Meditations from Carmel

For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus. How great is the power of prayer, it could be called a Queen who has free access at every moment to the King and can always obtain what she asks. 
- Story of a Soul, chapter 10 & 11

Therese of Lisieux - virtue “The practice of virtue gradually became sweet and natural to me. At first my looks betrayed the effort, but, little by little, self-sacrifice seemed to come more easily and without hesitation. Our Lord has said: “To everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall abound.” From the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, “Story of a Soul”.

Therese of Lisieux — Mountain of Love “If weak and imperfect souls like mine felt what I feel, none would despair of reaching the summit of the Mountain of Love, since Jesus does not ask for great deeds, but only for gratitude and self-surrender. This is all Our Lord claims from us. He has need of our love– He has no need of our works. The same God, Who declares that He has no need to tell us if He be hungry, did not disdain to beg a little water from the Samaritan woman. He was athirst, but when He said: “Give me to drink,” He, the Creator of the Universe, asked for the love of His creature. He thirsted for love. And this thirst of Our Divine Lord was ever on the increase. Amongst the disciples of the world, He meets with nothing but indifference and ingratitude, and alas! among His own, how few hearts surrender themselves without reserve to the infinite tenderness of His Love.” From the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, “Story of a Soul”.

Sister Carmela of the Holy Spirit "O Lord, may I come to you by the straight road of truth and simplicity! Grant me a right intention, that single-minded regard of the soul that desires only to please you and is not concerned about how others interpret its actions. In my dealings with my neighbor, may I always follow the straight road of pure good-will, loving you in your creatures without seeking any natural satisfaction. Let my relationships be inspired by sincerity, sisterly charity and holy freedom. In the vicissitudes and unexpected events of life, make me know how to walk straight toward wherever you call me without any lingering or disctractions. Teach me to follow the way of the love that does not know procrastination, and of the simplicity which knows no deviation, and of the trugh that knows no subterfuge. This is the way that pleases you, O Jesus, for you wanted to be called "the straightest way," the way that leads to the Father, for you said; "No one comes to the Father but by me." It is the way by which the Holy Spirit guides us, for he "leads the just along the straight road." Therefore, O God, I beg you with all fervor and desire: "create a pure heart within me and renew your Spirit within me." 4 minutes Suor Carmela dello Spirito Santo... Unpublished writings. Sister Carmela thoughts of the Holy Spirit, Discalced Carmelite Nun (Born 1903 in Turin-D. 1949) Quoted from Divine Intimacy, Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year By: Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen O.C.D. Used with permission from the Carmelite Nuns of Pittsford, New York.

St. Teresa of the Andes - letter 36 To Mother Angelica Teresa Santiago, September 7, 1918 "I keep myself closely united to Our Lord within the home of my soul. Whenever I go out on the street or to the theater or to take a walk, I tell Our Lord: "My Jesus, although perhaps no one here is thinking about You, but here is a heart that belongs completely to you. I adore You, I love You. Make me Yours always." In this way I keep myself recollected and removed from worldly things and every time we must go out, we must promise to remain united to Our Lord in the cells of our souls." Time 3:00 Copyright 1994. Letters of St. Teresa of the Andes translated by Michael D. Griffin, O.C.D. Teresian Charism Press Holy Hill 1525 Carmel Road Hubertus, WI 53033 USA

Teresa de los Andes 111 Letter to her Aunt Juana Solar De Dominguez June 23, 1919 "What shall I tell you of my heavenly life? Every day I thank God more for my vocation; which, the more I delve into it, the more beautiful it becomes to me. If I could let you experience the happiness felt when one has no other task in this life than loving and contemplating. When the soul is engulfed in the ocean of Divinity, it loses sight of the world's shores, of that world that is homeland of sorrow and evil! How happy I am living as a prisoner of the Divine Prisoner, consoling Him with my tears, helping Him save souls, praying and suffering! I've begun my eternity already. I have everything. The only thing I lack is to see God face to face. Let us love Him greatly. He thirsts for our love, because the angels' love isn't enough for Him. And after giving us His Father and His Divinity, Jesus gave us His Mother. He suffered from Bethlehem to Calvary. Shouldn't we have a little bit of love for this Divine Beggar…? May everything we do be done for loves' sake, and let's live forever at the foot of the tabernacle, be it only in spirit, consoling Our Lord in His agony. I'll say more: live in the Heart of Jesus. There, united with Jesus prayer, love and praise offer your works, both perfect and imperfect, to the Most Blessed Trinity. May your soul, be a host of praise and a host of love, sacrificing itself perpetually for the glory of the most Holy Trinity to make known the infinite love and mercy of the God who is Love." Copyright 1994. Letters of St. Teresa of the Andes translated by Michael D. Griffin, O.C.D. Teresian Charism Press Holy Hill 1525 Carmel Road Hubertus, WI 53033 USA

