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The Way of the Cross with Carmelite Saints

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prepared by Carmelite Vocation and WebTeam

THE CARMELITE SAINTS in their prayers and reflections reveal a deep communion with the Passion of Jesus. In the light of Christ crucified they beheld the depths of the heart of God and discovered there as well the meaning of the human heart.

One of the most fruitful practices of Christian piety is known as The Way of the Cross (or Stations of the Cross), a devotion that in all probability dates back to the era of the first Christians.

Our Carmelite Promise: The Holy Spirit & Discernment

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by David Travers, OCDS

All our Carmelite teaching is designed to make us docile to the workings of the Holy Spirit as our Constitutions and Ratio show. These documents teach us that the Holy Spirit is our principal educator to whom:

the one called to life in Carmel, aware of the indwelling grace of the Spirit, should strive to become ever conscious of that ineffable Presence.

Carmelite Spirituality Prayer and the Holy Spirit

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by M. O’Neill, O.Carm.

 The way we live and the way we pray are closely related. We might even say that the way we pray is the way we live and the way we live is the way we pray. In prayer we engage our own thoughts and desires and feelings. There is so much of ourselves that we put into prayer and the more of ourselves that we put into prayer, the more complete and life-giving our prayer turns out to be.

Contemplation: the heart of the Carmelite charism (Ratio)

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from the Ratio

23. Journeying towards our goal

"Contemplation is the inner journey of Carmelites, arising out of the free initiative of God, who touches and transforms us, leading us towards unity in love with him, raising us up so that we may enjoy his gratuitous love and live in his loving presence. It is a transforming experience of the overpowering love of God.

The Carmelite Tradition

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John Welch, O.Carm.

The Searching Heart

The Carmelite tradition begins in searching hearts. "Where have you hidden, beloved?" writes the Carmelite poet and mystic, John of the Cross. "You fled like the stag after wounding me." (The Spiritual Canticle stanza 1) We fragile humans have an aching heart, a hunger, a desire which we seek to nourish and fulfill.

Contemplation, the heart of the Carmelite way of life

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Fr. Miceál O'Neill, O.Carm.

This reflection on the elements of the Carmelite charism leads us to a consideration of what lies at the heart of our way of life. The formation document of the Carmelite Friars called the Raio (Ratio Institutionis Vitae Carmelitanae) made great strides in clarifying what is this heart.

Anchored in Hope (Heb 6:18-19)

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“If we want to build communities in which there is an abundance of life, then we must recognise who and what we are and what it means for us to be alive... Religious communities are like ecological systems. A rare frog will need its own ecosystem if it needs to flourish...

The Resurrection and the Carmelites

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Francis Kemsley, O.Carm.

Hot Cross Buns, Easter Eggs and Carmel

I spent six years in our inner city London parish, Walworth. One of the joys there was the school Mass. There was normally a school mass every Friday. Often the age range would be from five to eleven. For the reflection after the Gospel I asked as many questions as possible in order to gain the children's interest. One year, after Easter, I asked the children what had they to eat on Good Friday.

What Is Resurrection? An Easter Reflection

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by Christopher O’Donnell, O.Carm

Why are eggs associated with Easter? Why are they such a powerful symbol of resurrection? The word needs some care. It is not resuscitation, as if Jesus were simply brought back to life, like Lazarus or the widow’s son at Nam (see John 9 and Luke 7:11-15). Resurrection is transformation. The symbols of resurrection are many.

Good Friday - Word from John of the Cross

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Fr. George Mangiaracina, O.C.D

REFLECTION

When Jesus had died on the Cross his dark night came to an end. When did his dark night began is hard to say. Certainly, it was apparent at the Garden of Gethsemene. There was his betrayal by Judas; but even before then Jesus was persecuted by his own after he healed the man who could not make it to the pool because others got in front of him (Jn 5:1-16 ).

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