Fontiveros

Fontiveros is a municipality in Spain in the Ávila province. It comprises an area of approximately 40 square kilometres. This small place has sentimental attachment for the Carmelites because our Holy father St. John of the Cross (Juan de Yepes Álvarez) was born in Fontiveros in 1542 on June 24 (St. John Baptist's Day).

His father (Gonzalo de Yepes ) was from the moneyed class and had been a reasonably well-off merchant. He belonged to a wealthy family of silk merchants. However, on a business trip to Fontiveros, he met and fell in love with Catalina Alvarez, a poor seamstress. His family disowned both of them.

Faith

 “Now FAITH is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is the fuel of the Christian life. Christian faith is confidence in Jesus Christ that Jesus is with me and He is for me. He is my Saviour, Lord, and God.

We Carmelites walk in faith, hope and love of God as did Mary and all the saints who have gone before us. Even though prayer is the first duty of a Carmelite, we believe that to be genuine, prayer must be supported by faith and hope, made radiant by charity.

The first Carmelites sought also to “put on the armour of God,” as they lived an intense life of faith, hope and charity.

Japanese History

Dear DLL Jesus,

As you are aware, I have been reading the World History for quite some time now!

Yesterday I started reading the summary on the Gospel of St. Mark!

Both of these are extremely knowledgeable and so today I was switching between the two!

Suddenly I read about the Japanese in the World History and how they had locked themselves from the entire world around the 16th century! That fascinated me and I wanted to know more about them!

So I downloaded the app containing the history of Japan!🤗

I have also found a write up on Pinterest! So I am yearning to read it!🤗 I don't know why suddenly Japan is fascinating me so much! Is there a connection somewhere?😂 I am so eager to know!😊

So Lord, since I have already read History and the summary for today, I want to start reading about Japan - just to quench my curiosity!🤗

I will surely give you a feedback on it!😇

Elijah

(900 BCE–849 BCE)

Elijah, also spelled Elias or Elia, Hebrew Eliyyahu, is a Hebrew prophet who prophesied during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. He came from Tishbeh in Gilead but nothing is known of his family or birth.

He performed his first miracles in the town of Zarephath, near Sidon, in the house of a poor widow.

After Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal when he called down fire from heaven, the drought ended. Elijah was a prophet of God. Elijah told Ahab and his people to repent. If they did not repent, God would send a famine. There would be no water. The Elijah narrative took shape in the northern kingdom of Israel.

The Holy Prophet Elijah is one of the greatest of the prophets and the first dedicated to virginity in the Old Testament.

The first Carmelites were rooted in a prophetic tradition which goes back to the time of the Prophet Elijah. They venerated the prophet and established themselves near the fountain called cherith or Elijah's Spring or Well of Elijah on Mount Carmel. They gathered here and regarded themselves as the sons of the prophet. They led their life Prophet Elijah’s footsteps.

As the patron of the Carmelites St. Elijah is honoured on July 20, who is known as the father of Carmel. His words “with zeal I have been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts” are the Carmelite motto.

Eremitical Life

The eremitical life or the vocation of being a hermit is another way to live out God's call to live fully and to proclaim the Good news. An eremite or a hermit is a person living in solitude as a religious discipline. Eremitical life is, under certain aspects, the most complete form of monastic life as recognized by the Catholic Church.

The first Carmelites were hermits living on the slopes of Mount Carmel as the only site suitable for the eremitical life left in the Holy Land was Mount Carmel. The Rule was written for hermits living the kind of eremitical life common in Palestine in the thirteenth century. These hermits lived a hidden life of silence and prayer. They wished to lead a life like that of Elijah, the exemplary solitary one.

The Teresian Carmel joins both the original eremitical spirit of Carmel to life lived in Community. St. Teresa of Avila wanted the Discalced Carmelites to be “hermits living in community”. Even if in our own time there are few who are able to persevere continuously as hermits, the eremitical life remains revered as a unique charism within the Carmelite Spirituality.

Elizabeth of the Trinity

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (July 18, 1880 - November 9, 1906) was a French Carmelite nun and writer. She was born on a Sunday into a military family and baptized Marie Rolland Josephine Elizabeth Catez on July 22, the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a fact which she treasured. Her name was Elizabeth Catez, and her family's fond nickname for her was not Lizzie or Beth, but Sabeth. Her father died when she was only seven. Elizabeth and her sister Marguerite were raised by her mother. When she was 21, Elizabeth entered a Carmelite monastery, over her mother’s objections.

Despite the objections, on 2nd August 1901, the postulant entered the Dijon Carmel and was given the name of Elizabeth of the Trinity. Mother Germaine was her prioress.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity had true depth of prayer, was a mystic, a great lover of Jesus, and a real friend to her sisters in Carmel and her family. She spent six years as a Carmelite nun, but like St Thérèse of Lisieux she advanced in holiness in a very short time.

Though a hot-tempered child, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity possessed a deep love for God in her youth. She prayed often and wanted to give herself completely to God. “It is the whole Trinity who dwells in the soul who truly loves him, that is, keeping his word!” she wrote in the Last retreat 27-28.

Her prayer "O my God, Trinity whom I adore" the prayer to the Holy Trinity has been translated into thirty-four languages. Though noted for great spiritual growth, she was also plagued with periods of powerful darkness. But she has been given such titles as "the prophet of the presence of God" and "the saint of the divine indwelling".

Though St Elizabeth of the Trinity died at the age of 26 she has become a great mystic of our times. She is the patroness against illness and of those who are sick. She believed that “TO LOVE, and to be loved, is the deepest of all human needs; it alone gives meaning and a sense of fulfilment.”

St Elizabeth of the Trinity confided her purity to Saint Joseph in a very special way.

She was canonized on October 16th, 2016 by Pope Francis. The Church celebrates her feast day on 8^th November.

 

Warli Painting Day

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today was my Warli Painting Day and this is what I made - a dancing couple!

And thank you Lord for sending the thunderbolt on 22nd April - I am happy to be struck by it and because of this I am able to ignore the whole wide world!

Thank you so much Lord!

Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper, is a ritual commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1360, “The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits…….”

The Carmelite life has always been centred around the Eucharistic celebration. The first hermits on Mount Carmel gathered daily for the Eucharist. The Rule calls on Carmelites to share daily in the Eucharist. The chapel is to be in the midst of the cells, which evokes the heavenly Jerusalem. The Carmelite rule also speaks much about silence, solitude and meditation. Christ is present in both the solitude of the cell and the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our entire lives as Discalced Carmelites. At the heart of community life is the abiding Eucharistic Presence of Christ. The Eucharist is the power which permits us to arrive at contemplation.

The way of life of a Carmelite is rooted in the Gospels and a deep love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. We ponder on the scriptures as we go about our daily tasks. The heart of our day is the celebration of the Eucharist.

St. Mark

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today is the Feast of St. Mark, the evangelist!

In my CTC assignment no. 2, for the second question, I had written on the gospel of Mark.

So today I am posting that assignment here:

Question:

Explain the portrait of Jesus in the gospel of your choice in the light of the corresponding chapter in “How to Read the New Testament” by E. Charpentier.

 Answer:

The gospel according to Mark has the symbol of Lion and was written for a community made of former gentiles. According to the above mentioned book, this gospel seeks to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, especially through his actions and above all his miracles. 

Mark’s is the first of the written gospels though it is placed second of the four gospels in the New Testament. It’s really the one that establishes the life of Jesus as a story – the story of Jesus’ activity. Until then Jesus had been the one who proclaimed the good news; in Mark he became the one to be proclaimed – he himself is the good news. The Jesus whom Mark portraits in his text is always present in his community; in particular, he is alive in the Eucharist.

