to St. Declan, and he has ever been much honored in the viscounty of Dessee, anciently Nandesi.