Aloe Vera

Today's plant is the aloe vera!

Aloe vera is a popular medicinal plant that people have used for thousands of years. Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis, is a thick, short-stemmed plant that stores water in its leaves. It is best known for treating skin injuries, but it also has several other uses that could potentially benefit health.

Aloe vera, sometimes described as a “wonder plant,” stands second on the list of plants emitting oxygen at night. Simultaneously taking in the carbon dioxide that we breath out! All this leads to a purer quality of air and a better night's sleep.

And that's why I brought home an aloe vera plant in February 2018.

But what I didn't know was that aloe vera, being a succulent plant species of the genus Aloe, didn't need much water. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the Arabian Peninsula, and dies of overwatering! And that's what happened!

The first step in aloe vera plant care is to realize that this plant is a succulent. Like cacti, succulents do best in dry conditions!

I wasn't aware of this basic knowledge!

Nada

The word nada or nothing in English is used to summarize the whole doctrine of our holy father St. John of the Cross. The core of St. John of the Cross' teaching is “nada, nada, nada!” Basically, it means that “nothing, nothing, nothing” other than God.

Only when the soul is reduced to nothing, the highest degree of humility, will the spiritual union with God be accomplished. Thus the concept of 'nothingness' or nada is in all the writings of St. John of the Cross.

THE NADA DOCTRINE

According to St. John of the Cross and other Catholic mystics, nada is the first law for successful contemplative prayer and for becoming a saint. Put simply, the Nada Doctrine states: You can allow nothing to come between you and God or between your will and His will for you. We need to ask ourselves, if we are not saints, what stands in the way of putting the Nada Doctrine into effect in our lives?

Bamboo Plant

A few types of bamboo plants can tolerate indoor conditions, though most prefer to be grown outside. It is said that an indoor bamboo plant  can be the center attraction in our houseplant world. But my indoor bamboo plant which I bought in 2018 was drying up inside. I thought it needed as much light as possible - so I placed it in the window garden.

Since then my bamboo plant, or  bambusa bambos, as it is also known as, has been growing quite well. 

A bamboo plant is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. The word "bamboo" comes from either Dutch or Portuguese languages.

The best part about a bamboo plant is that they are low on maintenance. You do not have to water them regularly. It is a versatile plant and most species can survive in many conditions. But bamboo growing in full sun will grow the fastest.

Bamboo (Bambusoideae) is a subfamily of grasses (Poaceae). There are 1,439 identified species of bamboo. 

I bought this bamboo plant as they give out oxygen and absorb carbon di-oxide from the environment, and keeping an indoor bamboo plant purifies the air around it. 

Nada Te Turbe

Nada Te Turbe

(Let Nothing Disturb You)

 

The great Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, and Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila, is most famous for her classic spiritual writings, The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection. 

She also wrote the famous poem – Nada Te Turbe – Let Nothing Disturb You!

Nada te turbe,

nada te espante

todo se pasa,

Dios no se muda,

la paciencia

todo lo alcanza,

quien a Dios tiene

nada le falta

solo Dios basta.

 

This means:

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things pass away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

He who has God

Finds he lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.

Dianthus Barbatus

Dianthus Barbatus or the Sweet William is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. It has become a popular ornamental garden plant.

I bought a pair of danthus barbatus for Mother Mary's rosary at our home on 8th Oct, 2018.

I thought of buying dianthus barbatus, also called bunch pink or bearded pink, because I didn't want to decorate with flowers which would have dried up the next day. So I wanted some flowering plants to be kept next to the statue of Mother Mary so that these plants would remain even after the rosary. 

While buying these plants I didn't know they were  an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant. So I really felt bad when they dried up last year even after giving them an idel location of full sun and moderately rich, well-drained soil.

Those pair of dianthus barbatus had irresistiblly colourful and beautiful flowers. They had really added a beautiful colour to my window garden.

Medina del Campo

Medina del Campo is a pre-Roman city in Spain with an excellent geographical situation. It is situated in the South-Western area of the province of Valladolid. 

Medina del Campo is significant for the Carmelites because on 15 August 1567, our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila founded the monastery of San José, the second home of the Reformed Carmelite Order. It was the second convent for Discalced Carmelite nuns.

It was in Medina del Campo that our Holy Father St. John of the Cross attended the College of the Society of Jesus. He was ordained in 1597, and said his first Mass in Medina del Campo. During that trip, he first met St. Teresa of Avila, and she encouraged him to promote her reform among the men's Order. In 1563 St. John took the Carmelite habit at St. Anne's, Medina del Campo, as Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross).

The following year he entered the monastery. It was here in Medina del Campo that he was imprisoned for being faithful to the Order.

After his father died, St. John’s mother moved the family to Medina del Campo in search of employment. It was in Medina del Campo that St. John's mother placed him in a church orphanage school since she could not feed him.

It was in a hospital in Medina del Campo that St. John of the Cross worked for seven years while he was studying during this time at the university at Salamanca.

Chrysanthemum Plant

Today's plant is the Chrysanthemum plant which is sometimes called just the mum or chrysanth. They're flowering plants of the genus Chrysanthemum in the family Asteraceae. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia and the center of diversity is in China. 

Chrysanthemum genus is of about 40 species of flowering plants and I still have one violet chrysanthemum plant. 

Violet chrysanthemums symbolize a wish to get well and they have always been my favourite - right from my childhood. Other common names for purple or violet chrysanthemums are purple Margaret Dixon. 

The purple chrysanthemum plant which I have has beautiful flowers and is really resilient -- it has been with me since 2018 and flowered twice.

Actually the purple chrysanthemum is plucked once a year in the middle of October and when these Chrysanthemum flowers bloom they brighten up the entire window garden.

Chrysanthemum flowers are the second most popular flowers in the world.

Mystics

The Carmelite Mystics form a group of major spiritual writers in the Church. They are also the Doctors of the Church.

The first Carmelite to be declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926 was our Holy Father St. John of the Cross. He died in Ubeda in 1591, outstanding in holiness and wisdom. A joint founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with St. Theresa of Avila, St. John is the Doctor of Mystical Theology.

ST. TERESA OF AVILA

This Spanish nun and mystic, our founder and holy mother, is the first woman Doctor of the Church. She wrote several spiritual classics like The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, which are renowned for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual depth and experience. She died at Alba de Tormes in 1582. St. Teresa was made the first woman doctor of the Church in 1970.

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX

She was a French Carmelite nun. Known as The Little Flower, her autobiographical Story of a Soul has become a spiritual classic, inspiring millions to follow her "Little Way" of holiness. Already Patroness of the Missions, she was proclaimed the third woman Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II on October 19th, 1997.

Variegated Shell Ginger Plant

Today's plant is the variegated shell ginger plant (alpinia zerumbet 'variegata') - a tropical looking, large leaf foliage with bright striped leaves.

This is my newest favourite plant because till few days back I didn't even know its name! Until the day I had downloaded the plants name find outer app for a little while!🤗

I am sorry to write that I actually fell in love with the name of this plant which has been providing lush greenery to my window garden for quite some time now. 

