This blog is to propagate genuine Catholic devotions in the spirit of Traditional Carmel by providing texts useful for spiritual readings and meditations. "The devil knows that he has lost the soul that perseveringly practices mental prayer" - St Teresa of Avila. "For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus" (2Cor 4:5). Soli Deo honor et gloria.
The blog is lovingly dedicated to the Infant Jesus of Prague and under His Patronage
Today is the Feast of St Bernard and asking his intercession we may pray today for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. St Bernard's disciple became Pope Eugenius III and fulfilling his request, St Bernard composed for him the book "On Considerations" - the most beautiful book ever written on the Papacy.
....Innocent II died in 1143. His two successors, Celestin II and Lucius, reigned only a short time, and then Bernard saw one of his disciples, Bernard of Pisa, Abbot of Three Fountains, and known there-after as Eugenius III, raised to the Chair of St. Peter. Bernard sent him, at his own request, various instructions which compose the Book on Considerations - click to read online, the predominating idea of which is that the reformation of the Church ought to commence with the sanctity of its head. Temporal matters are merely accessories; the principal are piety, meditation, or consideration, which ought to precede action. The book contains a most beautiful page on the papacy, and has always been greatly esteemed by the sovereign pontiffs, many of whom used it for their ordinary reading...
Little pictorial documentary on Pope Benedict XVI childhood and teenage years.
Joseph Alois Ratzinger was born on 16 April, Holy Saturday, 1927 at Schulstraße 11, at 8:30 am in his parents' home in Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany. Joseph was baptised on the same day at the church of St. Oswald. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph and Maria Ratzinger (née Peintner). His mother's family was originally from South Tyrol. On the first pictures we can see family photo of the Peintner-Riegers family and Maria, who would become the future Pope's mother, is the lady seated on the right. This photo is followed by unique pictures of Joseph's papa and mama both in their early twenties. Joseph father was born in Passau in 1877 and apparently joined the local police force in Passau in 1899. Then, at the age of 25 he joined the Royal Bavarian Gendarmerie Corps, which he served for the next 35 years. During that time, he was assigned to 14 different posts, a practice followed in order to prevent the police officers from establishing relations with special interests in the places where they served. Joseph Ratzinger's file contains a letter of permission from the Gendarmerie Main Station in Altoetting dated October 29, 1920, granting Ratzinger the "authorization to marry" his fiance Maria Peintner-Rieger. They were married in Pleiskirchen on November 9, 1920. Their first child, Maria, was born in Pleiskirchen, followed soon by their second child, Georg. Georg Ratzinger, a priest and former director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir, is still alive. His sister, Maria Ratzinger, who never married, managed Cardinal Ratzinger's household until her death in 1991. The next picture shows Ratzinger's children together, Maria, Georg and little Joseph in the middle. This picture is probably taken in town of Titmoning where the family moved in 1929 and lived until December 1932. The colour picture shows police station of Titmoning and home for Ratzinger family. Although the building looks impressive their flat was less than comfortable. In this town, little Joseph spent his nursery years documented in nursery class photo, followed by two other pictures of Joseph, 3-4 years old enlarged from family photographs. The next colour picture, show family home, 21 Main Stree in Aschau am Inn where the family moved from Titmingen and lived between 1933 and 1937: "Father decided, toward the end of 1932, to change locations once more. In Titmoning, he had simply said too much against the brownshirts...In December, shortly before Christmas, we moved into our new home in Aschau am Inn, a well-to-do agricultural village consisting of large imposing farms. Mother was pleasantly surprised by the lovely living quarters assigned to us. A farmer had built a country house that was modern by the standards of those days and rented it to the rural police. We were assigned the second floor, and there we found all the makings of a cozy home..." In Aschau, little Joseph attended school and received his first Holy Communion in the parish Church of Mary's Assumption on March 15, 1936 (he is in the first row, sixth from the left). Next picture depicts little Joseph on his way to school along Smith's Way in Aschau. He was a lovely little boy! We know from Pope's relatives that his priestly vocation was apparent from boyhood. At the age of five, Ratzinger was in a group of children who welcomed the visiting Cardinal Archbishop of Munich with flowers. Later, the very same day, the little boy announced to his parents he wanted to become a cardinal! Next, we can see several classroom pictures of Joseph in the midst of his classmates with teachers, Miss Fahmueller and Joseph Fersch in Aschau public school. We can already recognize him after characteristic haircut and smile. On the next pictures, taken around 1937, we see Joseph, and his parents family photos. In 1941, following his fourteenth birthday, Joseph was enrolled in the Hitler Youth — membership being legally required after December 1939 — but was rather unenthusiastic member who refused to attend regular meetings. We can see his picture in the uniform taken at that time, he indeed does not look very enthusiastic. His father was a bitter enemy of Nazism, who believed it contradicted the Catholic faith. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, lost his life becoming one of the victims of Nazi regime during atrocities of the eugenics campaign. In 1943 while still in seminary, he was drafted at age 16 into the German anti-aircraft corps. We can see photo of Joseph, second on the left, taken during this assignment. Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry, but a subsequent illness precluded him from the usual rigours of military duty. As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist, just as American troops established their headquarters in the Ratzinger household. As a German soldier, he was put in a POW camp but was released a few months later at the end of the War in summer 1945. He reentered the Saint Michael Seminary in Traunstein along with his brother Georg, in November of that year. On the last picture we see seminarian Joseph - first on the left - taking a walk through Traunstein with his friends. Two Ratzinger brothers, later studied at the Ducal Georgianum (Herzogliches Georgianum) of the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich. They were both ordained in Freising on June 29, 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of Munich. Joseph Ratzinger's dissertation (1953) was on St. Augustine and was entitled "The People and the House of God in Augustine's Doctrine of the Church". His habilitation dissertation (which qualified him for a professorship) was on St Bonaventure. It was completed in 1957 and he became a professor of Freising College in 1958.
