Dear Family Members, Friends, and Benefactors,

It has been a few months since our last letter. The month of July is a happy time to reconnect. There is much to celebrate as we continue to make progress in our work on the chapel and celebrate the feasts of our two principal patrons - Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16th and the Prophet Elijah on July 20th. In this post you will find:

An Reflection on: Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Flos Carmeli
Prayer Corner: Elijah - Prophet of Carmel - “The Widow’s Mite”
Construction Update: Marble Arches Installed in the Sanctuary
Around the Monastery: Garden Beds and Wild Flowers

During the Month of July there are many Carmelite Saints that we celebrate in addition to our great spiritual parents. The following is a complete roll call: Bl. Maria Crocifissa, Bl. Jane Scopelli, St. Teresa of the Andes, Bls. Teresa of St. Augustine and Companions (the Martyrs of Compiegne), Bl. John Soreth, Bls. Maria Pilar, Teresa and Maria Angeles (the Martyrs of Guadalajara), Bl. Mercedes Prat, Sts. Joachim and Anne, and Bl. Titus Brandsma. The example of so many saintly witnesses is evidence of the great holiness that may be obtained by a loving relationship with the Mother and Queen of Carmel.

If there is anything we could wish for all of you who support us in our life of prayer, it is this: to know that the Blessed Virgin Mary is your mother and that you are her children. Don’t forget to wear a brown scapular; and, if you do not have one be sure to get one for yourself! The scapular is the sign that we belong totally to Mary. Let her be a Mother for you! She will make you just like her son Jesus so that you might become a great saint in Carmel’s family with so many others.

May the Virgin Mary bless you with her Child,

The Carmelite Hermits

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Flos Carmeli

"Carmelus Totus Marianus Est." In English that means: Carmel is totally Marian. This phrase sums up the Marian Character of the Order of Carmel. Everything in Carmel: the religious, the habit, the buildings, the property, the works and prayers of the Carmelites, everything belongs to Mary… everything! Carmel is totally Marian. How did this deep association ever come about?

We have to ask a few more questions in order to probe this reality more deeply. How did the mountain range of Carmel ever become associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary? And, how did the first Carmelites ever come to designate themselves as her brothers? These are not only very interesting questions for the curious looking for answers regarding the origins of the hermits on Mount Carmel, but they are also essential principles at the heart of Carmelite Spirituality. From the beginning of the Order's history, Mary has always been contemplated as Mater Décor Carmeli, Mother and Beauty of Carmel, and as Flos Carmeli, the Flower of Carmel.

In Sacred Scripture, we see a couple of places where Carmel is presented as an ideal of beauty, even as an example of the Lord's glory, that is, the majesty of God and his Messiah. Our first stop is the Song of Solomon (i.e. the Song of Songs) where the bridegroom speaks to his bride: "Your head crowns you like Carmel." (Sg 7, 5). At first glance, a strange complement coming from the mouth of the bridegroom who is speaking to his bride… but not so strange once you think about the verdant slopes of Mount Carmel wreathed in the springtime blossoms of wildflowers. The bride's head is said to be crowned with such beauty. The splendor of Carmel is proverbial.

“La Bruna” - the Oldest Image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (14th C.)

Next, in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah we find oracles which foretell the restoration of Israel. God will bring about a complete transformation of his people. This transformation is described in the following terms: "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the lily it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God." (Is 35, 1-2). This oracle will eventually come to be understood not only in light of Israel's return from exile in Babylon to the land of promise, but more importantly it will be seen in light of the dawning of the Messianic Age. The whole land which has become desolate will be restored and be given the glory of Lebanon and the majesty of Carmel when the Messiah arrives to build up the kingdom of David once more bestowing upon it the majesty of God himself. God will restore Jerusalem by transforming the holy city by the power of his own beauty.

St. Paul tells us that, "when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Gal 4, 4). The messianic age, its dawning and the transformation that it will bring about, arrives with the fullness of time, that moment when the virgin conceived and brought forth her son, naming him Emmanuel, that is, God-with-us. (cf. Is 7, 14). Mary and her son Jesus are the fulfillment of the oracles above, which concern the beauty of Carmel, therefore they take on special meaning when applied to the Virgin Mary and her firstborn Son, Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the new Adam and Mary the new Eve. They are truly united, espoused to one another, in God's plan of saving redemption and especially through the miracle of the Incarnation and the union of the Divine and Human in Christ. Jesus, the true Solomon (in Hebrew the name means Peaceful One) speaks to his bride, his virgin mother, "Your head crowns you like Carmel." Mary is beautiful because she is immaculate, conceived without sin, and because she is the Mother of God. She is one with her only son in his life, mission, death, and resurrection; and in consequence, she is now clothed in his glory, standing at his right hand, crowned as Queen of heaven and earth sharing fully in the kingdom of her glorious Son who is triumphant over sin and death. (cf. Ps 45, 9-17; Rev 12, 1)

