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
Author: Contemplation Garden
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
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
Reflections from Carmel 