Patron of this blog - click for link to Our Lady Victorious church images of the statue
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ABOUT CARMELITES
This is the Carmelite shield of the Ancient Observance. The palm and the lily signifies the first saints of the order: St. Angelus of Sicily (signified by the palm of martyrdom) and St. Albert of Trapani (signified by the lily). Six pieces of spiritual armour are described in the rule of the Order; the cincture is the symbol of purity, indispensable for one who desires to reach the holy mountain of the vision of God: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God". The corselet which protects the vital parts of the body represents good thoughts: "Holy thoughts will protect you". The breastplate which covers the whole body represents justice, a well regulated life, the observance of the commandments and duties of daily life. The shield is faith; for a living faith is the best safeguard for the spiritual life. The helmet symbolizes hope, confidence in God, which gives us the right to walk with freedom and confidence. Finally, the sword indicates conversation with God which as a double edge blade comes to our aid and defends us in all our difficulties.
Mount Carmel, Carmelite Monastery - beautiful statue of Our Lady. Picture credit: Karmel im Heiligen Land
Carmelites are one of four mendicant religious Orders, originally founded in ancient Palestine with spirituality drawn from the imitation of the holy Prophet Elijah and zealous veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is dedicated to Our Lady, she is particularly honoured and venerated by Carmelites and the life of Carmelite should be focused on imitation of Mary. Devotion of the Brown Scapular, Mary's habit, caused Carmelites to be known as "Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel", to which Popes and Bishops attached indulgences. The oldest preserved constitution of the Order, established during General Chapter of Barcelona (1324), tells us that from the times of the holy Prophets, Elijah and Elisha, devout hermits lived continuously on Mt. Carmel, sought this holy mountain and loved its solitude in order to give their minds over to the contemplation of heavenly things; they built a chapel there in honor of the Virgin and thus deserved to be called the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a name recognized by Popes. St. Albert gave them a rule which was approved and the Carmelites, as we know them today, are successors of these holy hermits. Therefore, from its origin, their spirituality has been founded on these two specific elements, an imitation of the holy Prophet Elijah and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary (from Bl Titus Brandsma - "Lectures on Carmelite Spirituality" - Carmelnet).
Carmel in Toledo - Under Our Lady's mantle - St Elijah in Carmelite habit in company of other prophets (lower left panel). Picture credit: Karmel im Heiligen Land
Therefore, since the beginning of this blog established to promote Carmelite spirituality, special care has been taken to dedicate meditations of Saturday - day of Our Lady in Church's tradition - in honour and veneration of the Blessed Virgin, the ever glorious Patroness of all Carmelites.
ST ELIJAH AND CARMELITE SPIRITUALITY
1Kings 17:4 - Elijah by the brook of Cherith
In The Book of the First Monks, a medieval Carmelite work on the spirit of the order, the following teaching stands out: "The goal of this life is twofold. One part we acquire, with the help of divine grace, through our efforts and virtuous works. This is to offer God a pure heart, free from all stain of actual sin. We do this when we are perfect and in Cherith, that is, hidden in that charity of which we read:"Charity covers all sins " (Prov. 10:12). God desired Elijah to advance thus far when he said to him: "Hide yourself by the brook Cherith " (1 Kings 17:3-4).The other part of the goal of this life is granted us as the free gift of God: namely, to taste somewhat in the heart and to experience in the soul, not only after death but even in this mortal life, the intensity of the divine presence and the sweetness of the glory of heaven. This is to drink of the torrent of the love of God. God promised it to Elijah in the words: "You shall drink from the brook. "It is in view of this double end that the monk ought to give himself to the eremitic and prophetic life" (after Carmelites.com).
