#novena — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #novena, aggregated by home.social.
-
Romaria do Padre Reus terá ala especial pelos 20 anos da procissão
-
En el #diadelamusica nosotros vamos con #Beethoven y su #novena #tirandoporloalto
Beethoven's nine. Ode to humanity, #documental en #CaixaForum+ https://caixaforumplus.org/v/beethovens-nine-ode-to-humanity -
https://www.europesays.com/es/596982/ Vuelta a España: Fernando Escartín: "La etapa Villajoyosa-Aitana será la más dura de la historia" – Esciclismo #afirmado #agosto #Aitana #alicante #alto #carrera #Ciclismo #Cycling #Deportes #director #disputara #dura #durante #el #ES #escartin #España #etapa #fernando #historia #jornada #k #martes #mas #novena #palacio #presentacion #provincial #proximo #sera #Spain #Sports #tecnico #villajoyosa #vuelta
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/481151/ Bruno Lemes gana la novena etapa de la Vuelta del Uruguay y Pablo Bonilla es nuevo líder – Esciclismo #argentino #bonilla #brasileno #Ciclismo #ciclista #competicion #Cycling #Deportes #desde #domingo #el #ES #España #etapa #gaday #gano #importante #la #lemes #lider #lideraba #lucas #martin #mas #novena #nuevo #pablo #país #pasado #prueba #ruta #Spain #Sports #sudamericano #superar #uruguay #uruguayo #viernes #vuelta
-
I am thinking in particular of projects like from Andrew Huang [1] like #Novena
https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena -
I am thinking in particular of projects like from Andrew Huang [1] like #Novena
https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/novena -
https://www.europesays.com/es/469117/ Carys Lloyd sorprende al esprint y se adjudica la Vuelta a Brujas Femenina – Esciclismo #adjudico #anos #belga #britanica #brugge #brujas #carys #Ciclismo #ciclista #ciudad #corredora #Cycling #Deportes #disputada #edicion #ES #España #joven #jueves #kilómetros #la #llegada #lloyd #movistar #novena #prueba #ronde #Salida #sobre #Spain #Sports #uci #van #vuelta #womens #WorldTour
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/389267/ Natalia Fischer y David Valero confirman su dominio en la Scott Mediterranean Epic – Esciclismo #certificando #Ciclismo #clasificacion #confirmado #Cycling #david #Deportes #edicion #epic #ES #España #etapa #exigente #febrero #final #fischer #General #jornad #la #largo #mar #mediterranean #montana #natalia #novena #Oropesa #prueba #puesto #punto #respectivas #sabado #scott #Spain #Sports #superioridad #valero #victorias
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/383270/ La novena EPIC Gran Canaria dispara su participación y alcanza los 680 ciclistas de 28 nacionalidades #680 #alcanza #canaria #Ciclismo #Ciclistas #Cycling #Deportes #dispara #epic #ES #España #gran #nacionalidades #novena #participacion #Spain #Sports
-
‘Masama ito’: Las Piñas parish warns vs superstitious St. Jude novena
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/344198/ El Burgos-Burpellet-BH presenta su nueva equipación con el regreso del blanco como protagonista – Ciclismo #afronta #ano #asturiana #bh #blanco #burgales #Burgos #burpellet #categoria #Ciclismo #ciclista #color #Conjunto #consecutivo #Cycling #Deportes #desvelado #Diseño #el #elaborado #equipacion #equipo #ES #España #mantiene #marca #marcada #novena #nueva #proteam #regreso #segundo #siroko #Spain #Sports #temporada #uci
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/322697/ Mathieu van der Poel saca músculo en Zonhoven y asalta el liderato de la Copa del Mundo de Ciclocross – EsCiclismo.com #alpecin #aplastante #belga #campeon #celebrada #Ciclismo #ciclista #ciclocross #circuito #cita #copa #Cycling #demostrar #Deportes #der #dio #dominador #domingo #el #ES #España #gran #mathieu #moderno #mundo #Neerlandés #novena #opcion #poel #premier #Qué #rivales #Spain #Sports #tech #van #victoria #vigente #vuelto #zonhoven
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/298483/ Oses asegura la Vuelta a Costa Rica en Palmares con una victoria decisiva en la 9ª etapa #alejandro #ambición #c #campeon #Ciclismo #ciclista #colono #costa #Cycling #daniel #Deportes #disputada #donde #Economy #edicion #ES #España #etapa #exhibir #granados #Hyundai #imponerse #Internacional #la #luis #novena #osés #palmares #quedo #rica #sabado #sentenciada #solidez #Spain #Sports #sprint #temple #vibrante #vigente #volvio #vuelta
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/233734/ El Burgos-Burpellet-BH arranca la pretemporada 2026 con una concentración en Burgos – EsCiclismo.com #actividades #arranque #bh #burgalesa #Burgos #burpellet #campana #capital #Ciclismo #ciclista #concentracion #Conjunto #contacto #Cycling #Deportes #el #equipo #ES #España #FICHAJES #grupales #h #iniciado #marcada #medicas #novena #nuevos #preparacion #primera #proteam #pruebas #reuniones #Spain #spi #Sports #técnicas #temporada #toma #uci
-
https://www.europesays.com/es/213857/ Vuelta a Guatemala: Carlos Gutiérrez conquista Antigua y Óscar Garzón asalta el liderato – Esciclismo #alberto #best #carlos #Ciclismo #colombiano #Cycling #Deportes #edicion #el #ES #España #etapa #gutierrez #impuso #movistar #novena #pc #penultima #sabado #Spain #Sports #vuelta
-
St. Edith Stein Novena 2025, Day 4: The desert of Carmel
SCRIPTURE READING
John 2:7–10Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now,’ he told them, ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink, but you have kept the best wine till now.’
MEDITATION
A Chosen Vessel of Divine WisdomHer aim was the ‘desert’ of Carmel
“A page from the great book of God’s mercy” is what Sister Marie-Aimée called her life. This life is very simple in its external course, but has an inner richness that can only be hinted at in a short biography. Those who would like to know more about it must refer to her own writings.
A delicate face of angelic purity and spirituality, big, soft, and deeply penetrating eyes that have knowledge of the supernatural world as well as of their natural home—this is Dorothea Quoniam, who in Carmel received the name of Marie-Aimée de Jésus. This name tells the secret of her life: “loved by Jesus” with an overwhelming, jealous love that laid total claim to her from her very first day.
Occasionally, [Jesus] revealed himself to her in human form and each time corresponding to her age, so that he seemed to grow up with her. When she was nineteen, her relatives wanted to arrange her future. One day they introduced a young man to her, and, after an opening conversation, let her know that he came as a suitor. Dorothea said not a word. She only smiled, but this smile was of a kind that made the poor fellow lower his eyes, blush, and wish that he had never come. The Lord had revealed himself beside this young man “in the full radiance of his virginal beauty” and said, “Compare!” At the same time, a smile of divine irony played about his lips and evoked its reflection in the face of his bride. The first attempt of this kind was rejected, and she knew how to refuse all thereafter with calm firmness.
She had already known when she moved to her ‘Nazareth’ that her aim was the ‘desert’ of Carmel. But she had to await the Lord’s hour.
PRAYER
Saint Edith Stein,
faith in the holy angels gives me confidence—
confidence to believe, in the midst of all suffering,
in the divine life-force we all share,
which flows through all creation
as the sap flows from the vine into its branches.We do not stand alone
in this fierce struggle between life and death.
“When my enemies press in on me…” (Ps 56:2),
“…then God fights for me.” (Josh 23:10)In this valley of tears,
I lift my eyes in trust to you,
you holy angels and saints:
your task is to pass on that Love
whose “beginning and end is the triune God.”
(Edith Stein, Complete Works)We are held and drawn into this radiant stream
of light and love, of life and truth.
The more we are united with you
through surrender to the divine will,
the more your love becomes our love,
your light our light.If we believe in this communion,
we already walk in the light.Intercede for us,
that we may take part in the restoration of all creation.Here mention your intentions
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
℣. Saint Edith Stein,
℟. Pray for us.Stein, E. 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, translated from the German by Stein, W, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references are from The Jerusalem Bible Reader’s Edition, copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. as accessed from The Internet Archive website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#Carmelite #desert #discernment #novena #prayer #StEdithStein #vocation
-
Another Italian band for #ProgTuesday by @DXMacGuffin:
#OmegaZero: Blessed by Darkness
-
St. Joseph Novena 2025, Day 7: Happiness
SCRIPTURE READING
Sirach 26:3–4A good wife is a great blessing;
she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
Whether rich or poor, his heart is content,
and at all times his face is cheerful.READING
RP6 6rIt is not poverty that we flee. Happiness does not consist in having wealth, but in humbly submitting your will to that of God, who gives each person what He knows to be necessary for the salvation of his soul.