The first Carmelite hermits, in their solitude near the fountain Elijah on the heights of Carmel, contemplated these Christian mysteries as they meditated on the Law of the Lord, day and night (cf. Rule of St. Albert). They would make further associations between the Lady and the place. When praying with the Elijah, on the summit of Carmel, they recognized in the cloud that rose above the sea which was no larger than the size of a man's hand the Blessed Virgin Mary (see 1 Kgs 18, 41-46). That little white cloud would become for Carmelites of all ages a symbol of Mary, her immaculate conception, and the virgin birth. Carmelite tradition explains that the first Carmelites built their chapel and dedicated it to Mary so that it would stand as a lasting memorial of Mary and the mysteries of grace which surround her - a grace which she pours out upon her children like a gentle rainfall. Mary became the queen and beauty of Carmel - the flower of Carmel, she who grants favors to her Carmelites.

Furthermore, the religious of Carmel, in striving for the purity of heart so necessary for the life of contemplation, would also see themselves deeply united to the virgin Mary. Her virginity and her purity became an ideal for the hermits as they strove for cordis puritatis (purity of heart) in their own lives. It is in this dedication to the life of consecrated virginity that they would look to Mary as a sister. Mary journeys with her brothers in Carmel as they scale the heights of perfection, attaining to purity of heart- that necessary condition for tasting the goodness of God in contemplation.

Hopefully, this reflection has helped you to answer the questions with which we began this brief discussion. It is not an exaggeration to say that Carmel is totally Marian. Every Carmelite, and all that belongs to him or her, belongs to Mary the Queen and Beauty of Carmel. It is our hope that as we celebrate Our Lady of Mount Carmel you would want to say to Mary our Queen, Mother, and Sister: "Totus Tuus!" I'm totally yours!

Prayer Corner

-Prophet of Carmel-

“The Widow’s Mite”

In our last article on the prophet Elijah, we left him in the wadi Cherith sustained by the water running through the desert ravine. At this point in his journey, he received his daily portion of bread from the mouths of the ravens sent by God to feed the prophet of Carmel. We will now see how God’s providence continues in the life of Elijah, in very unexpected ways…

When the Water Runs Dry

"After some time… the wadi ran dry…" (1 Kgs 17, 7)

As the days of drought continue to draw on in length, the water levels of the wadi begin to decrease. The course of the stream does not flow as swiftly. Pretty soon there is more bank than stream. The water continues to disappear as the bed of the wadi Cherith appears. The stream bed turns into a mess of mire and mud, and is now completely undrinkable. Elijah knows that he has to move on in order to survive, but he does not leave the wadi Cherith until the word of the Lord comes to him. Elijah continues to remain in a spirit of total abandonment. In some sense, the dryness is setting him free. There has to be a detachment even from the water which God provides. Elijah, in freedom of spirit, will move on… He is ready for God to lead him.

Getting up to Go

"Arise, go to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow there to feed you." (1 Kgs 17, 9)

The word of the Lord does come and the divine command surprises Elijah: he is supposed to Arise and go to Zarephath to find a widow who will care for him. It is a long journey (ca. 100 miles) into gentile territory, a region traditionally hostile to the people of Israel. Yet, it will be in this foreign land that the prophet enjoys the hospitality of a widow, becoming a member of her household. God's providence works in a mysterious way. Elijah trusts, he does not argue with God at the seeming impossibility of his demand. The prophet gets up and goes and seeks out the help of a helpless widow.

As Elijah arrives at the entrance of Zarephath he sees the widow of whom God spoke. He watches her silently as she picks up sticks on the ground. She is going to build a fire. The wood she gathers are branches fallen from the trees which have withered up in the heat. Everything is brown and dry. The bright sun, shining in the blue and cloudless sky, continues to bake the land. Despite the heat bearing down on her brow and back, the widow dressed in her black garments of mourning continues resolutely in her task. God has commanded her to provide.

Elijah finally speaks. Is he breaking custom by asking this woman for a cupful of water? It doesn't matter, God commanded him to seek out her hospitality. She willingly assents to the request and goes to fetch water for the man of God. Perhaps, she is hoping for a prophet's reward? Elijah pushes her hospitality to the limits when he asks for bread to eat. The widow admits the limits of what she is able to provide. She and her son are on the verge of death. There is nothing in her cupboard except for a handful of flour and little oil in a jug. Elijah responds: "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth." (1 Kgs 17, 13-14).