Prophet Elijah testimony: "I have burned with zeal for the Lord God of hosts" (1 Kings 19:9) - has become spiritual motto of Carmelites
Prophet Elijah victory at Mt Carmel over idolatrous prophets of Baal (1Kings 18)
Elijah statue in front of Carmelite Monastery on Mt Carmel
The greatest achievement of Elijah's life was his victory over the priests of Baal at Mt. Carmel. Having heard that the other prophets of Yahwh were also persecuted, he requested King Ahab to gather the people of Israel, the 450 priests of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Ashtaroth on Mt. Carmel. Then he asked Israel the famous question of 1 Kings 18:21: "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him", meaning, "How long will ye be undecided as to whether ye shall follow Yahwh or Baal?"The people remaining silent. He invited the priests of Baal to a contest, proposing that he and they should each build an altar and lay a burnt offering thereon, and that the God who should send down fire from heaven to consume the offering should be accepted as the true God. After various unsuccessful attempts to get a favorable answer had been made by the prophets of Baal, while they were ridiculed with subtle irony by Elijah, Elijah prayed, and Yahwh sent fire from heaven to consume his offering. Yahwh was recognized by Israel, and the priests of Baal were slain by the people near the brook Kishon (1 Kings 18:17-40).
TWO CARMELITE ORDERS - TWO BRANCHES OF THE SAME TRUNK
Looking at Carmel from above, its two branches are united at their summits. Despite the separation which exists on the trunk, the two branches intermingle their foliage and blossoms without our being able to distinguish those which belong to the one from those which belong to the other. The blind singer of Rennes, Ven. John of St. Samson, does not have a different melody from that of the inspired singer imprisoned in the Carmel of Toledo, because both repeat what the Institutio primorum monachorum had inculcated in the Carmelites of the first centuries, namely, that all Carmelites, Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in order to be faithful to their vocation should do their very utmost to go, under the guidance of the saintly hermit and prophet Elijah, across the desert of this life up to the Mt. Horeb of the vision of God, strengthened by the heavenly nourishment which is shown on the altar. (Bl Titus Brandsma, Lectures)
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST - St MARY OF JESUS CRUCIFIED, OCD
Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God, consume me. Along the true road, lead me. Mary my Mother, look upon me. With Jesus, bless me. From all evil, from all illusion, from all danger, preserve me.
Source of peace, Light, come and enlighten me. I am hungry, come and nourish me. I am thirsty, come and quench my thirst. I am blind, come and give me light. I am poor, come and enrich me.
'Jay' stands for the phonetics of my first name initial 'J', as I have chosen anonymity in blogging. I am 'cradle' Roman Catholic, happy wife, mother and grandmother. I am professed Discalced Carmelite tertiary now, who loves and respects Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Tradition of the RC Church - "Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle" (2Thes 2:14), and: "Even if Catholics faithful to Tradition are reduced to a handful, they are the ones who are the true Church of Jesus Christ” (St. Athanasius, AD 373). In my devotion to Church's Tradition and Tridentine Mass I am with the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales and in union with the Holy Roman Catholic Church. In conclusion, the aim of this blog is to present and propagate traditional Catholic devotions, piety and Carmelite Spirituality in the richness of Tradition. All my efforts are aimed to help to preserve Catholic identity. The idea of this project is entirely private and comes from my own convictions and understanding of Catholicism.
