Are You Scared of Religious Life?

 
In an effort to engage young people about religious life, I wandered into Catholic Answers site on catholic forum and discussions. I was hesitant at first, hearing so much about internet problems, but I have to say I find the exposure refreshing and challenging. Refreshing because I get to interact with so many young people with all their youthful concerns ,and challenging because they really know their questions and eager to know more about their faith.

The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

 

A place of beauty and green serenity,

The blowing breeze of coolness transported from the sea.

Earth's creation finds its abode in thee,

With holy hermits, fruits of Elias' glory.

This is Carmel,  mountain most heavenly!

O Virgin Mary, Queen Most Holy,

You are our Lady, inspiring many!

Your quiet life, simplicity, purity..

It speaks to me of Carmel's story.

This glorious Lady is our Mother too!

Who comes to us when life is blue.

She comes in silence and gentle ways,

In the depths of the heart, she whispers softly,

"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

To be with us forever and not to leave us ever,

Her Scapular she gave us.

To those with true devotion,

A token of compassion and garment of salvation.

As Our Holy Father St. Elias,

Beheld you image in that little cloud.

May God, our Father, whose Spouse thou art,

Behold your image in our lives and hearts.

O dear Lady of Mount carmel,

Virgin of our solitude.

Teach us how to please the Spirit,

Show us God our only good.

Teach us climb life's mountain heights,

In the steep ways of the Spirit,

Faith, Hope, and Love our surest guides.

When life's burdens weigh so heavy,

And the journey makes me weary.

Queen of Carmel, come so quickly!

With your mantle covering me,

I will find repose in thee.

Like a child asleep with confidence so deep..

Sr. Helena of Mary, O.Carm.

Happy Feast Day, My Friend !

  Feast Day: July 14th

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha was not a Carmelite but I consider her as one of my friends in heaven. I came to know her in the 1980's and fell in love with her story. When considering a religious name, I submitted "Sister Kateri of Mary", along with "Isabel" for Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, but was denied. Since then I have developed a spiritual friendship and affection for her. Kateri, I think of you today as we prepare to celebrate your feast day. I always admire your courage as you remained faithful to the practice of your new found Faith. Your love of Jesus, prompted you to consecrate yourself to Him despite the oppositions of your people and your culture. This cost you dearly. The ridicule and the hostility aimed at you only made you stronger and more determined to receive the gift of holy baptism. Your charity to others brought light to those around you. Despite being young in age, you were spiritually mature and understood well the value of sufferings and the folly of the Cross. You are a pure lily, the "lily of the Mohawks," who perfumed the pagan world of unbelief and ignorance by your innocence and purity. I think of you because your example draws me. You are my friend and I am glad that among the many Saints of God, I found you.

Prayer to the Lily of the Mohawks:

"Blessed Kateri,
you are revered as the mystic of the American wilderness.
Though orphaned at the age of four, and left with
a scarred face, and damaged eyesight from illness,
you were esteemed among the Mohawks tribe,
When you asked to be baptized as a Christian,
you subjected yourself to abuse by your people and were
forced to run away.
You endured many trials but still flowered in prayer and holiness,
dedicating yourself totally to Christ.
I ask you to be my spiritual guide along my journey through life.
Through your intercession, I pray that I may always be loyal to
my faith in all things."

AMEN
(copied from a holy card)

Saint Teresa of the Andes- July 13th

The young woman who is today glorified by the Church with the title of Saint, is a prophet of God for the men and women of today. By the example of her life, TERESA OF JESUS OF LOS ANDES shows us Christ's Gospel lived down to the last detail.

She is irrefutable proof that Christ's call to be Saints is indeed real, it happens in our time, and can be answered. She is presented to us to demonstrate that the total dedication that following Christ involves, is the one and only thing that is worth this effort and that gives us true happiness.

Teresa of Los Andes with the language of her ardent life, confirms for us that God exists, that God is love and happiness, and that he is our fulfillment.

"La Bruna"

When the early Latin hermits settled in Mount Carmel around the 12th century they erected an oratory dedicated to Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel.
This oratory became the centerpiece of the liturgical life of the hermits and which earned them the name of "The Brothers of Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel." She was also called by the hermits as the "Lady of the Place." This is understandable since these hermits were products of a feudal mentality of the 12th - 13th century, a mentality of feudal lords and tenants. They placed themselves under her protection and she in turn became their main patroness and Lady.  Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Patroness of the Carmelite Order. The spirituality of Carmel hinges on  two main pillars: Mary and Elijah.  Her feast is celebrated with great solemnity in the Carmelite Order on July 16th.

Reasons for wearing the Brown Scapular

The Spiritual Meaning of the Scapular:
1. It is a symbol of Mary's love for us.
2. It stands for a commitment to follow Jesus as Mary did.
3. It leads us to the family of Carmel.
4. It reminds us to the example of the Saints of Carmel.
5. It is an expression of our belief that we will meet God in eternal life, aided by the intercession of Mary.

Through the Scapular, the Blessed Virgin teaches us:
1. To be open to God, and to His will, shown to us in the events of our lives.
2. To listen to the Word of God in the Bible and in life, to believe in it an to put into practice its demands.
3. To pray at all times as a way of discovering the presence of God in all that is happening around us.
4. To be involved with people and attentive to their needs.

"The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel"
National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

To Order Free Scapular