Despite the impossibility of the demand the woman goes and does as Elijah had said. Elijah, the widow and her son, along with her household will live from hand to mouth for the remaining period of the drought. God will not fill the jar of flour to the top nor will the Lord make the jug of oil overflow to the brim of its jug. Instead, the Lord will provide what is sufficient for the day. Just like the manna in the desert. The Israelites were only supposed to collect enough for the present day. The miracle is that the widow trusted, and provided for all. God responded to her faith and did not let the jar of flour go empty or the jug of oil run dry. God works in unexpected ways and through unexpected means. Of all people, the widow and her mite became the means by which God would sustain his mighty prophet.

Being Unafraid

"Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said." (1 Kgs 17, 13)

At the heart of the narrative is Elijah's encouragement: "Do not be afraid." The widow is intimidated by the thought of her poverty. The famine has left her destitute and she is resigned to die along with her son. We can only imagine how the widow felt, knowing that not only her death but also the death of her son was imminent. Elijah addresses her fear: "Do not be afraid..."

It is easy to give into fear in the experience of poverty and to hold onto what we have, for dear life. To feel limits, both material and spiritual, is a concrete reminder that human life is contingent. Everything depends upon the material resources that keep us alive: food, clothing, housing and the other necessities of life. It is hard to think that most of the world lives without the basic provisions necessary for life. It is hard to think that many people go to bed hungry every night.

Elijah makes a promise. He is confident in the God who has already provided for him in the wilderness. He prophesies: the jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil... When we feel empty and without, it is precisely in that moment to go and do as God commands. Sometimes, we do not feel like we have anything to give; and yet, we must not be afraid of our personal poverty. That would be a temptation to self-reliance and evidence a spirit of self-interest. Rather, in our personal poverty, we need to see the very condition in which the Holy Spirit works. Truly, blessed are the Poor in Spirit for it is then that the Spirit of God reigns over the soul.

Thinking of this blessing – to be poor in spirit – we should ask God for the same freedom to trust that we see in the prophet of Carmel, praying: “Lord, I want to trust like Elijah and the widow who helped him in his time of need. I pray that I will be confident of your providence, surprised by the means that you use to care for me.” In times of want, whether the need is temporal or spiritual, we should not forget the goodness of God. In prosperity we do tend to forget God, and we get self-reliant. But then a time of difficulty arises and, in the adversity there is an opportunity to remember God and turn to him.

As a Carmelite religious, I am grateful for my own life of vowed poverty. It provides the opportunity to always live from the hand of God. I do not need to take care of myself, and it is an absolute necessity that I not give into a spirit of acquisition by which I would freely reach out and take for myself – to provide for myself. So, I ask God to help me to love poverty and to remain poor. Every Christian must learn to follow Christ with this same kind of simplicity and trust.

The Widow’s Might:

The widow a foreigner and a gentile, the prototypical example of the poor in Old Testament literature, in a complete reversal of roles is the one who provides out of her own want for the prophet Elijah. It is a reminder for all of us who may or may not have the means to provide for the poor, the hungry, the naked, and the homeless. With whatever means we possess we are to give... God will bless and multiply whatever we offer in the name of charity. We should stop and pray for a moment: “Jesus, I pray for the widow's might. I do not want to be afraid in the face of my own poverty. There are so many people who need you. I want to bring you to them, who are the Bread come down from Heaven; food for the life of the World. Amen.”

Construction Update

The most exciting portion of construction is underway: the installation of the marble arches and columns from Italy. Wooden forms are used as support while the individual arch segments are put in place.

Great attention to detail is necessary so that all the pieces fit perfectly together.

The wooden support structure is removed once there is sufficient masonry put in place. The grey blocks prevent the arch from moving left or right, avoiding a potential collapse.

Below the arches, in the nave, the bases for each of the columns are being prepared for installation. The columns will be installed this coming month in August.

To see more pictures of all the work that is happening here at our Carmel, please visit our last two construction updates: May 11, 2024 & June 17, 2024.

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Around the monastery

“Garden Beds and Wild Flowers”

Our Br. Gardener has pulled out his tiller and dug his beds.

These blueberries have some ripening to do. We also have beds filled with raspberries and strawberries.

The word Carmel in Hebrew means “enclosed garden.” Here the wildflowers smile their best to bring joy to the hermits in their solitude. Hope you have a moment to enjoy all the beauty of the simple things of life. God is so good! May He bless you with his peace.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel - The Flower of Carmel