A native to East Asia, I don't even remember when and why I bought this plant which grows in an upright clump. But this faithful variegated shell ginger plant of mine has been doing well in the bright sunlight of the window. I just need to keep its soil moist otherwise its beautiful large green and yellow streaked leaves look sad.

I am sure I must have grown this plant mostly for its foliage that create a dramatic display! 

This year awaiting for its pink and white bi-colour shell-shaped flowers!🤗

6 M's on Being a Carmelite

 6 M's on Being a Carmelite 

The Secular Carmelite's obligations can be summarized by the 6 M's:

1.       Meditation.

A suggestion is thirty minutes each day.

2. Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and, if possible, Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

3. Mass

Daily (if possible)

4. Mary

Every day, Seculars express devotion to Mary. Their primary devotion is to imitate Mary in "reflecting on [all these things] in her heart" (Luke 2:19).

5. Meetings

Seculars are called to communities whose members have made a commitment to one another. Meetings consist of formation, information, and fellowship.

6. Mission

Seculars share in the Carmelite mission of knowing God so God can be known.

Dieffenbachia

Today's plant is dieffenbachia — also known as the dumb cane plant — it is one of the top ten most popular houseplants out there.

Dieffenbachia is often grown as a houseplant and is known as the Dumb Cane or Leopard Lily. But I had to give it away when someone told me that it is a poisonous plant. 

I guess dieffenbachia is indeed one of the poisonous plants. The plant sap contains calcium oxylate, a chemical compound which causes swelling of the tongue and throat.  We should keep this plant out of reach of small children or pets.  This is the reason for the common name “Dumb cane.”

I had brought this plant in 2017 but gave it away because the kids were small! I was scared to keep it at home though it was growing well. It's still growing in the society garden!

But a sad thing happened yesterday!

Minnie broke the pot of the Alocasia plant. Since it was dark in the window, I replanted it in another plastic pot in the morning! But it has lost its charm for a while. The leaves are torn and broken! The beautiful plant is looking extremely sad! 

Hope it grows well again! I have rearranged all the plants in the window garden!

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is the intercontinental sea that separates Europe from Africa. It is a vast sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south, and Asia to the east.

The Mediterranean Sea is an integral part of the Carmelite history because stretching south-east from this sea, with the city of Haifa sloped against it; is Mount Carmel – a coastal range rather than a mountain.

Mount Carmel is situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jezreel Valley. The immense natural beauty of the Mount Carmel forest is coupled with the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.

The mountain provides a beautiful view of the Mediterranean and the coast. At the foot of Mount Carmel flows the Kishon River (I Kings 18:40). The mountain drops steeply into the Mediterranean Sea and towers over 15 miles of Israel's Mediterranean Coastline between Hadera and Haifa.

Rubber Plant

One of the plants that I fondly remember is the Rubber Plant!

So today's plant is the Rubber Plant!

They say that a rubber plant is easy to grow and difficult to kill. So I brought one home! But after some time the plant started looking unhappy! So I gave it to the society garden! If I am not mistaken it's still there somewhere in the garden!

St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi

Today is the memoria of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi!

Even though I had heard of this Italian Carmelite mystic and saint of the Roman Catholic Church, originally this post on her wasn't intended. And then during the morning Mass, I saw her photo and one quote - "Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections". So I thought of writing this post on St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi - known as the “ecstatic saint” because of her unusual gifts from God.

She came of two noble families, her father being Camillo Geri de' Pazzi and her mother a Buondelmonti. She was baptized, and named Caterina. The second of four children, Caterina was born in Florence on the second of April, 1566. 

Another of her quotes says - "You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction; the greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward."

She joined the Carmelites when she was nineteen.

A patron Saint of the sick, St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi had also a great devotion to Our Lady and she was a significant inspiration in the development of Carmelite nuns.

She died in 1607.

In December 2016, when we had to take our religious name, I had thought of taking up this name because I was under the impression that we could take only the names of Carmelite saints. I wanted to take this name for obvious reasons!

But then I was told that we could take up any saint's name! Then I took up for myself the religious name of Jubilee Cardozo of St. Mary Magdalene! 

I was happy to drop off 'de Pazzi'!!!

Lemongrass Plant

Lemongrass is an herb that is native to Sri Lanka and South India but now grows in many countries around the world. The plant's stalks are a common ingredient in Asian cooking, but it is also possible to brew lemongrass to make tea. But I didn’t get the lemongrass plant for any of these reasons.

Again a recent addition, I brought it home because lemongrass has a catnip-like effect on most cats.  I allow Minnie to take a friendly nibble of lemongrass, especially during her heat cycles, as is a cat-safe plant. Lemongrass isn't toxic and is attractive to cats.

This lemongrass plant, also called citronella, is my second lemongrass plant and is tall and stalky. My first lemongrass plant which I bought in July 2018 also had a fresh, lemony aroma and a citrus flavour. I bought it because when we went to Goa in May 2018 I was highly impressed by the lemongrass plants when I saw them for first time in the spice garden. I was told that lemongrass is good as an ingredient in Thai cooking and also acts as a bug repellent. 

I also bought lemongrass essential oil for my diffuser as this oil is used in aromatherapy to freshen the air, reduce stress, and uplift the mood.

A lemongrass is also known as cymbopogon, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads or fever grass, and are perennial plants with thin, long leaves that are indigenous to many Asian countries.

But somehow I am allergic to a lemongrass plant. It’s truly a barbed wire grass – whenever it gets rubbed on my hands while watering it, my skin starts itching and turns red. That’s why I stand guilty of allowing the first lemongrass plant to dry up by placing it near the air conditioner duct. Lord please forgive me for this but I brought home the second lemongrass plant for Minnie as it is cat friendly! But now even though I take a lot of care while watering this plant, sometimes my hands accidently get touched and they itch and turn red! But it will remain in my garden for Minnie’s sake!

Monastery

St. Teresa of Avila, the reformer of the Order, tried to make her monasteries as self-sufficient as was practicable, and restricted the number of nuns in each monastery. These cloistered and contemplative Carmelite nuns live a life of prayer and sacrifice for God and neighbour and depend on the charity of others.

As daughters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Carmelite Nuns live in monasteries and offer their lives of prayer and sacrifice to Jesus for the salvation of the world.

The first community of Carmelite hermits lived a hidden life of silence and prayer and separation from the world for the good of the Church.

The recent excavations and the project to conserve and restore the ruins of the first Carmelite monastery situated in the Wadi 'ain es-Siah on Mount Carmel has been found.

The Carmelite Monastery at Margao, of the Karnataka-Goa province of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites was founded on March 19, 1939. The new foundation was declared canonically established with the reading of all the relevant documents. The present monastery building was built in 1943 and thereafter the monastery church.

I visited this monastery in 2017 and wrote the below mentioned post!

http://jubileecardozo.blogspot.com/2018/10/carmelite-monastery-goa.html 

Carmelite Monastery is known for this apostolate. Friars are also involved in other spiritual apostolate like retreat, recollection, spiritual direction and counselling, administering the sacrament of anointing to the sick, etc.

