Part 1: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally

In our day, there is much social upheaval and unrest and a strident political atmosphere.  Additionally, living during the pandemic of Covid-19, has caused many pressures and struggles for the whole world.

“Courage in the Face of Opposition” is needed as much, or even more, today as in previous times. 

Our guest, Colleen Sollinger, has put together several teaching points  and nuggets of wisdom from our Carmelites that will help us to live now in our challenging situation, as they did in theirs.

We will get wise counsel from several Carmelites.  Those featured in this podcast are:  St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, the Martyrs of Compiegne, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Maria Maravillas, St. Benedicta of the Cross, Pere Jacques (Bunel) of Jesus, and General Louis-Gaston de Sonis.

SOURCES

Père Jacques

“Père Jacques: Resplendent in Victory”

By Francis J. Murphy

ICS Publications

“Listen to the Silence: A Retreat with Père Jacques”

Translated and Edited by Francis J. Murphy

ICS Publications

General de Sonis

“The Life of General de Sonis, From his Papers and Correspondence”

By Msgr Baunard, Translated by Lady Herbert

Available from Amazon

“Le Général de Sonis”

By Gérard Bedel

Via Romana (it’s French but the most up-to-date, if you can read it.)

Martyrs of Compiègne

“To Quell the Terror: The True Story of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne”

William Bush

ICS Publications

Saint Maria Maravillas

There isn’t a lot about St. Maria Maravillas in English, alas. If you can read Spanish or French, you’re in luck. However, we can offer one English source:

“Following the Path of Divine Love:  Saint Maravillas, O.C.D., Daughter of the Church and of Saint Teresa of Jesus”

by the Discalced Carmelites of Cerro de los Angeles and La Aldehuela, Spain;

Carmel International Publishing House; Kerala, India. 2011.

https://santamaravillasdejesus.es

~ This is the website to the convent near Cerro de los Ángeles. This is the convent from which she was first arrested during the Spanish Civil War; this is the one she rebuilt after it had been destroyed after being occupied by both sides at various times throughout the war. ~

Sainteté au Carmel: Vie et message de Mère Maravillas de Jésus

By the Carmel at the Cerro de los Ángeles

Éditions du Carmel

The Carmelite Conversations Podcast is an apostolate of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites community of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Dayton, Ohio. Discalced Carmelite Seculars are practicing members of the Catholic Church who, under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and inspired by St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross, make the commitment to the Discalced Carmelite Order to seek the face of God for the sake of the church and the world. For more information about Secular Carmelites, visit our website.