NOVENA PRAYER
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
my great protector, Saint Joseph,
that no one ever had recourse to your protection,
or implored your aid without obtaining relief.
Confiding therefore in your goodness, I come before you.
Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer,
but graciously receive them.(Mention your prayer requests)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
V./ Pray for us, holy Father St. Joseph
R./ That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.Father,
you entrusted our Savior and his holy Mother
to the care of St. Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
of Lisieux, T 2008, The Plays of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: “Pious Recreations”, translated from the French by Conroy S and Dwyer D J, ICS Publications, Washington, DC.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
#GodSWill #inspiration #novena #PiousRecreation #poverty #prayer #refugees #salvation #StJoseph #StThereseOfLisieux #wealth
-
St. Joseph Novena 2025: Introduction
To the land of Egypt you must quickly go.
Joseph, this very night, depart in silence.Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Like Mary, Joseph too received an annunciation. In fact, at every pivotal moment of his life, it is God who speaks. Usually, God’s word initiates a dialogue; for Joseph, it is indeed a dialogue with his God, but his response is silent—he speaks through his actions. The word of God sets the rhythm of his life; he is accustomed to it, and he always begins by listening. This is his way of worshiping the Lord and belonging to Him. In this way, he instinctively assumes the posture of a servant, expressing his submission in advance, without a word.
Yet he knows from experience that the word of God draws him ever more deeply into mystery. He is astonished by what happens to him, but he immediately hides in silence every event whose significance escapes him. Mystery enters his life, just as it enters ours, but he welcomes it without trying to deny, diminish, or eliminate it—waiting only for God to give it meaning through a new word. Without letting any part of the mystery be lost, he gives his yes in advance to the liberating word that will inevitably come.
And when that word does come, it demands even greater faith: “Do not be afraid,” says the Lord. Yet, from a human perspective, there was so much to fear—such as Herod’s threat! “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt!” (Mt 2:13). Flee, Joseph!—But for how long, Lord?—“Until I tell you…” Until another word comes!—But then, it won’t be final? I won’t be able to plan the future for Mary or the child?—“Stay in Egypt until I tell you.”—So I won’t be able to settle there?—“Joseph, your true place is wherever Jesus lives, wherever you accompany Mary…”
And Joseph rises, because the word of God, despite the night of faith, is stronger than all opposing evidence. He takes the child and his mother by night—the child who sleeps and the mother who shivers—and he sets out.
As for us, we are willing to take Jesus and Mary, but not if it means entering the night, not if it means walking into exile, not if it means continuing our exodus—from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Bethlehem to Egypt, and from Egypt to God knows where—because we have our own ideas about the life that suits us.
Everything rests in the hand of God, and all initiative belongs to Him. At the same time, Joseph remains completely free, yet his listening already signals his consent. “Here I am,” say the men of the Bible. Joseph, for his part, places himself before God; he listens, and that is enough. His yes is not only immediate but already contained within his listening. The word of God gives rhythm to his entire existence and enables him to pass through dangers and dead ends with serenity. He is open to receiving everything from the hand of his God.
This is the attitude we need!
Father Jean Lévêque, o.c.d.
2017 Carmelite Online Retreat (excerpt)
PRAY EACH DAY WITH ST JOSEPH
Day One — Service
Day Two — He looks
Day Three — Workman
Day Four — God’s heart
Day Five — He knows
Day Six — If you knew
Day Seven — Happiness
Day Eight — Pleasing to God
Day Nine — Mercy
NOVENA PRAYER
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
my great protector, Saint Joseph,
that no one ever had recourse to your protection,
or implored your aid without obtaining relief.
Confiding therefore in your goodness, I come before you.
Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer,
but graciously receive them.(Mention your prayer requests)
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…
V./ Pray for us, holy Father St. Joseph
R./ That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.Father,
you entrusted our Savior and his holy Mother
to the care of St. Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.Tribute to Frère Jean Lévêque, OCD (1930–2024)
Frère Jean Lévêque, a distinguished Discalced Carmelite friar of the Paris Province, passed away on June 11, 2024, at the age of 93. Born on August 30, 1930, he entered the Carmelite Order in 1955, dedicating nearly seven decades to a life of contemplative prayer, scholarly pursuit, pastoral care, and musical composition.
Renowned for his profound biblical scholarship, Frère Jean held degrees in Oriental studies and theology, including a doctorate focusing on the Book of Job. He taught Old Testament exegesis and Oriental languages, primarily at the Institut Catholique de Paris from 1974 to 1990.
In addition to his academic and pastoral contributions, Frère Jean was an accomplished musician. His musical sensibility led him to compose hymns and liturgical offices, enriching the celebration of the liturgy within the Carmelite community and beyond.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
of Lisieux, T 2008, The Plays of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: “Pious Recreations”, translated from the French by Conroy S and Dwyer D J, ICS Publications, Washington, DC.
Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.
Featured image: Detail from Saint Joseph’s second dream, stained glass window in the Basilica of Saint Clotilde, Paris, France. The photographer, Zvonimir Atletić, is the renowned Croatian photojournalist who first met St. Teresa of Calcutta in 1977, capturing images of her work in Calcutta. Over the years, he accompanied her on several occasions, documenting her mission in Croatia and India. Atletić is considered one of the photographers who had the most opportunities to capture Mother Teresa’s dedication to the poor and abandoned. His black-and-white images, described by the Croatian Photography Center as enveloped in a “sacred silence,” open a space for dialogue with the Creator.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Edith Stein and St. Joseph.
#inspiration #intercession #novena #PiousRecreation #prayer #StJoseph #StThereseOfLisieux
-
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
St. Teresa Speaks: Way of Perfection, 20:4
Let truth dwell in your hearts, as it should through meditation, and you will see clearly the kind of love we are obliged to have for our neighbor.
Reflection: The Truth of Love for Our Neighbor
Teresa urges us to let truth dwell in our hearts through meditation so that our love for others is sincere and rooted in God. Are we committed to loving our neighbor as Christ commands, or do we love only those who are easy to love? Teresa’s challenge calls us to examine whether our love is shaped by the truth of God or by selfish motives.
Novena Prayer
O Holy Mother Saint Teresa, look down from heaven and see: visit this vine and protect what thy right hand hath planted.
(Mention your intentions)
Merciful God, who by thy Spirit didst raise up thy servant Saint Teresa of Jesus to reveal to thy Church the way of perfection: grant that her teaching may awaken in us a longing for holiness until, assisted by her intercession, we attain to the perfect union of love in Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…
Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/10/10/stjnovena24-6/
#prayer #love #StTeresaOfAvila #neighbor #humility #truth #novena #meditation
-
Scripture Reading: John 14:1–7
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
St. Teresa Speaks: Interior Castle, VI, 10:5-6
It also happens very quickly and ineffably that God will show within Himself a truth that seems to leave in obscurity all those there are in creatures, and one understands very clearly that God alone is Truth, unable to lie. What David says in a psalm about every man being a liar is clearly understood (cf. Ps 116:11). However frequently the verse may be heard, it is never understood as it is in this vision. God is everlasting Truth… Thus, we shall have little esteem for this world, which is a complete lie and falsehood, and as such will not endure.
Reflection: God Alone is Truth
Teresa’s mystical vision reveals that God alone is truth, and all human knowledge pales in comparison. This profound experience transformed her understanding of the world as fleeting and deceptive. How often do we place our trust in the things of this world instead of in God, who is the only truth? Teresa challenges us to reevaluate our attachments and to place our full confidence in God, the only enduring reality. What can we do today to live more fully in this truth?
Novena Prayer
O Holy Mother Saint Teresa, look down from heaven and see: visit this vine and protect what thy right hand hath planted.
(Mention your intentions)
Merciful God, who by thy Spirit didst raise up thy servant Saint Teresa of Jesus to reveal to thy Church the way of perfection: grant that her teaching may awaken in us a longing for holiness until, assisted by her intercession, we attain to the perfect union of love in Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…
Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/10/09/stjnovena24-5/
#everlasting #humility #KingDavid #lies #novena #prayer #revelation #StTeresaOfAvila #truth #vision #world
-
God is supreme Truth; and to be humble is to walk in truth.