St. Therese of Lisieux - Story of a Soul "With me prayer is an uplifting of the heart; a glance towards heaven; a cry of gratitude and love, uttered equally in sorrow and in joy. In a word, it is something noble, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites it to God. Sometimes when I am in such a state of spiritual dryness that not a single good thought occurs to me, I say very slowly the "Our Father" or the "Hail Mary," and these prayers suffice to take me out of myself, and wonderfully refresh me." Time 2:30

“What will be our joy when we communicate eternally in the dwelling of the King of Heaven? It will be undimmed by the grief of parting, and will know no end. His House will be ours for all eternity, and there will be no need to covet fragments from the walls hallowed by the Divine Presence. He will not give us His earthly Home--He only shows it to us to make us love poverty and the hidden life. What He has in store for us is the Palace of His Glory, where we shall no longer see Him veiled under the form of a child or the appearance of bread, but as He is, in the brightness of His Infinite Beauty.” Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of A Soul CHAPTER VI A PILGRIMAGE TO ROME

"O Holy Spirit, you will be the one who will inspire not only my prayer, but by actions as well, who will rule over my relations with my neighbor, and who will produce within me those wonderful fruits which are your gifts, just as all the virutes are your gifts, since we act in a human way, but in a divine way through you, O Holy Spirit, who are within us. "Those who are moved by the Spirit of God are children of God". This is the true life, the life of the children of God. Oh, make this my life!" Suor Carmela dello Spirito Santo... Unpublished writings. Sister Carmela thoughts of the Holy Spirit, Discalced Carmelite Nun (Born 1903 in Turin-D. 1949) Quoted from Divine Intimacy, Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year By: Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen O.C.D. Used with permission from the Carmelite Nuns of Pittsford, New York.

Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle Chapter 2: 1-4 "I want to say that you should consider what it would mean to this so brilliantly shining and beautiful castle, this pearl from the Orient, this tree of life planted in the very waters of life – that is, in God – to fall into mortal sin; there's no darker darkness nor anything more obscure and black. You shouldn't want to know anything else than the fact that, although the very sun that gave the soul so much brilliance and beauty is still in the center, this soul is as though it were not there to share n these things. Yet, it is as capable of enjoying Hi Majesty as is crystal capable of reflecting the sun's brilliance. Nothing helps such a soul; and as a result all the good works it might do while in mortal sin are fruitless for the attainment of glory. Since these works do not proceed from that principle, which is God, who is the cause of our virtue being really virtue, and are separated from Him, they cannot be pleasing in His sight. Since, after all, the intention of anyone who commits a mortal sin is to please the devil, who is darkness itself, not God, the poor soul becomes darkness itself. I know a person to whom our Lord wanted to show what a soul in moral sin was like. That person says that in her opinion if this were understood it would be impossible to sin, even though a soul would have to undergo the greatest trials imaginable in order to flee the occasions. So the Lord gave her a strong desire that all might understand this. May He give you, daughters, the desire to beseech Him earnestly for those who are in this state, who have become total darkness, and whose works have become darkness also. For just as all the streams that flow from a crystal-clear fount are also clear, the works of a soul in grace, because they proceed from this fount of life, in which the soul is planted like a tree, are most pleasing in the eyes of both God and man. There would be no freshness, no fruit, if it were not for this fount sustaining the tree, preventing I from drying up, and causing it to produce good fruit. Thus in the case of a soul that through its own fault withdraws from this fount and plants itself in a place where the water is black and foul-smelling, everything that flows from it is equally wretched and filth. It should be kept in mind here that the fount, the shining sun that is in the center of the soul, does not lose its beauty and splendor; it s always present in the soul, and nothing can take away its loveliness. But if a black cloth is placed over a crystal that is in the sun, obviously the sun's brilliance will have not effect on the crystal even though the sun is shining on it. O souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Understand and take pity on yourselves. How is it possible that in realizing these things you don't strive to remove the pitch from this crystal? See that if your life comes to an end you will never again enjoy this light. O Jesus, how sad a thing it is to see a soul separated from this light! May God in His mercy deliever us from so great an evil." Time 6:30 The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Volume II Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD, and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD ICS Publications

Sister Carmela of the Holy Spirit O Holy Spirit come to me, become my interior Master…Prompt me in everything, remind me of all that Jesus said, guide me take the direction of my whole being, help my weakness, provide for my insufficiency… Teach me to appreciate every least inspiration of yours! It is more precious than the entire world – even if it were but a very small inspiration such as holding back a word or a glance – because it is a little "calling" an invitation to enter more deeply into divine intimacy; if I correspond to it faithfully, I grow in grace and love … Help me to avoid every slightest infidelity, every little hesitation to refuse nothing … then the light will go on growing, and love will become an abyss that cannot be sounded. But I know that in practice I shall often fall and often be lacking – O God, let it not be willingly! - But you, teach me that even in that case I must recover myself quickly and put myself at once under you influence with an act of love, without letting myself get troubled, or discouraged, since your Spirit is sweet: "Oh how sweet is your Spirit O Lord! Suor Carmela dello Spirito Santo... Unpublished writings. Sister Carmela thoughts of the Holy Spirit, Discalced Carmelite Nun (Born 1903 in Turin-D. 1949) Time 4:00 Quoted from Divine Intimacy, Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year By: Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen O.C.D. Used with permission from the Carmelite Nuns of Pittsford, New York.

