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| The Virgin of Carmel Moretto da Brescia |
In his book, Gift and Mystery, the late Blessed Pope John Paul II referred several times to the influence that Carmelite Spirituality had in his life and vocation. In chapter three, for example, he says that he learned of Carmelite spirituality from a layman, Jan Tryanowski. He writes, "Tyranowski, whose own spiritual formation was based on the writings of St. John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila, helped me to read their works, something uncommon for a person my age. This increased my interest in Carmelite spirituality..." Any Diocese that has a Carmel is most blessed and fortunate, for it is both a great source of prayer and blessing and place of refuge for so many who seek the Nuns prayers and counsel. We are fortunate in our Diocese to have the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington. One of the windows there depicts the Carmelite Martyrs. I celebrated Mass their on Saturday, July 16, the Feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel when there public chapel was full. I was joined by Fr. John Hennessy and Fr. Isaac Orozco. I would like to share my homily for that day:
HOMILY FOR OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
July 16, 2011
"The last time that I was in the Holy Land, in 2006, I had the chance to visit Mt. Carmel again. Perhaps because by that time I had been a priest 25 years then when I was there the first time (I was in Third Year Theology then) the location made a greater impression on me. Perhaps it was because I took with me in 2006 the 25 years of priestly ministry and experiences which had been both blessings and challenges. From the top of Mt. Carmel one can look done and see the modern city of Haifa, and also have a clear view of the mountains (or range of mountains) that we call Carmel, and all of the surrounding country: a perspective from "on high" where the height and beauty of God's creation seems to define everything.
As we celebrate once more this great feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in the midst of the summer, cannot we say that today - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - can give us a perspective on the rest of our lives? How, from our prayer here and the spirituality of Carmel, we can see life from "on high", and how the presence of God in our lives can and must define who we are in this secular age.
What, in this feast day, can define our lives from "on high" today? How about Mt. Carmel itself, where Elijah tried to run and hide in his fear, and yet God found him...that "still, small voice."? We cannot run from the Lord as much as we might try - He will find us and seek us out in all moments, good and bad. That still, small voice of God is there to give us a perspective, to define our lives.
The first hermits that settled on Carmel took the Mother of God as their patron and protector. The readings today, then, in honor of Mary the Mother of God, give us another perspective from "on high" for our lives: to praise God in all moments, as in the Psalm response for today that is the Magnificat, or what it must take for us to so the will of God, or how we must trust God in all moments. And reflecting on St. John's Gospel for today, we with Mary must always have the perspective of standing at the foot of the Cross with St. John and Mary, and so define our lives from "on high."
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| Stained glass of the Carmelite Martyrs |
The history of the Carmelite family can give us another perspective - a way to define our lives with the great Saints of their family over the ages: The Little Flower, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Blessed Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), Saint Teresa of the Andes, the Carmelite Martyrs during the French Revolution, Blessed Titus Brandsma, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, and so many others. In the midst of great trials and struggles and darkness and misunderstanding in the call to conversion and love, they let their lives be defined by a continued life of prayer and faithfulness to their vocations: having experienced the presence of God "from on high."
All of the men and women had their sayings and writings which certainly furnish a perspective from "on high", for all who embrace the Gospel in following the rule of Carmel. For priests, for example, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity said that "the life of priest is like an Advent which prepares the Incarnation in souls (which I have framed and hanging in my office), and St. Therese (the Little Flower) once said "As we hope in God so shall we receive." On this July 16, 2011, this feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel for this year, may these words of St. Therese be an inspiration for us, and help us from "on high" to define and shape our lives today and always. May we alway be able to hope in God, and so then indeed we shall receive.