The Interior Castle, VI, ch. 10, no. 7
Novena Introduction: Humility and Truth
In her writings, St. Teresa of Avila reveals that the way of perfection is a path paved with truth and humility. These virtues are not only foundational but indispensable to spiritual maturity, no matter our state in life. Whether we are engaged in work, family, service, or prayer, humility is the first step on the path toward God (cf. Way of Perfection, 17:1; Mt 23:12). As we walk this path, we must take the lowest place, as Teresa teaches, preparing ourselves with humility and allowing God to guide us as he wills. Just as she reminds us that all spiritual progress is rooted in humility, so too does she call us to walk humbly in the truth of who we are before God.
St. Teresa teaches that humility is not simply a virtue but the essential disposition we must cultivate to receive God’s grace (cf. Ja 4:6). She reminds us that true humility is “great readiness to be content with whatever the Lord may want to do with them and in always finding oneself unworthy to be called his servant” (Way of Perfection, 17:6). By embracing humility, we open ourselves to receiving the truth of who we are before God—weak, dependent, and in need of his mercy. This recognition of our unworthiness is not self-deprecating but an honest acknowledgment that apart from God, we can do nothing (cf. Jn 15:5).
This novena draws upon the central themes of Teresa’s teaching—truth, humility, and love. As St. Teresa reminds us, “God is supreme Truth; and to be humble is to walk in truth.” To walk in humility, then, is to surrender our desire to control our spiritual growth, trusting that God, who is Truth, knows what is best for us. It means embracing the cross, as Teresa so often emphasized, allowing suffering to become a means of union with Christ. Walking in truth and humility also means loving God and our neighbor not just with words, but with action, reflecting the truth of God’s love in every aspect of our lives.
Let this novena be a time of humble surrender, that we may listen to God’s voice and open our hearts to his truth. As we meditate on the words of St. Teresa and the Scriptures, may we grow in the virtues of humility and truth, and may we experience the deep peace that comes from knowing and loving God.
Novena Meditations
Join us as we pray every day! As our novena unfolds, each day you will see a new link for our meditations from St. Teresa of Avila.
- Day 1
Recognizing God’s Supreme Truth - Day 2
Humility in God’s Presence - Day 3
Loving God Truthfully - Day 4
Humility as the Foundation - Day 5
God Alone is Truth - Day 6
The Truth of Love for Our Neighbor - Day 7
Knowing and Loving God - Day 8
Suffering as the Way of Truth - Day 9
Walking in Truth and Humility
Novena Prayer
O Holy Mother Saint Teresa, look down from heaven and see: visit this vine and protect what thy right hand hath planted.
(Mention your intentions)
Merciful God, who by thy Spirit didst raise up thy servant Saint Teresa of Jesus to reveal to thy Church the way of perfection: grant that her teaching may awaken in us a longing for holiness until assisted by her intercession, we attain to the perfect union of love in Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…
Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8R2k7J6I14
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Featured image: This anonymous 17th-century Spanish oil on canvas painting depicts St. Teresa of Avila, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, holding her writing quill with her right hand. It comes from the collections of the Prado Museum in Madrid and is on loan to another institution. Image credit: Copyright ©Museo Nacional del Prado (Used by permission)
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/10/05/stjnovena24-0/
#God #humility #love #novena #prayer #StTeresaOfAvila #truth #virtue #walk #WayOfPerfection
- Day 1
-
Along came Fräulein Stein. She took over the German classes in the teachers’ college and in the girls’ school, and guided her pupils calmly and safely through to their final examinations. Her educational work was very fruitful; she quickly won the hearts of her pupils.
Teresia Renata Posselt, O.C.D.
“Fraülein Doktor”The letters from Saint Edith Stein to Dr. Roman Ingarden in 1924 offer a rich tapestry of spiritual and intellectual engagement, reflecting their deep relationship. Dr. Roman Ingarden, a distinguished Polish philosopher and phenomenologist, shared a great bond of friendship and intellectual camaraderie with Edith. Their correspondence reveals mutual respect and a shared passion for the pursuit of truth, blending rigorous philosophical inquiry with spiritual depth.
In her letters, Saint Edith discusses her life at St. Magdalena’s Dominican convent school in Speyer, expressing the joy and fulfillment she finds in her teaching vocation. Her reflections highlight the importance of a spiritually nurturing community, contrasting it with her previous secular academic environments. Edith’s words convey deep gratitude for the religious foundation permeating her daily life.
St. Edith Stein’s correspondence with Roman Ingarden also reflects her evangelical zeal and pastoral sensitivity. She challenges his misconceptions about Catholic dogma with charity and intellectual rigor, inviting him to reconsider his views. Through her thoughtful engagement, Edith exemplifies the Christian call to bear witness to the truth in love, encouraging her friend to explore the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Church.
Her letters serve as a beacon, illuminating the path of sincere and open dialogue, guided by the light of Christ’s truth.
- Day One: Providence
“I received an offer” (Letter 84) - Day Two: Service
“I am now employed” (Letter 84) - Day Three: Community
“An ideal situation” (Letter 84) - Day Four: Enrichment
“The main thing for me” (Letter 84) - Day Five: Integrity
“A very serious undertaking” (Letter 85) - Day Six: Challenge
“Until a few years ago” (Letter 85) - Day Seven: Study
“Intellectual matter of conscience” (Letter 85) - Day Eight: Respect
“Idiots or clever defrauders” (Letter 85) - Day Nine: Empathy
“The guilt lies with me” (Letter 87)
NOVENA PRAYER
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross,
called from the people of the Old Covenant,
help us to live together in peace and
to foster reconciliation between peoples and religions;
graced with the freedom of the spirit,
be close to all who seek the meaning of their lives,
the truth, and deliverance from all bondage.(here mention your intentions)
Perfected in the wisdom of the Cross,
accompany us and all people
in every distress of body and soul.Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…Saint Edith Stein, pray for us.
Novena prayer from the Carmel of Mary of Peace in Cologne, Germany
Join our 2024 St. Edith Stein Novena, “Zeal for Truth” as we explore her letters from 1924 to Dr. Roman Ingarden, discovering daily themes of faith and reason in the zeal for truth.
Image of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) © 2023 Ruben Ferreira. Used by kind permission. Visit rubenferreiraart.com to explore more inspirational art by Ruben Ferreira.
Music credit: Sean BeesonPosselt, T 2005, Edith Stein: The Life of a Philosopher and Carmelite, translated from the German by Batzdorff S, Koeppel J, and Sullivan J, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Stein, E. 2014, Edith Stein: Letters to Roman Ingarden, translated from the German by Hunt, H, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/26/edithnov24-0/
#contemplation #intercession #letters #novena #Podcast #prayer #RomanIngarden #spiritualDirection #StEdithStein #truth #zeal
- Day One: Providence
-
SEQUENCE HYMN
Flos Carmeli,
vitis florigera,
splendor caeli,
virgo puerpera
singularis.Flower of Carmel,
blossoming, bearing one,
light of heaven,
mother of God’s dear Son,
vine and virgin.SCRIPTURE
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then to the disciple he said, “This is your mother.”
READING
I remember that when my mother died I was twelve years old or a little less. When I began to understand what I had lost, I went, afflicted, before an image of our Lady and besought her with many tears to be my mother. It seems to me that although I did this in simplicity it helped me. For I have found favor with this sovereign Virgin in everything I have asked of her, and in the end she has drawn me to herself. It wearies me now to see and think that I was not constant in the good desires I had in my childhood.
Saint Teresa of Avila
The Book of Her Life, chap. 1, no. 7
PRAYER
O Most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein
that you are my Mother.O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand your power!
O help me and show me herein that you are my Mother.(Here mention your requests)
Our Lady, Queen & Beauty of Carmel,
pray for me and obtain my requests!
Sweet Mother, I place this cause
in your hands!Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…
Queen, Beauty of Carmel, pray for us.
Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/14/olmcnovena24-9/
#consolation #death #FlosCarmeli #intercession #Mother #novena #OurLady #OurLadyOfMountCarmel #prayer #sorrow #StTeresaOfAvila
-
SEQUENCE HYMN
Mater mitis
sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
esto propitia
stella maris.Gentle parent,
pure beyond human love,
bless your children,
star shining far above
this world’s ocean.SCRIPTURE
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling—if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
READING
It happened that while I was here [at St. Joseph’s monastery in Toledo] a fatal illness struck one of the Sisters. After receiving the sacraments and being anointed, her happiness and joy were so great that, as though she were going to another country, we were able to talk to her about how she should recommend us to God when in heaven and to the saints to whom we were devoted.
A little before she died, I went to her room to be with her, for I had just gone before the Blessed Sacrament to beg the Lord to give her a good death. And when I entered I saw His Majesty at the head of the bed. His arms were partly opened as though He was protecting her, and He told me that I could be certain He would protect all the nuns that die in these monasteries and that they should not fear temptation at the hour of death.
