“Carmel, unlike the children of our day, is not afraid of the mystical life. The spirit of the Order does not regard it as doing violence to nature but knows that nature in the last analysis is destined for such perfection. Nor is the mystical way the only way. Great sanctity may be achieved without …
Today, February 25, is the memorial of Saint Avertano of Lucca. Carmelite confessor. Avertano was born in Limoges, France around 1320. In his youth, Avertano had resolved to live a life closest to the teachings of the Gospels. The desire for holiness was always in his mind and soul. Thus, when Avertano witnessed the exemplary …
Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,he again taught them.The Pharisees approached him and asked,“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”They were testing him.He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”They replied,“Moses permitted a husband to …
“The school of Carmel, at least in its representative members, observes the happy mean between these two extremes. According to the ancient document concerning the Order’s spirit, the attainment of this high state of mystical communion is put forward as the aim of all Carmelites and all are obliged to conform their lives to this …
Today, February 24, is the memorial of Blessed Marco de Marconi. Marco was born in 1480 in Modena, Italy. He came from a pious and rich Christian family, but early on he knew he had a religious vocation. At 16, he joined the girolamini or the Order of the Hermits of St. Jerome. He dedicated …
Jesus said to his disciples:“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drinkbecause you belong to Christ,amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,it would be better for him if a great millstonewere put around his neckand he …
“In this school, the mystic life, properly so called, is without reserve a pure gift of God. Nonetheless, it is set forth as the aim of Carmelite life, as the glory with which God may crown our lives here below. This carries with it the implication that Carmelite spirituality must be concerned to produce these …
Today, February 23, is the memorial of Saint Polycarp. Polycarp was born around A.D. 65. St. Jerome, St. Irenaeus and the early Christian writer Tertullian wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle. Irenaeus wrote that Polycarp corresponded with people who had actually seen Jesus. He fought the heresy Gnosticism. He also …
John said to Jesus,“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my namewho can at the same time speak ill of me.For whoever is not against us is …
“The Mater Spiritualium and the Doctor Mysticus, St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, are the great masters in the spiritual life of this school. They are the great examples of Carmel’s mystic life and the most widely known. But beside these great outstanding personages, there is such a large body of mystical writers, …