On this Feast , we lift our hearts with the ‘Flos Carmeli,’ invoking Our Lady’s guidance and protection.

***

Flower of Carmel,

Tall vine, blossom-laden;

Splendor of heaven,

Childbearing yet maiden,

None equals thee.

Mother so tender,

Who no man didst know,

On Carmel’s children

Thy favors bestow,

Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse,

Who bore one bright flower,

Be ever near us

And guard us each hour,

Who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies,

That flowers among thorns,

Bring help to the true hearts

That in weakness turn

And trust in thee.

Strongest of armor,

We trust in thy might:

Under thy mantle,

Hard-pressed in the fight,

We call to thee.

Our way uncertain,

Surrounded by foes,

Unfailing counsel

You offer to those

Who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother,

Who in Carmel reigns,

Share with your servants

That gladness you gained

And now enjoy.

Hail, Gate of Heaven,

With glory now crowned,

Bring us to safety,

Where thy Son is found,

True joy to see. Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of Christ,

Hear the cry of your servants,

And bring down heavenly aid

In answer to our prayer.

Let us pray.

By a special privilege, Lord,

You have adorned the Carmelite Order

With the name of Your Mother,

The most glorious Virgin Mary.

Grant, as we faithfully remember this honor,

That in these days we may receive her protection,

And in the days to come,

We may be brought to everlasting happiness.

This we ask of You,

Who are living and reigning forever. Amen.

***

This podcast is created and published by A Little Pilgrim.

Music by ⁠Denis Pavlov⁠ from ⁠Pixabay

Based on a reading from: Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year Author: Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. Meditation: 35. Let Us Make Good Use Of Time.

As another year passes, do you ever stop to consider the true value of your time? Our life on earth is a finite, precious gift from God, a definite period assigned to us for one purpose: to let our love grow into an abyss. It is a profound and urgent truth that "Time ill spent is lost forever", for when our short day on earth is done, "the night cometh when no man can work." In that moment, we will be established forever in the degree of love we reached in time; the love we cultivate now becomes our unchangeable, eternal reality. To answer this call, we must fulfill our daily duties "with our whole heart." This truth can bring regret, yet it is in looking upon the time we have lost that we discover God’s infinite power. As St. Teresa of Avila prayed, we can trust that our merciful Lord can take our past failings and, in a single moment, turn that loss into gain. Join us for this profound meditation to learn how to redeem the time you have left and find encouragement to make each moment eternal, so that you may appear before God wearing the wedding garment He desires for you.

Just as we settle into the joy of the Christmas season, the liturgy confronts us with a piercing note of sorrow through Simeon's prophecy. The words spoken to Mary "And thy own soul a sword shall pierce" mingle the bloody vision of the Cross with the tender scene of the Nativity. This meditation explores the profound reality of Jesus as a "sign which shall be contradicted"—a divine reality that forces a choice, a loving solicitation that human freedom can tragically refuse. This prophecy reveals the great mystery and tremendous responsibility of our freedom. While God extends His offer of salvation, we are each free to either accept or reject it. We see a stark contrast between the souls prepared to receive the Savior, those who, like Simeon and Anna, cultivate rectitude, prayer, and a sincere longing for God—and those unprepared for His coming. This meditation invites us to examine our own hearts: are we, like Simeon and Anna, prepared to receive our Savior? Or does our freedom become a barrier to His redemptive work?

Reading from: Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year Author: Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. Meditation: 34. A Sign Of Contradiction