I was left very consoled and recollected. After a little while I began to speak to her, and she said to me: “O Mother, what great things I am going to see.” Thus she died, like an angel.
And I have noticed that some who have died since this occurred have done so with quiet and calm as though they were in rapture or in the prayer of quiet, without showing the least sign of any temptation.
Thus I hope in the goodness of God that He will be merciful to us at the moment of death through the merits of His Son and those of His glorious Mother whose habit we wear.
Therefore, my daughters, let us strive to be true Carmelites, for soon the day’s journey will end.
May Our Lord be pleased, Sisters, that we live our lives as true daughters of the Blessed Virgin and keep our vows so that He may grant us the favor He has promised us. Amen.
Saint Teresa of Avila
The Book of Her Foundations, chap. 16, nos. 4–5, 7
PRAYER
O Most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein
that you are my Mother.O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart
to succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand your power!
O help me and show me herein that you are my Mother.(Here mention your requests)
Our Lady, Queen & Beauty of Carmel,
pray for me and obtain my requests!
Sweet Mother, I place this cause
in your hands!Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory be…
Queen, Beauty of Carmel, pray for us.
Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/09/olmcnovena24-4/
#comfort #death #dyingWords #FlosCarmeli #heaven #intercession #JesusChrist #journey #novena #OurLadyOfMountCarmel #prayer #StTeresaOfAvila
-
SCRIPTURE
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.
READING
For the last two months, my little Léonie has had a kind of purulent eczema on her entire body, and the illness is getting worse every day. I’m very upset and the doctor doesn’t know how to treat it. He told me to give her some antiscorbutic syrup [anti-scurvy medicine], which I did, but the ravages of the illness didn’t lessen. It seems that these kinds of illnesses are almost incurable. Please, give me your advice and tell me what I should do. Perhaps you know some famous specialists who will be able to give you some effective remedies. You wouldn’t believe how much I suffer seeing my poor little daughter in this state. I’ve just written to our sister Élise [Sister Marie-Dosithée, V.S.M.] asking that she say a novena for her.
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 12 from Zélie Guérin to her brother Isidore
5 March 1865PRAYER
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Martin, Z 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, Society of St. Paul, New York.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/05/lzmnovena24-4/
#advice #illness #intercession #LéonieMartin #medicine #novena #prayer #SrMarieDosithée #StZélieMartin #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin
-
I, also, would like to be a saint, but I don’t know where to begin. There’s so much to do that I limit myself to the desire. I often say during the day, “My God, how I would like to be a saint!” Then, I don’t do the work!
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 154 to her daughter Pauline
26 February 1876Introduction
Saints Louis and Zélie Martin are exemplary models of Catholic family life and holiness. Through their unwavering faith, trust in Divine Providence, and dedication to living out the theological virtues, they nurtured a spirit of faith and love in their family. Their commitment to God and their devotion to daily prayers, reception of the sacraments, and surrender to His will offer profound lessons for us today.
Pope Francis highlighted their sanctity during their canonization, stating:
“The holy spouses Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin practised Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus” (Homily, Holy Mass and Canonization, 18 October 2015).
Their example is particularly relevant today, as families navigate the complexities of contemporary life. As Saint John Paul II profoundly stated, “The family is the domestic church… the future of the world and of the Church passes through the family” (Homily, Apostolic Pilgrimage to Australia, 30 November 1986). This highlights the vital role of the family as the foundation of society and the Church.
Let us ask Saints Louis and Zélie to intercede for us, helping us grow in faith, hope, and charity. May we trust in God’s providential care, persevere in our daily challenges, and abide in the joy and hope that a living faith in Christ brings. May this novena encourage us in our spiritual journeys and remind us of the sanctity and beauty of family life, providing points of reflection on the lives of Saints Louis and Zélie as we present our needs to them, begging their intercession.
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Pray each day with Saints Louis and Zélie
- Day 1
His Divine Providence - Day 2
Calm and moderation - Day 3
A good woman - Day 4
Léonie’s illness - Day 5
Real life - Day 6
The death of Hélène - Day 7
The Prussian army in Alençon - Day 8
Life is not a bed of roses - Day 9
God takes care of me
Novena Prayer
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Our novena prayer to Saints Louis and Zélie comes from the Shrine of Saints Louis and Zélie in Alençon, France (Imprimatur +Jacques Habert, Bishop of Séez, 26 May 2016).
Join us for the 2024 Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin Novena. Reflect on their faith, trust in Divine Providence, and dedication to family life. Seek their intercession through nine daily meditations inspired by their letters.
Music credit: Sean BeesonAll scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Martin, Z 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, Society of St. Paul, New York.
Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/03/lzmnovena24-intr/
#familyLife #intercession #novena #perseverance #prayer #StLouisMartin #StZélieMartin #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin #trust #virtues
- Day 1
-
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Season 2 of the Carmelite Quotes podcast! This season, we’re dedicated to bringing you the inspiring stories of Carmelite saints and our powerful novenas.
Following the Discalced Carmelite liturgical calendar, we’ll present the biographies and stories of our Saints and Blesseds as their feast days are observed by the Order. From the dynamic reformer St. Teresa of Avila to the humble and loving St. Thérèse of Lisieux, our episodes will deepen your understanding of these remarkable figures who dedicated their lives to union with God.
In addition to the saints and blesseds, we’ll introduce you to our Discalced Carmelites who have been declared Venerable and those Servants of God proposed for veneration. These holy men and women continue to inspire us with their lives of prayer, sacrifice, and unwavering faith.
But that’s not all. We’ll also explore the richness and spiritual depth of Carmelite novenas, providing you with the prayers and reflections that can enrich your spiritual life. These powerful novenas are a means of seeking God’s grace and intercession, whether you’re praying for a special intention or seeking a deeper communion with God. They are a powerful way to draw closer to the heart of Jesus through Mary and the saints.
We invite you to join us on this journey of faith and reflection. Subscribe to the Carmelite Quotes podcast on your favorite platform, including Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube, and continue to visit carmelitequotes.blog to listen to episodes, find additional resources, reflections, and updates.
As we embark on this new season, let us be inspired by the lives of the Carmelite saints and their prayerful novenas. May their example and prayers lead us closer to God and deepen our spiritual journey.
Thank you for being a part of our Carmelite Quotes family. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Blessings from Carmel!
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/06/06/podcast-seas2/
#biography #blessed #DiscalcedCarmelite #inspiration #liturgicalCalendar #novena #Podcast #prayer #Saints #ServantOfGod #Venerable
-
I took for my advocate and lord the glorious St. Joseph
and earnestly recommended myself to him.Saint Teresa of Avila
The Book of Her Life, chap. 6, no. 6Introduction
Saint Teresa’s devotion to “the glorious St. Joseph” is well known in the Church. She dedicated her first monastery of the Carmelite reform in Avila to the patronage of Saint Joseph, and she entrusted her first novices in Avila to his care.
St. Teresa’s devotion to this great saint and protector of Carmel grew ever stronger during a crisis in her life. As a professed Carmelite nun in the Monastery of the Incarnation in Avila, she became gravely ill. Her condition was so serious that her friends and family believed she was dead. After she awoke from her comatose condition, her recovery was painfully slow.
Saint Edith Stein tells the story:
Teresa suffered for three years without asking for recovery. We do not know why she now changed her mind. She only tells us that she decided to beseech heaven to end her suffering.
With this intention, she asked that a Mass be offered and turned toward the saint in whom she had always had unlimited trust, and who owes to her zeal the increased veneration shown him.
“I do not know how to think about the Queen of Angels, about all of her pains and cares with the little child Jesus without thanking St. Joseph for the dedication with which he came to the help of both of them” [Life, 6:8]. She ascribed her healing to him.
Soon he came to my rescue in very obvious ways. This most beloved father and lord of my soul quickly freed me of the weakness and suffering to which my body was consigned. . . . I don’t recall that he ever denied me anything. St. Joseph permitted his power and goodness to me to become evident. Through him, I regained my strength. I stood up, walked, and was free of the paralysis. [cf. Life, 6:6–8]
In this year’s novena to St. Joseph, we will return to the source of all devotion to St. Joseph in the Teresian Carmel: the experience and witness of St. Teresa of Avila.
In the same way that Teresa turned to Joseph in her hour of greatest need and received all that she desired—and more, besides—so we, too, may turn to Joseph and present him our needs.
May these excerpts from sacred scripture and Teresa’s writings inspire us to “go to Joseph” (cf. Gen 41:55) and take him for our advocate, trusting in his powerful intercession for all our deepest needs.
