Carmelite Conversations – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS shares a reflection on how to accept our own weaknesses and obstacles to our union with God. Deacon Mark quotes the book Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird.

During this homily given by Fr. John MacQuarrie, the spiritual assistant for our Secular Carmelite Community, discusses the outward sign of Carmel as he welcomes three members of our community who were clothed with the ceremonial brown scapular. He also reflects on the Constitutions of the Secular Carmelites and our Christian roles as priests, prophets, and kings.

If you feel as though you have reached a plateau in your prayer life, or after many years of active prayer, you feel as though you are suddenly stuck, it may be the Lord is calling you to a deeper encounter with Him. The spiritual life is not static, it moves through different phases. And, like any relationship, if it is going to continue to grow, there must be changes in the way we approach prayer. There eventually comes a time in our prayer life when the Lord takes a more active role, and He needs us to begin to detach ourselves from our usual way of finding Him in prayer. This is a process of the Lord moving from our more comfortable and active practice of meditation, to a more destabilizing but interior practice of contemplation. Our primary response must be surrender and receptivity. In this next phase of the journey to God, we must be willing to allow Him to draw us toward Himself, into a place of quiet serenity. This conversation outlines both the prerequisites for this movement and the disposition the soul must develop in order to continue to make progress.

Books: 

“Saint John of the Cross:  Master of Contemplation” by Fr. Donald Haggerty; Ignatius Press.

“The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross” by John of the Cross; ICS Publications.

Paul Adams, OCDS, provides insights on St. Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In this talk, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses how to maintain our Carmelite identity.

Carmelites are well aware of the spiritual journey climbing Mt. Carmel to grow in union with our Lord.  What may be passing under our radar is the Mystical Union with our Blessed Virgin Mary. This program addresses what that union is, what Marian souls experience in it, and how we may prepare ourselves to be open for such a great grace. The main source was the book by Fr. Emile Neubert called “Life of Union with Mary.”

Many of us are homebound right now due to the pandemic of the coronavirus. The whole world is experiencing this scourging. What are we as Secular Discalced Carmelites called to do. Mark highlights some aspects of our Carmelite Charism that are particularly potent right now, in this period of Lent and the pandemic.

Since most of us, all over the world, are not able to physically go to Mass and received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, due to the pandemic coronavirus, we have a unique opportunity to intensify our spiritual practice of spiritual communions. St. Teresa of Avila gives us some wise counsel on this topic. Additionally, St. Therese of Lisieux, wrote a poem, “My Desires Near Jesus Hidden in His Prison of Love,” that will help inflame any loving heart.

Deacon Russell Baldwin, OCDS, gave a homily on The Well-Ordered Life at our March 2020 Community meeting and holy Hour.

Marika Zimmerman, OCDS, gave this presentation at our March 2020 Community meeting.

Bibliography

Nine Themes in Carmelite Spirituality - 6. Carmel is Marian

by Fr. Patrick Thomas McMahon, O.Carm.

https://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/nine-themes-carmelite-spirituality-6-carmel-marian

Liturgy of the Hours Lenten/Easter Season Volume II for Solemnity the

Annunciation  Psalm Prayer Divine office for 25 March Psalm prayer after Psalm45 not in the four volume but found on line.  

http://www.ibreviary.com/m2/breviario.php?s=ufficio_delle_letture

St Teresa of Avila The Way of perfection Study Edition by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD Page 368

Bible References from the USCCB web site

http://www.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1

Catechism of the Catholic Church Part 1 The Profession of - Section 2 Chapter 2 Article 3  Paragraph 2 I. CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. . .

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a3p2.htm

Novena in Honor of Mary Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen of Schoenstatt booklet

By Sister M. Gunthildis, S.A.C.  Translated from German by Ulric J. Proeller, S.T. L.  The Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, New –Schoenstatt W. 284 N. 404 Cherry Lane, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188   1986 pages 8-10

Divine Intimacy Meditations on the Interior Life for every day of the Liturgical Year by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. Tan Publishers Rockford Illinois © 1964 Pages 1133-1136 (The Annunciation)