March/April 2007, Issue 2, Streams from the Heart Newsletter from Our Lady of Mercy Lay Carmelites

Community ID: 565

http://www.olmlaycarmelites.org

Mar/Apr. 2007, Issue 2

Click here for the fulltext version of this issue.

In This Issue...

• My Call to Carmel: Ann Schmidt
• Lectio Divina
• Is Scripture Important in Our Spiritual Lives as Carmelites?
• St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi

• Growing in the Spirit [notes from a retreat]
• Community Meetings
• Ten Words of Advice
• Prayer Requests

	My Call to Carmel	BY ANN SCHMIDT

Ann Schmidt,
T.O. Carm.

My name is Ann Shirley Theresa Weeks Schmidt. I've been a member of Holy Spirit Church for 12 years. I've had a special place in my heart for the Carmelites since I was a child. The cloistered Carmelite nuns in Sacramento were instrumental in helping our family through a very difficult time. At one point my mother went often to the Carmelite Monastery for spiritual guidance taking my sister Catherine and me with her. Sometimes we'd go into the chapel and pray or just sit in the Lord's presence while we waited for her to talk to the extern nun. On Sunday afternoons a priest would come to say Benediction and we often joined in for that too. [Read the entire article...]

	The Importance of Lectio Divina for Carmelites	BY JOHN CASSIDY
When I found your Words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart.—Jeremiah 15:16

The Prophet
Jeremiah by
Michaelangelo

The focus of this issue is 'Lectio Divina.' The importance of 'Lectio' for Carmelites cannot be overemphasized.

Lectio tunes us in. Brings us into communion with Our Lord, helping us to fulfill the following scripture advice: Fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

Lectio is so very, very rich and powerful. Through Lectio Divina (basically devouring the Word of God as much as possible), the Holy Spirit enlightens us, drawing us closer and closer to Himself. Through this attunement & enlightenment we are brought to conviction, conversion & transformation — bit by bit — conquering our habits. [Read more...]

	Is Scripture Important in Our Spiritual Lives as Carmelites?	by Frank Dagostino, Director, Our Lady of Mercy Lay Carmelites

Carmelite Crest

The Carmelite is to be saturated with the Word of God. We pray the Word daily in the Liturgy of the Hours. We listen to the Word proclaimed at Eucharist. The Carmelite rule encourages us to read and meditate on the Word of God alone in our 'cell.' Our 'cell' is wherever we find ourselves.

A simple way to 'pray the Word'
All Christians and Carmelites in particular, are being urged to saturate themselves in Scripture. The practice of Lectio Divina is being revived throughout the whole Church. Our Holy Father Benedict XVI is urging all Christians, Catholic and protestant, to prayerfully read scripture using the ancient method of Lectio....

I would like to give you the following very simple steps for Lectio. This is from the very earliest sources, the way the ancient Fathers and Mothers of the desert prayed the scriptures.... [Read more...]

	St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi for Carmelites (1566-1607)	BY JOACHIM SMET, O. CARM.
When I found your Words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart.—Jeremiah 15:16

St. Mary Magdalene
de'Pazzi

Catherine de' Pazzi, born in 1566, was destined to live during one of the more difficult periods in the history of the Catholic Church and to become one of the Order's and indeed the Church's most exalted mystics. Even as a girl she was attracted to prayer, solitude, and penance. She had a deep devotion for the Eucharist, receiving his first Communion at the age of ten and shortly thereafter making a vow of virginity.

In the family, Catherine was called Lucrezia out of respect for her paternal grandmother, Lucrezia Mannucci. But this was never really accepted by Catherine... [Read more...]

	Growing in the Spirit [notes from a retreat]	BY CATHERINE WEEKS, T.O. CARM.
Fall in love with God! Then you won't give the slightest consideration to sin.

At our Regional Day of Recollection on February 10, 2007, Fr. Frank Buckley, S.J., spoke about "The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity" and "The Gifts of the Holy Spirit". [Read notes from these talks.]

COMMUNITY MEETINGS
2007

April 22
May 20
June 24
July 15
September 16
October 21
November 18
December 16

Ten Words of Advice

1. When you begin a lectio divina of the Bible, don't be concerned with study.

2. Listening to God does not depend on you or on the effort you make.

3. It is important to create the right surroundings.

4. When you open the Bible, be conscious that you are opening a book which is not yours.

5. An attentive and fruitful reading of the Bible involves THREE STEPS.

6. The result of these steps is the destination of lectio divina — contemplation.

7. To give your lectio divina the deepest roots, it is important to take account of three demands.

8. The Apostle Paul gives various bits of advice on how to read the Bible.

9. When you read the Bible, be always aware that the text of the Bible is not only a fact. It is also a symbol (Heb. 11:19).

10. The principal object of Lectio Divina is to discover, with the help of the written Word, the living Word which God speaks to you today.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember these requests during your daily prayer.

For Richard M. & others — recovery from cancer operation & ongoing cancer treatments.

For Kay R's recovery. Please pray that my cancer has not grown and is responding to treatment. Also please pray that I am able to be calm and trust in Jesus.

Please pray that the blessings of marriage be granted to me and C. Thank you for being with me in this prayer. —Melissa

For Pope Benedict, our bishop, all religious, all clergy, all parish priests, especially our host parish priests at Holy Spirit Church.

For all children to have a deepening of their faith.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious

Pray for the respect of life at all stages from conception to natural death.

For the intentions written in our Community Book of Prayer.

Send us your prayer requests....