Pray each day with Saints Joseph and Teresa
- Day 1
The doctors of heaven - Day 2
My advocate and lord - Day 3
All the solemnity possible - Day 4
The desire to persuade - Day 5
My petition is always granted - Day 6
A great obligation - Day 7
St. Joseph appeared to me - Day 8
Giving thanks to St. Joseph - Day 9
I could rise and walk
Novena Prayer
St. Joseph, Man of peace,
You were a tower of strength and a steady refuge
for the Child Jesus and His Virgin Mother.
We call upon you to be our support in times of difficulty.(Mention your intentions here)
Teach us to be serene under the Heavenly
Father’s guiding hand during the challenges that we face.
We entrust to your intercession all of our intentions,
for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for the whole world.
Please provide for us a home of refuge and peace.Our Father…
“Strive to pray with attention” (Way of Perfection, 24:6)
Glory be…
“The Trinity is in our souls by presence, power, and essence” (Spiritual Testimonies, 49)
Our novena prayer to St. Joseph comes from the Carmel of St. Joseph, Terre Haute, Indiana USA
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Stein, E. 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, translated from the German by Stein, W, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/03/09/joenovena24-i/
#advocate #Avila #intercession #Lord #novena #prayer #StJoseph #StJosephMonastery #StTeresaOfAvila
- Day 1
-
@lcruggeri @juliank @Raspberry_Pi Personally, I want to make that change - or at the very least make the necessary surroundings work...
After all, the #Novena is horribly outdated.
https://github.com/KBtechnologies/nucbook -
Big thanks to the author of this adjustable stand model: https://www.printables.com/en/model/26491-adjustable-laptop-tablet-and-document-stand
I'm printing one now for my #Novena to be the printerputer on top of the enclosure for my #prusa #i3
I already knew precomputed gcode files were not to be trusted, but this adventure has also taught me to be distrustful of .3mf files as well, which contain all sorts of configuration and settings data.
-
Carmelite Quotes #blog offers a #novena for each of the major #Carmelite #saints throughout the year.
For our #StJohnOfTheCross novena in 2022, Father Quang D. Tran, S.J. leads our #meditations this year on the #night that #guides our footsteps better than #light and is brighter than the #dawn: the night that gives #sight.
🎇 Join us in prayer!
https://carmelitequotes.blog#christian #prayer #intercession #catholic #mystical #DoctorOfTheChurch
-
Novena Open Source Laptop Reborn as Desktop Machine - When your 5-year-old laptop dies it’s usually time for a replacement. But [Andrew ... - https://hackaday.com/2022/02/23/novena-open-source-laptop-reborn-as-desktop-machine/ #opensourcehardware #laptopshacks #novena #repair
-
DAY 50, NOVENA FOR OUR NATION – GO WEAPONS HOT! Read more: https://daretoliveinhim.wordpress.com/2020/10/03/day-50-novena-for-our-nation-go-weapons-hot/ #goweaponshot #day50 #rosary #novena #54day
-
DAY 45, NOVENA FOR OUR NATION – YOU ARE A COMMISSIONED OFFICER: Read more: https://daretoliveinhim.wordpress.com/2020/09/28/day-45-novena-for-our-nation-you-are-a-commissioned-officer/ #youareacommissionedofficer #day45 #rosary #novena
-
DAY 43, NOVENA FOR OUR NATION – O.I.L. ~ OBEDIENCE IN LOVE: Read more: https://daretoliveinhim.wordpress.com/2020/09/26/day-43-novena-for-our-nation-o-i-l-obedience-in-love/ #oil #obedienceinlove #day43 #rosary #novena
-
DAY 32, NOVENA FOR OUR NATION – STATE OF GRACE: Read more: https://daretoliveinhim.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/day-32-novena-for-our-nation-state-of-grace/ #stateofgrace #day32 #novena #rosary
-
DAY 15, NOVENA FOR OUR NATION – FEAR OF THE LORD: Read more: https://daretoliveinhim.wordpress.com/2020/08/29/day-15-novena-for-our-nation-fear-of-the-lord/ #fearofthelord #day15 #novena #rosary
-
St. John of the Cross Novena, Day 9: Silent Love
Reading
What we need most in order to make progress is to be silent before this great God with our appetite and with our tongue, for the language he best hears is silent love.
Sayings of Light and Love, 132
Scripture
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.Meditation
“Are you seeking to find God? Then listen to the silence; immerse yourself in silence.”
This simple, yet profound advice comes from Father Jacques de Jésus, O.C.D., the headmaster of the Discalced Carmelite boarding school in Avon, France who was arrested by the Nazis and sent to the harshest forced labor camps at Gusen and Mauthausen during World War II. Like St. Raphael Kalinowski in Poland, who we met on the third day of our novena, and whose experience in a forced labor camp in Siberia prepared him for life in Carmel, so for Père Jacques, life in Carmel prepared him for life as a political prisoner.
And as prisoners, both of them resembled St. John of the Cross: suffering, abandoned, physically tested, yet through it all they were seeking, reaching, listening, grasping for the presence of God. We can imagine them passing through vast interior deserts in silence, en route to their loving encounter with God.
On the eighth day of our novena, we shared an excerpt from John 17, which is often referred to as Jesus’ high priestly prayer. St. Edith Stein offers this brief comment concerning the prayer in her 1936 essay, The Prayer of the Church:
The Savior’s high priestly prayer unveils the mystery of the inner life: the circumincession of the Divine Persons and the indwelling of God in the soul. In these mysterious depths, the work of salvation was prepared and accomplished itself in concealment and silence. And so it will continue until the union of all is actually accomplished at the end of time. The decision for the Redemption was conceived in the eternal silence of the inner divine life.
Small wonder, then, that St. Thérèse understood that hiding in the Face of Christ meant that she would be able to tune out the trivial noise of the world, as we also discovered in the eighth novena meditation.
Father Jacques makes that abundantly clear: “God is eternal silence; God dwells in silence.” We’ll let him continue:
Christ is characteristically serene and silent. (…) That serene silence is the hallmark of Christ. (…)
God is eternal silence; God dwells in silence. He is eternal silence because he is the One who has totally realized his own being because he says all and possesses all. He is infinite happiness and infinite life. All God’s works are marked by this characteristic. Contemplate the Incarnation; it was accomplished in the silence of the Virgin Mary’s chamber at a time when she was in prolonged silence, her door closed. Our Lord’s birth came during the night, while all things were enveloped in silence. That is how the Word of God appeared on earth, and only Mary and Joseph were silently with him. They did not overwhelm him with their questions, for they were accustomed to guarding their innermost thoughts. (…)
Whoever embraces silence, welcomes God and whoever relishes silence, hears God speak. Silence is the echo of God’s eternity and the foundation of the rich teaching of Saint John of the Cross. That teaching in all its richness derives from his prison cell at Toledo. During the months of his solitary confinement there, he accepted his isolation and embraced silence. He became imbued with silence. In turn, that silence revealed to him the true value of suffering, which is at the heart of his teaching concerning the ascent to God. Without this treasured silence, John of the Cross would never have become the great mystical Doctor of the Church that he is. (…)
Silence should penetrate deep within us and occupy every area of our inner home. Thus is our soul transformed into a sanctuary of prayer and recollection. (…) Such silence allows us to listen to the secret voice of God, like the saints, especially St. John of the Cross. (Listen to the Silence, Conference 8)
Have you ever had the opportunity to make a silent retreat? Or to enjoy 30 minutes in a quiet home when the rest of the family is out of the house? Perhaps there is a favorite spot, a “happy place” or some other getaway location, real or imagined, where you virtually or literally can get away from the rush and the noise of your daily commitments. In that space, do you find yourself feeling calmer, more peaceful, better able to think, to relax, to focus, even to pray?
If God dwells in silence, it is in silence that we must seek him. And if God dwells in silence, he is no more attracted to the noise than we are in moments of silence. As we accustom ourselves to silence, we welcome and even crave silence.
It’s in the midst of our welcome, our craving the silence of God that we understand the silence that God desires of us: “the language he best hears is silent love.”
As we have walked together through these novena days with Saint John of the Cross and the commentary offered by the saints of Carmel, we have gained many insights along the way. As we conclude, let’s read St. John’s own prologue to the Sayings of Light and Love; his proposals at the beginning of the collection of sayings form a wonderful summary of what we have learned as we come to the end. Thanks for joining us.
