I’m trying to rest my arm a bit so my shoulder is back in working order. Please pray that I can resume my normal writing activities soon! In the meantime, let’s review what you might have missed in the past year.
Most popular post: St. Therese’s daring teaching on Purgatory
Most commented on post: Did Teresa of Avila teach Centering Prayer?
Most enduring post (still popular from 2013): Meet Pope Francis for kids (and their parents)
Best post for men: 10 Ways dads can help their kids grow in holiness
Most underrated post: Is there a magic bullet to holiness?
Most realistic take on life: How to suffer like a Christian
Best homeschool post: Helping your choleric child grow in holiness
Most popular page: My free ebook (have you downloaded it yet?)
First post at Catholic Spiritual Direction: Holiness takes more than inspiration
Best download: Chart of Teresa’s Seven Mansions
Connie Rossini
How do you download the free Ebook on mental prayer today?
Holy mackerel! I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll send out an email with the link.
Dear Connie, This is the first time I have ever written in on a “blog”. I have been very hidden and not willing to get “noisy” with the computer. Make sense? Well, it does once you know that I am also a former OCDS member. I have been reading many of the laments written here by other former members and find myself no longer alone. Leaving Carmel is traumatic although I had made perpetual vows – not to Carmel but on my own – so I have not had to be released from those vows. It is wonderful to still have those vows to fall back on. God has been very good to me.
You know, what happened to all of us in the past is really not an issue because it is true that once we give ourselves to God totally He is free to do with us as He pleases. So why revisit the past ? Yes, disappointment with the Secular Order in many respects may be important to discuss but then it is time to move on into prayer which is the reason we joined Carmel in the first place. I do still consider myself to be a Carmelite and always will.
I would very much like to join the discussions and prayers of your group. I will begin, if you will have me as a fellow “blogger”, by praying for all those who have had to leave Carmel. You are all members of my heart and my Carmel. Write to me if you wish. I don’t know how to do this blogging stuff and don’t want to interfere in what you, Connie, have so expertly put together. So, tell me what to do. Thank you, Martha Wilbert, OCDS
marthawilbert@acatperson.com
Thanks for your prayers and support, Martha! You’re absolutely right that God is in charge. Change is always hard. It takes time to adjust, especially when you were doing what you thought was God’s will and you made a lifelong commitment to it. Leaving Carmel is a real loss. Although we can still practice Carmelite spirituality as before, we will not be included in the daily prayers and Masses of the Order as we were previously. The Order will not pray for us when we die. There is also the fact that charity and contemplative prayer are the charisms–gifts–God gives to members of the Order. Now, of course He can still give us whatever gifts He pleases, and He can more than make up for any losses, but our way is not so straightforward now. Absolute trust in His plan–whatever it may be–is our solution. But it doesn’t come over night! It took me about two years to get over the sadness that came every time I thought about leaving Carmel. I don’t wish things were different any more, but I can certainly sympathize with those who still do.
If you subscribe to my blog, you will receive an email every time I post. Lots of readers share their trials in the comments, and you are free to reply to them and pray for them. I receive many more (and more personal) emails from readers. Some of them are suffering deeply. Maybe you could offer special prayers or sacrifices for these souls. I cannot share what they have shared with me, but for both me and them to know that someone else is covering the situation with prayer would be a great encouragement. Here is the link for subscribing: http://wordpress.us7.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=21051e520360269fdf2c11252&id=334e3d307f
Thanks and God bless.