Feast of All Carmelite Saints

Today is November 13th and a fast day before the feast day which is tomorrow, November 14th, when we celebrate All Carmelite Saints Day!

The many Carmelite saints are an inspiration to many, especially to those in the Carmelite communities. What they had in common is that, hidden in Christ, they climbed Mount Carmel, the Mountain of the Lord, and became transformed in Christ … and holy in the process.  Besides being set apart for God, they shared a love for the Church and for the Carmelite order, a love for our Blessed Mother, the Queen of Carmel, and a deep understanding and appreciation for the Cross as both the instrument of our salvation and the manifestation of God’s merciful love for us. They sought to emulate this humble love that is patient and forgetful of self, a love which bears all things for the sake of the other, a love watered by self-denial and prayer. Thus, they began, in their lifetimes, to experience heaven on earth, an eternity begun now and in progress!

We too are called to be saints....all of us are. But it is so easy to feel overwhelmed in this day of trials and tribulations. It is understandable but God's grace is there if we just ask for it. We must keep going forward and continue our daily duty and our daily prayer in the state of grace by frequenting the Sacraments.

Let us keep our prayers of Reparation each day, our daily Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our rosary, our Masses if they are something we can do daily. Let us keep the zeal and offer to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary all that we are. May we remain in God's grace and continue to offer our love each day to all those we come in contact with in order to become Christ's light in a very dark world.

​May we pray to the Carmelite Saints today and always and ask Our Lady, Queen and Mother of Carmel to pray for us as we journey closer to Her Son each day!

Our Lady, Queen and Mother of Carmel, pray for us.
Holy Carmelite Saints, pray for us.

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Fr. Ripperger on Prayer