O my God and my delight, for your love I have also desired to give my soul to composing these sayings of light and love concerning you. Since, although I can express them in words, I do not have the works and virtues they imply (which is what pleases you, O my Lord, more than the words and wisdom they contain), may others, perhaps stirred by them, go forward in your service and love – in which I am wanting. I will thereby find consolation, that these sayings be an occasion for your finding in others the things that I lack.
Lord, you love discretion, you love light, you love love; these three you love above the other operations of the soul. Hence these will be sayings of discretion for the wayfarer, of light for the way, and of love in the wayfaring. May there be nothing of worldly rhetoric in them or the long-winded and dry eloquence of weak and artificial human wisdom, which never pleases you. Let us speak to the heart words bathed in sweetness and love that do indeed please you, removing obstacles and stumbling blocks from the paths of many souls who unknowingly trip and unconsciously walk in the path of error – poor souls who think they are right in what concerns the following of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in becoming like him, imitating his life, actions, and virtues, and the form of his nakedness and purity of spirit. Father of mercies, come to our aid, for without you, Lord, we can do nothing.
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of you.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer
Day 1 — Self-trust
Icon of St John of the Cross venerated by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Haifa Israel | Photo credit: Discalced Carmelites
Day 2 — Self-giving
Day 3 — Cleansing
Day 4 — Walking in love
Day 5 — Trust
Day 6 — Prayer
Day 7 — Humility
Day 8 — Eternal Silence
Day 9 — Silent loveThe novena prayer was composed from approved sources by Professor Michael Ogunu, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order in Nigeria.
John of the Cross, St 1991, The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, rev. edn, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Jacques, P 2005, Listen to the silence: a retreat with Père Jacques, Murphy, F (trans. & ed.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Stein, E 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, Stein, W (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#circumincession #edithStein #icsPublications #jacquesOfJesus #johnOfTheCross #listenToTheSilence #love #loveOfGod #lucienBunel #novena #pereJacques #pereJacquesOfJesus #perichoresis #prayerOfTheChurch #sanJuanDeLaCruz #sayingsOfLightAndLove #silence #silentLove #stEdithStein #stJohnOfTheCross #theHiddenLife
-
St. John of the Cross Novena, Day 6: Prayer
Reading
Whoever flees prayer flees all that is good.
Sayings of Light and Love, 169
Scripture
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
they, my opponents, my enemies,
are the ones who stumble and fall.When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
they, my opponents, my enemies,
are the ones who stumble and fall.Though an army pitched camp against me,
my heart would not fear;
though war were waged against me,
my trust would still be firm.One thing I ask of Yahweh,
one thing I seek:
to live in the house of Yahweh
all the days of my life,
to enjoy the sweetness of Yahweh
and to consult him in his Temple.For he shelters me under his awning
in times of trouble;
he hides me deep in his tent,
sets me high on a rock.And now my head is held high
over the enemies who surround me,
in his tent I will offer
exultant sacrifice.I will sing, I will play for Yahweh!
Yahweh, hear my voice as I cry!
Pity me! Answer me!
My heart has said of you,
“Seek his face.”
Yahweh, I do seek your face;
do not hide your face from me.Do not repulse your servant in anger;
you are my help.
Never leave me, never desert me,
God, my savior!
If my father and mother desert me,
Yahweh will care for me still.Yahweh, teach me your way,
lead me in the path of integrity
because of my enemies;
do not abandon me to the will of my foes—
false witnesses have risen against me,
and breathe out violence.This I believe: I shall see the goodness of Yahweh,
in the land of the living.
Put your hope in Yahweh, be strong, let your heart be bold,
put your hope in Yahweh.Meditation
Let’s have a virtual show of hands: who among us has had an experience where God seemed to be hiding or even absent when we pray? Who among us has ever prayed, “God, where are you?” Has anyone ever said, “prayer isn’t working for me, God doesn’t care about me, I give up”? Has anyone ever experienced dryness in prayer, where you can’t feel anything anymore? Or, has someone ever discovered one day that they drifted away from the fervor of the practice of prayer they once had?
If you answered, “yes” to any one or more of these questions, you are in good company. All of us experience difficulties in prayer. In yesterday’s fifth novena meditation, we read one of St. Teresa’s accounts where she experienced difficulties in prayer; she was going through a moment of tribulation and the practice of prayer that usually brought her encouragement and comfort simply didn’t work.
Growing in friendship with God is a lifelong journey along the way of perfection. There will be many moments when we will stumble and fall. Ask any old friend of God and they will testify to this age-old fact of the spiritual life. The most important lesson that those who travel the way of perfection (or the Little Way of St. Thérèse) must learn is that it’s not a matter of how frequently or infrequently we fall, it’s how quickly we get up again and keep moving along the way. Saint Teresa herself says in the Interior Castle’s Second Mansion (IC II), “if you should at times fall don’t become discouraged and stop striving to advance. For even from this fall God will draw out good.” (IC II:9)
“Don’t become discouraged” is advice we read and hear often in Carmelite spirituality. Here’s what St. Elizabeth of the Trinity said to her younger sister a few months before Elizabeth died:
Darling little sister, you must cross out the word “discouragement” from your dictionary of love; the more you feel your weakness, your difficulty in recollecting yourself, and the more hidden the Master seems, the more you must rejoice, for then you are giving to Him, and, when one loves, isn’t it better to give than to receive? God said to Saint Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9), and the great saint understood this so well that he cried out: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). What does it matter what we feel; He, He is the Unchanging One, He who never changes: He loves you today as He loved you yesterday and will love you tomorrow. (Letter 298)
St. Teresa was more blunt when writing about those facing discouragement in prayer, especially beginners in prayer:
Ah, my Lord! Your help is necessary here; without it one can do nothing (cf. Jn 15:5). In Your mercy do not consent to allow this soul to suffer deception and give up what was begun. (IC II:6)
It will seem to you that you are truly determined to undergo exterior trials, provided that God favors you interiorly. His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There’s no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us, for He can rightly tell us that we don’t know what we’re asking for (cf. Mt 20:22). The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer—and don’t forget this, because it’s very, very important—should be that he work and prepare himself with determination and every possible effort to bring his will into conformity with God’s will. (IC II:8)
We can have all the determination in the world to be devout, faithful, and persistent in our prayer, but our own devotion, fidelity, and persistence alone are not sufficient. We need the Lord’s guidance. Here, St. Teresa refers to acquiring spiritual directors, but her point is more valid than ever:
Provided that we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit, even though we may not find someone to teach us. There is no other remedy for this evil of giving up prayer than to begin again; otherwise the soul will gradually lose more each day—and please God that it will understand this fact. (IC II:10)
“Provided that we don’t give up,” Teresa writes. “Whoever flees prayer,” St. John of the Cross echoes, “flees all that is good.”
What is this “all that is good” to which John refers?
This time, we will let him answer the question, by sharing an excerpt from his 8 July 1589 letter to Madre Leonor de San Gabriel in Córdoba. A companion of St. Teresa in founding the monasteries of Beas and Sevilla, Mother Leonor was feeling alone in Córdoba without the companionship of Teresa and the sisters she knew and loved the best. St. John of the Cross wrote a letter to encourage her in her new mission as prioress:
Jesus be in your soul, my daughter in Christ.
Thank you for your letter. And I thank God for having desired to use you in this foundation, since His Majesty has done this in order to bring you greater profit. The more he wants to give, the more he makes us desire—even to the point of leaving us empty in order to fill us with goods. You will be repaid for the goods (the love of your sisters) that you leave behind in Sevilla. Since the immense blessings of God can only enter and fit into an empty and solitary heart, the Lord wants you to be alone. For he truly loves you with the desire of being himself all your company. And Your Reverence will have to strive carefully to be content only with his companionship, so you might discover in it every happiness. Even though the soul may be in heaven, it will not be happy if it does not conform its will to this. And we will be unhappy with God, even though he is always present with us, if our heart is not alone, but attached to something else. (Letter 15)
“He loves you today as He loved you yesterday and will love you tomorrow,” St. Elizabeth wrote, echoing the sentiments of St. John of the Cross. But if God is “always present with us”, how can we become present to God, so that our hearts are alone and not “attached to something else”?
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection tells us what he did:
Thus, after offering myself entirely to God in atonement for my sins, I renounced for the sake of his love everything other than God, and I began to live as if only he and I existed in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before him as a miserable criminal at his judge’s feet, and at other times I regarded him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I adored him there as often as I could, keeping my mind in his holy presence and recalling him as many times as I was distracted. I had some trouble doing this exercise, but continued in spite of all the difficulties I encountered, without getting disturbed or anxious when I was involuntarily distracted. I was as faithful to this practice during my activities as I was during my periods of mental prayer, for at every moment, all the time, in the most intense periods of my work I banished and rid from my mind everything that was capable of taking the thought of God away from me (Letter 12).
