#religious-profession — Public Fediverse posts

Her prayer to the Trinity was not only a pious elevation, but the expression of a gift of herself to God. We had prepared together for this renewal of our vows on 21 November 1904; when I asked her about it on the next day, she replied that she had received a great grace that was difficult for her to express.

Sister Marie of the Trinity, O.C.D.
Witness, Ordinary Process

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity’s famous prayer, O my God, Trinity Whom I adore, was discovered only after her death. Found among her private papers, the prayer was handwritten on a page torn from her personal notebook and dated November 21, 1904—a day that was deeply significant in her spiritual journey.

The day marked the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, a celebration in Carmel where the sisters renewed their religious vows before the Blessed Sacrament. St. Elizabeth, the youngest of the community, fully embraced this annual act of consecration, offering herself entirely to “her Three,” as she lovingly called the Holy Trinity. This prayer, born in the silence of her cloister and from the depths of her heart, was not shared during her lifetime. Her companions only discovered it after her passing, tucked away in her writing desk.

According to her fellow Carmelite, Sr. Marie of the Trinity, the prayer was not just a spiritual meditation but an act of total self-giving. St. Elizabeth later confided that the day she composed it was one of profound grace, though she found it difficult to describe the experience in words. Her offering echoes the great spiritual traditions of the Church, drawing comparisons with St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s Act of Oblation to Merciful Love and St. Catherine of Siena’s prayer to the Eternal Trinity.

Yet, Elizabeth’s voice is uniquely her own, expressing her desire to be a “heaven” for God, a place where the Trinity could dwell and be adored without distraction. This prayer, considered one of the most beautiful expressions of Trinitarian spirituality, invites us to surrender ourselves entirely to God. In its profound simplicity, it captures the heart of St. Elizabeth’s message: to live continually in God’s presence, wholly adoring, wholly surrendered, and wholly at peace.

To reflect more deeply on this prayer and the life of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, listen to our podcast episode embedded below. Let her words inspire you to invite God to make your soul His dwelling place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbvMvLpH6fo

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

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

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

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/11/08/s2ep32sabeth/

#CarmelOfDijon #ConradDeMeester #monasticLife #Podcast #PrayerToTheHolyTrinity #religiousProfession #spirituality #StElizabethOfTheTrinity #Trinitarian

This is the authorization for Sister María de Jesús to make her profession. I grant it with great pleasure. May the blessing of the Lord de rore coeli et de pinguedine terrae be granted her.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Letter 263 to Blessed Mary of Jesus Lopez Rivas
From Avila, ca. August 1578

This text is taken either from a note or a fragment of a letter written by St. Teresa of Avila. It was addressed to Blessed Mary of Jesus, who made her religious profession on 8 September 1578. St. Teresa’s words express her joyful authorization for Mary to take this important step in her Carmelite journey.

The blessing de rore coeli et de pinguedine terrae comes from Genesis 27:28, where Isaac blesses his son Jacob, saying: “May God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine.”

The Latin phrase calls upon God’s abundant blessings, both spiritual and material, asking that Mary be graced with all she needs to thrive in her vocation. It’s a powerful benediction that shows St. Teresa’s confidence in Mary and her hopes for the young nun’s future.

Blessed Mary of Jesus lived a life marked by profound humility and unwavering perseverance. Despite facing unjust persecution for nearly two decades, she remained steadfast in her faith. St. Teresa’s blessing served as a reminder of God’s care for those who trust in Him, offering strength and encouragement that is still relevant to us today.

To explore more about the life and virtues of Blessed Mary of Jesus Lopez Rivas, be sure to listen to Episode 22 of our podcast, embedded in this post.

https://youtu.be/xTztbQiP5g8?si=qAxEJqOsFa_P2Yz8

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.

Featured image: Original autograph manuscript of the Way of Perfection preserved in the Discalced Carmelite monastery of Valladolid. The photographer has focused on this sentence from Chapter 21: “They must have a great and very resolute determination to persevere until reaching the end, come what may, happen what may, whatever work is involved, whatever criticism arises, whether they arrive or whether they die on the road, or even if they don’t have courage for the trials that are met, or if the whole world collapses.” New medical and scientific research on the incorrupt body of the saint indicate that she may have been ambidextrous; she would have written her letter to Blessed Mary of Jesus with her right hand, since her left arm or wrist had been broken on Christmas Eve in 1577 and was never properly set. Image credit: Ángel Cantero, Iglesia en Valladolid / Flickr

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/09/11/s2ep22-lopezrivas/

#BlessedMaryOfJesusLópezRivas #blessing #DiscalcedCarmelite #humility #inspiration #perseverance #Podcast #religiousProfession #StTeresaOfAvila #trials