THE OVERFLOW OF DIVINE MERCY IN MY LIFE

“I know the plans I have for you. The plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, the plans to bring about the life you hope for” says the Lord God” (Jeremiah 29:11).    

All my life I have been experiencing the words of God and I believe that my vocation was a fulfillment of God’s plan. When I look back I feel the strong   hands of God which were holding me all these years in my happiness and sorrows distress and loneliness, protecting me  from all the pleasures of the world and have brought me to this ‘Heaven on Earth’, House of God, and the Order of our most dear heavenly Mother. I was attached to Blessed Mother from my childhood and Retreat center, Chittoor in Ernakulum has played a great role in it. Attending the retreats and prayer services there has changed me into a new person and a child of God.

I firmly believe that it was because of God’s great mercy I could experience His love and be blessed to be in this Carmel and dedicate my whole life to Him, who loves me most. It was my great sins which made God show His eyes of mercy on me as Jesus says “I came to call not the upright, but sinners”( Mark 2:17), He came to save me and made me totally His.

The first incident in my memory, when I dedicated my life to Christ was during a Christeen Retreat. But later after many years I didn’t know how to fulfill this promise and at sometimes I regretted because I felt myself a great sinner unworthy to become the bride of Christ and tried to move along the flow of the world. But now, I believe that it was Holy Spirit who inspired me to take this decision to join Carmel and it was not by my own will alone. God has brought me to fulfill His tasks with a great thirst in my soul to serve Him. I would like to proclaim from my experience that I am completely the daughter of God’s Divine Mercy and He has brought me to this Carmel in the Year of Mercy to prove it to me.

The first idea of a cloistered life came to me when I read the autobiography of St.Therese of Lisieux, when I was in 9^th grade she influenced me so much. This was the same year when our Carmel began construction , which I feel now as the great work of the Lord. The little way of St. Therese influenced me so much and God inspired me to follow it little by little through the people chosen by God, especially my parents and priest who had great devotion to Little Flower. My mother used to remind me to offer all my little pains and sufferings for the souls in purgatory and my father used to advice me to read spiritual books and write letter to Jesus. The life of my parents and their zeal towards God was also a great inspiration to receive this vocation. But when I shared my wish to my mother join a cloister, first she discouraged me, which made me confused. So I thought I would become a doctor and serve God by serving people. God’s plans were entirely different and that is how I learned B.Tech during which I passed through failures, sufferings, loneliness which was also God’s plan to purify me. During the times of troubles I always found my comfort in Jesus with whom I shared everything and through these conversations I could come in more close relationship with Him. In my distress I felt great comfort by the voice of God speaking me through the book named “He & I”of Gabrieli Bosis, a French author.

It was during the final year of B.Tech my mind became so much disturbed and had a feeling that God was calling me. Then I started praying more earnestly to know God’s plan. For this I attended a vocation retreat at Sehion Retreat Centre in Kerala near Palakad which helped me in my discernment. I could confirm my vocation and God left in me a small spark of His love. Even if I had great temptations and discouragements, God gave me the strength to stand firm in my decision and He strengthened me through the word of God. I told my parents my old dream of joining the Carmel and now they blessed me to follow God’s call since they understood that my decision was strong and final.

Today, my Lord, from His great mercy has chosen me and given this special call to be always closer to Him and inviting me to come in union with Him. The devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary has brought me closer to the real Love - JESUS CHRIST.

Carmel Malayattoor

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LITTLE JESUS IN THE MANGER

Little Jesus in the manger, Lying in peace and joy

Amidst the cattle with your Mother, You are her Baby Boy

Look at me here in cold severe, Coming to adore You.

With the shepherds and animals, Worship and praise Your due.

Your gentle smile shines all the while, Calling me to come near

Simple creatures whose life preaches, They are to you most dear.

Sleep gentle Babe, Divine Infant, Enter in my poor heart

There take Your seat, Jesus most sweet, Never from me depart.

Angels from your realms of glory, Wing your flight over the earth

You who sang creation’s glory, Now proclaim Jesus’ birth.

Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching the flocks by night

God with man is now residing, See, the stars’ wondrous light.

O Blessed Babe, in manger stall, O Child of Love and Light

O Holy Son sent from above, Sleep peacefully tonight.

Shine brightly star of Bethlehem, So that all men may see

The King whose love will rule the world, Throughout eternity.