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of you.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer
Day 1 — Self-trust
The Arrest of St John of the Cross
Day 2 — Self-giving
Day 3 — Cleansing
Day 4 — Walking in love
Day 5 — Trust
Day 6 — Prayer
Day 7 — Humility
Day 8 — Eternal Silence
Day 9 — Silent love
18th c. French
Oil on canvas, 1772 or 1777
Carmel of Pontoise
© Ministère de la Culture (France), Médiathèque de l’architecture et du patrimoine, Diffusion RMN-GP. Used by permission.The novena prayer was composed from approved sources by Professor Michael Ogunu, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order in Nigeria.
John of the Cross, St 1991, The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, rev. edn, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Teresa of Avila, St 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, Nash, A (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Lawrence of the Resurrection, B; De Meester, C 1994, Writings and Conversations on the Practice of the Presence of God, translated from the French by Salvatore Sciurba, OCD, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#beginners #brotherLawrence #brotherLawrenceOfTheResurrection #determination #difficulty #discouragement #doctorOfTheChurch #dryness #elizabethCatez #fall #givingUp #godsWill #icsPublications #interiorCastle #johnOfTheCross #journey #letter #letters #loneliness #mentalPrayer #novena #practiceOfThePresenceOfGod #psalms #sabeth #sanJuanDeLaCruz #stElizabethOfTheTrinity #stJohnOfTheCross #stTeresa #stTeresaOfAvila #stTeresaOfJesus #stumble #teresa #way #willOfGod
-
St. John of the Cross Novena, Day 5: Trust
Reading
In tribulation, immediately draw near to God with trust, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction.
Sayings of Light and Love, 66
Scripture
Have mercy on me, God, men crush me;
they fight me all day long and oppress me.
My foes crush me all day long,
for many fight proudly against me.When I fear, I will trust in you,
in God whose word I praise.
In God I trust, I shall not fear:
what can mortal man do to me?All day long they distort my words,
all their thought is to harm me.
They band together in ambush,
track me down and seek my life.You have kept an account of my wanderings;
you have kept a record of my tears;
are they not written in your book?
Then my foes will be put to flight
on the day that I call to you.This I know, that God is on my side.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not fear:
what can mortal man do to me?I am bound by the vows I have made you.
O God, I will offer you praise
for you rescued my soul from death,
you kept my feet from stumbling
that I may walk in the presence of God
and enjoy the light of the living.Meditation
Oh, blessed tribulation, that sure sign that God is madly in love with you.
Tribulation is a word that is no longer part of our daily vocabulary. It appears in word puzzles and still makes its way into Hollywood film scripts, although it sounds more appropriate coming from the lips of the revered British actor Charles Laughton, whose King Herod once posed the legendary rhetorical question: “Why does the prophet visit me with worse than the tribulations of Job?”
Saint Teresa of Jesus understood what Saint John of the Cross meant when he was writing about tribulation because she had seen her fair share of it in her lifetime. Here’s just one example from Testimony 53 written in Seville, 8 November 1575:
On the octave day of All Saints I spent two or three very troublesome days over the remembrance of my great sins and because of some fears of my being persecuted that had no foundation, except that false testimony was going to be raised [She had been falsely accused before the Inquisition of Seville]. And all the courage I usually have for suffering left me. Although I wanted to encourage myself, and I made acts and reflected that this suffering would be very beneficial to my soul, all these actions helped me little. For the fear didn’t go away, and what I felt was a vexing war. I chanced upon a letter in which my good Father [Jerome Gracián, Discalced Carmelite and Apostolic Visitor] refers to what St. Paul says, that God does not permit us to be tempted beyond what we can suffer (1 Cor 10:13). That comforted me a lot, but it wasn’t enough. Rather, the next day I became sorely afflicted in seeing I was without him, since I had no one to whom I could have recourse in this tribulation. It seemed to me I was living in great loneliness, and this loneliness increased when I saw that there was no one now but him who might give me comfort and that he had to be absent most of the time, which was a great torment to me.
On the next night, while reading in a book a saying of St. Paul which began to console me, I was thinking of how present our Lord had previously been to me, for He had so truly seemed to be the living God. While I was thinking about this, He appeared in an intellectual vision, very deep within me, as though on the side where the heart is, and said: “Here I am, but I want you to see what little you can do without Me.”
I felt reassured right away, and all my fears were gone. While I was at Matins that same night, the Lord, through an intellectual vision so intense it almost seemed to be an imaginative one, placed Himself in my arms as in the painting of the fifth agony. This vision caused me great fear. For it was so clear, and He was so close to me that I wondered if it was an illusion. He told me: “Don’t be surprised by this, for My Father is with your soul in an incomparably greater union.”
This vision has so remained up till now. What I said of our Lord lasted more than a month. Now it is gone.
Now, we may not be falsely accused before the Inquisition, but in our daily lives, we see plenty of tribulation. And Saint Teresa makes it clear that if we are seeking to make love our ambition, to grow in that untiring love of which St. John of the Cross speaks, then we will be blessed with tribulation.
Blessed with tribulation?
“It is clear that since God wants to lead those whom He greatly loves by the path of tribulation—and the more He loves them the greater the tribulation—there is no reason to think that He despises contemplatives, for with His own mouth He praises them and considers them His friends.” (Way 18:1)
But what if I don’t want to be a contemplative?
For the faithful, this truly is not an option if we desire to be united with Christ in heaven, where we will be contemplatives for all eternity! St. Paul writes, “and we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).
The Catechism reminds us:
Because of his transcendence, God cannot be seen as he is, unless he himself opens up his mystery to man’s immediate contemplation and gives him the capacity for it. The Church calls this contemplation of God in his heavenly glory “the beatific vision.”
Citing St. Cyprian, the Catechism continues:
How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God, . . . to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God’s friends. (CCC 1028)
To be able to contemplate Christ for all eternity, the tribulation is worth it.
We notice that a great Saint and Doctor of the Church like Our Holy Mother Teresa was not immune from tribulation and anxiety. She was suffering terribly: there were “very troublesome days” and fears of being persecuted. She had lost her courage, and every remedy, every action that normally helped in past situations didn’t help at all. She was stuck in her fears and left with what she calls a guerra desabrida… a rather unsavory war—fruitless, vexing, and pointless. Even reading a letter from the priest who meant more to her than any other friar in the world couldn’t console her; his advice was to read St. Paul, but she admitted that it “comforted me a lot, but it wasn’t enough.”
Poor St. Teresa, she was really in emotional distress and in a spiritual bind. The next day she became even more upset because Father Gracián wasn’t there to encourage and console her in her anxiety. “I had no one to whom I could have recourse in this tribulation” and for her, the loneliness seemed to be the worst part.
St. John of the Cross says that it’s in times like these that we must “immediately draw near to God with trust” and that is exactly what St. Teresa did. She didn’t give up praying, seeking, and hoping, and she didn’t abandon God. Quite the opposite: she continued to draw near to God, even though He seemed distant or hiding. It seems that she may have had difficulty praying with peace, so she turned to spiritual reading instead.
Now, the Lord made himself known to St. Teresa at that moment through a mystical experience. However, that may not necessarily be the path the Lord chooses for each one of us. What St. John of the Cross explains is that if we draw near to God with trust, then we will receive “strength, enlightenment, and instruction.”
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity gives the following advice to ordinary folks like you and I for how best to draw near to God when troubled or anxious in those moments that St. John and St. Teresa called “tribulation”:
You must build a little cell within your soul as I do. Remember that God is there and enter it from time to time; when you feel nervous or you’re unhappy, quickly seek refuge there and tell the Master all about it.
Ah, if you got to know Him a little, prayer wouldn’t bore you anymore; to me it seems to be rest, relaxation. We come quite simply to the One we love, stay close to Him like a little child in the arms of its mother, and we let our heart go (Letter 123).
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of you.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer
Day 1 — Self-trust
The Escape of St John of the Cross
Day 2 — Self-giving
Day 3 — Cleansing
Day 4 — Walking in love
Day 5 — Trust
Day 6 — Prayer
Day 7 — Humility
Day 8 — Eternal Silence
Day 9 — Silent love
18th c. French
Oil on canvas, 1768
Carmel of Pontoise
© Ministère de la Culture (France), Médiathèque de l’architecture et du patrimoine, Diffusion RMN-GP. Used by permission.The novena prayer was composed from approved sources by Professor Michael Ogunu, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order in Nigeria.