PRAYER TO OBTAIN HUMILITY Written for a Novice “And yet, dear Lord, Thou knowest my weakness. Each morning I resolve to be humble, and in the evening I recognize that I have often been guilty of pride. The sight of these faults tempts me to discouragement; yet I know that discouragement is itself but a form of pride. I wish, therefore, O my God, to build all my trust upon Thee. As Thou canst do all things, deign to implant in my soul this virtue which I desire, and to obtain it from Thy Infinite Mercy, I will often say to Thee: "Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine." TIME: 2:30 St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul.

St. Therese of Liseiux - interior lights "I unconsciously received many interior lights on the best means of pleasing God, and practicing virtue. I have often observed that Our Lord will not give me any store of provisions, but nourishes me each moment with food that is ever new; I find it within me without knowing how it has come there. I simply believe that it is Jesus Himself hidden in my poor heart, who is secretly at work, inspiring me with what He wishes me to do as each occasion arises." Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of A Soul CHAPTER VIII PROFESSION OF SOEUR THERESE Time 2:00

Short meditations for your soul from the mystical writings of the great saints of Carmel. These prayerful inspirations come directly from the treasury of writings of the great Carmelite Saints including: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Teresa of the Andes, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, St. Teresa Benedicta and many more! We hope these short reflections will inspire you to take up the practice of prayer in your life! The OCDS Carmelite Community at the Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Louis have produced these meditations and are updated regularly with new inspirations.

Saint Teresa of Avila#59 (Seville, 1576)The degrees of infused prayer (part I 1,2,3,4,5,6) "These inner spiritual experiences are difficult to speak about, and still more so when one wants to speak of them intelligible. From the beginning I will start with supernatural experiences, for there is already understanding of the devotion, tenderness, tears and meditations we can ourselves, with the help of the Lord, procure here below.The first prayer I experienced that in my opinion was supernatural (a term I use for what cannot be acquired by effort or diligence, however much one tries, although one can dispose oneself for it which would help a great deal) is an interior recollection felt in the soul. For it appears that just as the soul has exterior senses it also has other interior senses through which it seems to want to withdraw within, away from the outside noise. So, sometimes this recollection draws these exterior senses after itself, for it give the soul the desire to close its eyes and not hear or see or understand anything other than that in which it is then occupied, which is communion with God in solitude. In this state none of the senses or faculties are lost, for all are left intact. But they are left that way so that the soul may be occupied in God. And this explanation will be easy to understand for anyone to whom the Lord has granted this prayer; and for those to whom He has not, there will be need at least for many words and comparisons.A very pleasing interior quiet and peace sometimes flow from this recollection, so that it doesn't seem to the soul it is lacking in anything. Even speaking tires it, I mean reciting vocal prayer and meditating. All it wants is to love. This quiet lasts a short while, and even a longer while.From this prayer there usually proceeds what is called a sleep of the faculties, for they are neither absorbed nor so suspended that the prayer can be called a rapture. Although this prayer is not complete union, the soul sometimes, and even often, understands that the will alone is united, and this is known very clearly; I mean it is clear in the soul's opinion. The will is completely occupied in God, and it sees it lacks the power to be engaged in any other work. The other two faculties are free for business and works of service of God. In sum, Martha and Mary walk together.  When there is union of all the faculties, things are very different because none of them is able to function. The intellect is as though in awe; the will loves more than it understands, but it doesn't understand in a describable way whether it loves or what it does; there is no memory at all, in my opinion, nor thought; nor even during that time are the sense awake, but they are as though lost, that the soul might be more occupied in what it enjoys. This union passes quickly. But the wealth of humility and other virtues and desires left in the soul, one discerns the great good that comes to one through that favor. But what the union is cannot be described, for even though the soul is given understanding, it doesn't know how it understands or how to describe it. In my opinion, if this experience is authentic, it is the greatest favor our Lord grants along this spiritual path, at least among the greatest." The Collected Works of Teresa of Avila Volume I. Spiritual Testimonies Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D. and Otilio Rodriguez O.C.D. ICS Publications Institute of Carmelite Studies, Washington, D.C. 1980 ISBN 0-9600876-6- [display_podcast]