In the universal Church, and in Carmel in particular, we profess a special devotion – a dedication – to St. Joseph. St. Teresa, who attributed to St. Joseph her healing from a serious illness in her youth, dedicated an entire chapter in the book of her Life to make a very emotive panegyric of the one whom she considered a father of her soul. In this way, she contributed greatly – with other saints – to firmly establishing St. Joseph in the religious and spiritual “world”, to say so. However, Teresa couldn’t foresee that this holy man would enter also in ..read more

          (A reflection on the readings of the day: Acts 13:26-33 and John 14:1-6.) To us this word of salvation has been given. We have heard the story of Jesus life, the death sentence he received, and – the utterly unexpected words of Mary “He is risen from the dead” – we are his witnesses – and we spend a lifetime pondering “what does it mean to rise from the dead. Jesus has said many things to us. We have walked with him – and with one another along the road of life and still we say with Thomas “Master, we do not know where we are going – much less where you are ..read more

Saturday, April 20 @ 2 pm ET Text: John 10:11-18  Commentary by Dianne Bergant, CSA Click to Register The post Lectio Divina for the 4th Sunday of Easter appeared first on The Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore ..read more

Today, on this Fifth Sunday of Lent, our theme is “Walk.” The first reading reminds us that God walked with Israel and was willing to start anew, even when they were unfaithful.  “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.  I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jesus says in the Gospel “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”   Jesus leads us into a new era, all people can now be part of the abundant life ..read more

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, our readings lead us to the word “compassion” for our reflection.  The words love and light are also on our radar.  These three words can shape our contemplative practice for today. As we have suggested in the past in this chapel:  To learn contemplative practice is to learn what we need…  to live truthfully and honestly and lovingly.  It is a deeply revolutionary matter…  it is the only ultimate answer for our world.  This is the contemplative revolution we have invited you to join—with us and the many souls around our world ..read more

This year during Lent, we are continuing our Revolution of Contemplation by focusing on a particular area of prayer each week. We will take some time after communion to pray together and see what actions might be inspired. The theme for this Third Sunday of Lent is Prophetic Witness. Olga Marina Segura, in her reflection for this Sunday in Catholic Women Preach: Raising Voices Renewing the Church Cycle B, quotes Dr. M. Shawn Copeland’s Knowing Christ Crucified: The Witness of African American Religious Experience: “The cross of Jesus calls us to conversion, to radical transformation of life f ..read more

Saturday, March 2 @ 2 pm ET Text: John 2:13-25 Commentary by Mary Coloe, PBVM Click to Register The post Lectio Divina for the 3rd Sunday of Lent appeared first on The Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore ..read more

As Sr. Mary pointed out last Sunday, we are continuing our theme from Lent 2023 for Lent 2024 and are inviting you to join us in a “revolution,” a revolution of contemplation. Each Sunday, we will offer a time of silent prayer after communion, with a theme for the week to encourage us in our prayer. The theme for the Second Sunday of Lent is Awareness, Seeing in New Ways. The following commentary is heavily based on the article  “Now What?” by Rev. Diana L. Wilcox. In this article, Rev. Wilcox draws extensively on the writings of Barbara Brown Taylor. What follows is taken from both ..read more

This year during Lent, we are continuing our theme from Lent 2023 and inviting you to join us in a “revolution”, a revolution of contemplation (which is exactly what our world needs at this time). Speaking to the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Rowan Williams, the great Anglican scholar of the mystical life, said this: “… contemplation is the only ultimate answer to the unreal and insane world that our financial systems and our advertising culture and our chaotic and unexamined emotions       encourage us to inhabit.  To learn contemplative practice is to learn what we need…to ..read more

Saturday, February 17 @ 2 pm ET Text: Mark 1:12-15 Commentary by Dr. Bonnie Thurston Click to Register The post Lectio Divina for the 1st Sunday of Lent appeared first on The Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore ..read more