Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection's book The Practice of the Presence of God is a spiritual classic and provides great insight into the important of our secular work to uniting us with God. In this podcast, Tim Bete, OCDS, summarizes Brother Lawrence's wisdom for our daily lives.
Poet Sarah Law talks about her new book Therese: Poems, which is a wonderful way to meditate on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. Sarah also reads several poems. The book can be purchased at: Paraclete Press: https://paracletepress.com/collections/vendors?q=Sarah%20Law&contributorID=100447 Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Thérèse-Paraclete-Poetry-Sarah-Law/dp/1640603948...
Dec. 14th is the Solemnity/Feast of St. John of the Cross, a Discalced Carmelite and Doctor of the Church. He is often referred to as Doctor Mysticus or Doctor of Love. He is a great Saint for Advent with his writings centering on mystery, darkness, intimacy, light and flame of love. This presentation will help us ponder these questions: What is a mystic? What are we called to? What is the Dark Night and what it is NOT? What is true happiness and joy? Why did St. John of the Cross use the term, ...
St. John of the Cross is known as one of the greatest Spanish Poets. Thankfully, he was asked to expound upon his poems which resulted in the classics we may be familiar with…such as “The Spiritual Canticle,” “The Dark Night,” and “The Living Flame of Love.” Someone new to St. John of the Cross may complain, however, that he didn’t write very much about the Blessed Virgin Mary. This presentation by Lynn Bete, a professed Discalced Carmelite Secular in Dayton, OH, may change their perspective on ...
On this day, Nov. 8, the feast day of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, join me in praying her famous prayer known as “O My God, Trinity whom I Adore.” It is a prayer that is very deep with much to ponder. This translation came from the book, “Drink of the Stream: Prayers of the Carmelites” compiled by Penny Hickey, OCDS, pg. 299-300.
What are the obligations of a person who becomes a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites? An easy way to remember them is to abbreviate them and call them the “6 M’s.” Colleen Sollinger, a professed member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, and also the Director of Formation for her community in Dayton, OH, shares with us a description of each of the M’s, but also challenges us with deeper perspectives that may revitalize us in many ways. She references many of our Disca...
The famous sun miracle at the Church approved apparition in Fatima, Portugal on Oct. 13, 1917 remains a topic of discussion among many Catholics. Over a hundred years have passed since it occurred, yet we are still deriving great fruit from it. In this conversation, guest Angela Winfield will shed some light on the Carmelite connections to this great miracle and what it means for us today.
On Oct. 15, 2020, Fr. John MacQuarrie gave this homily at the Feast Day Mass of St. Teresa of Avila. What is piercing your heart? Is it the anger and confusion of our times in this world, in the church, in politics? Or is it the flaming arrow of God’s love? Fr. John MacQuarrie leads us in a reflection on this feast day of St. Teresa of Avila by recalling the great statue by Bernini of St. Teresa in ecstasy. The description of this supernatural event involving St. Teresa can be found in “The Book...
Mountains are a privileged place of prayer. Jesus often went up the mountain to pray. In Hebrews 12:22-24 we are invited to come to Mt. Zion, the City of the Living God. What is this call? How should we answer this call? What is our responsibility in answering this call? Mt. Zion is a place of prayer, consolation and growth. But…don’t just stay there! We have work to do! Deacon Russell Baldwin, OCDS, shares his reflection on Mt. Zion to help us answer those questions.
Deacon Rusty Baldwin. OCDS, gives a talk about the Transfiguration.
Herb Edwards, OCDS, gave a wonderful talk about Our Lady Queen of Peace at our September 2020 OCDS Community meeting. The very beginning of the talk was cut off but the talk was so amazing, we still wanted to share it with you here.
Paul Adams, OCDS, provides insights on St. Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In this talk, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses how to maintain our Carmelite identity.
Carmelites are well aware of the spiritual journey climbing Mt. Carmel to grow in union with our Lord. What may be passing under our radar is the Mystical Union with our Blessed Virgin Mary. This program addresses what that union is, what Marian souls experience in it, and how we may prepare ourselves to be open for such a great grace. The main source was the book by Fr. Emile Neubert called “Life of Union with Mary.”
Many of us are homebound right now due to the pandemic of the coronavirus. The whole world is experiencing this scourging. What are we as Secular Discalced Carmelites called to do. Mark highlights some aspects of our Carmelite Charism that are particularly potent right now, in this period of Lent and the pandemic.
Since most of us, all over the world, are not able to physically go to Mass and received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, due to the pandemic coronavirus, we have a unique opportunity to intensify our spiritual practice of spiritual communions. St. Teresa of Avila gives us some wise counsel on this topic. Additionally, St. Therese of Lisieux, wrote a poem, “My Desires Near Jesus Hidden in His Prison of Love,” that will help inflame any loving heart.
