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
The Mystery of Wisdom
From the earliest days of Christianity, the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, and Catholic theologians have grappled with the mystery of wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures. In some passages, wisdom almost seems to be interchangeable with the Holy Spirit. (See Wisdom 1:6-8.) In other places, Scripture states that wisdom was created by God, and … Continue reading The Mystery of Wisdom
The Spring on Mount Carmel
In the Rule of St. Albert, written around 1208 A.D. by Patriarch St. Albert of Jerusalem, he addressed the Rule to the hermits who lived near the spring on Mount Carmel. It was in the vicinity of this spring that the first Carmelites built their cells and their first chapel dedicated to Our Lady. The spring … Continue reading The Spring on Mount Carmel
Martha vs. Mary
Today is the feast day of St. Martha, who sparked countless debates down through the ages about the merits of the active life vs. the contemplative life. St. Thomas Aquinas believed the contemplative life was superior, based on the passage in Luke 10:38-42 where Martha complains about Mary for sitting at the Master's feet while she … Continue reading Martha vs. Mary