Often a monastery of Carmelite nuns is referred to as a 'Carmel'. Carmelite nuns are 'cloistered', living a life of 'enclosure'.

Christmas Tree

From the day my dad threw away the potted plants in Vasai till 2004 I didn't grow any plants. I was busy growing up as an individual and then as a family!

After a really long time in November/December 2004, we bought a lot of plants to grow on the terrace flat that we had bought in Mira Road in February 2003. The terrace was filled with a wide variety of plants and that included a Christmas tree also. 

But again I couldn't maintain the plants as the kids were too small and I had to handle everything all alone! On top of that, we shifted to another flat in September 2006.

We are living in that flat since then!

And since then I have brought home many plants and killed most of them! Sometimes it was my negligence and sometimes the dogs that I had at home chewed them up!

But some of the plants that I fondly remember are the Christmas Trees!

So today's plant is the Christmas Tree!

Since our first Christmas in our present home, I have been bringing Christmas trees almost all Christmas time! But after some time the plants start looking unhappy! So I give them to the society garden! If I am not mistaken some are still there somewhere in the garden! But I really don't know what happened to the latest Christmas tree that I bought in November 2017. After being with us for two years, this year after Christmas when I shifted it back to the window, it started drying up! And one day it fully dried up!☹️

So today I painfully remember my Christmas tree!

Mendicants

The Carmelite Order is one of the four great Mendicant Orders of the Roman Catholic Church, dating to the Middle Ages. Our Carmelite spirituality is very much influenced by the notion of 'mendicancy', a term which comes from the Latin word mendicare meaning beggars.

The Mendicant Orders are, primarily, certain Christian religious Orders that have adopted a lifestyle of poverty, traveling, and living in urban areas for purposes of preaching, evangelization, and ministry, especially to the poor.

The Mendicant Orders surviving today are the four recognized by the Second Council of Lyon (1274): Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians (Augustinian Hermits), and Carmelites, as well as Trinitarians, Mercedarians, Servites, Minims, Hospitallers of St. John of God, and the Teutonic Order.

The Carmelites were able to settle in cities and towns, undertake the ministry of mendicants, especially preaching and the hearing of confessions.  The Order quickly clericalized for these ministries, but was slower to move into academics.

Originally a group of hermits, apparently European, living on Mount Carmel in Palestine, the Carmelites established themselves in the Latin West as an order of itinerant mendicants.

Areca Palm

Areca Palm

 

Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens) is one of the most widely used palms for bright interiors. It features feathery, arching fronds, each with up to 100 leaflets. These big, bold plants command attention.

It is also known as dypsis lutescens, golden cane palm, yellow palm, or butterfly palm, and is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae.

Areca palms demand a lot of care and attention and have a ten year lifespan! Still the Areca Palms, native to Madagascar, is one of the most popular indoor houseplants sold today.

While many species of palm trees and palm tree seeds are toxic to domestic animals, the areca palm is considered safe if consumed by cats or dogs, states the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

And that’s why I brought it home. A recent addition to my window garden, Minnie sometimes plays with its fronds as it triggers her playful swatting and biting instincts! But I allow her to do it because it’s so comforting to know that the areca palm isn't toxic for her. In fact I guess it is also known as the Cataractarum Palm or the Cat Palm!

Whatever it is, it’s safe for cats and also purifies the air! But it is hard to believe the beautiful areca palm was once an endangered species though I just love palms! Though slightly on the expensive side, I have always bought them in pairs! There's something about palms - I just love them!!!

 

Monks

The Carmelite Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel are a monastic or cloistered Roman Catholic community.

In the solitude and silence of their monasteries, the Carmelite monks seek to perpetuate the charism of the Blessed Virgin Mary by living the word of God day and night.

The Carmelite Monks are the only monastery of contemplative, cloistered monks within the family of Carmel. Their life is characterized by prayer and contemplation. This community of Carmelite hermits live a hidden life of silence and prayer and separation from the world for the good of the Church.

The friars (brothers) are the oldest continually-surviving branch of the Carmelite Family. The very first Carmelites were hermits living on Mount Carmel. There were always solitary hermits or communities of monks on Mount Carmel. The Order was created and given their rules by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, St Albert Avigadro. This became known as the Carmelite Rule of St Albert.

The Carmelite monks live in accordance to the primitive Carmelite Rule and the ancient monastic observance of Carmelite men and are devoted to Mary and serve God through prayer, community and fraternity. The Carmelites also keep alive the ancient eremitical custom of permitting the monks to take walks during recreation through the woods and countryside within the monastery.

Inspired by the life and spirit of Prophet Elijah, the purpose of Carmelite life is precise - it is a life of prayer and sacrifice for the sanctification of priests and the salvation of souls.

Like the 13th-century hermits, the Carmelite monks are dedicated to a life of solitude.

Jasmines in 2010

I forgot that I had grown some jasmines in 2010 also!

Alocasia@the church

Alocasia@the church

Circa 2010

Frangipani Plant@home

Circa 2010

Frangipani Plant

Today’s plant is the Frangipani Plant!

 

The flowers of this beautiful plant are known for their unique fragrant clusters of colourful, bright and waxy nature. Frangipani (Plumeria rubra), is also known as the Hawaiin Lei flower, and is native to warm tropical areas of the Pacific Islands, Caribbean, South America and Mexico. Frangipanis withstand subtropical climate.

 

A Frangipani plant is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains seven or eight species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small plants.

I became a great admirer of the Frangipani Plant in the year 2009. At that time I got a new job in Colaba and from Churchgate station I used to go to my office in the BEST bus. Every day the moment the bus reached Nariman Point, I would be transported into another world. I would be enamoured by the beauty of the Marine Drive on one side and the charming five star hotels on the other. I was most attracted by the Trident hotel because of its Frangipani plants. Those frangipani trees, bearing clusters of colourful and scented flowers during the months of November through to April, were so nice to look at.

 

Every day I would look at the glossy foliage and then one fine day I bought a Frangipani plant of my own for its fragrant, large and beautiful flowers. I didn’t know that our very own Champa flowers were known as Plumeria or frangipani in English that spread fragrance mostly at night.

 

But call it plumeria rubra or nosegay or frangipani or champa – one truth remains the same – I killed this plant also.☹️

Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel has always been a symbol of beauty. Mount Carmel is of great importance for Carmelites because the Order of Carmelites has its origins on this beautiful mountain in Palestine. The name means garden or orchard. It seems in the Old Testament this mountain has been mentioned twenty-nine times and is especially associated with Prophet Elijah. It rises 1,742 feet above sea level and towers above Israel's Mediterranean coastline.

Mount Carmel is a mountain spur projecting into the sea south of Haifa, Israel. Its bold outline can be seen for many miles. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras was reportedly attracted to Carmel by its sacred reputation.

Some hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12th century. The name of our Order has been derived from Mount Carmel, the place of our outset, as by the end of the twelfth century, a group of Crusaders settled on the western slopes of Mount Carmel.

About 1156, the Order of Carmelites was founded, and a new monastery was built in honour of St. Mary of Mount Carmel.

