Divine Mercy and Carmelite Spirituality

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

I am looking for a solid connection between Divine Mercy (particularly as taught by Saint Faustina) and Carmelite Spirituality (especially as emphasized in the works of such Saints as John of the Cross, Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Jesus, etc.). I know many of you are much more versed in Carmelite Spirituality than I am (still learning - slowly but surely) and hoped you would know.

Thanks.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

One example that comes to mind is that both Faustina and Thérèse of Lisieux had a great thirst for souls, the desire to intercede to Divine Mercy for unrepentant sinners.

Throughout her Diary, Faustina gives examples of times when she felt called to pray for mercy for sinners (in general, as well as for specific souls who were in danger of death and in need of mercy).

For Thérèse of Lisieux, this is exemplified by the Pranzini incident. Pranzini, an unrepentant murderer, was being executed for his crimes. Thérèse, still a child, prayed for his salvation:

"I would have liked all creation to join with me in praying for the grace that was needed [by Pranzini]. In my heart I felt certain we shouldn’t be disappointed, but by way of encouragement in this practice of praying for sinners, I did ask for a sign … I would like him to show some sign of repentance, just for my own satisfaction.

"My prayer was answered and to the letter … The day after his execution I came upon a copy of *La Croix *[a newspaper]. I lost no time in opening it, and what I read brought the tears to my eyes …

"Pranzini didn’t go to confession. He went up on to the scaffold, and was just preparing to put his head through the bars of the guillotine, when a sudden inspiration came to him. He availed himself of the crucifix which the priest was holding out to him and kissed, three times, the sacred wounds. And with that, his soul went to receive its award from those merciful lips which told us that ‘there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine souls that are justified and have no need of repentance …’

“After that special grace, my longing to save souls grew from day to day … I offered to our Lord souls that were revivified, now, by the dew of his precious blood. And the more I did that, the more he, on his side, increased in my imperfect nature the thirst for souls …”

 

[DBT]

One example that comes to mind is that both Faustina and Thérèse of Lisieux had a great thirst for souls, the desire to intercede to Divine Mercy for unrepentant sinners.

Throughout her Diary, Faustina gives examples of times when she felt called to pray for mercy for sinners (in general, as well as for specific souls who were in danger of death and in need of mercy).

For Thérèse of Lisieux, this is exemplified by the Pranzini incident. Pranzini, an unrepentant murderer, was being executed for his crimes. Thérèse, still a child, prayed for his salvation:

And of course there’s St. Therese’s sense of her posthumous mission: that she’d spend her eternity interceeding for souls here on earth Also, her references to merciful love are probably to numerous to count! An interesting side-note, the Divine Mercy is prayed everyday at 3PM in our Carmelite monestary. I’ve always been struck by that!

Zeal for souls - especially through prayer - is a hallmark of Carmelite spirituality. Sts. Teresa and John speak at great lengths on this.

Dave.

 

[blessedstar]

I think in Carmel we can go as far back as Elijah. His zeal for God consumed him. He fought fearlessly in prayer and fasting alone in the cave until the crow brought him bread which is a symbol of the Eucharist. He proclaimed the Truth with assurity and faith and called people to the True God, this is the **first mercy, the solitude of the internal journey to faith and then powerful conversion. ******

St Teresa of Avila saw many visions and received many lights of prayer, she also suffered terribly and called herself a ‘wretched woman’ because after such light that came to her from God she saw herself as the dust she was, though she is a Saint, she knew herself as a sinner and this is** the second mercy, purgation and illumination.**

St John of the Cross wounded with love abandoned himself to Jesus giving up everything else, this is the third mercy, love between lovers, the human lover and the Diviner lover.

St Therese suffered a ‘little’ death of faith, she never said a word to her sisters, but to her confessor she trusted all and felt she no longer had a shred of faith and willed faith, this is the fourth mercy, faith proven in dark striving upheld in unperceptible grace from God.

All the Saints of Carmel have gone through the four stages of mercy and end here at the fifth…The spirit of sacrifice… it is at the centre of Divine Mercy because our Lord said ‘One who is forgiven much loves much’ and then ‘No greater love has man than to lay down his life for his friends’. This is the fifth and final mercy, to suffer for love of God and love of others. To suffer so that it is joy and the soul is perfected in suffering having travelled thus far through all of God’s mercies and the soul strives to do good works for others practically (works of mercy) and spiritually (prayer, work of mercy) the final mercy is united to Him at Calvary in every breathing moment of the Living Prayer of life and the Saint lays their life down in a prayer of suffering for the souls of others… a little daily martyrdom ending in each personal cross that leads to the Narrow Gate and eternal life in Jesus. Elijah must have thought he would be murdered alone on that mountain with the Baal ‘crowd’ or perhaps starve if it be God’s will in the great famine, St Teresa must have thought how badly she was mocked and suffered for the reform of Carmel and was badly treated for the graces she received in contemplative prayer, St John was imprisoned and his suffering was great and on the list goes of saints and Saints who suffer and unite their cross to Christ knowing the mercies hidden therein for themselves and for others. This fifth mercy of the Cross is the greatest and final mercy of union.

When someone talks about a cross they have to me, after consoling them I always say that there is always a fly in your chardonnay, but thank God for the fly, for protein is the greatest food indeed and our souls are so in need of the fly and God thirsts for the drink from our soul, but He treaures the fly which is our cross and does the greatest works of mercy with that small fly; our cross!

Everything is mercy. I thank God for everything.

Mercy begins with prayer and ends with prayer

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

Interesting!