Carmelite Conversations

Engaging the World But Not of the World, with Mark Olson, OCDS

In John 17: 14-16, Jesus states that we do not belong to the world. Still, He prays not that we be taken from the world, but that we may have the strength to resist evil. What do the Carmelite Saints have to say about remaining in God while being in the world?         Examples are provided from Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection, General Gaston de Sonis, and St. Teresa of Avila.

What the Soul is to the Body, by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

How are we (as Carmelites/Christians) to be to the world what the soul is to the body?  What do our Carmelite Doctors of the Church teach us?  How are we in the world but not of the world?  What is the soul?  How does it operate? What is its relationship to the body?  How does the soul and the body work together?  How does this relate to our Carmelite/Christian calling?
Secular Carmelites/Christians are sent to bring the Spirit of Christ into the world to animate and transform it.  How do we do that?  How is this union of the body and soul perfected in Christ?

Mystery: The Threshold of Divine Love, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

Deacon Baldwin helps the listener to understand the word “mystery” as it applies to faith in God.  He explains how the mystery of God goes beyond our intellect and reason.  He then proceeds to introduce the steps to enter into the mystery of Divine Love.

Part 4: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally

4th in the Series:  featuring Père Jacques de Jésus, OCD (1900 – 1945)
Père Jacques (aka Lucien Bunel) was a French Roman Catholic priest who became a Discalced Carmelite Friar.  He was born in France in 1900 and died in 1945.  He lived through two earth-shattering wars in a country scarred by intense class conflict. Père Jacques was a talented preacher and youth group leader; a teacher with a revolutionary vision of education and love of human culture; a patriot who knew the life of a conscript, prisoner of war and member of the French Resistance; a “martyr of love” who died in a concentration camp. In all, he was a Carmelite priest on fire with love for God and neighbor.
In this conversation, we focus on his life and how he lived war and imprisonment humanly.
 
SOURCES:
Père Jacques
“Père Jacques: Resplendent in Victory”
By Francis J. Murphy
ICS Publications
 
“Listen to the Silence: A Retreat with Père Jacques”
Translated and Edited by Francis J. Murphy
ICS Publications
 

Part 3: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally

3rd in the Series:  featuring St. Maria Maravillas of Jesus, OCD (1891-1974)
During the life of St. Maria Maravillas, a Discalced Carmelite nun and foundress, Spain was going through much upheaval.  Religious persecution increased daily. 
In this conversation, you will learn how St. Maria Maravillas displayed courage in the face of opposition, even face to face opposition!  The revolutionaries were a constant threat.  What was this Saint’s response?  What was her “martyrdom of heart?”
You’ll also learn of a “Cinderella” moment she had that is quite an amusing story and connection with Holy Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of Avila).
 
RESOURCES on Saint Maria Maravillas:
“Following the Path of Divine Love”
By the Discalced Carmelites of Cerro de los Ageles and La Aldehuela, Spain
Published by the Carmel International Publishing House in Kerala, India
 
https://santamaravillasdejesus.es
This is the website to the convent near Cerro de los Ángeles. This is the convent from which she was first arrested during the Spanish Civil War; this is the one she rebuilt after it had been destroyed after being occupied by both sides at various times throughout the war. ~
 
Sainteté au Carmel: Vie et message de Mère Maravillas de Jésus
By the Carmel at the Cerro de los Ángeles
Éditions du Carmel

Part 2: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally

Second in the Series:  featuring General Louis-Gaston de Sonis
In this podcast, the conversation focuses on the life of General Louis-Gaston de Sonis, from France.  Born in 1825 and 1887.  He was a husband, father of 12, a military officer and a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.
He displayed courage in the midst of many struggles, both in the military and in the world, personally and as a Catholic. 
Our guest, Colleen Sollinger, tells us about his life and some of the adverse situations he was in.  She then points out how the General dealt with these situations.  He has much wise counsel to give us.
After he died, his body was found to be incorrupt.  Some miracles were declared and attributed to his intercession.  What a joy it would be to see his cause for canonization to be completed.
 