The entire recorded history of Mount Carmel is one of a place of worship. It is on the heights of Mount Carmel that the Carmelite Order originated in the Holy Land. We do not have a particular founder.

Today the Order is found on all five continents.

Alocasia

This tropical plant in the Alocasia genus featuring stunning foliage is definitely the centrepiece of my window garden!

 

An Alocasia plant, native to Asia, is also called an Elephant Ear plant or African Mask plant because of its very large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves with wavy edges. These stunning, veined leaves come in red, bronze, blue-green, and purple. Alocasia is sometimes known as the Kris Plant also.

 

This unusual looking houseplant, which produces flowers on occasion, caught my attention in the church many years back in 2010. Among the other plants in our parish, there was this one Alocasia plant making a statement with its bold, arrow-head shaped leaves and tall stems. But of course I didn’t know its name!

 

Over the years it always caught my attention whenever I was at the church. Then suddenly in December 2019 I saw an Alocasia plant in the local nursery and I brought it home along with the MILT and two pothoses. When I got it home, this plant had two large beautiful leaves and so I kept it indoors for some days. But suddenly its beautiful leaves started looking sad and so I kept the plant out in the window garden as I thought it needed bright natural light.

And for the first time in my life as a Plant Momma I was right. My African Mask Plant though a stunning houseplant can be tricky to grow indoors. By the grace of God, this elegant plant, in the genus Alocasia, is growing so well in the part shade, filtered bright indirect light of my window garden.

 

Though it is so beautiful, sadly, it is toxic for my darling Minnie!☹️

LIFE

THE BOOK OF HER LIFE (Libro de la vida) is the first work of the Carmelite reformer and our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila. THE BOOK OF HER LIFE, simply known as LIFE, is St. Teresa of Ávila's spiritual autobiography.

She finished writing this book in June 1562. In this book, St. Teresa writes an account of her life to enable her confessors to detect the meaning of her experienced visions to be sure that they came from God. But she related these visions and instructions she received from God much later in her life. This book also contains St. Teresa's writings on the four states of mental prayer. She describes the stages of prayer by using the analogy of watering a garden.

In THE BOOK OF HER LIFE St. Teresa repeatedly asserts that she writes not of her own will but at the command of her confessors. When she began to write this book she was nearly fifty years old and had been experiencing some mystical graces.

St. Teresa of Avila's books on spirituality is considered to be classics within the Catholic Church. In addition to these texts/books, she also wrote many inspiring letters.

St Teresa's superiors ordered her to document the remarkable events of her life and her original works still exist today.

 

https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/teresa-of-avila-the-book-of-my-life/340876

Jasmine Plant

In the summer of 1989 we left Bhilai and shifted to Durgapur. The house that we lived in Durgapur was a dilapidated one without any boundary walls. 

It was in a miserable condition. So there was no chance of any gardening. But there was a small fertile patch near the tap where clothes were washed and vessels were scrubbed. So I managed to plant some jasmines there which were given to me by someone.

 

Luckily those jasmine bushes grew quite well in that tiny patch of land as they got full sun as well as a partial shaded area. Needless to say it was my pride!🤗

But again it was time to relocate! This time to Vasai. In Vasai we lived on the second floor of the building. Though I managed to put some potted plants, there would be constant fights with the first floor people because the water from the plants fell on their clothes. So one day my dad threw away all the pots. That was the end of my gardening in Vasai. Sadly, I don't even remember the plants I grew there!☹️

 

Then recently in 2018 again I tried growing Jasmine as a houseplant when I came to know that it is one of the plants rich in antioxidant. It survived for few months and I even got clusters of starry, pure-white flowers in the summer but then it dried up – I guess because of the air conditioner duct!☹️

 

This deciduous plant has always been one of my favourite plants because of its exotic fragrance in the summer season. Even though I am not a lover of flowering plants, I quite like jasmine plants because of their white sweet-smelling flowers in the summer. They are graceful to look at and have quite an appealing scent. Who knows I might try growing them again!🤗

Lectio Divina

“Lectio Divina” is a Latin term which means “divine reading” and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us.

It literally means “Sacred Reading” and the Carmelite Spirituality is rooted in this ancient practice within the Monastic tradition.

We offer a daily lectio divina or a prayerful reading of the Word of God.

The value of lectio divina was rediscovered by the Carmelite Family (and indeed the wider Church) in the twentieth century.

First, we share one way of prayerful reading of the Bible followed by other examples of Carmelite prayers. We take the word of God deeper and deeper into ourselves. All Carmelites, filled with the spirit of the Order, seek to live their own vocation by silently listening to the Word of God – hearing, praying and living the Word – in silence, in solitude and in community, especially in the form of lectio divina as in the 13th century the Carmelite Rule of St. Albert prescribed to Carmelites the daily prayerful pondering on the Word of God.

So pondering the word of God has been a method of prayer for Carmelites for many centuries. In this we take as a model, Mary the mother of Jesus, who pondered the word of God day in and day out!

Thus at its heart, lectio divina is an encounter with Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate!

Mother in Law’s Tongue

Mother in Law’s Tongue (MILT)

 

Today’s plant is the Mother-in-Law's Tongue or MILT.

 

It is also known as Sansevieria Trifasciata and is a very popular house plant that originates from West Africa.

 

Native to Nigeria, Madagascar and southern Asia, it goes by other names such as viper's bowstring hemp, Saint George's sword, or snake plant. It is known as Saint George's sword or snake plant because of the shape and sharp margins of its leaves. It is also known as the viper's bowstring hemp because it is one of the sources for plant fibres used to make bowstrings.

 

 An architectural species, MILT features stiff leaves that range from six inches to eight feet tall, depending on the variety. I don’t know the variety of my MILT.

 

This is my second MILT which I bought in December 2019 because this house plant purifies air. I bought the first one in 2018 when I came to know that this perennial evergreen indoor plant, requiring minimal maintenance, is one of the best plants to keep in the bedroom. I bought it because I wanted to purify the bedroom air for a good night’s sleep. But the plant murderer in me killed it by overwatering! I killed even the aloe vera plant by overwatering!

But hopefully this MILT will be with us for a long time to come!

THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE

LIVING FLAME OF LOVE

Oh Llama de Amor Viva

O living flame of love that tenderly wounds my soul in its deepest centre!

THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE is one of St. John of the Cross's later poems that condenses his teaching. It was written about in 1584.

This flame, St. John of the Cross told us, is the love of the Holy Spirit. Now, having grown hotter and sometimes flaring up, it impels the Carmelite friar to write more.

Some of his other major works include THE ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL, THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL and THE SPIRITUAL CANTICLE.

THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE is considered to be the most authentic expression of St. John of the Cross’ theology. He helped St. Teresa of Avila with her reform of the Carmelite Order and was imprisoned for political reasons. He wrote this beautiful poem on the love between the soul and God while in prison in Toledo. The work consists of the poem and a prose commentary on it.

"After the dark night there springs up the living flame of love!" - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

In THE SPIRITUAL CANTICLE and THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE she discovered "the true Saint of Love."