As Mark is not writing to the Jews or to those who are familiar with the Old Testament, he presents his writing as a story book stressing on the good news about Jesus. He begins his gospel with Jesus’ baptism. Mark does not claim to represent events as they actually happened. He offers a certain view of the ministry of Jesus as seen by him and the community whose spokesman he was.

Mark has given a very simple framework to the life of Jesus. It is an account of various parables constructed to convey the spirit of Jesus’ ministry. Mark portraits Jesus in action and his actions are not static but passionately burning action. Jesus in Mark is portrayed by his actions as secretive. One of the ways Jesus remains mysteriously present in history is in preaching. Jesus is slightly skeptical in announcing himself as the messiah. He’s more interested in his identity as Christ and Son of God.

According to Mark, the arrival of the kingdom of God is embodied in the person of Jesus. Since it is addressed to non-believers or those whose faith is weak, he wants to lead them to join the gentile at the foot of the cross in proclaiming that Jesus is truly the Son of God. That’s why the most frequent title Jesus uses in Mark is Son of Man (fourteen times).

The gospel of Mark is a fast-paced gospel that portraits Jesus as the powerful, suffering servant of God. Mark, the shortest of all the gospels, shows that Jesus taught with authority and always full of action. In Mark's gospel is the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Christ as the Messiah. There is no infancy narrative in Mark, so we hear nothing about Jesus’ birth or early life. 

In Mark, Jesus is portrayed as immensely popular with the people in Galilee during his ministry (Mk 2:2; 3:7; 4:1). He appoints twelve disciples to help preach.

The gospel of Mark reveals Jesus the Servant. The dramatic and action-filled account was written by John Mark to prove that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

The gospel of Mark is remarkably different from the other gospels and there are several characteristics that make the gospel of Mark unique. The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four gospels and has its own unique lessons to teach us about Jesus, why He is important, to leave out nothing of what he had heard and to make no false statements in them. Joseph, husband of Mary, is never named in Mark's gospel at all. This gospel is unique because it emphasizes Jesus’ actions more than anything. Although Jesus made considerable use of parables in his teaching, Mark does not relate very many of them.

But what I don’t like about Mark's gospel is that it is sparse and brief compared to the others. It has no genealogy and it seems Jesus does not know everything (13:32), and his power is limited (6:5). Still I like this gospel because it is an easy-to-understand account of the teachings of Jesus proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Lastly, I like this gospel’s portrayal of Jesus because it is original – New Testament scholars believe that Mark's gospel was used as a source by both Matthew and Luke. So I like its originality.

From a historical point of view, Mark, being the oldest of the gospels, is the most reliable. Jesus’ miracles, parables, death, burial, and resurrection are revealed in the gospel by Mark. It is believed that the gospel of Mark largely consists of the preaching of Peter arranged and shaped by Mark. It emphasizes Jesus saying, “Those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

Mark paints a portrait of Jesus that is vivid, dynamic and focused on His miracles and His divine Sonship. Since it has 16 short chapters, the briefest of all the gospels, it is easy to read in one sitting. This must be the reason the gospel according to Mark commands a great deal of scholarly and popular attention till date. A vast majority of biblical scholars consider it to be the earliest extant narrative life of Jesus and many readers are captivated by its fast-paced literary style and use of dramatic expressions.

 

Conclusion:

The shortest and the most action-packed gospel of Mark also portraits Jesus as the obedient son of God – Jesus is portrayed as fully God and fully man. Like us, he eats and sleeps and talks and prays. He’s someone who got angry and at the same time was full of pity. He’s a wandering preacher who at times did not get a chance to eat. Miracles occupy a major part of Mark’s gospel – Jesus is shown as stronger than evil.

 

Super Flop!!!

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today was the day to make candles!

Today I thought of making three candles but could make only one - the one in the image - the very first one that I tried!

After that the other two candles were super flop - I just couldn't make the wicks stick to the holders because of which they kept becoming loose! 

I had melted so much wax today but I kept going wrong with the wicks again and again and again! Exasperated, I stopped and didn't make any more candles!

I ended up fighting every one at home and now I am sitting all alone!

So I am extremely upset today!☹️☹️

Edith Stein

“Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God.”

 

Edith Stein (12 October 1891 – 9 August 1942) was a German Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Discalced Carmelite nun. She received the religious name of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross or, in Latin, Sancta Teresia Benedicta a Cruce when she became a Carmelite nun. She is a Carmelite Virgin and Martyr and hers is an equally beautiful story like all other Carmelite saints.

Edith Stein was born in 1891 in Breslau, Poland, and was the youngest child of a large Jewish family. Born into the Jewish faith, her road to faith in Jesus Christ was not an easy one. She was a brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was 14. But converted from Judaism to Catholicism in the course of her work as a philosopher. She was known in Germany as a writer, speaker, phenomenologist, teacher, feminist, and translator.

In 1933 at the age of forty-three, her dreams of entering a Carmelite monastery were finally fulfilled. She moved to a Carmelite Monastery in the Netherlands. After entering the Carmelite convent she prayed especially for Jews in Germany, who were being persecuted under Hitler during World War II. Teresa Benedicta was arrested, along with her sister Rosa, who had also converted, and the other sisters in her religious community. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross died in the gas chamber the same day that she arrived at the camp at Auschwitz, Sunday 9th August 1942. She died for Christ and for his people.

She was canonized at St Peter's Basilica in Rome on 11th October 1998. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was proclaimed a patron saint of Europe in 1999. Pope Francis on August 7, 2019, pointed to Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross as a courageous example for the faithful to follow.

https://www.slideshare.net/mizexo/free-read-download-the-science-of-the-cross-collected-works-of-edith-stein-ppt-127284392

 

Detachment

Detachment is one of the many virtues of Carmelite Spirituality. It means getting rid of our selfish clinging to things or persons other than God. This is how the Carmelites all over the world live their spirituality daily – by completely detaching the soul from everything but the love of God.

All Carmelite saints, especially our Holy Father St. John of the Cross, co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites, insisted that detachment was necessary for holiness. Even our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila writes that the entire edifice in the life of a Carmelite must be built upon the virtues of detachment, humility, and poverty of spirit. "Detachment, if practiced perfectly, included the other two necessary virtues, love of others and true humility", says St. Teresa of Avila.

This Carmelite doctrine, taught by the Church in every generation and exhorted by all saints, is the doctrine of detachment. We need to live a fidelity to contemplative prayer with the spirit of detachment it entails. We need detachment in all things through absolute attachment to Christ.

Mary teaches us by example of her life to become humble, filled with faith, detached and willing to suffer, if needed. “The Carmelite wisdom - Humility and Detachment – are two sisters, who are inseparable”, says Stephen Cherry.

Spanish

Dear DLL Jesus,

buenos dias!🥰

From today I have started learning Spanish online!🤗

I am so very excited!

I have always loved Spain - earlier because of my favourite Spanish tennis player Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and now St. John of the Cross!

So taking advantage of this lockdown, I am adding Spanish to my Quarantine Creativity!

Next time, if by any remote chance, I receive a good morning message, I will reply with a "buenos dias"!🥰

Thank you Lord for inspiring me to be creative during this lockdown!

Dark Night of the Soul

“Noche oscura del alma”

“Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.” ― St. John of the Cross, DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

 

The DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL is a period of utter spiritual desolation, disconnection, and emptiness in which one feels totally separated from the Divine.

The DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL is the title of a poem written by our Holy Father Saint John of the Cross who was a 16th-century Spanish poet and Roman Catholic mystic.

This poem narrates the journey of the soul from its bodily home to its union with God. The journey is called “The Dark Night,” darkness representing the hardships and difficulties the soul meets in detachment from the world and reaching the light of the union with the Creator. He called this transition “The Dark Night of the Soul” and deemed it a prerequisite to a full union with God.

