#mother-germaine — Public Fediverse posts

Quote of the day, 21 November: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in you, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity…

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
21 November 1904

Mother Germaine, the prioress of the Carmel of Dijon, offers us the following insights concerning the depth of St. Elizabeth’s prayer during the few months leading up to the composition of Elizabeth’s great prayer to the Trinity. These notes come from the Ordinary Process for Elizabeth’s beatification (PO 73v–74r):

“She depicts herself when she writes: “God in me, me in him, oh! That’s my life!” and again: “All my occupation is to go inside and lose myself in Those who are there!” [the divine Hosts of her soul, of whom she had just spoken].

Father Conrad de Meester, O.C.D., biographer and editor of the Oeuvres Complètes (Collected Works) of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, described the preached retreat that preceded the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 21 November 1904:

The retreat concluded on the morning of 21 November. After the Eucharist and a final address by Father Fages, O.P., the Carmelites went to the oratory and, before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed for adoration, they renewed their religious vows, one by one, after which each sister prostrated herself for a few moments on the floor in the form of a cross, as on the day of her first profession.

As daughters of Our Lady of Carmel, living perpetually in the cloistered temple of their monastery, each year they renew their ardent consecration to God and his universal Church on the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple. Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity, the youngest professed, perhaps the most absolute, dedicated her whole being to those she liked to call “her Three.” On this day, the Blessed Sacrament remained exposed. Elizabeth was accustomed to spending all available time there.

After her death, they were surprised to find in her papers a prayer in her own handwriting, dated 21 November 1904, which began with the words, “O my God, Trinity whom I adore.” It was written in ink, on a sheet torn from a notebook.

“Her prayer to the Trinity was not only a pious elevation, but the expression of a gift of herself to God. We had prepared together for this renewal of our vows on 21 November 1904; when the day after I asked her about it, she replied that she had received a great grace that was difficult for her to express” (Testimony of Sister Marie of the Trinity, PO 152 r–v).

Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2014, I Have Found God, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity Volume 1: Major spiritual writings, translated from the French by Kane, A, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Meester, Conrad de 2017, Rien moins que Dieu : sainte Elisabeth de la Trinité, Presses de la Renaissance, Paris.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: A detail from one of four photos taken by her brother-in-law Georges Chevignard on 22 December 1902, the day of her canonical examination; the exam took place days before her religious profession on Epiphany Sunday, 11 January 1903. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (by permission)

#holyTrinity #motherGermaine #prayer #retreat #stElizabethOfTheTrinity

Quote of the day, 9 October: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

We’re having a holiday in Carmel, for our elections took place yesterday [9 October].

Oh! if you knew how, in taking away our good Mother whom I loved so much, God has given me two others who are so good, so good! You see, it is delightful, and that makes me love still more this good Master who spoils His little one so much.

Our dear Mother Sub-Prioress was elected Prioress, and my good Angel, Sub-Prioress; this good news is really going to delight my dear little Mama, and I’ve been anxious to announce it to you.

Because of the elections, we’re having a free day, that is, we can have little visits with each other during the day. But, you see, the life of a Carmelite is silence, so she loves that above all!

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Letter 97 to her sister Guite (excerpt)

Note: According to the Book of Elections of the Dijon Carmel, it was indeed “yesterday,” on October 9, 1901, that Mother Germaine of Jesus (who also held the office of Mistress of Novices) was elected Prioress and Sister Marie of the Trinity (who remained Elizabeth’s “Angel” during these first days), Sub-Prioress. The two religious, aged 31 and 26 respectively, bore the title “Mother” by virtue of their office. The prioress who was “taken away” from the community in Dijon was Mother Marie of Jesus, who became the founding prioress of the Carmel of Paray-le-Monial.

Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, translated from the French by Nash, A, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

#elections #monasticLife #MotherGermaine #silence #StElizabethOfTheTrinity

Quote of the day, 5 August: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Voice of Heaven

We who are bathed in Light, within the ‘Three’ –
The Face of God, the splendour of its rays –
See, by those shinings, into Mystery:
They ever show new secrets, Heaven’s days.

Infinite Being! Depth unsoundable!
Delighted, lost in Your Divinity –
O Trinity, God thrice-immutable,
We see Yourself in Your own clarity.

Voice of Earth

The saints in Heav’n . . . but, also, here below
Souls come and merge themselves in such a Love;
In mystery and night this happens so –
God satisfies: in dark, in Day above.

Through everything . . . on earth: already we’re
Possessing You, our Peace and vision! (for,
As in one light we gather, there and here,
We lose ourselves in God, for evermore!

Voice of Heaven

As sharers, now, in God’s own Essence, you
Possess all we possess in Heaven . . . See! –
You have not yet the joy we have, that’s true;
But as for giving – you give more than we.

And when one loves, how good it is to give!
(You can be giving, every hour and place.)
Oh, give God glory while on earth you live –
By self-oblation. Seize on this high grace!

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Poem 80

Note: This poem was written by Elizabeth for the patronal feast of Mother Germaine on 15 June 1902. The original manuscript bears no title or date, but the handwriting and black ink confirm it was composed for this feast day. The poem takes the form of a dialogue between the “Voice of Heaven” and the “Voice of Earth,” alternating throughout. This poem was sung during a “pious recreation” performed by the community for their prioress, Mother Germaine, on her feast day, set to the melody “Reste avec moi, Jésus-Eucharistie” (Remain with me, Jesus-Eucharist). Sister Agnès of Jesus-Maria testified at Elizabeth’s beatification process that when she and Elizabeth went to work in the garden during recreation, they would heartily sing this poem together. The French critical edition notes that the autograph contains some words that are difficult to decipher, and editor Conrad de Meester, OCD, reconstructed portions of the text for clarity.

de la Trinité, E 1996, Oeuvres complètes / édition critique réalisée par le P. Conrad de Meester, carme, Les Editions du Cerf, Paris.