Deacon Russell Baldwin, OCDS, gave a homily on The Well-Ordered Life at our March 2020 Community meeting and holy Hour.
Marika Zimmerman, OCDS, gave this presentation at our March 2020 Community meeting. Bibliography Nine Themes in Carmelite Spirituality - 6. Carmel is Marian by Fr. Patrick Thomas McMahon, O.Carm. https://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/nine-themes-carmelite-spirituality-6-carmel-marian Liturgy of the Hours Lenten/Easter Season Volume II for Solemnity the Annunciation Psalm Prayer Divine office for 25 March Psalm prayer after Psalm45 not in the four volume but found on line. http://www.ibreviary.com/m...
Material and spiritual attachments are BIG roadblocks to our growing union with the Lord. This presentation by Deacon Baldwin, himself a Secular Discalced Carmelite, helps one ponder how to live out the Evangelical Counsel of Poverty in one’s own life. In a way, it is even harder for Seculars as the temptations are greater since they live in the world and use material possessions daily. Deacon Baldwin refers to the “Four Degrees of Poverty” of St. Alphonsus Liguori from the book, The Spouse of C...
For 2020, our OCDS Community in Dayton, Ohio, has the theme of "Mary, Our Mother” for all of our community presentations. This month’s presentation is on “Mary in Scripture.” There are some eye-opening analogies and topologies presented in this talk that will bolster the faith of many. Additionally, many scriptural passages are referenced for your benefit. The presentation is by Chris Cotter, OCDS.
It’s no surprise to learn of the great devotion St. Therese of Lisieux had for our Mother Mary. She was immersed in Marian devotion from her birth, being born into a family that all loved Mary. The focus of this presentation is on four aspects of Therese’s love for Mary: 1) the Ordinary/Simple Mary, 2) the Healing Mother/Child of Mary, 3) Being Under the Mantle/Veil of Mary, and 4) Mary’s Maternal Love: More Mother than Queen. At the end of the reflection, Therese’s poem “Why I Love You, O Mary”...
This is a reflection given on the feast of the Baptism of our Lord that focuses on the sacrament of Baptism itself as well as our own Baptism in light of our vocation to Carmel.
What would it be like to fully experience the Trinity dwelling in you at all times.? What might it be like to live with continual spiritual guidance and direction, to experience rest and consolation, to know that you are confirmed in reality of an eternal destiny of unimaginable peace, and, most importantly, what would it be like to live in continual peace? If any or all of these conditions of existence sound intriguing to you, then this specific podcast on the Prayer to the Trinity, of St. Eliz...
Frances Harry, OCDS, interviews poet Tim Bete, OCDS, about the link between contemplative prayer and poetry, including the "secret wisdom" discussed by St. John of the Cross the the concept of "creative intuition" discussed by Jacques Maritain. Books of poetry by Tim Bete: The Raw Stillness of Heaven , Wanderings of an Ordinary Pilgrim Primary source material: The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (includes The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle, The Living Fla...
Fraces Harry, OCDS, interviews poet Tim Bete, OCDS, about the poetry of St. John of the Cross. Below are resources and links to things mentioned in the podcast. Books of poetry by Tim Bete: The Raw Stillness of Heaven , Wanderings of an Ordinary Pilgrim Primary source material: The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (includes The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle, The Living Flame of Love, Letters, and The Minor Works) [Revised Edition]. ICS Publications. The L...
Tammy Jetton, OCDS, gives a talk about St. Joseph during a meeting of the Dayton Secular Community's monthly meeting.
This is an episode in the monthly series of talks by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, a Secular Discalced Carmelite who gives a presentation to our Community in Dayton each month. These are recorded live during our Holy Hours. In this program, Deacon Baldwin discusses the language of God.
Reflecting on St. Teresa of Avila’s devotion to St. Joseph, we see that it comes from her own personal life experience and intercession with St. Joseph. This reflection is based on an except from St. Teresa’s: “The Book of Her Life.” Join in at the end by praying the Litany to St. Joseph.
Rarely do we get an overview of St. Teresa of Avila’s life, since we most frequently focus on specific teachings from her. This is a refreshing overview with a little bit of trivia.
Our OCDS community had a special celebration for St. Therese on her feast day, Oct. 1st. We had a guest do a presentation on St. Therese. This podcast is that presentation given at St. Peter’s Church in Dayton, OH. Many people have a stereotypical idea that St. Therese, the Little Flower, had it easy growing up and then living in the Carmelite Convent. This presentation clearly lays out many ways that St. Therese suffering and how she dealt with suffering. One ends feeling hopeful that our own s...
