St Raphael Kalinowski OCD - click to read short biography from Vatican Website

Jesus, hope of suffering humanity, our refuge and our strength, whose light pierces the black cloud that hang over our stormy sea, enlighten our eyes so that we can direct ourselves toward You Who are our harbour. Guide our bark with the rudder of the nails of Your cross, lest we drown in the storm. With the arms of this cross rescue us from the turbulent waters and draw us to Yourself, our only repose, Morning Star, Sun of Justice, for with our eyes obscured by tears, we can catch a glimpse of You there, on the shores of our heavenly homeland. Redeemed by You, we pray: Salvos nos fac propter nomen tuum - "Save us for the sake of Your holy name". And all this through Mary. ("Saint Raphael Kalinowski: An Introduction to His Life and Spirituality" by S. Praskiewicz, OCD)

To read polish translation of the book by Jean-Baptiste Bouchaud "Le R.P. Raphaël de S. Joseph. Deuxième partie. Vie religieuse" click HERE

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All Carmelite Saints, feast

I will make my home with them and walk among them; I will be their God and they shall be my people (2Cor 6:16) 
I will set up my dwelling among them (Lev 26:11)

'O Saints of Carmel, throned above

In Mary's court, obtain this grace 

That where you are in glory now

We, too, may find a resting-place'

All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. This is what we were founded for. We are descendant from those holy fathers of ours on Mount Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure – the priceless pearl we are talking about – in such solitude and with such contempt for the world. We must remember those holy fathers of ours who have gone before us, the hermits whose lives we are trying to imitate. We must remember our real founders. These holy fathers whose descendants we are. It was by way of poverty and humility, we know, that they came to enjoyment of God. On the subject if the beginning of Orders, I sometimes hear it said that the Lord gave greater graces to those saints who went before us because they were the foundations. Quite so, but we too must always bear in mind what it means to be foundations for those who will come later. For if those of us who are alive now have not fallen away from what they did in the past, and those who come after us do the same, the building will always stand firm. What use is it to me for the saints of the past to have been what they were, if I come along after them and behave so badly that I leave the building in ruins because of my bad habits? For obviously whose who come later don’t remember those who have died years before as clearly as they do the people they see around them. A fine state of affairs it is if I insist that I am not one of the first, and do not realize what a difference there is between my life and virtues, and the life of those God has endowed with such grace! And you who sees your Order falling away in any respect, must try to be kind of stone the building can be rebuilt with – the Lord will help to rebuilt it. For love of our Lord I beg them to remember how quickly everything comes to an end, and what a favour our Lord has done us in bringing us to this Order, and what a punishment anyone who starts any kind of relaxation will deserve. They must always look at the race we are descended from – that race of holy prophets. What numbers of saints we have in heaven who have worn this habit of ours! We must have the holy audacity to aspire, with God’s help, to be like them. The struggle will not last long, but the outcome will be eternal. (St Teresa of Avila, readings from Discalced Carmelite proper Offices for the Feast of All Carmelite Saints)

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Bl Maria Teresa Scrilli, optional memoria

She was born in 1825 in Montevarchi, Italy, As a young girl she was influenced by St Mary Magdalen de Pazzi's writing and Carmelite spirituality. She decided to join the monastery in which Seraphim of Carmel lived, but under divine inspiration decided to return to the world to lead souls to Jesus. She joined the Carmelite Third Order with the name Maria Teresa of Jesus. In her home village, a number of young girls were entrusted to her, and thus began her educational work. Soon she was joined and assisted by several young women and in this was the beginning of the Institute of Our Lady of Carmel. She died in 1889 on the feast day of all Carmelite Saints. To read more click on the post title. 

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Bl Elizabeth of the Trinity, memoria

SOLITUDE AND SILENCE

As I cannot break from the world and live in solitude, give me at least solitude of heart....Solitude and silence are so precious.....I realise that one can enjoy interior solitude and silence, for what can distract a heart possessed by love? Noise reaches no further than the surface, deep down there is only Him! And He alone can satisfy our hearts....
Exterior silence is not the most necessary, in certain circumstances it is even impossible. The soul's resource is to take refuge within itself, in that interior solitude which alone is necessary for union with God. But outward silence must be sought as much as possible, because it helps interior silence and normally leads to it; the love of silence leads to the silence of love. God in me and I in Him, that is my life!....but for the vision, we always possess Him as the Blessed do in Heaven. How wonderful is this presence of God in us, in the inner sanctuary of one's soul! There we always find Him.....Let us try never to leave Him alone, so that our lives may be an unceasing prayer.

after "Reflections - Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity from her writings".

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Bl Francis Palau y Quer, priest, optional memoria

                                                                 short biography 

 

 "God in his providence has ordained not to cure our ills or grant us grace without the intervention of prayer. He wishes us to help in saving each other by means of our prayer (cf. James 5:16 et seq). If the heavens showered down dew and the clouds rained the righteous One, if the earth opened to bring forth the Saviour (cf. Is 45:8), it was God's good pleasure that his coming should be protected by the prayers of that singular Virgin who by the beauty of her virtues drew into her womb the uncreated Word of God. The Redeemer came, and by constant prayer he reconciled the world to the Father. If Christ's prayer and the fruits of his redemptive work are to be applied to any nation or people, or if the gospel message is to enlighten them and they have someone to administer the Sacraments, it is indispensable that someone or even many persons should have previously won them over and reconciled them to God by earnest entreaties and supplications, by prayers and sacrifices. For this purpose, among others, the eucharistic sacrifice is offered on our altars." From the spiritual writings of Blessed Francis Palau y Quer, after Discalced Carmelite proper Offices.

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Bl Josepha Naval Girbes, optional memoria

“Like a loving mother, the Servant of God watched over her followers and prepared them for life. She was a model of fervent love for God. She was a lamp that gave forth light and warmth and a shining example in so many ways of a living and contagious faith, of unflagging love, and of joyous submission to the will of God and of her superiors. Josefa is remembered for her unbounded solicitude for the salvation of souls. She stood out for her singular prudence, and for the humility, poverty, silence, and patience that she always practiced, even amidst setbacks and difficulties. The fervour with which she cultivated the interior life of prayer and meditation and her patience under trial were well known, as was her love for the Eucharist and for the Virgin Mary and the saints. In this way, the Servant of God helped to build up her parish community.” From the decree regarding the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Josepha Naval Girbes, Valentia , January 3, 198. Picture above after Wikimedia commons.

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