St. John of the Cross wrote this poem while imprisoned in a tiny prison cell for his attempts to reform the Church. His dark closet of confinement became what he called a Dark Night of the Soul. He was tortured because he loved Jesus Christ but the Lord didn't rescue him. He contended that the dry seasons teach us about our own powerlessness and our own need for complete reliance on Christ.

A sequel and continuation of ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL, THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL is a spiritually moving and mystical book.

One may read this book here:

http://www.carmelitemonks.org/Vocation/DarkNight-StJohnoftheCross.pdf

 

Carmelite Saint book

Dear DLL Jesus,

After many days a supposedly interesting book has been shared on the CBC group!

Let me start reading this book to find if it is really interesting and useful!

Spiritual Communion

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today I completed one month of being at home! Since 21st March I have not stepped out of the home! Since one month the church is closed for us! Since one month we have been receiving the communion spiritually!

Am I missing you?

No!

I write to you daily! 

You are becoming ever more dear to me!❤️❤️

Determined Determination

Our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila was an extremely prayerful person. She said, “We must have a determined determination to never give up prayer.”

This term Determined Determination has been coined by her thoughts on Carmelite spirituality and contemplative prayer. By this she means that we must have a great determination to persevere until the end. So we Carmelites pursue our contemplative life with faith as our guide with a “determined determination”.

The saint is teaching us to become like her, to develop a strong determination in putting God in everything.

Dijon

Dijon is the largest city in the eastern French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It is the capital of Burgundy and is at the heart of the Burgundy vineyards. Dijon is one of France's most appealing cities and twenty years after the death of Saint Teresa of Avila, Dijon was the third foundation of the Spanish Carmelites in France in 1605. Dispersed by the Revolution in 1792, the Carmel was rebuilt in 1865.

It was in this new monastery that Elizabeth CATEZ entered on 2 August 1901. But she died there five years later of Addison's disease.

When her father died, the family shifted near the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Dijon. The sound of the bells of the convent and the nuns' garden attracted the young Elizabeth. St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, young prophet of the Presence of God (1880-1906), was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1984, and canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.

But because of various constraints, the Carmelites were forced to leave the city of Dijon. In 1979 the monastery was transferred to a silent hill, near the village of Flavignerot, 13 km south-west of Dijon.

 

A Wasted Day!😒

Today has been a total waste because of a nagging headache since morning!

The day is almost ending and I have not done anything creative! Not even read History!😑

It is Divine Mercy Sunday and I searched out the best pic from Pinterest to send out! But a forwarded pic is what I got back! That killed all the joy of the Divine Mercy Sunday!💔 I always send out the best pic but forwarded messages are what I get back in return! And it just breaks my heart!☹️ Okay, that shows where I stand!☹️

I also wonder about the good mornings! I wonder to how many more people it is sent!☹️ 

So, a totally good for nothing day!🙃

Duruelo

Duruelo is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. It was here that the first convent of the Discalced Carmelite Friars was opened on November 28th, 1568.

The chapters thirteen and fourteen of the book of the Foundations recount the establishment of the first foundation of Carmelite friars in the village of Duruelo. This was shortly after our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila was introduced to a young Carmelite (John) who went on to become the great mystic and the father of our Order, St. John of the Cross!

In 1568, with two other Carmelites, he founded the first Carmelite reformed monastery at Duruelo.

St John of the Cross was the first friar to enter the first foundation at Duruelo.

 

Warli Painting!

Dear DLL Jesus,

Yesterday when I listed down all the hobbies that I wanted to pursue, painting was nowhere in the agenda as I am not an artist!

But suddenly today in the morning I came across a warli painting on Instagram and I so much wanted to draw one! I found warli painting extremely fascinating because I felt I could draw them! I had always known about this folk art of Maharashtra but I didn't know that one day I would yearn to make one! They are so beautiful and yet so simple - even an amateur like me is able to draw them!🤗

So after making your painting which I have uploaded on Facebook, I made this very first warli painting of my life!

And I am extremely excited!

But in my excitement I don't want to overdo anything and eventually get bored. So I am going to chalk down a complete timetable for me - every day I will take up only one hobby so that I have variety and I don't get bored also!

Today's Gospel 🙌

Discalced Carmelites

In August 1562 Saint Teresa of Ávila founded a new style of Carmelite community in Ávila, Spain. It was to become the first of a new Order – the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD). Thus the Discalced Carmel acknowledges Saint Teresa as its mother and foundress. She envisioned an Order fully dedicated to poverty. She felt strongly about this and thus the virtue of poverty became integrally related to this Religious Order.

The Barefoot Carmelites is a more common name for the Discalced (from Latin: without shoes) Carmelites. The Discalced Carmelites are a Roman Catholic religious community of priests, brothers, nuns, and laity serving the Church. We embrace the religious life in friendship and service of Jesus Christ.

Our religious Order’s heritage reaches back to a community of hermits living on Mount Carmel in Palestine during the late-12th century. But in 1592 the Discalced Carmelites or of the Teresians became independent from the Original Carmelites (O Carms) and grew independently but be it the Teresian Carmelites or the O Carms, the ultimate vocation of the Carmelites is to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ who loves us.

 

India

The Discalced Carmelites came to India in the beginning of the 17th Century. They founded their first residence at Tatta in Sind, now in Pakistan, and the second, in Goa in 1620.

Sebastiani and four friars, the first Carmelite Missionaries, were sent to India by Pope Alexander VII and with them begins the history of Carmelites in our country. Fr. Benigno of St. Michael, Fr Leander of the Annunciation, who had been sent to the Persian mission, came to Goa in 1619 and the Carmelites were able to establish roots there in 1621. They began their mission in India at Old Goa. Carmelites were a prominent Order at Old Goa along with Jesuits, Franciscans and Augustinians since 1619 till the Portuguese suppressed religious orders in 1834.

The Carmelites, on their refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the king, were expelled from Goa in 1707. The church fell into disuse and ruins soon after. Nothing remains of the Church of the Carmelites built in 1621, except the façade and a raised pavement which served as an altar. It is located to the south-east of the Church of St. Cajetan on a hill more or less contiguous to the hill on which the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount stands.

Today there are around 1000 Discalced Carmelite friars and some 500 Discalced Carmelite nuns (34 monasteries) spread across India.

The present monastery building Convent do Carmo (Carmelite Convent/Monastery) was a novitiate house and was built in 1943. Today Carmelites have three foundations (Margao, Mapusa and Xellim) in Goa.

In 2019, the Discalced Carmelites celebrated 400 years of their presence in India.  This celebration was held from February, 8-10 in Goa.

 

World History

Dear DLL Jesus,

Like I wrote to you earlier, I have downloaded the World History app and already started reading it!🤗

Let me tell you dear Lord, it is so beautiful and interesting! I am enjoying it so very much!

And there's a full chapter on you and with you the birth of Christianity!🤗 You were truly a historical figure - even the World History writes about you!🤗

But I was wondering that how fortunate it would have been if I had to be a school student today! I would have so many books and reference materials! So many resources to study from! These are the best times to study any subject - we have vast options!

So I have decided to take up studying few more subjects online!🤗 Some subjects that have always fascinated me! I am going to make an in-depth research on my favourite subjects and download their online apps!😍

Hobbies

Dear DLL Jesus,

I have been forgetting to tell you that the lockdown has been further extended. They are calling it the second phase. The first phase was till 14th April and the second phase will be till 3rd May.

So, I have decided to do the following things. Some of these I am already doing!

1) DIY candles

2) Learn subjects (educate myself on world History)

3) Gardening

4) Writing

5) Reading

6) Teach myself a language (Bengali)

7)  Blogging

8)  Do calligraphy

9)  Collect something (undecided)

10) Online Teachers Training course

PS: *Downloaded the apps to learn Spanish and read the world history* 

DIY candles!

