The Power of Prayer

Life is all about building relationships – with others, with God and with myself. Prayer is one such relationship. Prayer is all about relating to God, spending time with him, being aware of his presence. Prayer is very important in our lives. We can draw great inspiration from Jesus. If we take a look at Mark 1: 30 – 39 we realize that Jesus was full of zeal to spread the message of the kingdom of GOD. It would have been a very busy day in the life of Jesus. But finally Jesus went to a lonely place early in the morning and resorted to prayer, a conversation with his heavenly Father.  Jesus was tired at the end of the day. But by sharing with his Heavenly Father all his feelings, anxieties and aims Jesus regains the strength he needs to carry out the mission entrusted to him.

Prayer is like a mobile charger. When the mobile battery goes down, you plug in the charger and after some time the mobile begins to work efficiently. In the same way prayer recharges us and gives us the energy we need to carry on with our work. This is just one incident in the life of Jesus. In the Gospel there are many instances where it is mentioned that Jesus went to a lonely place to pray. Before Jesus chose 12 apostles he spent the entire night in prayer. God is indeed happy if we consult him before we begin a new journey or a new task. In Isaiah30: 1 – 18 God reproves the people of Israel for not consulting him.

Certain illnesses can be healed only through the power of prayer. The best example for this is found in Mathew 17: 14 – 21, when a man comes to Jesus because his son has epilepsy and the apostles could not heal the child. After the man left, the apostles asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy. To this Jesus replied, “This can be done only through prayer.” Prayer has the power to overcome anything.

True prayer leads to an encounter with God. As we have seen above, Jesus shared everything with his Father in Heaven. In the same way we can freely share everything with God. By sharing with him we lighten our burden. When you encounter God you are no longer the same. Prayer has the ability to transform a person. It’s true that overnight you won’t see a change in yourself but if you believe, daily God is making some changes in you. A popular saying goes – Day by day nothing seems to be changing but when you look behind everything is different, THAT’S LIFE.

If one encounters God through prayer, the others around can notice a difference in the person. For example when Moses came down from the tent of meeting his face was shining so much that the people had to cover their faces. On Mount Taber Jesus was transfigured. Just to cite a few examples.

Reflecting on prayer I remembered an article I had read from a book. Prayer is GUIDANCE – God, U and I DANCE. Prayer is like a couple dancing together to soft waltz music. God and you cooperate with each other. He gently nudges you to bring you closer to himself. He leads you gently into following his steps.

We as Carmelites are fortunate to spend the 1^st hour of our day with God. He is our creator who has blessed us with yet another beautiful day. In prayer you will find the peace and consolation you need. You also get the strength you need to carry out the tasks assigned to you for the day. It will surely make a difference in your life.

Remember – The phone lines to heaven are currently free. God is waiting to speak to your heart.

Go speak to him freely.

Sr. Rose of Infant Jesus (Lyan)  O.C.D Novice

Carmel of God the Father, Pune.

O Jesus source of endless life, be near to help us and defend.

O Mary Mother of Our Lord, lead us to heaven in the end.

You Angel Hosts suffused with light, 

You Patriarchs who heard God's call.

You Prophets chanting mysteries, obtain forgiveness for us all.

May that triumphant martyr band, with Priests majestic in array

And virgins standing near their Spouse, 

combine to wash our guilt away.

You monks and all you Saints on high, 

we long to be with you there.

Implore your patronage today, O listen to our humble prayer.

               

“ LOVE  DOESN’T  CONSIST  IN  GREAT DELIGHT  BUT IN  DESIRING  WITH  STRONG   DETERMINATION  TO  PLEASE  GOD  IN  EVERYTHING, IN  STRIVING, INSOFAR  AS  POSSIBLE,  NOT  TO  OFFEND  HIM, AND IN ASKING  HIM  FOR  THE  ADVANCEMENT  OF  THE  HONOR  AND  GLORY  OF  HIS  SON .”  (I.C 1V M) 

october 15th feast of st. teresa.

      

  

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.

(October 1st. Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus) 

Prayer of a simple soul

Dear Mother you say to me

Let nothing trouble you …………………

Something happens I am troubled, no peace of mind, no sleep and I become restless and disturbed and disturb others as well.