“The Life of General de Sonis, From his Papers and Correspondence”
By Msgr Baunard, Translated by Lady Herbert
Available from Amazon
Also found online at:  https://archive.org/stream/lifeofgeneraldes00baunuoft/lifeofgeneraldes00baunuoft_djvu.txt

Part 1: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally

In our day, there is much social upheaval and unrest and a strident political atmosphere.  Additionally, living during the pandemic of Covid-19, has caused many pressures and struggles for the whole world.
“Courage in the Face of Opposition” is needed as much, or even more, today as in previous times. 
Our guest, Colleen Sollinger, has put together several teaching points  and nuggets of wisdom from our Carmelites that will help us to live now in our challenging situation, as they did in theirs.
We will get wise counsel from several Carmelites.  Those featured in this podcast are:  St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, the Martyrs of Compiegne, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Maria Maravillas, St. Benedicta of the Cross, Pere Jacques (Bunel) of Jesus, and General Louis-Gaston de Sonis.
 
SOURCES
Père Jacques
“Père Jacques: Resplendent in Victory”
By Francis J. Murphy
ICS Publications
 
“Listen to the Silence: A Retreat with Père Jacques”
Translated and Edited by Francis J. Murphy
ICS Publications
 
General de Sonis
“The Life of General de Sonis, From his Papers and Correspondence”
By Msgr Baunard, Translated by Lady Herbert
Available from Amazon
 
“Le Général de Sonis”
By Gérard Bedel
Via Romana (it’s French but the most up-to-date, if you can read it.)
 
Martyrs of Compiègne
“To Quell the Terror: The True Story of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne”
William Bush
ICS Publications
 
Saint Maria Maravillas
There isn’t a lot about St. Maria Maravillas in English, alas. If you can read Spanish or French, you’re in luck. However, we can offer one English source:
 
“Following the Path of Divine Love:  Saint Maravillas, O.C.D., Daughter of the Church and of Saint Teresa of Jesus”
by the Discalced Carmelites of Cerro de los Angeles and La Aldehuela, Spain;
Carmel International Publishing House; Kerala, India. 2011.
 
https://santamaravillasdejesus.es
~ This is the website to the convent near Cerro de los Ángeles. This is the convent from which she was first arrested during the Spanish Civil War; this is the one she rebuilt after it had been destroyed after being occupied by both sides at various times throughout the war. ~
 
Sainteté au Carmel: Vie et message de Mère Maravillas de Jésus
By the Carmel at the Cerro de los Ángeles
Éditions du Carmel
 
 

Inspired by the Holy Spirt, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

We all are called by Heaven, but how many of us hear it?  How many answer the call?  What help do we receive in order to answer the call and fulfill the call? 
In this podcast, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, examines the “call.” Here, he specifically addresses the call to Carmel as indicated in the “Promise” made by members.  The content of this talk, however, pertains to every call from Heaven.
With great clarity, Deacon Baldwin, lays out how the call may come. Additionally, he addresses the correlation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit with the Theological and Cardinal Virtues. 
May God grant us the grace to favorably answer His Call.

Litany of Flights, a conversation with poet Laura Reece Hogan, with Tim Bete, OCDS

Laura Reece Hogan is a is a professed Third Order Carmelite and the award-winning author of the chapbook O Garden-Dweller and a book of spiritual theology, I Live, No Longer I. Laura earned a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and an Masters in Theology from St. John’s Seminary in California. She is also a poet and her poems can be found in America, First Things, The Christian Century, Dappled Things, and Whale Road Review, among other publications.
Laura is winner of the 2020 Paraclete Poetry Prize for her poetry collection titled Litany of Flights. The book remind us to behold the extraordinary in the ordinary, and that the secret workings of the divine occur even through the difficult.
Buy the book on Amazon.
 
 

The Beatitudes” presented by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

The blessings from God are considered in this presentation in the light of Evangelical Perfection.

A Father’s Heart, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

St. Joseph is becoming more and more prominent in the eyes of the Church.  It wasn’t long ago that St. Joseph’s name was added to the Eucharistic Prayers in the Masses of the Catholic Church.  Fr. Don Calloway also wrote a wonderful book in 2020 called “Consecration to St. Joseph: the Wonders of Our Spiritual Father” that has meditations to warm your heart greatly toward St. Joseph.  Now, we have a whole year dedicated to him as Pope Francis has declared the year from Dec. 8, 2020 to Dec. 8, 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph. 
It’s very fitting, then, that we ask St. Joseph to accompany us through this year in particular.  I am confident St. Joseph will be helping us in a special way as we journey along this Way of Perfection.  For Carmelites, he is known as the Protector of our Order. 
St. Teresa of Avila had a great devotion to St. Joseph.  My guest today, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, is going to highlight some points for us to consider from her writings on St. Joseph. 
More than that, Deacon Baldwin asks us how we are imitating St. Joseph in our own life. 
As a supplement, you may want to read from Pope Francis’s Apostolic Letter “Patris Corde”  found on the Vatican website at  http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html
 
 

The Spiritual Nature of Work: Reflections on Bro. Lawrence and Practicing the Presence of God, with Tim Bete, OCDS

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.