Divine Office

Divine office, also called the Canonical Hours, Liturgy of the Hours, or Liturgical Hours, in various Christian churches, is the public service of praise and worship. This is the daily prayer of the Carmelites all over the world.

Next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Office is the primary way in which the Carmelites engage in the worship of God. Our Carmelite vocation leads us, like Mary, to hear the Word of God and put it into practice.

In our community, we chant the Liturgy of the Hours three times daily. Immediately after reciting the Angelus together, we begin that part of the Divine Office called Lauds or Morning Prayer, our morning praise of God.

The Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office is the universal prayer of the Church and an ancient monastic tradition that infuses the hours of the day with prayer. In addition to chanting the Divine Office, our way of life also calls us to a half hour of silent contemplative prayer.

From early rising until retirement late at night, the day is interspersed with a continuous interchange of spiritual exercises.

 

Candle Making

Dear DLL Jesus,

The day has indeed been beautiful!😍

In the morning I started the process of making my own candles at home!🤗

Today was Day 1:

1) Accumulated all the leftover wax from the old candles and candle holders!

2) Cleaned all the candle holders by pouring hot water in them!

3) The wax and the candle holders are kept in the window to dry out!

🤗🤗

Convent of the Incarnation

The convent of the Incarnation (La Encarnación) is at Avila, Spain. It was in this convent that our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila, after much soul-searching during her teen years, first entered the Carmelite convent in 1535. She entered this Carmelite convent on November 2, 1535. Her mother died in 1529, and, despite her father's opposition, Teresa entered the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation.

At that time it was known as Monasterio de la Encarnación or Monastery of the Incarnation.

But After many tribulations and heart-searching St Teresa (born in 1515), left the Incarnation on 24th August 1562 to found St. Joseph's, a new monastery as per her plans.

The convent of the Incarnation was a large convent of over 150 nuns which was poorly managed. So After 26 years she was inspired by God to found her own convent.

Recent studies have shown that at the time of St Teresa's entry the Incarnation numbered among eleven Carmelite monasteries for nuns in Spain.

Cherith

Cherith means a cutting, separation, gorge, torrent-bed, or winter-stream, is a valley or stream. Cherith is taken from the Bible. There is a passage in the Bible, 1 Kings 17: 2-7, the story of the prophet Elijah, where he is fed by the ravens next to the brook. The brook Cherith is only mentioned twice in the Bible and that in 1 Kings 17:3 and 5.

Cherith was the name of the stream that kept Elijah alive during the three years' drought which he announced to King Ahab. Instantly the word of the Lord came to him and he was told to flee to Cherith and hide there. The promise God gave him was that he would be provided for there.

The Brook of Cherith was situated east of the Jordan. It flowed through the land which was allotted to the tribe of Gad.

Today this wadi or brook is in the east of the Jordan River, the modern wadi Qilt south of Jericho.

15th April, 2001

Nineteen years back, on this day i.e. 15th April, 2001, I got converted to Christianity. From a Bengali Brahmin I had become a Roman Catholic.

But honestly I wasn’t at all happy! Somehow Christianity was forced upon me by the in-laws! I was kind of forced to attend the RCIA classes every Sunday evening at 5 PM. That was in 2002. Though I was quite regular initially I didn't understand anything. Then in December I got pregnant and stopped attending as I used to feel nauseated! Still they baptized me on Easter 2001.

 
Even after my conversion, I couldn't love Jesus wholeheartedly! The kind of love and feelings I have today for Jesus Christ has taken a long time to come. Though I had no compunctions to go to church to attend Mass, I wasn’t all that faithful to Jesus. The right kind of feelings were missing. It took me nine and half years to get the right feelings of faith. I would pray, I would attend rosaries, I would attend Mass, I went on a vegetarian diet every Lent, and I even enrolled myself in Bible study classes and became an animator in my SCC; but that feeling, that faith, that oneness with Jesus was just missing. I lacked the right faith till 2010.

That right faith came to me around September 2010 when I actually started ‘speaking’ with Jesus. One day after coming back from office, in ‘deep pain’ I looked towards the crucifix of Jesus in our master bedroom and cried out, “Lord help me, I cannot take this pain anymore”. I swear that was THE moment for me. I was born again. That was my calling. Jesus heard me and lifted me and embraced me in His outstretched arms. He washed all my ‘wounds’ by His precious blood and since then has kept me hidden (safe and sound) in His own wounds. I feel protected and loved in His embrace. That evening He uplifted me and has kept me going during my trying times.

I’ll be forever grateful to Him for what He has done for me since that evening when I cried out to him. Since then I have only loved him more and more and more!😍

I am glad NOW that Jesus came into my life nineteen years back…..

I wasn’t glad THEN………..

Chastity

In keeping with the Carmelite tradition, the Carmelites profess the evangelical counsels by making vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty to God.

For the religious men, chastity is closely associated with concepts like celibacy, purity and continence in imitation of Our Lady. These vows of poverty, chastity and obedience form one single commitment to follow Christ in a particular way which flow from the evangelical counsels of Jesus Christ and observed until death.

The Nuns make solemn vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity and observe strict enclosure in order to foster their life of prayer and contemplation.

Even the Secular Carmelites profess promises to strive to live evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.

Thus, Chastity is a gift and a virtue that is practised by every Carmelite!

John 20:11-18

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today's gospel again mentions Mary Magdalene!

This time she's the one who has reached your tomb first thing on that First Easter morning!

The few words that are making my heart go weak are taken from the verses 16 and 17.

Verse 16: Jesus said, 'Mary!' She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' 

Verse 17: Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me........

How lovely are these verses!🤗

Mary Magdalene loved you so much that despite all odds, she is the first one to reach your tomb! Though she didn't recognize you, she recognised your voice! The way you called out to her! She immediately responded to that! She instantly recognized your voice calling out her name! Such was her love for you! She was so happy to hear your voice! 

She was so happy to see you that she wanted to come close to you, touch you, see you with loving eyes! She wanted to cling to you! But you broke her heart by asking her not to cling to you!!! Why Lord? Why couldn't she cling to you? She loved you so very much!

Why Lord, why can't Magdalene cling to her Jesus? Magdalene loved her Jesus so very much! I am sure you, Jesus, must have also loved your Magdalene with equal fervour! My heart is breaking at this point!😢 Why is that Magdalene can't cling to her Jesus? Why can't Magdalene and Jesus be together? Why Jesus asked Magdalene not to cling to him? Why? Why? Why?☹️☹️☹️

Easter Octave

Dear DLL Jesus,

From today Easter Octave has begun!

Honestly speaking, I really don't know its meaning right now! May be later on I will research to satisfy my curious mind!😉

Talking about my mind - well, right now it's in a turmoil! I had great plans of blogging all my notes but I don't feel like doing anything right now!😔 I don't even feel like reading them! 

I have to finish writing the article for JCC - but I don't feel like doing it right now!

I have my book to finish reading but again I don't feel like doing it right now!

In fact I just don't know what to do right now!

But despite this disoriented state of mind, I woke up for my quietude! In fact, Minnie woke me up before the alarm could ring, at 5:45 AM! I woke up and sat down at the altar! But I fell asleep after 20 minutes! But I woke myself up! Again I fell asleep after some time! Again I woke myself up! Then I came in the bedroom and fell asleep again! But again I woke myself up for the Eucharist! Since then I am awake! May be that's the reason my mind is disoriented - because of this falling off and on to sleep!

But I will not allow the day to get wasted! I will definitely do something constructive by the time it ends!