Love

The prophets of Mount Carmel reminded one and all that God lives among His people and that He loves each one of us with an everlasting love. The mission of the Carmelites is to let this love permeate the entirety of their lives

St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross once wrote of the Carmelite vocation: “I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was BURNING WITH LOVE.”

Thus, our Carmelite vocation is all about love and Divine Union. Love is the origin, means and goal of the Carmelites. God loves us and creates us as the object of love.

Nothing seems impossible to the one who loves! Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.” St. Teresa of Avila 

“In the heart of the Church, my vocation is love.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

As Secular Carmelites, we try to show God's love in our everyday lives, wherever God leads us and with the people God gives us.

The Blessed Virgin has shown her patronage over the Order of Carmel from its earliest days. The scapular is a sign of the love of Mary.

Our Carmelite charism is a pure gift from God. He is the contemplative, burning with passionate love for the Absolute who is God, his word flaring like a torch. We hope to touch all people with the healing and renewing power of God's love.

St. Teresa cannot get along without a heart that loves.

Prickly Something

And lastly there was also this variegated thick prickly something growing in the middle of the garden! The more it was cut the more it grew! I just abhorred it - so to make this wild prickly thing look beautiful, I used to hang egg shells on top of its thorns! I didn't know its name and I still unable to find its name though I am researching so much!

I guess it was somewhat like a yucca or a Spanish dagger plant and looked like this. (Image)

Whatever it was, it was definitely not my idea of a plant.

Because it was so thorny and every time I went near it, it hurt me.

And I don't like people/things that hurt me!

Little Flower

St. Therese of Lisieux was known as the Little Flower of Jesus. Born in 1873 to devout parents and a very religious family, she decided at the age of 15 that she was going to enter a Carmelite Monastery.

Also known as the Carmelite of Lisieux, Little Flower of Jesus was born at Alencon, France, on 2nd January, 1873 and died at Lisieux on 30th September, 1897. She was born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin but took the religious name of Sister Therese of the Child Jesus. But she is popularly known as "The Little Flower of Jesus", or simply "The Little Flower.”

Therese was not yet fifteen when she approached the Carmelite authorities again for permission to enter. Again she was refused.

But after entering the convent she called herself "God's Little Flower" and lived a cloistered life of obscurity in the convent of Lisieux, France.

The young Carmelite of Lisieux had the genius to make use of the texts, documents, images and objects of her time. The Little Flower Prayerbook is a vintage manual of prayers combined with a treasury of St. Therese's spiritual writings.

This Doctor of the Church was canonized on 17^th May, 1925 and her feast day is on 1^st October.

Ti Plants

Ti Plants

 

Today’s plants are the Ti plants (Cordyline Minalis) which come in a wide variety of colours - green, red, chocolate, pink, orange, variegated and combinations of all of these! Till few days back I didn’t even know the name of these plants even though I have two of them since 2017. They have been growing in a tiered rosette and have never flowered.

Suddenly I am in love with these plants because they are tall with an attractive fan-like and spirally arranged cluster of broadly elongated leaves at the tip. These leaves keep drying up so many times and I keep removing them but I just don’t know why I like these plants so much! Perhaps because these are again low maintenance plants!

The Ti plants of mine are bold houseplants with flamboyantly green and red coloured foliage.

Also called the cordyline, cabbage palm, or good luck plant, these plants have been a perfect choice for adding a dash of style and drama to my well-lit window garden. Till recently both the plants were lying neglected in the kids’ bedroom window but I shifted the smaller one to the main hallroom window garden where it looks so dashing now. It has a spider plant growing along with it!

Suddenly these two Ti plants, wonderful Hawaii-native houseplants that is easy to care for, have become absolute darlings! This Plant Momma loves them a lot – not because they give my window garden a bright and tropical note but simply because I have come to know their name and doing a lot of research on them!

I came to know that the leaves of the Ti plants have the ability to shed water which come from their semi-transparent, protective surface called the cuticle. The leaf is covered by a waxy cuticle which keeps water. No wonder sometimes I have found droplets of water on the leaves and wondered from where they must have come from!

Though I have always been interested in plants and gardening; it is sad to note that I never made an attempt to know the names of the few plants I was growing at home. I never researched on them and I never took any extra step to take care of them! This lockdown has really been so constructive for me – I know the names of all my plants except one, I am taking extra care of them, I am reading a lot about them, blogging about them and feeling so proud of them! And I am even planning to make my own compost! I will start with eggshells!

Now I know what it means to be a Plant Momma!

Guava Trees

Today’s trees are the two not-so-tall guava trees that we had towards the rear of the quarter in Sector 5, Bhilai. The same house I have been writing about. I don’t remember whether those trees were single or multi-trunked, but those two guava trees were again easy to care trees. I don’t even remember watering them - ever!

 

But their leaves and flowers were mildly fragrant and attractive and yes, I ate those as well. Sometimes we could see guavas too! But much more than the fruits and leaves, I used to play "kitchen kitchen" underneath those two guava trees – especially the one next to the white vinca plant! 

I had my doll house under that tree and I used its leaves as the food that was cooked in my kitchen – that’s why I ate the leaves! 

I also remember climbing on the tree once or twice!😂

Last Retreat

“Let me hear the last song of His soul which no one but you, O Mother, could overhear.”

(Last Retreat)

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, who died in 1906 at the age of 26, is known for some of her beautiful writings like the LAST RETREAT and her famous prayer "O My God, Trinity Whom I Adore.”

The LAST RETREAT is her spiritual insights from the last annual retreat that she was able to make before her death in 1906. She wrote this in August 1906.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity was a French Discalced Carmelite nun, mystic and spiritual writer who completed her novitiate, and took her final vows on 11 January 1903. She became a spiritual director for many, and left a legacy of letters and retreat guides.

St. John Paul II considered St. Elizabeth of the Trinity to be one of the most influential mystics in his spiritual life.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity called herself “The Praise of Glory of the Holy Trinity”.

Her last words were, “I am going to Light, to Love, to Life.”

Her famous prayer “O Trinity, whom I adore,” remains a masterpiece of praise and surrender to the divine indwelling of the Holy Trinity.

She spent the last 8 months of her life in the Carmel infirmary, which was for her a long retreat.

Spider Plant

Spider Plant

 

Today’s plant is the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) which is considered to be one of the most adaptable of houseplants and the easiest to grow. And I have two of these beautiful plants because they are indeed so easy to grow!

These two beautiful plants have been there since 2018 and have been growing in a wide range of conditions. They just suffer from the problem of brown tips.

I read that spider plants are prone to tip burn which can be caused by dry soil, low humidity, or a buildup of salt and chemicals that are found in our public tap water.

But otherwise these plants are so awesome and are also known as the airplane plant, St. Bernard's lily, spider ivy or ribbon plant.

Native to South Africa, spider plants are an essential part of any hanging plant collection. Even I want to hang this plant in a beautiful place as I feel I am unable to do justice to its beauty!

Right now one of my spider plant is growing in a pot but I want a hanging basket for it because of its gracefully arching leaves and stems that have jetted from the plant and carrying baby plantlets on it. Its long, narrow leaves have produced a cluster of foot-long leaves from a crown of fleshy roots! 

