April 1, 2025
Dark Night of the Senses with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, shares a Lenten message about the Dark Night of the Senses, St. John of the Cross, disposing ourselves to God's grace, and seeking God, not His gifts.
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Feb. 14, 2025
Into the Silent Land with Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS shares a reflection on how to accept our own weaknesses and obstacles to our union with God. Deacon Mark quotes the book Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird.
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Jan. 13, 2025
Advancement ceremony homily with Fr. John MacQuarrie
During this homily given by Fr. John MacQuarrie, the spiritual assistant for our Secular Carmelite Community, discusses the outward sign of Carmel as he welcomes three members of our community who were clothed with the ceremonial brown scapular.
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Dec. 22, 2024
True Joy with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
In this homily, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses the true meaning of joy and how the Carmelite saints viewed joy.
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Sept. 22, 2024
Our Aptitude for Receiving God’s Grace by Deacon Mark Danis
What can we do to be better predisposed to receive God’s Grace leading to Union with Him? We know that “only the pure of heart see God.” So, how do we purify our hearts most effectively? Discalced Secular Carmelite Deacon Mark Danis gives us great insights on this topic and quotes St. Elizabeth …
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July 29, 2024
On the Mountain by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Mountains play a prominent role in Carmelite Spirituality and in Prayer. What does the mountain represent? In the scriptures, we read about the Prophet Elijah and mountains. What did the mountains represent for Elijah?
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July 29, 2024
Reflection on Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
How did the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel come about? What is the connection with the Prophet Elijah? How did the spirituality of Elijah spread across the world?
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April 22, 2024
Marriage is Free, Full, Faithful, and Fruitful
Marriages are free, full, faithful, and fruitful. Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, analyzes these same elements as it relates to Carmelite spirituality. It is very enlightening and enriching.
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April 1, 2024
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 9)
St. John of the Cross speaks about the activity of the will as much if not more than any of the other faculties of the human person. The other two are intellect and memory. But it is the will that most significantly drives human behavior.
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March 11, 2024
Thinking about the Samaritan Woman During Lent
During this Lenten season, and by focusing on a few important points in the scripture passage on the Samaritan Woman, Deacon Mark Danis uses the lense of contemplation to highlight the importance of coming to know the truth about ourselves so that by...
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March 9, 2024
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 8)
So often in the spiritual journey, we can run into roadblocks. We can mistakenly perceive that we have gotten off course, and we might immediately seek to turn back to find the right path again.
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March 3, 2024
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 7)
If you feel as though you have reached a plateau in your prayer life, or after many years of active prayer, you feel as though you are suddenly stuck, it may be the Lord is calling you to a deeper encounter with Him.
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Dec. 29, 2023
Interior Castle (part 12): Seventh Dwelling Place; Ch. 1-2: The Grand Entrance and Spiritual Marriage
What is like to enter into the 7th Dwelling Place? What was it like for St. Teresa? Then we turn to a discussion about spiritual marriage. We focus on what this experience/union with God was like for St. Teresa. These chapters truly help us to ha...
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Dec. 11, 2023
Christmas Preparation for Carmelites
Deacon Mark Danis, OCDS, shares ways to prepare during Advent for the birth of our Lord. He provides suggestions specific for Secular Carmelites. This talk was given during a Holy Hour.
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Oct. 27, 2023
Interior Castle (part 11): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 10-11: Preparing to Enter the Kingly Chambers
In the final rooms of the 6th Dwelling Place of the Interior Castle, St. Teresa teaches us about some special favors our Lord gives to prepare the soul with wedding garments for entrance into His Kingly Chambers, the Throne Room.
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Oct. 17, 2023
The Determined Determination of St. Teresa of Avila
On the Solemnity of St. Teresa of Avila, Deacon Mark Danis gave an inspiring reflection. His focus was on the famous quote of St. Teresa: “You must have a very determined determination.”
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Oct. 11, 2023
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 6)
The most challenging phase of our spiritual journey is the transition from meditative prayer to contemplative prayer. This transition literally requires us to begin to abandon the comfortable methods of prayer, and the use of our faculties, that we ...
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Oct. 4, 2023
Interior Castle (part 10): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 7-9: Keeping Christ Present
The Lord (the Bridegroom) continues to draw the soul (the Bride) closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about the importance of keeping the humanity of Christ present in our prayer.
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Sept. 23, 2023
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 5)
One of the most difficult phases in the spiritual life of prayer, is the transition from meditation to contemplation. We explore the five critical means for identifying if a soul is being invited to move from discursive meditation to contemplation.
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Sept. 12, 2023
Interior Castle (part 9): Sixth Dwelling Place; Ch. 4-6: Mansion of Spiritual Betrothal & Mystical Communications
God continues to draw the soul closer to Him through the purification of the soul as well as mystical favors that may occur. In this episode, we talk about ecstasies, raptures, flights of the spirit, spiritual betrothal, the gift of tears, and more.
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Sept. 12, 2023
The Active Night of the Purification of the Spirit
In this homily, Deacon Mark Danis asked himself what can souls do to prepare themselves in the Active Night to enter into the Passive Night of the Spirit, which St. John of the Cross discusses in his book, “Ascent to Mount Carmel".
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Aug. 23, 2023
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 4)
In the life of prayer, there are always transitions. We cannot remain static in our pursuit of God. In this particular program, Mark and Frances identify the seven vices that often hold us back from progressing into deeper, more interior stages.
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Aug. 19, 2023
The Third Spiritual Alphabet and St. Teresa of Avila
The 16th Century Spanish Franciscan Friar, Francisco de Osuna, was the author of a book considered to be a great masterpiece and spiritual classic called: “The Third Spiritual Alphabet.” It profoundly influenced St. Teresa of Avila.
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Aug. 10, 2023
Exploring Contemplation with St. John of the Cross (part 3)
This program focuses first on the practice of asceticism, the healthy denial of our desires so that we can create space for God to fill us with the only desire that matters – Himself.
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