How do I become a saint?...............

[La-Petite-Fleur]

BarbaraTherese:

Hi Little Flower! …I did do a search but was unable to come up with the defintion of ‘convalidated’. Does it mean that you were re-married inside The Catholic Church?
If so, you are every bit as one with The Church as I am by virtue of our Baptism, and by virtue of (what I think is) your remarriage in The Catholic Church…yes you are called to sanctity, to holiness in The Catholic Church as we all are by virtue of our Baptism and unity in the community of The Church. But I would like to know please, what ‘convalidated’ does mean - I merely arrived at a conclusion that it meant remarriage in The Catholic Church?
Your Post reflects a gentle and profound humility which St. Teresa of Avila said is the foundation of all the virtues.

Peace Little Flower (a name given to St. Therese of Lisieux, do you know her story?)…Barb

Hi to you too Barb ! The convalidation is a marriage in the Catholic church; I’ve also heard it called “blessed marriage”. A quote I found says “Convalidation is not simply a blessing of an existing invalid marriage. Rather, the valid marraige begins when consent is exchanged during the convalidation ceremony.” Our marriage in the Catholic Church took place through convaladation ceremony, and therefore my husband could once again receive the sacraments & I could join the Church & receive the sacraments as well. Here’s a link that has more of an explanation.

Thank you for your sweet words . You flatter me greatly. …Oh, and yes, I know of St. Therese. She’s a great Saint & inspiration. I want to be a little flower too .

Peace to you!

 

[tdandh26]

The way to become a saint,
Mass
Rosary
Confession
The way of the Cross

Plus throw in 2 excellent spiritual books: The Spiritual Exercises, by St. Ignatius (and) The Immitation of Christ, by Thomas A’kempis.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

La-Petite-Fleur:

Hi to you too Barb ! The convalidation is a marriage in the Catholic church; I’ve also heard it called “blessed marriage”. A quote I found says “Convalidation is not simply a blessing of an existing invalid marriage. Rather, the valid marraige begins when consent is exchanged during the convalidation ceremony.” Our marriage in the Catholic Church took place through convaladation ceremony, and therefore my husband could once again receive the sacraments & I could join the Church & receive the sacraments as well. Here’s a link that has more of an explanation.

Thank you for your sweet words . You flatter me greatly. …Oh, and yes, I know of St. Therese. She’s a great Saint & inspiration. I want to be a little flower too .

Peace to you!

Hi Little Flower!

Methinks you are alread a little flower, Little Flower!
Without the trying, a very delicate and profound humility is communicated in your Posts…what a great start on the road to holiness and sanctity you have made. A true daughter of St. Teresa of Avila, who reformed Carmel and was the founder of the particular branch of Carmel to which St. Therese belonged in Lisieux in France (I am part French, part Chinese through ancestry on Mum and Dad’s side. Dad/French, Mum/Chinese). The branch is known as Order of Carmel, Discalced - OCD - (which means ‘without shoes’. TheY do not go barefoot but wear sandals). The other branch is known as O.Carm or Order of Carmel. They are very closely of course related and share each others’ saints.
St Therese in her autobiography, published as “Story of a Soul” (have you read it?) wrote that she desired to do her best work from Heaven when she desired to send forth ‘a whole legion of little souls’ meaning humble souls who followed her ‘Little Way’ as she called it of perfection or holiness. You are a true daughter of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese. And I reiterate that you are also a true daughter of The Catholic Church and called to sanctity and holiness like all of us.
Did you know that Carmel (both branches) have a Secular or Third Order? You may have some interest in this. I’ll come back and post a link for you just in case. I am not incidentally a member of any Third or Secular Order.
Yes I thought convalidated meant remarriage in The Church and this means that your marriage is in every way fully a Catholic marriage now. Put the past behind you…many of us started from strange points on our quest for holiness. You are no orphan! …and look at the great St. Augustine and St. Paul…they too started from very strange points in their past!!!

Have you ever visited a Carmelite Monastery of either monks or nuns. If you have one near you, if you ring, I am sure Mother Prioress or Father Prior would be absolutely delighted to meet you. I have very close links indeed with our Carmelite Nuns here in Adelaide, South Australia, and have done since I was 16yrs. old…now a young 60yrs. old!!!

Delighted to meet you Little Flower and I hope to come across you again on CAF…May The Lord continue to bless you richly!

Barb:wave:

 

[BarbaraTherese]

PS for Little Flower

My heart is dancing for joy for having ‘met’ you Little Flower…what a delight to my heart you are turning a rather dull day into one full of joy! This joy tells me that I have ‘met’ holiness… Thank you…Barb

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hi Little Flower…here is a link to an OCDS (Order of Carmel Discalsed Secular) site giving information on the Secular Third Order of Carmel.
helpfellowship.org/OCDS%20Lessons/Lesson%2011.htm

Others on CAF may be able to give you more assistance if you are interested in Carmel’s Secular Order (married people can join - either together or one or the other). If you have any questions I am sure if you post a thread you will get a good response. If you are familiar with the internet and ‘surfing’ you will come across quite a lot of Carmelite information including on the Seculars. The other alternative of course is to contact a Carmelite Monastery near you.

Of course, you can follow Carmelite spirituality without joining a Third Order and this is my preference but we all differ and have our own unique and individual call from God to a particular state in life. Firstly, you are called to the married state, but God may wish to call you to Carmel also in the Secular Order…only you can discern that call.

Peace LF…Barb