Remembrance in Daily Prayer

The main purpose of the Carmelite life is PRAYER. The Carmelite prays day and night without ceasing for the WORLD. It is intercessory prayer. Praying for those who need prayer, for those who request prayers and for those who do not pray. We pray not only the Liturgy of the Hours but also have periods of meditative prayer (called 'mental prayer') where we silently reflect either alone or in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, on the needs and requests of those who ask for remembrance. Often times we sit quietly before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament either in Chapel or in Church and listen. We are told to "Listen to Him" by a few vitally important sources! First by the Father - who at the Baptism of Jesus spoke and said, " This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests, Listen to him" No more important source is needed here, but we are reminded again at the Wedding at Cana- this time by The Blessed Virgin Mary who said to the waiters (the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine) "Do whatever he tells you"

St Teresa of Jesus often reminded her nuns (and us who follow her methods of prayer) that mental prayer is as simple an act as sitting alone with someone you are in love with and who is in love with you. The couple seems to gaze at each other communicating love without speaking. This is the relationship between the Lover and the Beloved- between Jesus and the individual soul. This too is part of the prayer life of a Carmelite. To develop and continually strive to reach that summit of love between themselves and the Lord, by praying each and every day,  morning noon and evening and even during the night.

Jesus requests those who follow him closely to "feed my sheep". He asked Peter three times, "Peter, do you love me?" He asks those who follow him that very question. Feed my sheep feed, my followers, those who love me, not only materially by sharing and good works for them, but spiritually as well, through Prayer. That is and always has been the mission of this Carmelite Hermitage since it's beginning in 1991.

Remembrance at Mass

The Carmelite not only prays for others during the Liturgy of the Hours and during Mental Prayer, they also remember other's petitions when they attend and /or assist at Mass. The Mass is not only for those of us here on earth, it is the continual Sacrifice that brings us all back to Calvary. It unites us the Church Militant, with the Church Suffering, and the Church Triumphant. Those who have already gone from this life as we know it, to life eternal in God's presence. We join our loved ones; family, friends and benefactors who have left this world in the Lord's peace, and the Saints triumphant, as well as the Holy Souls, at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As we gather around the altar- God's Table, during the Mass, so does the Communion of Saints (which includes our loved ones and the Holy Souls) Our prayers and petitions are heard there as well.

The Mass is not only a time of petition but a time of offering. It is when we offer all that we are to Jesus, who offered and gave his very life for our Salvation. It is also a time for great MERCY. What better time than during the Mass is there to obtain Divine Mercy?

Mercy is what we all need, the world needs, and the Holy Souls need. What a truly merciful act it is to pray for others, and to pray for the dead. Not just for our deceased loved ones, but for those poor souls who have nobody to pray for them. They too are very much loved by God.

Jesus said to St. Faustina," The more a person needs my mercy, the more I need to give it to them".

A few of her words of Wisdom......