That's why these beautiful words by St. Augustine!🤗

Constitutions

The Constitutions of the Carmelite Order stand as an expression of the ideals and spirit of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Carmelite Order produces Constitutions periodically that reflect on how Carmelite life and the Rule of Saint Albert are to be lived in the present age.

According to our Constitutions, to be a Carmelite is to live a prophetic life, after the example of the prophet Elijah. 

The document, called an apostolic constitution, includes a dozen directives on various points of life within contemplative religious communities.

http://www.carmelites.ie/Constitutions.pdf

 

Quiet time with you

Dear DLL Jesus,

From last night I have started reading this book - again!

I had left it half read and didn't remember the page number where I had stopped reading! So I started reading it all over again!

In the morning while I was reading about the importance of silence and meditation, I started missing you a lot! So I immediately stopped reading, went to the hallroom where the altar was already set, and sat down in front of your crucifix!

And I felt so nice just sitting there gazing at your crucifix!🤗 I felt like the good old days when I sat at the blessed sacrament! I felt like Mary Magdalene sitting at your feet, listening to you! I had missed this me time so much!😢

So Lord I have decided to do this everyday! I will rise 30 minutes before everyone and just sit at the altar! Before I make tea, before I brush my teeth, before it's time to wake everyone at home! I need this time with you! For this I will reset my alarm also!

Bless me Lord so that I am able to do this everyday and spend some quiet time with you!🙏🏻😇

Encounter with the Risen Jesus

What does Easter means to me? For me, Easter is that sacred time of the year when I feel renewed – renewed as a friend, disciple, and witness to the risen Jesus Christ – journey with him – and have a deep encounter with him! Just like Mary Magdalene during the First Easter!

Since the time I have become a lay Carmelite, I have formulated a simple approach towards Easter which makes me feel like Mary Magdalene did on the morning of the First Easter. I would like to express myself in the words of St. Therese of the Child Jesus: “Just as Mary Magdalene found what she was seeking by always stooping down and looking into the empty tomb, so I, abasing myself to the very depths of my nothingness, raised myself so high that I was able to attain myself.”

 

Easter to me is a time to journey with the risen Jesus, like Mary Magdalene, and experience what she experienced. In the gospel of St. Luke 8:1-3, we find that Jesus went through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. Along with his twelve disciples, there were some women also who followed him. One of the women mentioned here is Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been driven out by Jesus and to show her gratitude towards him, she became a follower of Jesus.

 

Probably she must have undergone a conversion of heart as she’s known as the Patron Saint of converts (like me). That’s one of the many reasons I have an affinity towards Mary Magdalene – also because after getting cured of her illnesses, she didn’t go away but totally changed her lifestyle and followed Jesus wherever he went and even when the disciples left him; she was there – right from his crucifixion to his resurrection. Such was her faithfulness for Jesus.

 

In the gospel of St. Mark 15:40-41, it’s written that during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion there were few women looking on from afar and Mary Magdalene was one of them. The gospel of St. John 19:25 records: “standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Each of the four gospel accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus show her there. She was faithful to the end.

 

Even when Jesus’ body was been prepared for burial, she was there. According to the gospel account of St. Luke 23:55-56, “The women who had come with him (Jesus) from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid; then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.” In the gospel of St. Matthew 27:61, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre. It further says that Mary (Magdalene) prepared Jesus’ body for burial and watched as Jesus’ body was sealed inside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She and the other women prepared the spices needed for proper burial of a body.

 

But the most astonishing thing that Mary Magdalene witnessed was the resurrection of Jesus. All the four gospel accounts – Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-11, Matthew 28:1-10 and John 20:1-18 – mention Mary Magdalene present during the time of resurrection. According to the gospels here’s what happened – Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

 

Mary Magdalene witnessed the resurrection on the First Easter morning. She was the first person to speak to Jesus after the resurrection. She was the most privileged follower of Jesus because the risen Jesus told her to ‘go and tell’. And that’s the reason she is so close to my heart – she was the last to stay with him while he was nailed to the cross and the first to see his empty tomb and his resurrection – what a special favour Jesus granted to her!

 

Mary Magdalene had a profound encounter where she ‘saw’ and ‘heard’ Jesus. The heart of Carmelite spirituality lies in this profound encounter with the risen Jesus. That’s the essence of Carmelite spirituality! It is my personal belief that Mary Magdalene displays the three Carmelite virtues of Faith, Hope and Love from the time of Jesus’ crucifixion to his resurrection. In her I find the “determined determination” to grow in a relationship with Jesus because for me she is a model of faith, hope and love! She was close to Jesus during his life. She stayed close to him as he faced death. She saw him when he resurrected!

 

Mary Magdalene has a special place in my heart because she inspires me to be faithful to Jesus. This is the distinctive note of my life as a lay Carmelite – intimate friendship with Christ – to have a childlike simplicity and trust in Jesus’ love. It was Mary Magdalene's great love for Jesus that kept her standing at the foot of the cross, weeping and grief-stricken, until he died. It was her love for Jesus that drove her to his tomb at the first light of the dawn in order to anoint his body.

 

And as we all know, as a reward for this great love and faithfulness, she is the privileged person to whom Jesus first appeared on the first Easter Sunday morning; she was the very first witness of the resurrection. As a lay Carmelite it is my motto in life to journey with Jesus to seek his face like Mary Magdalene! Listen to his voice like Mary Magdalene and journey with him from the cross to the resurrection like Mary Magdalene – that’s what Easter is for me – a deep encounter with the risen Jesus like Mary Magdalene!

 

That’s the precise reason why even my religious name is Jubilee Cardozo of St. Mary Magdalene!

 

My Alocasia Plant

Dear DLL Jesus,

Look at my Alocasia Plant! It has a new leaf and another one is in the offing!🤗

How happy I am today!🤗

On 31st March, when Minnie caught her prey, she had damaged the leaves! So I shifted its position in the window! And the outcome is so beautiful!😍

Dear DLL Jesus, please bless all my plants!🙏🏻 Please bless me with a green thumb so that I am able to tend them well!🙏🏻

Since my childhood I have loved plants and animals! You have gifted me with adorable Minnie - please give me the grace to take care of my plants also as I like to call myself a "pet and plant mother"!🤗

Await in Hope!

SILENCE is a language that only a contemplative mind and a prayerful heart can understand. Noise and empty chatter only fragment and disturb our lives. Holy Saturday is a time when God’s Silence will soon break forth into an Alleluia song ‘He is ALIVE’! Await in Hope!

Holy Saturday

Today is Holy Saturday, a day of silence a day of waiting, a day of trusting. This is the day we remember how Christ trusted in the promise of God, His Father, following His will into death on the Cross, then into the grave. We know we will celebrate His glorious Resurrection and the fulfillment of God’s promise tomorrow, but today we are in the tomb with Christ. 

Seven Last Words!

Dear DLL Jesus,

In the morning I started reading the book Seven Last Words_ An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus. And I already finished reading it!🤗

Let me tell you Lord, it is the most beautiful book I have read so far!😊 I learnt so much about you - what you thought and went through while hanging on the cross! Your pain, suffering, loneliness, rejection - everything has been explained so wonderfully!🙏🏼

I am so glad I read it and most importantly finished reading it today itself!

😊

Solemn Good Friday!

Dear DLL Jesus,

We attended the online Good Friday service at 6 PM! It got over by 7:05 PM!☹️ 

Today I am really missing you sacramentally!☹️ Since 21st March we have been receiving you spiritually but today I actually missed you! Unlike good old days, when so much time would be spent during the Veneration of the Cross and Holy communion, today everything got over within seconds!☹️

Since the time I became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, I would have to wait for both the Services! I would sit away from the family and they would come and join me afterwards! But today nothing such happened!😔

I also realized how much of love offerings the church must be missing out! From where will they get the money? Even we. From where will we get the money once the savings start dwindling?

