The Christmas Blessing of St. Edith Stein’s Broken Foot
Speak of strange and unexpected fulfillment of prophetic pronouncements. Edith Stein wrote that "what did not lie in [her] plan lay in God's plan." Years later as a contemplative nun living in a cloister in [...]
A Christmas Card from the Child Jesus
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the exchanging of Christmas cards. There’s a joy-filled wonder in checking the mailbox and seeing a colored card-sized envelope. No matter who it’s from, we love receiving personal notes of affection, awkward family photos, and assurances of prayers and love in the coming New Year...
The Mariology of Saint John of the Cross
Saint John of the Cross is widely known for his spiritual writing. He is a Doctor of the Church, master of prayer, and expert of the spiritual life. His writings cover a wide range of subjects and themes, but John is seldom acknowledged for his teachings on the Blessed Virgin Mary. How is it that a man known for his spiritual wisdom, who devoted his entire life to achieving union with God in a religious order dedicated to living in imitation of Mary, is rarely recalled in relation to Our Lady?
Discalced Carmelite Friars: Then and Now
Today we celebrate the 450th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Discalced Carmelite Friars at Duruelo, Spain. The humble beginnings of the friars are truly something to marvel at when we consider the ways they really lived...
A Thanksgiving Homily to the Friars: “Awakening Ourselves to Love”
“Let us understand most clearly the real fact: God gives [gifts] to us without any merit on our part. And let us thank His Majesty for them, because, if we do not acknowledge we are receiving them, we will not awaken ourselves to love."
St. Raphael of St. Joseph: The Other Canonized Friar
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Raphael (Kalinowski) of St. Joseph, O.C.D. He is the only other Discalced Carmelite friar that has been canonized after St. John of the Cross...