And it looks so heavenly that I want to hang it in a strategic place!

These spider plants are extremely popular houseplant and prefer nice bright light like a west, north or east window. Luckily, all my windows are east facing windows!

Spider plant likes a moist soil or potting mix that drains well, but it can also tolerate periods of dryness. I need to not over-water or its roots may rot.

These two spider plants are among the most adaptable houseplants and have made a statement in my window garden.

Lay Carmelites

Many people are not familiar with the Carmelite's Third Order. The call to Carmel is a vocation - from friars and monks, religious sisters and cloistered nuns, to lay Carmelites or the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS)!

The Lay Carmelites or the Third Order Carmelites (TOC) are lay people who are over 17 years of age and who are Catholics and who are in full communion with the Church. Lay Carmelites are an integral part of the Carmelite family, along with the First Order friars and the Second Order cloistered nuns.

A Lay Carmelite is called to the Family of Carmel to be deeply involved in the mission of the Church, to contribute to the transformation of the secular world.

Lay Carmelites are neither a prayer nor a social group. It is a vocation. It is a call to learn and live a way of life that is dedicated to prayer, community-building and service of others.

As Members of the Third Order, or 'tertiaries', we live the Carmelite charism and practice the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience according to our Rule.

We are also called the Secular Carmelites and come from all walks of life – we are men and women, business owners, retirees, students, married and single, young and old.

As Lay Carmelites we seek to follow Christ and minister to his Church by the witness of our life as done throughout our 800 year heritage.

What is unique about the vocation of a Secular is that we live the Carmelite charism not in a monastic community but in the world.

As OCDS members we respond to a special call of God and participate in many ministries in the Church.

Ours is an association of people who wish to share in the life and spirit of the Carmelite Order.

A Lay Carmelite has been described as “a Carmelite who works from home” living in allegiance to Jesus Christ who loves us.

I am so happy to be an OCDS member of the St. Elizabeth of the Trinity community in St. Joseph church, Mira Road.

 

John Soreth

Blessed John Soreth was born near Caen in Normandy in 1394 and entered the Carmelite house there. He was ordained priest around 1417 and was a Prior General who dramatically changed Carmelite life for the better. He studied Doctor of Theology in Paris in 1438.

On 28 July (Discalced Carmelites) and 24 July (O.Carm) the Carmelite family celebrates the feast of Blessed John Soreth (c.1395 – 1471), Prior General and reformer of the Carmelite Order.  He is especially important for Carmelite nuns since he was responsible for first admitting women to the Order and encouraging the creation of Carmelite communities for women.

In 1452, Blessed John Soreth was authorized by the papal bull Cum Nulla to establish Carmelite communities of women. These monasteries spread quickly.

Blessed John Soreth also obtained papal approval for the Carmelite third order. In addition to the Second Order, Blessed John Soreth also began the Third Order of Carmel, now known as Secular Carmelites, and wrote their first Rule.

In the spring of 1451, John Soreth was vicar general of the Carmelite Order, having been appointed the previous year by Pope Nicholas V. 

Java Plum Tree

Java Plum Tree

 

One more tree that I remember is the gorgeous java plum tree that we had in Bhilai. 

During the winter afternoons we used to sit under its beautiful large canopy and do our homework. Now that I am visualizing and writing about it, I can distinctly remember it. It was a tall and handsome, evergreen, java plum tree and gave us lots of shade in the afternoons. It faced the road – the South Park Avenue 5 (SPA 5) – I guess it faced the road to act as a windbreaker!

Yes, I am getting sentimental about this tree too whose various names are plum, jambul, jamun, jaman, faux pistachier, Indian blueberry , jambol, doowet, jambolan and jambolão. Its scientific synonyms include Syzygium jambolanum, Eugenia cumini and Eugenia jambolana.

Oh how lovely this tall and evergreen tree was! The more I am writing the more details I am remembering about it. Its bark was greyish brown and thick and its leaf blades were oblong, thin, leathery and oh so tasty – yes, I ate the Jamun leaves!

 

Other trees may have struggled through the sweltering heat of the Bhilaiin summers, but this tree remained leafy.

 

St. John of the Cross

Saint John of the Cross or San Juan de la Cruz (24 June 1542 – 14 December 1591) was a Spanish Carmelite mystic and poet. He is our Holy Father. He is the cofounder with Saint Theresa of the order of Discalced Carmelites.

Saint John of the Cross was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez, in Fontiveros, Avila, Spain in 1542. He became a Carmelite monk at Medina del Campo, Spain, in 1563 and was ordained priest in 1567. St. John of the Cross is a spiritual master and Doctor of the Church.

Saint John of the Cross grew up in poverty and was drawn to the contemplative life. His soul longed for mystical union with God.

December 14 is the liturgical memorial of Saint John of the Cross who was locked in a cell six feet wide and ten feet long for nine months, with no light except that which filtered through a slit high. This happened because of a misunderstanding within the Carmelite Order.

He was a major figure in the Catholic Reformation. He was beatified in 1675 and canonized in 1726.

December 14 is one of the principal feast days of the Discalced Carmelite Order, the Solemnity of Our Holy Father John of the Cross

In the writings of St. John of the Cross, one of the greatest mystics in history, thousands of people have found a path for drawing closer to God.

John of the Cross is also one of the greatest poets in Spanish literature.

Chinese Evergreen

Today’s plant is the Chinese Evergreen!

 

It is the common name used for a collection of plants from the Aglaonema genus – which tend to tolerate low light conditions very well.

 

I guess I bought this plant in 2017 as Chinese Evergreens are houseplants that are easy to care.

 

These Chinese Evergreens are one of the best plants for beginners and I unfortunately I have always been a beginner!

 

So this Chinese Evergreen plant is one of the best-looking houseplants that has been there in our home. It is also known as Philippine evergreen and has tolerated virtually all indoor growing conditions.

 

This leafy green plant, a native of the tropical forests, is in my collection of plants because of its attractive leathery leaves.

 

And yes, it is still alive!!!

Jesus Christ

The person of Jesus Christ dominates the Carmelite Rule. The Carmelite is one who “lives in the footsteps of Jesus Christ” one who is expected “to live devotedly in Christ”, and to be whole hearted in the service of Jesus Christ. Christ is the beginning and the end of Carmelite Rule. All the great Carmelites across the centuries have been intensely drawn to the person of Christ. Among them is one who has been described as ‘the greatest saint of our age’, St. Therese of Lisieux.

A Carmelite finds Christ in the very depths of himself. He is expected to tackle the most demanding journey of all, the journey inwards into his own heart. Jesus is the Son of God and our loving Saviour. He lived to teach us, and He suffered and died to save us from sin and death.

Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the Second Person of the Trinity, our Creator, the resurrected Saviour and Redeemer, and the only means of salvation for sinners.

Jesus was the Son of God who became man for the sake of mankind. Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh, Who redeemed man by His Death on the Cross, and Whose Divine mission is continued by the ministry of the Carmelites.

White Vinca Plant

Though I never liked them, suddenly I am quite sentimental about the White Vinca plant! In my so called garden in Bhilai, there was this drought-tolerant plant near the kitchen window. I was quite indifferent to it as I didn’t like its icy-white flowers. But I am sure I must have watered it every evening.