MUSINGS AT THE MANGER

A starlit cave – a cattle shed,

A little Babe in manger bed;

King of the Universe in rags I see,

Eternity contained in time for me.

Helpless Babe – immensity made small,

Loving response to Father’s call

To lift creation from its fall

Lamb sacrificed for us all.

Amidst the beasts on hay He rests

With simple shepherds as His guests

The little ones are His conquests

“Be meek and humble” He requests.

A new bright light through a veil

Shines on the child so frail;

Worldly wise, to comprehend this fail.

Faith alone can this mystery unveil.

The gentiles walk by the star -

The Magi with gifts come from afar;

They adore the CHILD – not royal power

Divinity made flesh as all mortals are.

Vast His kingdom but narrows its door’

Entered with care by the small and the poor

Owning naught but love absolutely pure

Passed through the crucible of trials galore.

Infant sweet, You I greet

Kneeling at your Mother’s feet;

Fill my heart with love replete,

My life with yours keeps its beat.

                              

my infant king

See dressed in Gold, white and red he stands,

A King shedding out blood and water from his side.

He stands up high with a globe in his hands,

To watch over us and to be our guide.

With sparkling eyes and a tender smile,

Stands at the door of my heart with arms open wide.

Oh gentle Jesus come and stay a while,

With you by my side, I’ll sail every tide.

Oh Infant Jesus how I run to thee,

And loose myself in your embrace.

Your perfect obedience is an example for me,

From shame and disgrace, you set me free.

Dear Jesus we honor and bless your name,

And sing your praises till all acclaim.

Infant Jesus will reign ov’r the hearts of all,

And answer us whenev’r we call.

DECEMBER 3RD.

FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

CARMEL ITSELF RESEMBLES A CASTLE

We can relate Carmel as an interior castle. It was my first experience in my life to see a cloistered convent when I came to Malayattoor, Mount Carmel. It was in the Year of Mercy, our loving God gave me the chance to visit this "Heaven on earth". I was little bit terrified when I saw the black curtains but I gathered my courage and spoke with the sisters. Like Jeremiah in 17:12 "Our Temple is like a glorious throne, standing on a high mountain from the beginning". It seems that this house was formed in God’s heart from the beginning. I experienced that our Carmel is the place which was sanctified by the coming of St. Thomas the Apostle, was really the glorious throne of heaven on earth.

I was pleased to remain in my cell like our St. Little flower. I see this house and my little cell like the heaven on earth. Our life is a pilgrimage from this heaven on earth to the eternal home. I thank God for planting a soul into this more fertile soil from the place where I was, to have this heavenly experience in this life on earth. We are called to be the mother of souls and the gates of heaven shall be opened for us when we reach there with the many souls, we have saved for God. I praise God who knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb and chosen me to live in this house.

God healed me form the fear of black curtain in the parlour by revealing to me its significance. As we know that black colour reminds us about death. Yes, it is those who have the courage to die for Christ who enter here to be dead to the world, dead to the passion of your body and dead to one's own will. God gives us the strength to die to the three enemies - the body, world and devil. Only those who have the desire to be dead to these enemies can enter and live here happily. It is the extreme love for God which is the way to Carmel. It is that burning love which has brought us here. When we enter this castle through the gate of love we can see many mansions in it. We have the tabernacle where we find God in the Holy Eucharist, besides that each cell is also a place where we find God’s presence. Hermitage is another beautiful place where the  mighty presence of God prevails. The more you keep the interior silence the more you can experience God’s presence in these places. My Cell is the common meeting place of my spouse with me, there my soul becomes one with Him, I speak with Him and nothing disturbs me there. This cell is also an altar, from which the fragrance of prayer spreads to the whole world. St. Edith Stein says, "from the cell to heaven”! Yes, by living in the cell which is the soul of Carmel, let us come in union with the Holy Trinity and continue this heavenly experience now on earth and then in eternity.

Carmel Malayattoor

 

HAIL REDEEMER KING DIVINE,

PRIEST AND LAMB, THE THRONE IS THINE.

KING WHOSE REIGN SHALL NEVER CEASE,

PRINCE OF EVERLASTING PEACE.

KING WHOSE NAME CREATION THRILLS,

RULE OUR MINDS, OUR HEARTS,OUR WILLS.

TILL IN PEACE EACH NATION RINGS

WITH THY PRAISES 

KING OF KINGS.