Featured Articles
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Read More: Poetry at the Threshold of ContemplationHow Mystical Poetry Disposes the Soul for Union with God Carmelites have written a lot of mystical poetry. In Sally Read’s compilation, 100 Great Catholic Poems (Word on Fire, 2023), six of the 100 poems are written by Carmelites (John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, and Jessica Powers). There are also many more…
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Read More: Reflection: Preserving Sacred Voices: AI, the Uncanny Valley, and the Dignity of CommunicationAs a Secular Carmelite, I’ve found that while spiritual transformation comes through God’s grace, God usually chooses to transmit His grace through those in my family, parish, and Carmelite community. Perhaps that’s one reason the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to replace voices and faces has puzzled me so much. Pope Leo’s letter for the 60th World…
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Read More: Reflection: Elizabeth of the Trinity and RelationshipsSt Elizabeth of the Trinity is one of my favourite saints. This young Carmelite who died in 1906 at the age of 26 left behind many letters and pieces of writing which are a rich source of prayer and reflection, filled with practical insights into living in relationship with the Blessed Trinity. One of the…
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Read More: Towards a Spirituality of AgeingIntroduction As the years fall away, what matters most becomes clearer. As we live, we inevitably age. In these times, when so many are blessed with length of life, old age occupies an increasing share of the human lifespan and can extend across decades. Ageing can be a revealing process—one that invites honesty, humility, and…
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Read More: The Mystery of Strength in Weakness: Insights from Fr. Marie-Eugène and Père JacquesAn Affinity of Life and Character Fr Marie-Eugène and Père Jacques are two great Carmelite figures of the twentieth century who have a remarkable affinity, both in their character and in the trajectory of their lives. By way of introduction, we can note a number of points in common. They were contemporaries: Henri Grialou, the…
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Read More: Addressed by the Way of the CrossDuring the forty days of Lent, especially on Good Friday, many Catholic churches (and an increasing number of Protestant ones) pay particular attention to the Way of the Cross and its stations. In some churches fourteen small crosses can be seen on the wall, sometimes paired with Roman numerals. Other churches present artistic representations of…