I guess it survived my indifference because the White Vincas love the sun and are low-maintenance plants. These vigorous bloomers form drifts of snowy blooms all summer long. They are resistant to shade, heat, humidity, drought and insect pests. 

I remember the White Vinca from Bhili because of its density and ground-hugging height. It was taller than me in 1988.

Indoor Banana Plant

 

Few months back I came to know that a tropical banana tree makes an excellent houseplant as it helps to clean the air. So I brought one home!

And yes, taking care of an indoor banana plant is easy.

The best rare, exotic, and tropical indoor banana plant is the dwarf Cavendish banana plant. The benefits might be endless but it helps to clean the air and adds tropical beauty to any home.

For me, earlier it had seemed to be an unlikely houseplant but research shows that actually it's been grown indoors since the Victorian times.

Since a banana plant has to be placed in the sunniest area, such as in front of a large, south-facing window or in a sunroom, I have placed it in the kids’ room window. There it gets its ideal 12 hours of sunlight!

Interior Castle

"I began to think of the soul. As if it were a castle. Made of a single diamond..."

THE INTERIOR CASTLE is one of the greatest masterpieces by our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila. According to contemporary accounts, St. Teresa had a revelation from God of a crystal globe in the shape of a castle containing seven mansions. Thus she uses the metaphor of a giant crystal castle to explain her theory of the soul.

INTERIOR CASTLE describes the seven stages of union with God that St. Teresa wrote as a spiritual guide to union with God. She describes the spiritual life as a castle with many levels.

It was written in 1577 and first published in English in 1852. This book is considered to be one of the greatest works of Catholic spiritual prose. It was written in obedience to an assignment given to her by the spiritual leaders in her monastic order.

It presents a remarkable description of the entire spiritual life from the first release from mortal sin into sanctifying grace.

Bougainvillea & Rangoon Creeper

Bougainvillea & Rangoon Creeper

 

Last night I suddenly remembered about the few plants that were there in our quarter in Bhilai. When we left Bhilai in 1988, we used to live in the officers’ quarters in Sector 5. It had huge space – both at the back and the front! The backyard was totally barren but there were few plants and trees in the front. Needless to say, I was extremely fond of them and watered them every evening.

 

So the two plants which I want to write about today are bougainvillea and Rangoon Creeper!

 

While I was reminiscing about these two plants, I could instantly remember Bougainvillea but I had lots of problem trying to recall the name of Rangoon creeper. I just didn’t know what it was called – though I was so young at that time I could recall its looks – the plant looked so beautiful with its ornamental cascading vine and fragrant flowers! The white, pink and sometimes red flower clusters used to grow so fast!

 

As the Rangoon Creeper is a vigorous twining tropical climber it had got entwined with the Bougainvillea plant that was growing next to it. Both the plants had taken the support of our hallroom window where I used to sit to admire their flowers that grew profusely throughout the year.

 

Both the Rangoon Creeper and the Bougainvillea were flowering machines – they had an explosion of colours throughout the year!

 

Though I loved the Bougainvillea for its versatility and vibrant colour, I didn’t like its nail-like thorns!

 

Now I know why these two plants were growing effortlessly so well. Bougainvillea, belonging to the four-o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae),  is a sun-lover and blooms the best when kept in a heated environment. It has huge roots and doesn't like to have them disturbed. Same for the Rangoon Creeper -- native to tropical Asia, these shrubs are perennial in nature and require low care! That’s why these two plants did so well in our neglected garden.

 

Bougainvillea need very bright light and do well under high shade or in full sun. These vines typically lose some leaves for a short time during the winter and the "flowers" are actually modified leaves, called bracts that are long-lasting and bright. It is one of several desert plants that flower many times throughout the year.

 

The Rangoon Creeper or Combretum indicum, is also known by many other names like Chinese honeysuckle, Akar Dani, Drunken Sailor, Irangan Malli, Udani and Madhumalti.

 

But what’s in a name? Both the Rangoon Creeper and the Bougainvillea were instrumental in making my childhood colourful by adding beauty to our otherwise lifeless garden! As it is I am extremely sentimental about my life in Bhilai and these two plants are making me more sentimental!

So I want to grow these two in my garden! After the lockdown, I will try to get these two plants!

But hey, wait a minute! I did have Bougainvillea at home many years back but sad to write that I killed it!☹️

Lord, please give me another chance!🙏🏼 I will be a better Plant Momma now!

 

Inquisition

According to history.com, the Inquisition was a powerful office set up within the Catholic Church to root out and punish heresy throughout Europe and the Americas. Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims.

The Inquisition was essentially a theological court. There were three main inquisitions: the Medieval Inquisition (against the Albigensian heresy), the Spanish Inquisition (formed in the late 1400s) and the Roman Inquisition (later the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith).

During the height of the Spanish Inquisition, our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Avila joined the Carmelites at the Convent of the Incarnation in Ávila in 1536. Later in August 1562 she founded a new style of Carmelite community in Ávila as the native language had been banned by the Inquisition.

In 1563, at age 21, our Holy Father St. John of the Cross entered the Carmelite novitiate and later, because of his ideas, was sent to prison for a time by the Inquisition.

Variegated Spider Lily

 

From today, I have decided to blog about all the plants that I have in my window garden. Though I love plants so much, sadly till yesterday, I didn’t even know the names of some of them. But today I know all their names except one. So here we go!

                                                 

Today’s plant is the Variegated Spider Lily!

 

This is one of the most attractive plants I have in my window garden even though it blooms only in July. When I brought this plant home during my birthday in July 2018 it had creamy white spider-like flowers on it. I had loved its green variegated foliage which was adorned with the white flowers. Last year also these beautiful flowers bloomed around July. I wasn’t even aware – they just appeared one fine morning! 

I guess I couldn't see the buds because of the pothos that is growing in the same pot. But I actually love the look of this growth and that's why not separating them!

 

Anyway, till recently, I have been a lazy and careless gardener even though I like to call myself a plant lover. Even though this Variegated Spider Lily is such a stylish plant, perfectly brightening up my window garden and now my heart also, I stand guilty of neglecting it! 

For that matter, all my plants! I have murdered them by either overwatering or underwatering them! If plants could talk they would be crying out to me for the torture done to them!

 

But from the beginning of this year I vowed to change myself and become a responsible gardener. I have started calling myself a ‘Plant Parent’  instead of a gardener and carefully tending to each and every plant. Like a momma!

Thanks to the lockdown, I have chalked out a timetable of my entire hobbies and every Tuesday I faithfully take care of my small window garden. I prune the dry leaves and then spray water on them and wipe them clean! I hope my plants are happy now as I am trying to be a good momma to them!

 

Coming back to my Variegated Spider Lily, I am eagerly looking forward to its white flowers again. My research shows that it is an easy to grow plant as it loves water, morning sunlight and afternoon shade - I am providing all three to all my plants now!

