“Listen to me, my faithful children, and blossom like a rose growing by a stream of water. “Send out fragrance like incense, and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works.” (Sir. 39:13-14, NRSV Catholic Ed.) I love this passage from … Continue reading Blossoming
Searching the Sky for Signs of Rain
Every morning in the desert, one of the first things I do (after Morning Prayer) is to search the sky for signs of rain. Even the smallest of clouds is reason for hope. The heat has been unrelenting, but I know that one of these days the monsoon will begin. The air will be filled … Continue reading Searching the Sky for Signs of Rain
Holding Jesus’ Hand
Memory is a very strange affair. As it pertains to our recalled past experiences and stored knowledge, it plays a huge role in our sense of identity. We often evaluate ourselves on what we have done or failed to do, and on what others have done or failed to do. How strange that our self-image … Continue reading Holding Jesus’ Hand
Mental Prayer, Prayer of Recollection, and Prayer of Quiet
From time to time, all Carmelites struggle with the required periods of mental prayer. We may even struggle for long periods of time, even for many years. The Teresian prayer that we strive to practice is the Prayer of Recollection. However, there are many misconceptions about this prayer, and these misconceptions can make our … Continue reading Mental Prayer, Prayer of Recollection, and Prayer of Quiet
Pondering Natural Beauty
Have you ever wondered why we are able to perceive the beauty of the natural world? Why we are moved by a stand of pine trees, or by a mountain vista, or by the crashing of the ocean surf against the rocks? It’s good to ponder why there is beauty in the natural world, but … Continue reading Pondering Natural Beauty
To Have Never Known
I think about heaven a lot these days -- I think about it with hope. It's not eternal life that draws me, although that goes with the territory. No, it's the hope of seeing Him face to face -- the greatest Treasure, the priceless Gift -- the Christ. Like most Catholic Christians, I often pray … Continue reading To Have Never Known
The Beautiful Heart
As a Protestant child, I was familiar with paintings of Jesus, but it wasn't until age 13 that I saw an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The face of Jesus was familiar, but something unfamiliar graced his breast. The heart of Jesus was shown on the outside of his robe. Thorns encircled his … Continue reading The Beautiful Heart
We Are the Gift
It’s wonderful how Scripture continues to provide new insights from passages we have heard so many times before. Today’s Gospel reading was from Matthew 22:1-14. To paraphrase: The ones that a king invited to a wedding banquet refused to come in favor of their worldly pursuits, so the king filled his hall with other guests, … Continue reading We Are the Gift
The Beauty of the Lord
One characteristic of a deep prayer life is a sincere appreciation of and longing for true beauty. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God is associated with the idea of beauty. This longing for the beauty of the Lord is expressed in Ps. 27: 4: One thing I ask of the Lord that I will seek after: … Continue reading The Beauty of the Lord
The Gift of Freedom in Prayer
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) is well known for her writings on prayer. She recognized our real need for freedom in our prayer lives. This freedom is one of her greatest gifts to us, and at the same time, it can be a real challenge. The general way of praying recommended by St. Teresa is known … Continue reading The Gift of Freedom in Prayer
Reflections from Carmel 