But Lord you are the provider! I am sure you will work out something wonderful as always!🙏🏻

PS: But something was really wonderful about this Service! And that wonderful something were your Holy Ones😍 All seven of them! 

Since 21st March they have been faithfully live streaming all the Eucharistic Celebrations! Fr Lancy has been the most wonderful choir singer but today even Fr Lawrence sang the responsorial Psalm so beautifully! It was so soothing to the ears! I didn't know he was such a wonderful singer! Once I had heard him sing during a Friday evening adoration but I had forgotten about it! I remembered this today after hearing him!

Lord, bless all your Holy Ones for all that they are doing for us!🙏🏻

Some more writings!

Dear DLL Jesus,

Today again I found some of my old writings! These all are my CTC assignments - very well researched and very well written!🤗 These writings were there on the desktop - so I mailed them all to myself! I just went through them casually - they are indeed good!🤗

So I am going to blog them all! But not today! Today I want to read the book SEVEN LAST WORDS which was shared on the group in the morning!

So I will publish those writings some time next week!

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY

Dear DLL Jesus,

Again it's that day of the year when some of us might get offended by the HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY messages sent by people of other Faith! In fact, just now I received one such message on Messenger! But I am not offended!

 Isn't GOOD FRIDAY indeed HAPPY?

My Beloved Jesus, can there be an EASTER, the day of your  Resurrection, without a GOOD FRIDAY? Without your crucifixion? Absolutely not!!! So isn't Good Friday  indeed GOOD!🤗

This day, this Friday, is the greatest of all Fridays - the Friday when you, my Jesus, happily and willingly died on the cross and conquered death!!!

Wow! How can it not be a HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY? How can a Christian be offended to receive Happy Good Friday messages?

Yes Lord, you were tortured and then hung on the cross! But is it not the precise reason why you came on earth? To redeem us all sinners by your precious blood! By your precious blood you have cleansed all sinners! This is the only reason God the Father sent you here on earth! 

So, Lord, despite the pain and the suffering, the Good Friday is a HAPPY day because on Easter Sunday morning you will resurrect - you will be the winner - your purpose of coming on earth will be fulfilled.🤗

So, it's a very happy Good Friday! Let the messages pour in!!!😇

Good Friday

Good Friday marks the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday and Easter Friday. It commemorates the final hours of Jesus' life, his crucifixion and death. On Good Friday, Christians remember that Jesus died for everyone. He was crucified by the Romans.

According to the Baltimore Catechism - the standard US Catholic school text from 1885 to the 1960s, Good Friday is good because Christ "showed His great love for man, and purchased for him every blessing".

But I wondered why is Good Friday still called “Good Friday” and not by any other names mentioned above? My research showed that the word 'Good' carries the same meaning as the original Old English word, in that it means pious or holy. Most historical evidence supports that we call the Friday before Easter Sunday “good” because the word used to mean “holy” – by His death, Jesus became the final and complete sacrifice for our sins!

According to Britannica, in the Greek and Roman liturgical books, it is called the Great Week because great deeds were done by God during this week. On Good Friday, God demonstrated his love for humankind in the greatest way possible.

Traditionally, there is no Mass and no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. Church bells are silent. Altars are left bare. This solemn, muted atmosphere is preserved until the Easter Vigil.

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday -- the fifth day of the Holy Week! The final week of Lent, which began on Palm Sunday and will run up until Easter. Today begins the Three Days (or Triduum), remembering the new commandment that Christ Jesus instituted. Maundy Thursday is also called Holy Thursday from the old Latin name for the day, "Dies Mandatum," i.e. "the day of the new commandment".

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, which we Christians consider the institution of Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper or the Last Supper. At the Last Supper, Jesus commanded that his disciples should love one another. He then washed their feet as an act of kindness. He also instituted the Eucharist and Priesthood. 

So I wished all the priests!🤗 And they all blessed me!🙏🏻

Thank you Lord for your holy ones! Never allow me to say or think anything bad about them! They are your anointed ones, especially chosen to be in your place! Let me always pray for them!🙏🏻

Every year on Maundy Thursday  there is commissioning of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion. But this year there will be no commissioning!

Crusaders

In the Middle Ages, the Muslim world stretched from India to Spain, including Jerusalem and the Holy Land. For Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem was and still is a holy city. Therefore in 1095, Pope Urban II promised the knights of Europe forgiveness of their sins if they joined in the Crusades – a series of military campaigns organised by popes and Christian western powers in order to take Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

The First Crusade was one of the most extraordinary, bloody and significant episodes in medieval history. These military expeditions were undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Eventually towards the end of the 12^th century, a group of Crusaders settled on the western slopes of Mount Carmel – perhaps after the third crusade between 1189-1191 – disillusioned with the wars these Crusaders wanted to live their lives in prayer and penance. They imitated Elijah the Prophet by living a hermit-like secluded life and became the first Carmelites pledging "allegiance to Jesus Christ".

Thus the Carmelite Order was founded on Mount Carmel by a small band of former crusaders, possibly led by Berthold, a crusader from Calabria. In the solitude and silence of the mountain wilderness, our first fathers settled on Mount Carmel after the crusades.

But with the fall of the Crusader Kingdoms the first Carmelites were forced to leave the Holy Land to settle anew in Europe.

Contemplation

“In contemplation God teaches the soul very quietly and secretly, without its knowing how, without the sound of words” (Chapter 39, The Spiritual Canticle)

The main elements of Prophet Elijah's life – totally dedicated to God in solitude, penance, prayer and contemplation – became the way of life for the first Carmelites. The earliest Carmelites were devoted to solitary contemplation in the wilderness of Mount Carmel

Contemplation is the action of looking thoughtfully at Jesus for a long time. For the Carmelites, contemplation is “the better part” – to just sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary (Martha’s sister) doing nothing. The charism (or spiritual focus) of the Carmelite Order is contemplation. The contemplative dimension is not merely one of the elements of our charism (prayer, fraternity and service) – it is the dynamic element which unifies them all.

St. Teresa of Avila uses water as an image of various stages of prayer. Meditation corresponds to the First Water. It is an invitation to contemplative prayer as a Carmelite without a contemplative life is nothing. It is an inner journey arising out of the free initiative of God who touches and transforms us – leading us towards unity in love!

We believe that the realm of contemplation, and particularly infused contemplation, is solely the work of God in the soul and cannot be attained on its own

Carmel is nothing but contemplation. It is a contemplative religious order wherein the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us contemplative prayer, receiving the Word Incarnate within her, pondering Him day and night. A Carmelite is the one who is drawn to the praying Christ, to Jesus who “went up on the mountain by Himself to pray” (Matt. 14:23).

"Come, let us return to the LORD….”

We are in the Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, the most beautiful, graceful and sacred season of Lent ended! But I feel it has made a profound change not only in my life but the world at large. Every year when we enter into this blessed season, we promise ourselves to renew us through various kinds of penances and fervent prayers. But this year when we entered into the Lenten season we had not thought in our wildest dreams that the world would take such a traumatic turn that even our places of worship would be in lockdown.

When we had promised ourselves to be faithfully regular for all the retreats, way of the cross and daily Eucharist, it did not occur to us that we would have to start participating in the Eucharist, online – from the confines of our homes. It has been a different experience altogether – I feel we should have all kinds of experiences in our life – spiritually, it has been just the same except that we are unable to partake our Lord sacramentally.  

 

After the total lockdown, the first live streaming of the Holy Eucharist on 21^st March touched me the most as all the seven priests of our parish, along with the deacon and a guest priest, came together to celebrate it. But what must have been their feelings to see all the pews empty – the absence of the congregation!

 

Later in the day, when I was reflecting on the day’s First Reading (HOSEA 6:1-6), a new understanding of the Scriptures struck me. "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.”