 

So I hope to see the long spider like tendrils adorning this elegant flower during my birthday in July!🤗

Heaven in Faith

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity wrote a lot while at Dijon Carmel. Though she’s best known for her prayer “O My God, Trinity Whom I Adore”, she’s also particularly notable for her HEAVEN IN FAITH, a retreat she wrote three months before her death in 1906. She wrote it not for the nuns, but for her sister, Guite, who at that time was a young mother at home with two small children.

HEAVEN IN FAITH [HF] is the first of St. Elizabeth's major works. Many of her letters were written to her lay friends and HF is one of her four major works which is based on a ten-day retreat that she made.

There are other writings also but HF, which moved her to live heaven here on earth, by adoring God in faith and love, is one of her most loved work.

Haifa

Haifa is Israel's third largest city, beautifully set on the slopes of Mount Carmel facing the Mediterranean Sea. For decades, Haifa has been Israel's model of what a 'mixed' Jewish-Arab city could be.

Haifa, Hebrew H̱efa, city, northwestern Israel, is where the Carmelite Order was established in the late 12th century when Crusader-era pilgrims, inspired by prophet Elijah, opted for a hermitic life on the slopes of the beautiful Mount Carmel.

Our first Carmelite fathers lived in obedience to Jesus Christ on this holy mountain.

Greek History

Dear DLL Jesus,

In the afternoon I finished reading the first chapter of the INTERIOR CASTLE and in the evening I sent the answers also!😊 So that takes care of my OCDS studies!

Having done that, I started reading the history of ancient Greece and yes, it is extremely interesting!🤗 

And I have decided to start reading the works of St. John of the Cross all over again - from the book which we bought in November!

So, for studies I will read St. Teresa of Avila and for silencing my faculties, I will read my favourite St. John of the Cross!😍

I will not read anything else! Only the history of different countries and our Carmelite writings because I don't have the time and the patience to read anything else!

Hope

Hope is a feeling of trust. Some Bible verses on Hope are as follows:

Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.”

Psalm 119:114 “You are my hiding place...”

With our Prophet Elijah, the hope is to live the Carmelite motto: “With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.”

We practice all the virtues as we live an intense life of faith, hope and Obedience.

OCDS Online Studies

Dear DLL Jesus,

I finished reading the history of ancient Egypt and yes, it was so interesting!

It was so interesting that I have downloaded the app containing its  history in entirety!

And I also downloaded many more countries history apps like India, Australia, Spain, Greek and the Roman empire!😄

But first I will have to study the OCDS books which are being sent on the WhatsApp group especially created for studies. The first audio book that has been sent is the "Interior Castle". So I need to prepare for the first chapter as there are some questions also being asked after every lesson! 😁

But I am just wondering why are they making it so tough for everyone? We already have so much to be done in the lockdown and these questions are becoming too burdensome. Now if I am finding them burdensome, what must be the others feeling?

Any which ways, I have to do it! But since I am not too fond of audio books, I will first read the actual book and then see the video on the group and then only write my answers!😂 

I will do a slow but thorough job as I hate doing rushed things!

Hermits

A hermit is a person living in solitude as a religious discipline. The root of the word is the Greek erēmos, meaning “solitary.” A life of solitude isn't for everyone, but a hermit chooses it for any number of reasons. The hermit lives a life hidden within the heart of the Mystical Body of Christ, His Church.

The first Carmelites were hermits living on the slopes of Mount Carmel. This community of Carmelite hermits lived a hidden life of silence and prayer and separation from the world for the good of the Church. This Roman Catholic religious community observed the eremitical charism of the first hermits on Mount Carmel and the primitive Carmelite Rule of St. Albert of Jerusalem.

It is well known that the early Carmelites were hermits. It seems that they were men from Western Europe who had gone to the Holy Land as pilgrims.

The first Carmelites came as pilgrims to Mount Carmel to live a solitary lifestyle. These early hermits were mostly laity, who lived an unofficial religious life and they lived in separate cells or huts and their vocation was contemplative prayer. The foundation of their life was the Eucharist and Sacred Scriptures.

 

The Great Silence

The period of solitude beginning of the Great Silence (in speech and action), which continues until the end of Morning Prayer the next day.

Each day begins typically for dawn prayers. There’s Mass, breakfast, a few hours of work—gardening, cooking, cleaning, and making altar breads. Then Prayers before lunch, siesta, three more sets of prayers, and then, from approximately 8-9 pm, “the Great Silence”.

Right from the beginning, as per the early rule by St Albert of Jerusalem, a Carmelite remained in separate cells or huts and observed vows of silence, seclusion and abstinence. Though Carmelites need not observe silence as strictly at other times, St. Albert advised them not to indulge “in a great deal of talk.”

An atmosphere of silence and solitude is essential to our life of prayer. In solitude, we learn to surrender to the work of God.

It was this silence that was one of the main things about Carmel that attracted st Elizabeth of the Trinity so much. “The life of a Carmelite is silence,” she writes, “so she loves that above all!

Silence is maintained throughout the day with the exception of two periods of recreation.

The great silence is called by our holy Fathers the holy and sacred silence. All the Religious Orders have consecrated it to the communion of the soul with God.

Ancient Egypt

Dear DLL Jesus,

From today I have started reading the ancient Egyptian history and yes, it is extremely interesting!

I know most of it and the names of the vassal kings and places are quite familiar!

I am enjoying it!

Friars

The word Friar comes from the Latin word frater through French frère, which means “brother”. A friar is member of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans and Franciscans).

Friars are special monks that do a service to a community and that lead a simple life. A friar is similar to a monk. Friars are like monks in that they are devoted to a religious life. The difference is that a friar lives and works among regular people in society, while a monk lives in a secluded, self-sufficient group of monks. They arose in the medieval era where monastic orders remained rooted in place.

Carmelite Friars are devoted to Mary and serve God through prayer, community and fraternity. The Carmelite friars while following a contemplative life also engage in the promotion of spirituality through their retreat centres, parishes and churches.

The friars are the oldest continually-surviving branch of the Carmelite Family and are called "active contemplatives". As Teresian Carmelites, these men strive to live a zealous life of allegiance to Jesus for the salvation of souls.

Japan

Dear DLL Jesus,

I went to Japan through the pages of its history!🤗

But couldn't find what I was looking for! None of the characters excited me!

I wanted to know about the Tea Ceremony and the cherry blossoms but nothing was there on these two! I guess I will have to study about these separately! May be I should try reading Japanese literature!

Joseph

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal Roman Catholic Church. Today we celebrate the memoria of St. Joseph the Worker.

First appearing in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, St. Joseph is Jesus' earthly father and the Virgin Mary's husband. St. Joseph is also the patron saint of families, fathers, expectant mothers (pregnant women), travellers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers.

He lived in the 1st century in Nazareth, Galilee, and the region of Palestine.

We know St. Joseph was a man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome. True to his life, St. Joseph is called a just man. He was a person of faith in God and in other fellow human beings.

Everything we know about the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus comes from Scripture.

We celebrate two feast days for Joseph: March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.

During the Eucharist, Fr Lancy said that we all are workers in the kingdom of God - we all need to work to build His kingdom!

Death Date‎: ‎c. 1