Carmelite Conversations

Mountains are a privileged place of prayer.  Jesus often went up the mountain to pray.  In Hebrews 12:22-24 we are invited to come to Mt. Zion, the City of the Living God.  What is this call?  How should we answer this call?  What is our responsibility in answering this call?  Mt. Zion is a place of prayer, consolation and growth.  But…don’t just stay there!  We have work to do!  Deacon Russell Ba...

Deacon Rusty Baldwin. OCDS, gives a talk about the Transfiguration.

Herb Edwards, OCDS, gave a wonderful talk about Our Lady Queen of Peace at our September 2020 OCDS Community meeting. The very beginning of the talk was cut off but the talk was so amazing, we still wanted to share it with you here.

Paul Adams, OCDS, provides insights on St. Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In this talk, Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS, discusses how to maintain our Carmelite identity.

Carmelites are well aware of the spiritual journey climbing Mt. Carmel to grow in union with our Lord.  What may be passing under our radar is the Mystical Union with our Blessed Virgin Mary. This program addresses what that union is, what Marian souls experience in it, and how we may prepare ourselves to be open for such a great grace. The main source was the book by Fr. Emile Neubert called “Lif...

Many of us are homebound right now due to the pandemic of the coronavirus. The whole world is experiencing this scourging. What are we as Secular Discalced Carmelites called to do. Mark highlights some aspects of our Carmelite Charism that are particularly potent right now, in this period of Lent and the pandemic.

Since most of us, all over the world, are not able to physically go to Mass and received Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, due to the pandemic coronavirus, we have a unique opportunity to intensify our spiritual practice of spiritual communions. St. Teresa of Avila gives us some wise counsel on this topic. Additionally, St. Therese of Lisieux, wrote a poem, “My Desires Near Jesus Hidden in His Priso...

Deacon Russell Baldwin, OCDS, gave a homily on The Well-Ordered Life at our March 2020 Community meeting and holy Hour.

  Marika Zimmerman, OCDS, gave this presentation at our March 2020 Community meeting.   Bibliography Nine Themes in Carmelite Spirituality - 6. Carmel is Marian by Fr. Patrick Thomas McMahon, O.Carm. https://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/nine-themes-carmelite-spirituality-6-carmel-marian Liturgy of the Hours Lenten/Easter Season Volume II for Solemnity the Annunciation  Psalm Prayer Divine office for...

Material and spiritual attachments are BIG roadblocks to our growing union with the Lord. This presentation by Deacon Baldwin, himself a Secular Discalced Carmelite, helps one ponder how to live out the Evangelical Counsel of Poverty in one’s own life. In a way, it is even harder for Seculars as the temptations are greater since they live in the world and use material possessions daily. Deacon Bal...

For 2020, our OCDS Community in Dayton, Ohio, has the theme of "Mary, Our Mother” for all of our community presentations. This month’s presentation is on “Mary in Scripture.” There are some eye-opening analogies and topologies presented in this talk that will bolster the faith of many. Additionally, many scriptural passages are referenced for your benefit. The presentation is by Chris Cotter, OCDS...

It’s no surprise to learn of the great devotion St. Therese of Lisieux had for our Mother Mary. She was immersed in Marian devotion from her birth, being born into a family that all loved Mary. The focus of this presentation is on four aspects of Therese’s love for Mary: 1) the Ordinary/Simple Mary, 2) the Healing Mother/Child of Mary, 3) Being Under the Mantle/Veil of Mary, and 4) Mary’s Maternal...

This is a reflection given on the feast of the Baptism of our Lord that focuses on the sacrament of Baptism itself as well as our own Baptism in light of our vocation to Carmel.

What would it be like to fully experience the Trinity dwelling in you at all times.? What might it be like to live with continual spiritual guidance and direction, to experience rest and consolation, to know that you are confirmed in reality of an eternal destiny of unimaginable peace, and, most importantly, what would it be like to live in continual peace?   If any or all of these conditions of e...

Frances Harry, OCDS, interviews poet Tim Bete, OCDS, about the link between contemplative prayer and poetry, including the "secret wisdom" discussed by St. John of the Cross the the concept of "creative intuition" discussed by Jacques Maritain. Books of poetry by Tim Bete:  The Raw Stillness of Heaven ,  Wanderings of an Ordinary Pilgrim Primary source material: The Collected Works of St. John of...

Fraces Harry, OCDS, interviews poet Tim Bete, OCDS, about the poetry of St. John of the Cross. Below are resources and links to things mentioned in the podcast. Books of poetry by Tim Bete:  The Raw Stillness of Heaven ,  Wanderings of an Ordinary Pilgrim Primary source material: The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (includes The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Cantic...

Tammy Jetton, OCDS, gives a talk about St. Joseph during a meeting of the Dayton Secular Community's monthly meeting.

This is an episode in the monthly series of talks by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, a Secular Discalced Carmelite who gives a presentation to our Community in Dayton each month. These are recorded live during our Holy Hours. In this program, Deacon Baldwin discusses the language of God.

Reflecting on St. Teresa of Avila’s devotion to St. Joseph, we see that it comes from her own personal life experience and intercession with St. Joseph. This reflection is based on an except from St. Teresa’s: “The Book of Her Life.” Join in at the end by praying the Litany to St. Joseph.  

Rarely do we get an overview of St. Teresa of Avila’s life, since we most frequently focus on specific teachings from her. This is a refreshing overview with a little bit of trivia.

Our OCDS community had a special celebration for St. Therese on her feast day, Oct. 1st. We had a guest do a presentation on St. Therese. This podcast is that presentation given at St. Peter’s Church in Dayton, OH. Many people have a stereotypical idea that St. Therese, the Little Flower, had it easy growing up and then living in the Carmelite Convent. This presentation clearly lays out many ways...

This conversation is with Michael Vanderburgh, the Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Dayton, Ohio. This may immediately raise the question as to what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has to do with Carmelite Spirituality. Well, honestly, as the Scripture verse below indicates, we are all called to practice charity to some degree. However, in addition, it turns out that St....

St. Therese’s famous prayer, “The Act of Oblation to Merciful Love” is rich with spiritual concepts for us to ponder, especially the recognition of our poverty and weakness, yet pulsating desire to console Jesus in every way. Knowing souls were rejecting His love, St. Therese offers herself as a victim of his merciful love so that the love others souls rejected would come to her. She vehemently de...

If you read St. Therese's Act of Oblation to Merciful Love, you will no doubt discover some terminology that might sound a little harsh to the modern ear. Terms like victim, holocaust, and martyr are not words that are cast about lightheartedly these days. But in order to fully appreciate St. Therese's use of these terms in her personal prayer to Jesus Christ, we must also understand what St. Ther...