 

While reflecting on these verses, I realized that this pandemic has been happening for the greater glory of the Lord. I started recalling all the Old Testament passages and realized that whenever mankind had forgotten God, God found ways to humble mankind and bring the entire race back to Him. Here I fully understood what must have happened during the confusion at the Tower of Babel – a chapter we had studied in our catechism class a few weeks before closing for the academic year 2019-20. God had created confusion among the humankind and divided them because they wanted to make a name for themselves!!! Nowadays same things are happening – human beings are running behind name, fame and fortune for themselves instead of glorifying God’s name.

 

The closing down of our churches throughout the world made me realize that during this Lenten season we need to offer up our hearts as our Lenten offerings and sacrifices just like the Jews expressed their deepest feelings during the Exile when the king, the land and the temple was taken away from them. All the catechism that I taught in Sunday school till then had now to be practised in my life. It was time to practice what I preached!

 

While teaching about the Exile I had learnt that the Exile had actually brought the Israelites closer to the Lord – they had got a different understanding of life. Though the period of the Exile, a milestone in the history of the chosen people, was extremely traumatic, they still trusted and hoped in the Lord.

 

The miracle of the Exile was that the Israelites didn’t forget their God and abandon their faith in Yahweh during the sixty years in Babylonian exile. With the help of the prophets like Ezekiel and the priests of the law, the Jews began to read their traditions with greater devotion. They discovered a new way of living out their faith without resort to temple pilgrimages and sacrifices. They met together on Sabbath to worship God and meditate on his word which by now was written in documents. In the absence of a human king, they now relied totally on Yahweh as their sole king. In other words, their relationship with God was purified and their faith focussed more on living out that relationship in their day to day lives.

 

The same has been happening with us as well. With our communitarian churches in a lockdown state, we are finding the real presence of God in our domestic churches – our families! The families have come closer to each other; we are valuing each other’s presence in our lives and most importantly, praying together devoutly. As a true Carmelite, I have made my heart an oratory and praying from its confines. My home is my monastery – secluded, social distancing from everyone!

 

As the Exile marks a very important milestone in the history of Israel, much the same way this pandemic marks a very important milestone in the history of Christianity. I am sure that while we are going through this lockdown, this exile of our life, its teaching us the lesson of unity acknowledging Jesus Christ alone as the God who made the covenant with his people by sacrificing his life for us. I am sure this pandemic has led us to deepen our reflections on the purpose of life and given us a new approach during this Lenten season.

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am convinced that you are allowing this pandemic to teach us a big lesson – we all wandered far away from you, it's your way of bringing us back to your loving mercy during this Lenten season. Without you we are nothing and so Lord, let our faith be firm! This Corona virus fear is spreading faster than the virus itself and people are panicking and forgetting that you exist! They have forgotten that there cannot be any fear where you are there! Lord, we don't want to be scared of the situation because we know you are always protecting us! You are our protective shield! Amen!!!

 

Cloistered Nuns

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns are also known as the Cloistered Nuns. They are cloistered – they do not leave the monastery – and completely dedicated to meditation and prayer. These Cloistered (Carmelite) Nuns live in a symbolic desert – the enclosure of their monastery! Behind its closed walls, they live a contemplative community life serving the church and the world through their prayer and self-sacrifice.

The first monasteries of the cloistered nuns were founded in the mid-15th century. Officially in 1452 in Florence (Italy) and today has become the largest order. St. Teresa of Avila opened the first cloistered convent in Spain in 1562.

Unlike other nuns, they have no contact with the outside world. These cloistered nuns don't interact with the public and live a silent life. They don’t even eat with other people.

The vocation of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns is a gift of the Spirit. Through it, they are called to a hidden union with God.  

Some of the Carmelite nuns are seamstresses, embroiderers, gardeners, etc. Others apply themselves to painting, restorations of statues, bookbinding, and making hosts.

Carmelite nuns, who lead a strictly contemplative life, are found in 13 countries. The cloistered life does not isolate the nuns but places them at the heart of the Church. They live a life wholly dedicated to contemplation.

 

John 12:3

"Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."

Yet another beautiful and favourite verse! This verse always manages to touch my heart and makes me feel like Mary Magdalene! She was so much in love with Jesus that she wipes his feet with her hair! And I? How much angry I get when someone touches my hair or my face? How possessive I am about my hair! Love and only love could have made her to do what she did. 

And what about my perfumes? Do I allow anyone to touch my perfume bottles? My most expensive perfume is Elizabeth Arden's PRETTY gifted by hubby on my  2018 birthday! How miserly I use it on special occasions!

And here is Mary Magdalene anointing the feet of Jesus with her most costly perfume!

No, I am not Mary Magdalene!  Absolutely not! I can never be! I am so stingy in my love for Jesus. I cannot be like her!

But I want to be like her 😔 But there are so many hurdles! How right St. John of the Cross was when he wrote in the PRECAUTIONS that our family is our biggest enemy!☹️ It doesn't allow us to unite with the Lord! 

Every morning before the Mass I get irritated on hubby's behaviour! Every day I get irritated during the rosary. Because of the lockdown there is no quiet time with the Lord! Like Mary, now a days I am unable to sit at the feet of the Lord😥 I am unable to hear what the Lord has to say! Everything is so noisy 😣 Full day the TV is on! I am not able to control my irritability! 

Initially I was happy that I will be able to enjoy living a monastic life during the lockdown! How to make it possible if you are irritated all the time! Except blogging I am not able to do anything properly - not even my prayers as hubby likes to accompany me! I am missing the silence of my life!😔

Carmelite Order

The Carmelite Order has no founder as such. However the origins of the Carmelite Order can be traced back to Prophet Elijah and his disciples. During the late 12th century and the beginning of the 13rd century, under the title of “Saint Mary of Mount Carmel”, the Order of Carmelites had its formal beginning. Thus the Discalced Carmelites are a religious Order whose heritage reaches back to a community of hermits living on Mount Carmel in Palestine during that time.

Some hermits from Europe and others, possibly former crusaders, settled on the slopes of Mount Carmel near the Spring of Elijah. After their military service was complete, these crusaders decided to remain in the Holy Land, pledging “allegiance to Jesus Christ”.

This group of hermits formed the first Carmelites, who were officially known as the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. They lived a life of solitude on the mountain of Carmel like our spiritual father St. Elijah.

In 1247 the Pope Innocent IV granted to the Carmelite Order the privilege to be one of Catholic mendicant Orders. Today the Carmelites are one of the four great mendicant Orders (those Orders whose corporate as well as personal poverty made it necessary for them to beg for alms). In fact there are two Orders of the Carmelites -- "The Carmelites", also known as of the "Ancient Observance" or "Calced", and "The Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites" or "Teresians".

The Carmelite Order is one of the five ancient Religious Orders in the Catholic Church, and first one to be dedicated to Mary. Today the Carmelites are a religious Order of Roman Catholic priests, brothers, nuns, and laity serving the Church. We follow an 800-year-old tradition of spirituality.

 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, on which Christ's entry into Jerusalem is celebrated in many Christian churches by processions in which branches of palms are carried. It is the annual celebration of the day that Jesus returned to Jerusalem. It is described in all four Gospels. The gospel of St Matthew 21:1-9 tells how palm branches were laid in front of Jesus!

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and also called Passion Sunday! It is when Christians remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey and being greeted by the people waving palm branches.

As He approached, they shouted, “Blessed be the King” and “Hosanna.”

It marks Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem before he was persecuted, crucified, and resurrected.

This year there will be no distribution of palms this Palm Sunday as part of coronavirus-forced social distancing measures. So I decided to do something different -- I placed the potted areca palm in our hallroom with the hope of bringing a little cheer to our home this Palm Sunday. 

Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. He was born Nicolas Herman in the region of Lorraine, located in modern day eastern France. His parents were peasants and he worked in the army first serving as a soldier and then as a footman. His poverty forced him into joining the Carmelite Order. He entered the Carmelite Order in Paris as a lay brother at the age of 55 and spent the rest of his life working in the kitchen.

Brother Lawrence continually practiced the presence of God while working with the pots and pans in his monastery's kitchen believing that in whatever you do, be quietly aware of God's presence with you and around you. He had learned that we can establish a sense of God's presence by continually speaking with Him. Amidst the simplest of everyday activities he was able to achieve a profound intimacy with God.

In the last four centuries untold millions of people have been drawn into a life of practicing God’s presence through Brother Lawrence’s warm-hearted letters of spiritual direction titled PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. This little manual has become a big guide for all the Carmelites because of its simplest and most effective prayers. The PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD is a collection of letters and transcriptions of conversations, compiled by a disciple of Brother Lawrence.

The PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD records his last words of advice to his friends and disciples, as he suffered from an unnamed illness which would eventually take his life.

Brother Lawrence's teaching has resonated with not only the Carmelites but Christians all over. He has gained an international reputation as a mystic and spiritual counsellor.

https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/15471/documents/2016/10/Brother%20Lawrence-The%20Practice%20of%20the%20Presence%20of%20God.pdf

My previous notes!

Dear DLL Jesus,

In my Easter house cleaning spree, I found all my notes from the time I started coming close to you!

I found so many notebooks scribbled with the notes I made during the retreats and workshops and Bible classes, catechists meeting/recollections, etc etc etc. But now in the morning when I sat down to collate all my notes from the past I just couldn't make out any head or tail about them except for the few pointers I had jotted down on the first day of my first catechists recollection in June 2012. I am going to elaborate more on them in my next post!😇

But right now I am unable to understand the rest of the notes! But I am not going to throw them away because though I am unable to understand them now, these same notes have been instrumental in bringing me so close to you!🙏🏻

Blessed Virgin Mary

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, the mother of God. The Carmelites are known for their devotion to the Mother of God. Mary serves as the patron saint of all Carmelites, watching over us with motherly care due to her role as the mother of Jesus Christ. Since the very beginning, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been our preeminent guide. Prophet Elijah saw the cloud as a symbol of the Virgin mentioned in the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14).  Even the theologians see in that little cloud a figure of Mary.

The hermits who lived on Mount Carmel followed Elijah’s example and prayed for the advent of the much-awaited Virgin, who would become the mother of the Messiah. Mary, along with the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, is considered a spiritual founder of our Order.

For this reason the Carmelites were formally known as the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. Till date we place ourselves under her maternal protection. An ancient saying in the Carmelite Order states: Carmelus totus Marianus est, that is, "Carmel is totally Marian."

Devotion to Mary as Mother is a characteristic expression of Carmelite Spiritualty.

Breviary

A Breviary (Latin: breviarium) is a liturgical book used by all the Carmelites – friars, cloistered nuns and the lay – for praying the canonical hours. It contains prayers, hymns, psalms, and readings for reciting the Divine Office.

Breviary is also called the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office. All three names refer to the same reality, the official prayer of the Carmelites offered at various times of the day – Morning Prayer (Lauds), Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer (Vespers), Night Prayer and the Office of Readings.

Next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Office is the primary way in which we Carmelites engage in the worship of God. Even though we Carmelites have feast and memorials of our own canonized members, we still use the Breviary by Catholic Publishing.

 

Apostolate

The word apostolate comes from the Greek word "apostello", which means to send forth or to dispatch. The word came to signify in particular the active mission of the Church in the world. As Jesus sent forth his apostles on a mission, all those who follow Christ are his apostles and sent on a mission.

Vatican II teaches that the Christian vocation essentially is a calling to apostolate. Apostolate refers to each and every activity in the Church which is directed toward carrying out her mission.

The preaching apostolate was the most obvious sort of action for the early Carmelites. The Carmelite Order which has its origins on Mount Carmel in Israel is today found on all five continents and its apostolate is as diverse as that of the Church itself.

The Carmelite apostolate is a purely contemplative one – a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice.

The apostolate of the Discalced Carmelite nuns is to offer prayers and sacrifices for the intentions of all humanity.

In a broad sense, apostolate means anything that is done for the good of others, and especially, bringing other people closer to God.

Monte Caramelo

Dear DLL Jesus,

Just now I was browsing through Facebook and suddenly realized what a stupid place it is!🙃

All are doing nothing but somehow showing off themselves! There is this cousin in the US who does nothing but shows her gyming skills and then there are those who show off their culinary skills! And now because of the lockdown all the ladies are bored so they have started this saree challenge wherein one lady is tagging the other and they are all uploading their saree pics! 

Basically what I want to say is that slowly Facebook is becoming a disgusting place to be in!🙃 I too have behaved in this disgusting manner! But now I intend to stop behaving in this disgusting manner! It's a jungle out there and I don't want to be in this jungle anymore! I want to be on Mount Carmel - enjoy its resplendent beauty, savour its greenery and drink of its clean water!🤗

I want to hide inside its confines and read and read and read and write and write and write!🤗 And then read and write some more because it's chaos out there!🤗

To satiate my love for reading, I will keep reading the books from the WhatsApp group that Fr. Regan has made! Yesterday when I thanked him for all the books and just said that I won't be able to read so many books at one go, he said this beautiful thing: "We are not meant to read all. Some books choose us."

How beautiful!

So I will wait for the right books to choose me and read them one by one!🤗

And yes, I am not a jungle dweller anymore! I am a dweller of the beautiful Mount Carmel - Monte Caramelo!🥰🥰

Practice What I Write

Dear DLL Jesus,

The gospel verse which I posted just now has been on my mind since the time I read it in the morning! In fact, today I woke up with a determined determination that I will not allow any one to distract me from you today! 

Last night when I went to sleep I realized that I am being manipulated and so in the morning I decided to be good, to be always polite to everyone at home, not raise my voice anymore, be humble, speak softly and gently!🤗 

I am very sure that you want me to practice what I have been reading and writing about the Carmelite Order. The more I read and write, the more I am convinced that I need to apply all the goodness of this beautiful Order in my life! This Order is so beautiful, so rich in its history, that I cannot but fall in love with its resplendent beauty! Everything is so awesome - right from its place of origin to its founders and saints and monasteries - how happy I am to be a miniscule part of this Holy Order!

Once I had left and once I had thought of leaving it but never again will I make that mistake again! This was in early 2016 and then again in 2018 before I came to know about its history! But then I read its history and wrote an article also in the TIDINGS - since then there has been no looking back, no desire to leave it!

In fact since then I have been reading more and more and falling more and more in love with this beautiful religious Order!🤗

And like I wrote in the beginning, it's time to practice its charisms in my life!🥰

From today's gospel 🙏🏻

Avila

Ávila is a city in Spain. This place evokes sentiments for us as it is the home of our holy mother Saint Teresa of Avila. Saint Teresa was born at Avila in Castile, Spain, on 28th March 1515. She entered the Carmel of the Incarnation in Avila on 2nd November 1535. 

Avila is also famous for its Convento de San José which in English means Convent of Saint Joseph. This convent is a monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns.

It was in Avila that Saint Teresa inaugurated the first "reformed" Carmelite convent on 24^th August, 1562.  

In modern times, Avila is famous for its medieval walls. These walls, arguably the best in Europe, were built in the 11th century as a defensive mechanism. But the walls also served to control the entrances of both people and goods to the city and guard it from outbreaks of the plague. These walls are two kilometres long, have 88 turrets and are perfectly preserved.

A city of strong mystical significance, Ávila is sometimes called the Town of Stones and Saints.