CARMEL'S OWN

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Happy Easter

The Lord is Risen....Alleluia

A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER TO ONE AND ALL

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The HOLY WEEK

PALM SUNDAY

The last Sunday of Lent commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusal to the enthusiastic and warm acclamations of the people.

HOLY MONDAY

Jesus visits the Temple and overturns stalls and sends away the merchants who had made a market of the God's House of Prayer.

HOLY TUESDAY

It is thought that on this day, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into uttering a "blasphemous" statement.

Jesus weepos over Jerusalem and her fate.

SPY WEDNESDAY

On this day Judas Iscariot went to the Chief Priests to negotiate the betrayal of Jesus so that he would be arrested by the Jews.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

On this day, Jewsus chose to celebrate the Passover with His disciples. It is the day of THE LAST SUPPER, and therefore the institution of the Eucharistic Sacrament.

GOOD FRIDAY

Jesus is condemned to death on a cross. He is crucified along with two criminals. He dies after about three hours in atrocious agony.

He is taken down from the cross and laid down in a tomb.

BLACK SABBATH

A day of mourning for the death of the Christ.

Late in the evening, on this day which is sometimes called EASTER EVE, the vigil of the RESURRECTION is celebrated.

EASTER SUNDAY

Jesus Christ, the Son of God made Man, resurrects from the dead after His crucixion. He has overcome both Death and Evil inorder to free all human beings from the throes of the DARK!

The RISEN LORD shows himself to Mary Magdalene and then to His disciples.

APRIL 2009

Please go to "The Carmelite Website":

http://www.ocarm.org/ocarm/s2magazine/index1/.jsp

Thursday, March 19, 2009

O Joseph, tell David, who was the ancestor of the Man-God, the wonders your eyes have seen: you saw the Child pressed against the Holy Virgin's bosom; you worshipped him with the Magi; you gave glory to God with the shepherds, obeying the voice of the angel.

Ask the Christ God to save our souls. You, Joseph, held in your arms the God before whom the immense heavenly powers tremble, after the Blessed Virgin gave birth. At that moment you received your consecration. This is why we honor you.

Your soul was obedient to the divine precept; you were filled with a purity without equal and deserved to receive the most pure and immaculate one among women as your wife. You were the guardian of the Virgin, at the time she herself deserved to become the tabernacle of the Creator ... The One who shaped the sky, the land and the sea with his Word has been called the Son of the carpenter, your Son, O admirable Joseph!

You have been called the father of One who is without beginning and who glorified you as the minister of the mystery which surpasses all understanding... "Bless the Lord, all the Lord's creation: praise and glorify him for ever!" (Deut 3:57).

Menaion, Greek Liturgy, tr. Dom Gueranger, Liturgical Year, Lent, March 19

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Conversion of the Malktese to Christianity

The 10th of February is a special day on which we Maltese celebrate the Shipwreck of Saint Paul on our shores as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles.

It is a special day to commemorate not simply as to the shipwreck itself, but more so and more importantly because of the consequences.

During his three month's stay on the Island of Malta, Paul converted the inhabitants to Christianity.

No wonder, therefore that the Maltese speak of "Missierna San Pawl" (Our Father Saint Paul).

This is an opportunity to remind all believers of theYear dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles.

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Penitence and Prayer for Lent

On the 11th of February, Bernardette Soubirous ewnjoyed the first vision of the "beautiful lady" who later identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception"
The principal double message transmitted by The Virgin Mary at Massabielle, Lourdes, consisted of a plea for penitence and prayer.

Most appropriatelt it seems, the plea for penitence came very near to the celebration of Lent, a definite period during which we prepare ourselves spiritually for the great mystery of the Resurrection of the Christ from the dead.

As to prayer, The Blessed Mother demandsed the recitation and meditation of the Rosary.

Say Your Rosary like a Small Child

Since you ask my advice, I recommend that you pray the rosary like a small child, because the power of God is there, the power of God between our fingers. We can obtain everything from Mary and her Son. If we ask them for our own salvation and that of all mankind, and for fulfilment in our lives, our prayers will be heard. Mary is our Mother and we love her above everything in the fullness of life of the Lord. May Mary enlighten and illuminate us.

Father Mary Joseph Le Guillou o.p. (1920 -1990)

Monday, February 2, 2009

St. John Bosco narrates.....

A Fulfilled Vision

When I was 9 years old, I had a dream that has remained deeply engraved in my heart all my life. I dreamed that I was near my home in a very large courtyard where lots of children were playing. Some of them were laughing, but many were swearing and cursing. As I heard these blasphemies I immediately threw myself in the middle of them, punching with my fists and shouting at them to quiet them down. Suddenly, an imposing man dressed in fine clothing appeared. His face was so luminous that one could not look at him straight on. He called me by my name and said to me, "You won't stop them from fighting by more fighting. You can only make them your friends by being gentle and kind. Why not start speaking to them right away about the ugliness of sin and the goodness of virtue?" I felt so intimidated and apprehensive that I told him I was just a poor ignorant child. Then, the boys stopped fighting and shouting, and stood in a group around the man. I don't know why, but I asked him, "Who are you to order me to do such an impossible thing?" "It's precisely because this idea seems impossible to you that you should make it possible by obeying and acquiring knowledge." "How can I acquire knowledge?" "I will give you a teacher. You will be able to become very intelligent, under her direction." "Who are you anyway?" "Remember the woman to whom your mother taught you to pray, three times a day? I am her Son. So ask my mother if you want to know my name."

All at once, I saw a majestic-looking Lady standing at his side, wearing a mantle that sparkled like the sun. As she approached me I felt extremely bashful. She beckoned to me to come forward and took me by the hand with kindness. Then she said, "Look!" When I looked up, I noticed that the children had all disappeared. In their place I could see a multitude of goats, dogs, cats, bears and many other different kinds of animals. "This is your domain! This is where you must work. First of all, you must become humble, courageous, and strong: and what you see happening at this moment to those animals, you will do for my children one day." I turned my gaze back to the animals and in their place I saw a flock of peaceful lambs jumping, running and bleating around the Lady and her Son as if they were paying them homage. Then, still dreaming, I began to cry and I begged this Lady to explain to me clearly what was happening, because I didn't understand anything. She put her hand on my head and said, "You will understand everything at the desired time." She had hardly finished saying those words when a noise awoke me. Everything had disappeared. I felt stunned. I had the impression that my hands hurt because of the fist fighting I had done and my face burned from the slaps I had received from all of those naughty children.

Saint John Bosco Autobiographical Memoirs

Saturday, January 17, 2009

I LOVED HIM DEEPLY!

I will now show you more fully how, from the beginning, when I first learned and came to an understanding of the existence of God, I was always concerned about my salvation and religious observance. When I learned more completely that God himself was my Creator and the judge of all my actions, I came to love Him deeply, and I was constantly alert and watchful so as not to offend Him in word or deed. When I learned that He had given His law and commandments to His people and worked so many miracles through them, I made a firm resolution in my soul to love nothing but Him, and the things of the world became altogether repugnant to me. Then, having learned that God himself would redeem the world and be born of a Virgin, I was so smitten with love for Him that I thought of nothing but God and wanted nothing but Him. As far as I was able, I withdrew from the conversation and the presence of parents and friends and gave away to the needy everything I had come to own. I kept for myself nothing but meager food and clothing.

From the Blessed Virgin according to Saint Bridget of Sweden (d. 1373) Saint Bride and Her Book: Birgitta of Sweden's Revelations, Book 1, ch.10