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June 16, 2004
How to Improve Your Prayer Life
An interesting thought to ponder. I wonder, is it for Carmelites only?
from Prayer Life in Carmel
Fr. Redemptus Valabek, O. Carm.[quoting Michael of Bologna, O. Carm]
"Whatever you are about to offer, my brother, certainly remember to commend it to Mary; just as every sentence contains a noun and a verb, so every prayer of ours should include Christ the active verb and Mary the noun, just as She became the Mother of the very Word."
Posted by Steven Riddle at June 16, 2004 7:54 AM
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Comments
It's not for Carmelites only, but I don't think it's for everyone right now. It's probably for everyone who hears the suggestion and thinks, "You're right."
Posted by: Tom at June 16, 2004 8:57 AM
Dear Tom,
While Carmelites don't by any means have a lock on the Blessed Virgin, I had rather wondered whether this degree of emphasis might be indicative of a particularly Carmelite Spirit. Given that it was derived from writing of St. Bernard, the likelihood is that it was not, but outside of St. Louis de Montfort I hadn't read anything that had quite this degree of the influence of the Blessed Virgin.
I rather agree with your note that it isn't for everyone, because I'm still pondering what it means and whether it is truly the way my spiritual life goes--and I'm a member of the same order of the person who wrote it..
shalom,
Steven
Posted by: Steven Riddle at June 16, 2004 9:09 AM
I agree with Tom. An example might be a recent Protestant convert to Catholicism. They may have a hard time with this at first.
Then again, it seems most Protestant converts to Catholicism have done their homework, and may have no problem at all with this.
Posted by: GoodForm at June 16, 2004 10:53 AM