Mary’s Month in Carmel, 2025

GROUNDSKEEPING

with Br. Luke of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

As Discalced Carmelites, we aim to keep the exterior side of our life simple but beautiful, for the purpose of helping to raise the mind and spirit to God. This takes place in our liturgies, in our habits, and in other facets of our life, such as in the way we care for the grounds of the monastery. Recent projects on the grounds, led by Br. Nathanael, have included: beautifying the Stations of the Cross area by pulling up weeds and planting grass seed, trimming bushes and planting flowers, and especially uprooting the many stumps and weeds around the white house behind the monastery. We plan to continue to make the grounds more beautiful, while still simple, and to make them maintainable for the future. We depend upon the generosity of others to live our life as friars. We are grateful for those who provide for in whatever way they can. Here is a link if you would like to make a donation:

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CAMPUS MINISTRY

by Fr. Donald of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

I am writing as Chaplain for the UMass Boston Catholic Ministry. It is my honor to be serving the campus as Chaplain for the last three years. The personal holiness of each college student is growing yearly. This year we baptized two people and confirmed 6 more and currently having two preparing for Baptism and another two for confirmation. Our bible studies started as one per week and currently we have three men’s Bible studies and two women’s Bible studies. The Focus missionaries meet with individuals and encourage them in the journey with the Lord. Each student has a story to be written, and we are assisting them in allowing it to be written in a beautiful way. Our goal is to make these young men and women something beautiful for the Lord.

WOMEN’S DAY OF RECOLLECTION

by Br. Joseph Teresa of the Eucharist

The women's day of recollection we held in March was a very graced time. Although the friars mostly stayed behind the scenes, it sounded to me that what the women experienced that day was a welcome opportunity to break the cycle of everyday hustle and bustle with a day dedicated just to God. It was moving to see so many young women seeking Jesus' Heart, "an open wound of love for them," to use a phrase from St. John of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is doing great things in His Church!

MEN’S DAY OF RECOLLECTION

by Br. Moses of the Resurrection

This past April, we hosted our first "Carmelite Day of Recollection for Young Men" at our monastery in Brighton, MA. All of the friars in formation in Brighton along with some local Catholic young men who regularly attend our Tuesday night young adult book study helped to organize and host the event. Br. John-Mary Winter OCD, from our monastery in Washington DC, presented on the theme of "The Silence of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph: Transformative Silence Amid Daily Trials and Distractions." The day of recollection began with Holy Mass and included opportunities for personal prayer, Confession, an hour of Adoration, and a Q-and-A session. The day of recollection concluded with a cook-out and a bonfire (despite the cold Boston drizzle — persistence in the face of inclement weather is a Teresian virtue:))

OUR ST. JOSEPH’S ALTAR

by Br. Vincent Thomas of Divine Providence

The tradition of building an altar for St. Joseph’s Day was brought to Louisiana by Sicilian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and remains popular throughout the state, especially in New Orleans, where many people of Sicilian heritage still live. The brothers helped to assemble a show of our gratitude for the “abbondanza” (abundance) of graces St. Joseph intercedes for as Protector of Our Order by baking and decorating traditional bread and cookies for the solemnity, with a donation being made to the poor in thanksgiving for all we have been given.

BRS. ISAIAH AND MOSES GRADUATE FROM ST. JOHN’S SEMINARY

This May, two of our students passed their comprehensive exams and completed their coursework at the seminary—four years of theology in preparation for Holy Orders. Br. Moses and Br. Isaiah are grateful for the excellent program at St. John’s and for the support of all of their friends and family. They are relieved to be done with exams, but the work of formation takes a lifetime!

FROM THE PRIOR’S DESK

by Fr. Bonaventure of the Hidden Life

My dear brothers and sister, in Christ Jesus,

Greetings in the Resurrection Season, of God’s Son and Our Savior! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! As He said! Alleluia! Alleluia!

During Passion Week Friar John-Magdalene drove me to Pennsylvania and I was amazed at the variety of color and different hues of the trees down there this Spring.

When a person drives, they concentrate on driving and for the most part are unable to view and reflect on the colors of nature all around them. My favorite season has always been Autumn because of the brilliant color of the leaves in the Fall. However, during this drive I was able to observe the Spring colors and be amazed at the variety and subtlety of them all around as we made our way on the highways. To think that this array of color has always been there and I had not been able to take it all in because I was not driving. It challenged my Autumn preference of colors. It really brought a new appreciation of Spring and an invitation to reflect on the celebration of the Resurrection.

How much do we appreciate the various colors and hues of the Scripture as we move through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord? Are we too caught up in the ongoing demands of daily life and its repetitive nature to truly ruminate nature’s beauty? Scripture is often approached as nature is while driving. Do we take the time to reflect on the liturgical readings and celebrations and the brilliant vibrancy of the expressions of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection? Especially within the context of the struggle and death that leads to our own hope in the Resurrection?

Do not miss the opportunity to open your eyes to the beauty that surrounds you, like a driver who is so focused on the road (as he/she should be) that they are not able to comprehend the beauty that surrounds them. Whether it is the beauty of the fresh new Spring colors, or the deep-greens and browns of the Summer, or the brilliant array of Fall, or the subdued greys and whites of Winter. All bears witness to the marvelous creativity of the creator and the mystery of a fully lived life. Take advantage of the times of dying to old forms and practices and look afresh at the sheer beauty of nature (the first book of revelation according to the early Desert Fathers and Mothers) that surrounds us. May the Good God grant you this grace!

God is with your spirits! A bientot (See you soon)! Deo volente (God willing)!

With joy in the Espousal of Mary and Joseph,

Friar Father Bonaventure, O.C.D.

We are truly grateful to all those who support our way of life, especially by their prayers. If you would like to make a donation, please follow this link.

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