POEMS FROM MYSORE CARMEL
KUDOS TO CARMELS IN INDIA
Thirty four dovecots in India’s sod;
Thirty four tabernacles for the Lord;
Thirty four power houses
Transmit their load,To all people and at home and abroad.
Fired with tremendous zeal and love
Daughters of Teresa as then are now
Totally to surrender to Him they vow
Pointers to things that are above.
The light of Christ to spread they toil
From end to end of Bharath's soil
Wise virgins, their lamps filled with oil
To the Queen of Carmel serve as a foil.
From Comorin's point to Himalaya's peaks
May their blessed tribe increase
Diffusing widely God's love and peace
Until the whole nation as one is His.
FINDING GOD AMONG POTS AND PANS
Finding God among pots and pans
In soap water and empty cans
Amidst the kitchen heat without fans
Is what a Carmelite daily plans.
The vessels there do not complain
Whether you use them or leave them plain;
Filled or empty – there they remain,
Teaching us God’s grace to gain.
The fire goes on burning bright
Each time the oven you light;
It neither grumbles nor starts to fight
But goes on burning with delight.
The broom does in a corner stand,
Always to be ready at hand;
Happy to be used or just to bystand,
Where you throw it, there to land.
The duster waits for you to hold
The hot vessels as well as the cold;
For the cook it is as good as gold
Its uses are a hundredfold.
Raw or cooked, the food gets ready –
Very delicious and tasty already,
In silence served to everybody
As the community chants the psalmody.
Wasn’t our Holy Mother wise,
As she gave us her advice –
To find God in curry and rice
Filled in pots daily twice?
Pots and pans are our inspiration
For us to start our transformation
As they silently provide information
For our spiritual formation.
“Deo Gratias!" Our Holy Mother Dear!”
Your children cry from far and near;
Help us advance without fear
To find our BELOVED now and here.
MARY’S BIRTH – JOY ON EARTH
Happy Birthday to wish you, Blessed Mother dear
All we your children have gathered here
Privileged to sing the splendor of your birth
Profoundly bowing before You – our host
You, our tainted nature’s solitary boast!
Bless us Mother, we plead You
Immaculate Virgin, pure heavenly dove
Rare jewel of humility and unconditional love
Transform our hearts with grace from above.
Detach us from worldly ambitions that lead to sin
Aflame with the fire of love divine
Youthfully to serve God’s kingdom in time.
Devoted Mother, with courage and endurance
Enable us to work with prayer and penance
Announcing the good news of Your Son, our Saviour
Reaching out to the poorest of the poor.
Marvel of God’s creation are You, Maria Bambina
Obedient daughter beautiful of Joachim and Anna
Tabernacle chosen by the Father for His Son
Heavenly lily planted in earthly garden
Eighth September, the thanksgiving day for harvest
Rejoicing we celebrate Your birth, Mother dearest.
Mary pure Virgin, full of grace
Angels surround You in time and space
Reign supreme in us with Your Son
Yes, until our earthly journey is done!
6. DOCTOR OF THE LITTLE WAY
Doctor of the Little Way,
Philosopher par excellence of our day
Little Therese, though hidden you stay
The whole world seems to be under your sway.
Rejoicing in God’s mercy-filled greatness
You exulted in your own weakness
‘Twas “agape” – the result of creative kindness
That constituted you, Love’s striking witness.
Living by faith in Christ’s mystery
Your eventless life made history
Consumed by love in union with Mary
Triumphantly gaining bloodless martyr’s glory.
Through the light of darkest nights
Your faith grew to the highest heights
Willing to forego imagination’s bright lights -
Feelings, reasonings, even intuitive insights!
Total abandonment to God – your shield;
Fruits of confidence and hope was its yield;
The sword of suffering in joy you'd wield,
Harvesting souls in and out of Carmel’s field.
Our Sister, friend, model and guide,
Heroism behind little acts you’d hide
Patroness of the missions – known far and wide
Carmel’s greatness, glory, joy and pride.
Fired with courage, yet with will so weak
As we dare to scale the heights of Carmel’s peak
Therese our own, help us to seek
His kingdom alone, in love’s spirit meek.
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