Therese Poems by Sarah Law, with Tim Bete, OCDS

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
 

The Dark Night of the Soul—Preparing to Meet the Beloved by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS.

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, Dark Night?
What did he ask to be recited to him as he lay dying?
What is the Flame of Love?

Mary in the Life and Writings of St. John of the Cross by Lynn Bete, OCDS

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 that topic.  What were the major Marian influences in St. John of the Cross’s life?  How did our Blessed Mother draw him to come and to stay in Carmel?  What does he write about our dear Blessed Mother?  How can he be called totally Marian?
 
Sources:
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD
“The Mariology of Saint John of the Cross” by Br. John-Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD 
https://discalcedcarmel.org/the-mariology-of-saint-john-of-the-cross/
“Mary and the Holy Spirit in the Writings of John of the Cross” by Emmanuel J. Sullivan, OCD 
http://blesslife.org/ourgarden/maryspirit.html
Passages from St. John of the Cross:
God alone moves these souls [who have reached habitual union with God] toward those works that are in harmony with his will and ordinance, and they cannot be moved toward others. Thus the works and prayer of these souls always produce their effect.
Such were the prayer and the works of our Lady, the most glorious Virgin Raised from the very beginning to this high estate, she never had the form of any creature impressed in her soul, nor was she moved by any, for she was always moved by the Holy Spirit.
~ Ascent of Mount Carmel 3.2.10
 
The discreet lover does not care to ask for what she lacks and desires, but only indicates this need so the Beloved may do what he pleases. When the Blessed Virgin spoke to her beloved Son at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, she did not ask directly for the wine, but merely remarked: They have no wine.
~ Commentary on The Spiritual Canticle 2.8
 
You will not take from me, my God, what you once gave me in your only Son, Jesus Christ, in whom you gave me all I desire… 
Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine, and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me.
~ Sayings of Light and Love #27 and #28
 
Then he called 
the archangel Gabriel 
and sent him to 
the virgin Mary, 
at whose consent 
the mystery was wrought, 
in whom the Trinity 
clothed the Word with flesh. 
and though Three work this, 
it is wrought in the One; 
and the Word lived incarnate 
in the womb of Mary. 
And he who had only a Father 
now had a Mother too…
~ Romances 8
 
Christmas Refrain
The Virgin, weighed
with the Word of God,
comes down the road:
if only you'll shelter her.

The Famous Prayer of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity with Frances Harry, OCDS

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.

The 6 Ms with Colleen Sollinger, OCDS

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 Discalced Carmelite Saints, the OCDS Constitution, and uses many other resources.  This is one of the very best talks I’ve heard on this topic.  Be refreshed!  Be renewed in spirit!  God will be glorified in all!

Communism, Carmel, and the Cure with host Frances Harry, OCDS and Angela Winfield, OCDS

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.

Whoever lives in the presence of so good a friend, a homily by Fr. John MacQuarrie

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 of Her Life” Ch. 29 verse 13.  Regarding the times we are living in, she has great advice:  “Whoever lives in the presence of so good a friend and excellent a leader, who went ahead of us to be the first to suffer, can endure all things.  The Lord helps us, strengthens us, and never fails; He is a true friend.” [Life, Ch. 22:7].

Mt. Zion with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

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.

Transfiguration Encounter with Deacon Rusty Baldwin. OCDS

Deacon Rusty Baldwin. OCDS, gives a talk about the Transfiguration.

Our Lady Queen of Peace with Herb Edwards, OCDS

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.

St. Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin Mary by Paul Adams, OCDS

Paul Adams, OCDS, provides insights on St. Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Maintaining our Carmelite Identity by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS

In this talk, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses how to maintain our Carmelite identity.

Mystical Union with Mary presented by Frances Harry, OCDS

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.”