Elizabeth of the Trinity, Marmion, C and Bancroft, A 2001, Barb of fire: twenty poems of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity: with selected passages from Blessed Columba Marmion, OSB, Gracewing, Leominster.

#heaven #HolyTrinity #monasticLife #MotherGermaine #poetry #StElizabethOfTheTrinity

Quote of the day, 30 April: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Would you please send me during the next few days the muslin that’s left from our first Communion dresses, and if there’s not very much of it, that dotted muslin that’s in a box in the attic (still to be delivered to Mother Sub-Prioress).

It’s for Saint Germaine, I’ll tell you about it (I’ll return it to you afterward).

Adieu, I only have time to kiss you before going to sleep.

In union, we have our Heaven within us, let’s live it.

I love you much, my Guite.

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Letter 120 to her sister Marguerite Chevignard
Shortly before 15 June 1902

Note: In this letter, Elizabeth and her sister Guite plan a special gift for Mother Germaine, Prioress at the Carmel of Dijon. The gift would be presented on the feast day on her feast day. Elizabeth had made her First Holy Communion on 19 April 1891 at Saint Michael’s Parish in Dijon. Madame Catez later recalled“I will never forget the emotions of 19 April: I saw my child so recollected, so earnest, her tears did not cease to flow and I understood that God had taken possession of that heart so pure, so loving, which no longer would beat except for him” (De Meester, C 2017, Rien Moins Que Dieu).

de Meester, C 2017, Rien moins que Dieu: sainte Elisabeth de la Trinité, Presses de la Renaissance, Paris.

Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, translated from the French by Nash, A, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Detailed portrait of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, taken on 8 June 1891 after her Confirmation. Although photographed on the day of her Confirmation, the portrait also commemorates her First Holy Communion, received earlier on 19 April 1891. The setting is the garden of the Catez family home in Dijon. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (used by permission).

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
How can I live more consciously today in the “Heaven within me” that Elizabeth describes?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

#FeastDay #FirstCommunion #heaven #MadameCatez #MargueriteChevignard #MotherGermaine #StElizabethOfTheTrinity

Propter nimiam charitatem!…

That day was God-ordained:
the Father, by decree,
Laid down that you began
my Mother here to be.
I hail that joyous day:
the Triune Loving — more,
‘Excess of Charity’!
I see it, and adore.

Such overflowing love! —
that’s what it is, I know,
When God, in prescient love,
arranged that this be so —
For He (that I should make
oblation here fore-known)
Had consecrated you
with unction of His own.

And, from the very start,
O Mother, God was pleased
To love as one in Him
His victim and His priest:
His gaze of love on us
from all eternity,
He’ll always look and see
not two, but unity.

So, if your little ‘host’
(O Pontiff, whom I love!)
Is very soon transferred
up to the Home Above,
She will be yours still more! —
I think it might be so —
Than when the night of faith
she lived in, here below.

Have you not seen a priest
who’s going through the town
Carrying God, the Host,
hidden beneath his gown? —
On your maternal heart
that way, will not it be
That Laudem Gloriae
spends her eternity?

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

P 122 [for 9 October 1906]

Note: St. Elizabeth wrote this poem for the fifth anniversary of the election of the prioress, Mother Germaine. Elizabeth refers to herself as a “victim” and “little ‘host'”; she refers to Mother Germaine as “priest” and “Pontiff”.

Elizabeth of the Trinity, Marmion, C and Bancroft, A 2001, Barb of fire: twenty poems of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity: with selected passages from Blessed Columba Marmion, OSB, Gracewing, Leominster.

Featured image: Image credit for St. Elizabeth of the Trinity: Discalced Carmelites. Collage created in Adobe Express.

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/11/07/sabeth-p122/

#Eucharist #LaudemGloriae #monasticLife #MotherGermaine #poetry #StElizabethOfTheTrinity

I do not forget you, I assure you, on my cross where I taste unknown joys. I understand that suffering is the revelation of Love, and I rush to it: it is my beloved dwelling place where I find peace and rest, where I am sure to meet my Master and dwell with Him.

A Dieu, dear Madame, this time I don’t think He will be much longer in coming to seek me; you are part of my heart, so I bring you with me, that you might be unceasingly present before the Face of God.

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Letter 323 to Madame de Sourdon (excerpt)
9 October 1906

Note: St. Elizabeth’s prioress, Mother Germaine, included a brief note to Madame de Sourdon: “Dear Madame, our child speaks very truthfully: I think the last ‘veni’ will not be long in coming; she is really going downhill, the little saint. Another month, six weeks perhaps…. Her poor Mother is admirably prepared for it: she finds her changed, actually it is very perceptible.”

Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, translated from the French by Nash, A, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: This detail from the last photo of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity was taken in mid-October, 1906, less than one month before her death on November 9 in the Carmel of Dijon, France. The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes on the small table next to Elizabeth is the one that she gave to her mother when entering the monastery. In her final illness, the statue returned to Carmel and Elizabeth called her, “Janua Coeli”, meaning “Gate of Heaven.” Image credit: Discalced Carmelites

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/10/09/sabeth-ltr323/

#cross #DivineMaster #joy #loveForEnemies #MotherGermaine #peace #StElizabethOfTheTrinity #suffering