Carmelite Monastery of St Joseph, Kilmacud - Sisters' Reflections

At this time of year, the weather here in Ireland vacillates between cold winter storms and warm bright days with a taste of springtime. This can happen even within the same day! In the midst of particularly bad storms, like we had recently with Storm Isha, and especially for those whose homes or property was damaged, it is hard to imagine the good and pleasant days of late spring and summer. Similarly, on a lovely warm spring afternoon like we had here in Dublin a few days ago, with temperatures hitting record highs for January, it is hard to remember that only a few days previously the top came off our old monkey puzzle tree trunk in Storm Isha! This reminds me of the verse from the Book of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach): “At a time of prosperity, adversity is forgotten, and at a time of adversity, prosperity is not remembered” (Sir 11:25). Isn’t human life just like this? We have storms and sunshine at different times during our lives. Hopefully nobody has a lifetime full of only storm

  We have come a long way since the Octave of Christian Unity was first introduced in 1908. Father Paul Wattson who was born in Maryland, U.S.A. in 1863 was the one who suggested this title, which remained in force until 1963 when it was officially changed to the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian unity’. Fr. Paul was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1886. In 1898, in collaboration with an Episcopal sister, Lurana White, he helped to found the Society of the Atonement, known as the Graymoor Franciscans. From the beginning they were committed to promoting Christian unity. Although they were established as an Anglican order, they became Roman Catholic in 1909. The Octave is kept every year, beginning on January 18th and closing on January 25, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, though Christians in the Southern Hemisphere, more often keep it between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost. In January 1964 Pope St. Paul VI and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinop

  Yes the call of God is a wonderous thing. There is no explanation for it other than the love which God bears for the person He calls. This marvellous love is absolutely free, personal and unique. These days in the gospel we hear Jesus saying to his disciples “ follow me  and I will make you fishers of men.”   St. John of the Cross loved to say, “ if a person is seeking God, the Beloved is seeking that person much more”. Yes it is God who calls, sends, and   who enables the person to bear fruit for the Kingdom.   You   did not choose me, no I chose you and commissioned you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.   These early days   of the span New Year 2024 we are rejoicing that Shauna has entered our Kilmacud Carmel   in response to the call of God. In the words of St. Teresa, she is venturing her life in order to love Jesus and to make Him loved: to be “love in the heart of the Church”.   St. Teresa liked to tell each new person entering that she is a foundation sto

  1 st January - Feast of Mary Mother of God & World Day of PEACE   “For all that has been,                                       Thank you. For all that is to come,                                       Yes!”                         (Dag Hammarskjold) The above quote by Dag Hammarskjold never loses its power.   It is also very apt at the beginning of a NEW YEAR. Dag Hammarskjold was a man who was an inspiration to our world and whose influence continues through his writings. He was Secretary General of the United Nations and worked tirelessly for PEACE. He was also a spiritual man and all he did was guided by his inner compass. He encouraged prayer and silent meditation while faithfully carrying out his duties. He endeavoured to work for peace in conflicted areas of the world. Pope Francis in his Christmas message to the world (Urbi et Orbi)speaks out strongly as he prays and pleads for PEACE. He has this to say ‘if we say “yes” to the Prince of Peace, then, that mea