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Cecilia | Monastic Motherhood

@carmelite_homemaker

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🤎Bringing the beauty of monastic life to marriage and motherhood
🤎Inspired by my year in a monastery
🤎Secular 3rd Order Discalced Carmelite Aspirant

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Today, October 1st, is the Feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. In Saigon, Vietnam, this day is invariably marked by torrential rain. These are photos I took while attending Mass at the Carmelite Monastery in District 1 last year, it was pouring rain that day, too.

📍Carmelite Monastery, District 1, Saigon

#carmelite #catholic #catholicism #catholicchurch #monastery

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We’ve teamed up with @carmelite_homemaker to give her community free access to our new book Catholic Saint Stories for Boys 🙌📖

Featuring 25 inspiring stories of saints and the virtues they lived by, giving boys real heroes to look up to.

Want a copy?

📱Scan the QR code
💬Comment BOOK and we’ll send you the link by DM
🔗Or grab it through the link in @biblicalteachingsbooks bio

We hope these stories inspire boys to grow in faith and live out these virtues in their own lives.

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I witnessed the most beautiful thing today. I witnessed a miracle today.

Here is the story.

I walked into a church for Eucharistic Adoration. I used the side door of the church to get in, and as soon as I walked in, I caught sight of a homeless man in the church, right before the tabernacle where Jesus was. I couldn't believe what I was seeing was true. I was so impressed. I was so happy.

I saw the beloved sitting right before Love—Jesus.

Moments before I left the church, I walked over to this beloved with curiosity, wanting to know if he really knew there was Jesus in what he was seeing in front of him. He said no.

I explained to him that the veiled thing he was facing held the treasure of Christianity. I explained to him a little bit about why God dwells among us here on earth, and why He comes to us in such a small form when He is God—His humility.

When I was done explaining, he responded, “It’s interesting that I am sitting at this part of the church. I’m not sitting at the further part of the church.”

I found it interesting too, because I thought he was sitting there to sit closer to Jesus.

I responded, “God works in mysterious ways.”

I encouraged him to keep coming there.

His last sentence captured my heart: “It’s interesting that I am sitting at this part of the church. I’m not sitting at the further part of the church.”

Jesus was already drawing His beloved closer to Him, although the beloved was responding with humility and simplicity.

It reminded me of Jesus’ words: “You did not choose me. I chose you.” — John 15:16

Now I am done telling the story.

I want to invite you to absorb the beauty of seeing the beloved and Love gazing at one another.

This moment!

I can’t thank Jesus enough that I got to witness it.

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Take this to heart, through sanctifying grace that you receive from the Sacraments, the Creator of the universe comes and makes a home within you (John 14:23). Be in awe because “you are God’s temple…and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” (1 Cor. 3:16) No longer fear, “you are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19), and live your life guarding the “truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within” you (2 Tim. 1:14) which is: God “has granted…his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in this world…and become partakes of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4)

🎙️ @his.prodigal.daughter

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It spoke to me about my own personal journey before my return to God. I had been a prodigal daughter. The circumstances were different from those of the prodigal son in the verse, but we both experienced what it is like to live far from Him. We both came to realize what we were missing out on. We both admitted that we were “perishing,” and we were both exhausted when we finally returned to Him.
Father, have mercy on me. I have seen what life is like apart from You. I chose a life of a desert when I could have had a life of an overflowing well in You. This was the kind of prayer that came from my heart. All this happened in June of 2025. An Important date. Time of my profound conversion. My return to whom I have always belonged to. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You, God" St. Augustine.

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www.monasterocarmelitanefirenze.it 🥰🥰☺️#carmelitane #firenze #rosario #carmel #carmelitaniscalzi

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#SpiritualLife#InteriorLife#SurrenderToGod#LifeOfPrayer#ContemplativeLife#DeepPrayer#CatholicFaith#CatholicSpirituality#SpiritualGrowth

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Imagine you are a dear friend of our Blessed Mother. All your life you have heard the promises of the coming Messiah, the Bridegroom of Yahweh.

You have listened to the voices of the teachers and the prophets and you have closed your eyes and pictured the wonderful beauty and peace of the coming age.

God’s promises to betroth His people to Himself, to rejoice over you as a bridegroom over his bride, to prepare a wedding banquet of exquisite wine and fattened calves, are etched into your heart and soul. His promise to be not only your Maker but to love you with an everlasting tender spousal love is the hope that carries you through the years of longing and waiting.

But in many moments the expectant longing seems unbearable and your heart cries out, “How long, O Lord? How long must we wait for the coming of Your long-awaited Bridegroom? O, let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth… now… for I can no longer wait. Lord, make haste to help me. Send the One You have promised, the Messiah, who will be my light and my salvation. You have created me with this longing only He can fulfill so end my long suffering and send Him to me today!”

Read “The Ardent Longing of Advent”
https://open.substack.com/pub/lauraercolino/p/the-ardent-longing-of-advent?r=1o9c7f&utm_medium=ios

#songofsongs #advent #adventprayer #bridegroom #christthebridegroom #brideofchrist #blessedmother #motherofjesus #messiah #comelordjesus #emmanuel #longingforgod #seekhimfirst #catholicblog #catholics #catholicfaith #liturgicalliving

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