Traditional Rite Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Valparaido, Nebraska
Jesus, Mary and Joseph Monastery associated with Fraternity of St Peter
Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
Christoval, Texas
TRADITIONAL RITE CARMELITE MONKS OF WYOMING
Click on the picture for website link
TRADITIONAL RITE THIRD ORDER CARMELITES
Traditional Latin Rite Third Order of Carmelites of Ancient Observance from Campos, Brasil was originally established on 13 May 1752. Their spiritual director is Rev. Father Everaldo Bon Robert, who is also O. Carm Tertiary. The Order numbers 150 members, among them 15 priests, 3 religious brothers of “conventual life” plus some associated Regular Third Order Sisters. The Order is under jurisdiction of the Personal Apostolic Administration of St. John Mary Vianney, which was created by the Holy See in 2002 for the Traditional Catholics of the Latin Rite in Brazil under administration of the Bishop Fernando Areas Rifan. In their church, the Traditional Latin Mass is the only Mass celebrated and every member of the Order pray Saturday's Rosary fervently in honour of the Queen and Mother of Carmel to keep them always in such a special grace. Third Order meetings take place on every 2nd Sunday of the month, and all Tertiaries, brothers and sisters, wear full Carmelite habit (as featured in the picture above). Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Campos - blog and news Flos Carmeli Vitis Florigera blog of the Order Short history of the Society of St John Vianney in Campos, Brazil
DEVOTION TO THE MOST HOLY ROSARY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Why we should meditate on Our Lady's titles and invocations of Loreto Litany
This litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary was composed during the Middle Ages. The place of honor it now holds in the life of the Church is due to its faithful use at the shrine of the Holy House at Loreto. It was definitely approved by Sixtus V in 1587, and all other Marian litanies were suppressed, at least for public use. Its titles and invocations set before us Mary's exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty. The principle that has been followed in their interpretation is the one enunciated by the same Pius IX: "God enriched her so wonderfully from the treasury of His divinity, far beyond all angels and saints with the abundance of all heavenly gifts, that she . . .should show forth such fullness of innocence and holiness, than which a greater under God is unthinkable and which, beside God, no one can even conceive in thought." Hence, whatever virtue and holiness is found in angels and saints must be present in Mary in an immeasurably higher degree.
Reflection on the titles of the litany will unfold before us the grand picture of our heavenly Mother, even though we know only little about her life. We will also come to see why Mary's example, guidance, and help is the need of the hour (from Intermirifica, Litany of Loreto).
DEVOTION TO THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Stations of the Cross - click on the image to enter - it works now!
All the Saints achieved sanctity by meditating upon the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. By this devotion, we have an irresistible and proven method to advance in our love for Our Divine Master as well as overcoming all our personal faults. The Passion of Jesus is also a treasure-house whose wealth will never suffer devaluation and obtains for us from the Eternal Father, Who cannot resists this devotion, all of those graces essential for our salvation as well as to that of others. This is the reason for which the Crucifix occupies a place of Honour upon our Altars, our Churches, our tombstones, in Christian bedrooms, as well as in the households of Christian families. "One thing only I do know", says St Paul,"and that is Jesus and Jesus Crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). And St Augustine:"I know of no remedy more effective against the sins of the flesh (i.e. concupiscence) than the Passion of my Lord Jesus Christ". Saint Bonaventure: "The Passion of Jesus dissolves in Divine Love even the most callous hearts of obstinate sinners". Saint Albert the Great:"One gains more merits by meditating lovingly on the Passion than by scourging oneself most severely or by fasting on bread and water every day of one's life". Always keep in mind the devotion of (King) Saint Louis to the Relics of the Passion. Saint Teresa of Avila began her spiritual ascent to high sanctity following a vision of Jesus after His Scourging and a glimpse of the "Ecce Homo"...behold also Saint Therese of The Child Jesus contemplating the Holy Face. Second only to the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the merits of which are applied to our souls and which truly renews before us, albeit in an unbloody manner, the Infinite Sacrifice of the Lamb of God on Calvary, the Holy Hour of Reparation and the Way of the Cross consitute the most effective practices regarding the Devotion of the Most Holy Passion of Jesus.
The Way of the Cross Final Prayer - St Alphonsus Liquori
O God who for the world's redemption was pleased to be born, circumcised, rejected by the Jews, betrayed by the kiss of Judas, bound with chains, led like an innocent lamb to sacrifice, and shamefully presented before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod, accused by false witnesses, beaten with whips, buffeted, insulted, spat upon, crowned with thorns, smitten with a reed, blindfolded, stripped of thy garments, fastened with nail to the cross and lifted high, reputed among thieves and made to drink vinegar, and wounded with a lance; O by these most sacred sufferings which unworthy as I am, I thus commemorate, and by Thy Holy Cross and death deliver me Lord from the pains of hell and deign to lead me where thou didst lead the penitent thief who was crucified by thy side; Thou, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest world without end. Amen
PRAYING ANGELUS
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae. R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto. Ave, Maria...
V. Ecce ancilla Domini, R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Ave, Maria...
V. Et Verbum caro factum est, R. Et habitavit in nobis. Ave, Maria......
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix, R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus: Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
THE THREE GREAT HAIL MARY'S DEVOTION
"While St. Mechtilde was beseeching the glorious Virgin to assist her in her hour of death, Our Lady appeared to her and said: 'I will certainly. But I also want you to say three special Hail Mary's to me every day.
"'The first will be in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that after God I have the greatest power in heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you.
"''The second Hail Mary will be said in honor of the Son of God Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled.
"'The third Hail Mary will be in honor of God the Holy Spirit Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight.' "
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