John of the Cross, St 1991, The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, rev. edn, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Teresa of Avila, St 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, Nash, A (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#anxiety #doctorOfTheChurch #elizabethCatez #enlightenment #icsPublications #inquisition #instruction #johnOfTheCross #letter #letters #loneliness #novena #persecution #psalms #sabeth #sanJuanDeLaCruz #stElizabethOfTheTrinity #stJohnOfTheCross #stTeresa #stTeresaOfAvila #stTeresaOfJesus #strength #teresa #tribulation #troubles #trust #wayOfPerfection #worries
-
St. John of the Cross Novena, Day 1: Self-trust
Reading
Those who trust in themselves are worse than the devil.
Sayings of Light and Love, 166
Scripture
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Meditation
“Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,” the Gospel tells us. And let’s notice that the conclusion of the parable is a mirror image of the song that Jesus’ own Mother sang in the home of her cousin Elizabeth: Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles (“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate,” Lk 1:52).
Another interesting item to note in the parable is the conscience of the tax collector, who was painfully aware of his sinfulness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states that a “well-formed conscience is upright and truthful”, thus the “education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.” (CCC 1783) This education is “a lifelong task.” (CCC 1784)
So how is the conscience formed?
In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. (CCC 1785)
If self-trust is worse than the devil, i.e. “Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God…. the one who ‘throws himself across’ God’s plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ” (CCC 2851) then the virtue to conquer that vice would be to trust in God.
When we say ‘God’ we confess a constant, unchangeable being, always the same, faithful and just, without any evil. It follows that we must necessarily accept his words and have complete faith in him and acknowledge his authority. He is almighty, merciful, and infinitely beneficent. Who could not place all hope in him? Who could not love him when contemplating the treasures of goodness and love he has poured out on us? (CCC 2086)
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of St. John of the Cross’ foremost disciples responds to these rhetorical questions in these, her last written words:
It is not in the first place, but in the last place that I start out; instead of getting ahead with the Pharisee, I repeat, full of trust, the humble prayer of the tax collector; but especially I imitate Magdalene’s attitude, her amazing or rather her daring love that charms the Heart of Jesus, captivates my very own heart. Yes, I feel it, even if I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go, heartbroken with repentance, and throw myself into Jesus’ arms, because I know just how much He cherishes the prodigal child who has returned to Him. It is not because God, in His gracious, prevenient mercy, has preserved my soul from mortal sin that I stand up and go to Him in trust and love… (Ms C 36v-37r).
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of you.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer
Day 1 — Self-trust
Day 2 — Self-giving
Day 3 — Cleansing
Day 4 — Walking in love
Day 5 — Trust
Day 6 — Prayer
Day 7 — Humility
Day 8 — Eternal Silence
Day 9 — Silent love
Image of St. John of the Cross painted by Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face, OCD (Céline Martin) | Photo credit: Discalced CarmelitesThe novena prayer was composed from approved sources by Professor Michael Ogunu, a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order in Nigeria.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#conscience #devil #examinationOfConscience #humble #johnOfTheCross #littleTherese #manuscript #novena #pharisee #prevenientMercy #pride #sanJuanDeLaCruz #satan #selfRighteous #stJohnOfTheCross #stTherese #stThereseOfLisieux #stThereseOfTheChildJesus #taxCollector #trust
-
Novena to St. John of the Cross, Day 9: All things are forgotten
Scripture
Lord, I have given up my pride
and turned away from my arrogance.
I am not concerned with great matters
or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms,
so my heart is quiet within me.
Israel, trust in the Lord
now and forever!
(Psalm 131)Reading
The soul is incapable of truly acquiring control of the passions and restriction of the inordinate appetites without forgetting and withdrawing from the sources of these emotions. Disturbances never arise in a soul unless through the apprehensions of the memory. When all things are forgotten, nothing disturbs the peace or stirs the appetites. As the saying goes: What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t want.
The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Book Three, Chapter 5
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of thee.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer…
- Day 1 — What profit is there?
- Day 2 — An open wound
- Day 3 — Your heart in peace
- Day 4 — An imitation of his life
- Day 5 — Supreme goodness
- Day 6 — Guided through the dark night
- Day 7 — Surrender
- Day 8 — Inspired with love
- Day 9 — All things are forgotten
We are grateful to Professor Michael Ogunu, O.C.D.S., of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Nigeria for sharing this novena.
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#appetites #ascentOfMountCarmel #ascesis #carmel #carmelitas #carmelitasDescalzas #carmelitasDescalzos #carmelite #carmeliteHabit #carmelitePropers #carmelo #discalcedCarmelite #emotions #forgetfulness #memory #mountCarmel #novena #passions #peace #purification #sanJuanDeLaCruz #secularCarmelites #selfControl #selfDenial #selfEmptying #selfForgetful #selfGiving #soul #stJohnOfTheCross #withdrawing
-
Novena to St. John of the Cross, Day 8: Inspired with love
Scripture
O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust.
I seek You with every fiber of my being.
In this dry and weary land with no water in sight,
my soul is dry and longs for You.
My body aches for You, for Your presence.
I have seen You in Your sanctuary
and have been awed by Your power and glory.
Your steadfast love is better than life itself,
so my lips will give You all my praise.
I will bless You with every breath of my life;
I will lift up my hands in praise to Your name.My soul overflows with satisfaction, as when I feast on foods rich in marrow and fat;
with excitement in my heart and joy on my lips, I offer You praise.
Often at night I lie in bed and remember You,
meditating on Your greatness till morning smiles through my window.
You have been my constant helper;
therefore, I sing for joy under the protection of Your wings.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand reaches down and holds me up.
(Ps. 63:1-8)Reading
The soul here addresses its Bridegroom with deep love, esteeming him and thanking him for two admirable effects sometimes produced by him through this union… The first effect is an awakening of God in the soul, brought about in gentleness and love. The second is the breathing of God within it… And what overflows in it is its being tenderly and delicately inspired with love.
The Living Flame Of Love: Stanza 4
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of thee.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer…
- Day 1 — What profit is there?
- Day 2 — An open wound
- Day 3 — Your heart in peace
- Day 4 — An imitation of his life
- Day 5 — Supreme goodness
- Day 6 — Guided through the dark night
- Day 7 — Surrender
- Day 8 — Inspired with love
- Day 9 — All things are forgotten
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#amorViva #awakening #breathing #bride #bridegroom #carmel #carmelitas #carmelitasDescalzas #carmelitasDescalzos #carmelite #carmelo #delicate #discalcedCarmelite #effects #livingFlameOfLove #love #novena #sanjuanist #secularCarmelites #soul #stJohnOfTheCross #tender #thankGod #thankful #thanksgiving #viveFlamme
-
Novena to St. John of the Cross, Day 6: Guided through the dark night
Scripture
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
I trust you, let me not be disappointed;
do not let my enemies triumph.
Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed,
but only those who wantonly break faith.Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my savior.In you I hope all day long
because of your goodness, O Lord.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
In your love remember me.
(Psalm 25:1-7)Reading
A soul ordinarily needs instruction pertinent to its experience in order to be guided through the dark night to spiritual denudation and poverty. Without this instruction a person, even without wanting such things, would unknowingly become hardened in the way of the spirit and habituated to that of the senses, in which these communications are partly experienced. The spiritual father should instead proceed with much kindness and calm.
The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Book Two, Chapter 22
Prayer
O St. John of the Cross
You were endowed by our Lord with the spirit of self-denial
and a love of the cross.
Obtain for us the grace to follow your example
that we may come to the eternal vision of the glory of God.O Saint of Christ’s redeeming cross
the road of life is dark and long.
Teach us always to be resigned to God’s holy will
in all the circumstances of our lives
and grant us the special favor
which we now ask of thee.Mention your request
Above all, obtain for us the grace of final perseverance,
a holy and happy death and everlasting life with you
and all the saints in heaven.
Amen.Let’s continue in prayer…
- Day 1 — What profit is there?
- Day 2 — An open wound
- Day 3 — Your heart in peace
- Day 4 — An imitation of his life
- Day 5 — Supreme goodness
- Day 6 — Guided through the dark night
- Day 7 — Surrender
- Day 8 — Inspired with love
- Day 9 — All things are forgotten
All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Joseph.
#ascentOfMountCarmel #carmel #carmelitas #carmelitasDescalzas #carmelite #darkNight #denudation #discalcedCarmelite #instruction #novena #poverty #secularCarmelites #spirit #spiritual #spiritualDirection #spiritualLife #spiritualPoverty #spirituality #stJohnOfTheCross #teresianCarmel