Dear Mother you say to me

Let nothing frighten you………………….

But I get frightened very easily even for small things and loose courage, strength and what not..

Dear Mother you say to me

All things pass away…………………….

But I hold on to many things, not ready to give up easily.

Dear Mother you say to me

Patience obtains all things……………………

But I have no patience at all, whatever has to be done must be finished at once, cannot wait for another second. It has to be done quickly.

Dear Mother you say to me

All things changes God alone suffices………………….

But I find very difficult to change, help me to have the courage to change what I cannot change and to go forward. I am most feeble,

Weak and imperfect, I ask you dear Mother help me, guide me in my difficulties, doubts, trials and misunderstanding. That I too may accept Gods plan in my life and conform my will to HIS will.

Amen.

Carmel of Mangalore

(Based on the BOOK MARK OF ST. TERESA)

Year after year St. Anna was waiting,

For a child the fruit of their love.

Fervently praying, their love never ceasing,

Waiting, for a sign from above.

Their efforts bore fruit,

God opened St. Anna’s womb.

Immaculate Conception firmly took root,

Spotless from womb to the tomb.

St. Anna, St. Joachim proud parents of Mary,

Rejoiced at the birth of their child.

Fairest of creatures, the features of Mary,

There’s none like her, meek and mild.

Rejoice, Rejoice,

Oh see how your parents rejoice!!

Sweetly and tenderly, she sleeps like a dove,

In a cradle made for her with love.

                                                                                              Sr. Rose of Infant Jesus (Novice)                                        

THE INCURRUPT BODY OF ST. THERESE MARGARET.

The grace of Deus caritas est

One Sunday after Pentecost, on the 28th of June, 1767, when Sister Teresa Margaret was officiating in choir, she read out the little chapter at Terce: “Deus caritas est.” She had heard these words repeatedly, Sunday after Sunday, for the past three years, but now it seemed as though she understood them for the first time - or rather, her understanding of them was raised to an entirely different plane. The verse struck her with the force of a revelation: “God is love; he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.” This dwelling had been the goal of all her striving, seeking as she did to imitate the interior life and hidden operations of Christ. From that day onwards the necessity of proving her love by deeds became so compelling a force that it was obvious to her sisters that some special grace had been given her. “Nobody comes to the Father except through Jesus,” she said. “To come to God who is everything and consequently all good, no fatigue must seem to us too great; we must not be put off either by the difficulties we meet on the way, but accept bitterness and welcome every kind of cross with eagerness. By these means, which are precisely those of Jesus Christ, it is not difficult to come to the true God, to live in charity, to walk in love.”

Despite her customary reticence and assiduity in concealing any graces or spiritual favors, the fact that something out of the ordinary had taken place on that Sunday morning was apparent to all. For days the young nun seemed quite out of herself, and the sudden illumination that the words had sent flooding into her soul is difficult to explain, because of the seeming triviality of the incident and her own habitual silence about such things. It marked the beginning of a new stage in her spiritual life, as Father Ildefonse was quick to observe. From this time, he noticed that the quiet, self-possessed and reserved sister appeared to withdraw even more into herself, becoming engrossed in a silent, determined, and conscious awareness of the presence within her, and her endeavors to attain to perfect union with Him. However, this withdrawal was a purely spiritual matter, and there was no suggestion of cutting herself adrift from the community, for she continued to give herself wholeheartedly to all, in her services as infirmarian, in companionship and sympathy at recreation, and in never avoiding her share of work on the grounds of seeking more solitude.

Speaking to Father Ildefonse one day, she tried to express to him something of the significance those words God is love now held for her, but she became almost incoherent in her emotion. “Just as the soul in the state of grace (which is charity) is in God, God is in her. Just as the soul lives the life of God, so does God in a certain way live IN her. And so it is that between them there is but a single life, a single love ... God alone! The difference is that God has all by essence, whereas the creature has it only by participation and grace.” And, adds Father Ildefonse, “Note that these words came from a simple child who had never studied and knew no theology apart from what her instinct taught her.” 

Father Ildephonse reflecting on her death remarked “she could not have lived very much longer so great was the strength of the love of God in her”.

                               HER FEAST DAY IS CELEBRATED ON SEPTEMBER 1st.

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