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Dear Abbot Michael,

I think the Icon of La Bruna has become our ID!

Also, daily Divine Liturgy and even Holy Communion is truly a part of an intense Life In Christ in the Christian East as well.

Yes, we need to prepare for this etc. But the Greek movement "Kollyvades" and St John of Kronstadt in Russia et al. promoted frequent Holy Communion (once when St John of Kronstadt stood there with the Sacred Chalice and wondered out loud why so few were coming to receive, someone said "We haven't been to confession!" To which Fr. John replied, "Then let everyone tell their sins out loud right now!" And they did and he gave them "public absolution." I don't think any traditional Christian would be against that kind of public confession! )

Alex

Dear Brother Alex,
I thank you and the Administrator for the use of John Paul the Great's favorite Icon, La Bruna. I love her and I pledge myself to her. I am a little sad there are so few of us so far.

It makes me very sad to imagine the possibility that I could not pray the Divine Liturgy and receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion on a daily basis. My life would be empty.

Could I begin my day with my own feeble prayers and have the strength to fight the evil one without the strength of the Heavenly Food of the Eucharist?

I know the Holy, Mighty, Imortal One would not desert me but I would certainly would feel I was deserting Him. Sometimes, I forget how fortunate we souls of the West are in some respects.

Pray without ceasing....Michael

I don't wander to other Forums often. I'm glad I did today to bring this gem to this thread. Thanks to Pani Rose.

quote:
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Originally posted by Pani Rose:
Words aren't enough, he said, adding that "concrete gestures" were needed even from ordinary Catholics to reach out toward the Orthodox.

"I also ask all of you to decisively take the path of spiritual ecumenism, which in prayer will open the door to the Holy Spirit who alone can create unity," he said.


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Thanks be to Almighty God, the Glorious Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Benedict XVI and the Byzantine Forum. That is EXACTLY the ground the ICCBF is plowing!

With zeal am I zealous for the Lord God of Hosts!

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

My Dear ByzanTN;(I refrain from your Christian name because you have not signed with it).

Reading my posts to you, I discovered that I actually missed the point I was tryimg to make. That point is: It really makes no difference if one soul's tradition favors daily celebration of Divine Liturgy and another soul's tradition does not favor daily celebration of Divine Liturgy. If both souls have a deep faith in the Holy, Mighty and Imortal God and a love and devotion to the Glorious Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, then those souls should be able to unite in offering praise, prayers and sacrifices for the same ultimate purpose; praise, adoration and thanksgiving to the Almighty Living God and the glory and promulgation of the Glorious Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Pray without ceasing....MIchael ICCBF

Dear Abbot Michael,

Reading your posts, I can't help but notice how "Eastern" you are!

Alex

Dear Brother Alex,
That's the nicest compliment I have ever received.
THANK you! And have a blessed Memorial Day.
Pray without ceasing...Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

And a "God Save The Queen" to you too!

Alex

My Dear Brother Alex,
Mea Culpa! Forgive my ovrsight, my Brother to the North. I forgot you location.
Pray without ceasing....Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

No problem!

I was vaguely aware of that holiday - just saw the movie "The Patriot. . ."

So Mel Gibson is still fighting the English, is he?

Alex

Brother Alex,
My wife is half Irish and half British... but she forgives Mel.

Pray without ceasing....Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

Speaking of the Irish, I was once told about an Irish tradition where laity wore the small Carmelite scapular in life, but, when they died, had the right to be clothed in the full Carmelite Habit.

Could you enlighten me?

Alex

Brother Alex,
Actually that is a return to an old permission. Lay Carmelites of the Ancient Observance are permitted to be buried in a full habit. I think the discalced can too, but I'm not positive.
Pray without cesing....Michael

Dear Abbot Michael,

I contacted Darien's Carmelite bookshop and they tell me they cannot send me a larger, daily use scapular unless I'm a member in good standing of a third order group!

Alex

My Brother Alex,
I tried to tell you about the Darien crowd. Even Gudrun at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Ontario refuses to deal with them and she is a sweetheart. I might give them credit on the burial Habit. Burial Habits have just been approved again and a soul must be Professed to qualify. I have been with them over thirty years and they refused to send me Formation literature. And I am a past Master of Formation.

Unfortunately, to Darien, unless you are willing to pay the yearly dues you aren't considered in "good standing"; I even had to send a copy of my Profession Certificate.

Do you wonder why I think some souls in authority have other motives than spreading devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel?

Going to my daughter's; back later.

Pray without ceasing....Michael (Thanking God and the Glorious Theotokos for the ICCBF)

I would sugget the Carmelite supply store at the Spiritual Center on Stanley Ave. In the last resort, make your own. They are cheaper and they last longer,

Brother Alex,
Concerning Darien, I wonder if they care one jot about the many millions of souls there are in the Scapular Confraternity, and whether any of them might want a larger scapular, which they are full entitled to. I can't help but think their concern is more territorial than spiritual.
Pray without ceasing....Michael