There is a beautiful photograph of the Sisters of Carmel standing before a large wooden Crucifix, each of them holding a single candlestick burning brightly in the dark room. Their faces are obscured by their veils, and underneath the photo it says, “A certain freedom of soul is felt upon walking through the courtyard gate of the Carmelite monastery. Peace reigns here. When you pass through the doors of the monastery, you enter a world apart. The noise and values of the world have no place here.”
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity was called to this life of prayer and silence.
Ablaze with the love of Christ, she entered a hidden place to intercede for the world. Her time was spent in silence and prayer. The tender voice of her Beloved spoke and she listened. In her spiritual writings she said, “O Word eternal, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You . . . May our life flow into His . . . There let us become silent that we may listen to Him who has so much to tell us . . . that we may hear everything that is being sung in His soul.”
Jesus waits for us, dear sister. Every moment of our lives is an invitation to encounter His love for us. Even the seemingly mundane moments are an opportunity to unite our hearts with His Sacred Heart, which burns with passion for our souls, for our very being. We may not be called to the cloister where silence prevails, but the profound peace and union with the Lord found there is also offered to us. We can make a “little Bethany” in our own hearts. We can meet the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and allow Him to gently pull back the veil revealing every part of our souls. He knows you intimately, and in His tenderness He waits for your invitation. He longs for your trust in His love and His immeasurable mercy.
Surrender your time to Him, and watch Him provide for your every need. Allow Him to sanctify every hour, every minute, every second of your day. In times of silence and in times of great noise, ask for the grace to quiet your soul and find peace in His holy Presence.
O Word eternal, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You... // Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET
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Let Us Pray
Jesus, I surrender every hour to You. Sanctify my day and dwell in my heart.
For Discussion
How can you make your heart “a little Bethany” for the Lord?
What are some “noises and values” of the world that the Lord is asking you to let go of?
Leana Bowler is a wife and mother of five little ones. She is a Holy Rosary enthusiast with deep devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Her love for the message of Divine Mercy led her to become a Marian Missionary of Divine Mercy. She enjoys the miracles of family life, strong coffee, and encountering others on this journey to sainthood. She was a contributing author to And Hay Became Holy and Made New: 52 Devotions for Catholic Women.
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