Dear Friends of Carmel,

Once again, we have let too many weeks and months pass without a letter. It was Christmas when we last "met", so we have a good deal to catch up on. And since many kind and concerned reminders about this have come to us "through the Inbox", we thought this week would be a good time, right between two beautiful liturgical feasts that interrupt the solemn observance of Lent: that of St. Joseph, and of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But first let us offer a few reflections about the season of Lent. Our favorite words from the opening of the Holy Forty Days still ring in our ears and hearts: "Be converted to Me with all your heart!" The beautiful phrase finds its echo in the "great commandment" of charity: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength." On these expressions of the Divine tender mercies, all souls of goodwill can build their observance of Lent. You will recall that Lent is a season of prayerful, penitential love of God, and a time of soul-searching and soul-cleansing spiritual labor. Most do not see this as a time of joy, but that it truly is—for deep and true joy are the fruit of these spiritual labors, undertaken with love for God and sorrow for our sins. "The days of Lent are days of salvation; more than any, Lent is the 'acceptable time' (2 Cor. 6) to amend our lives. The Church emphasizes this so that at Easter, with souls and bodies purified, we may celebrate the mystery of the passion and resurrection of the Lord." (Roman Missal)

Our good priest who preached on Ash Wednesday, stressed that Lent is the time of closer union with God: of "seeking greater union with our Divine Savior Who loves us." Daily in the Divine Office, we are given the injunction: "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near!" and "The Lord promises a crown to those who are vigilant!" The graces offered during these holy days cannot be measured, so let us be faithful in seeking the Lord where He may be found in all the events, joys and sorrows of each day. And let us generously offer an ever-purer and more perfect heart, finding our peace in being united to the sufferings of our Redeemer—and bearing the abundant fruits of that union, which will steadily be more evident in our lives if we are faithful to Him in all things. As Abbot Vonier writes, "A Christian is not meant to live to himself, but unto the Lord. A Christian's life ought to be entirely dedicated to Christ: life's activities ought to have that peculiar unselfishness which comes from our having been bought at a great price, the Blood of the Son of God. We are not our own, but His, and all we are and do ought to be impregnated with the purpose of glorifying Him." (The Christian Mind)

Spiritual growth depends on our knowledge and love of God. And, as we have so many times mentioned, the Saints recommend no practice as fundamental to leading a serious interior life with God as spiritual reading. Lenten reading is essential to keeping this season and its truly sacred purpose: our conversion and progress "up the mountain"! St. Alphonsus is the author of two titles new to our website, both of which promote this holy progress:Attaining Salvation and Preparation for Death or Considerations on Eternal Maxims. Featuring short, readable chapters, useful Scripture quotes, and best of all, the wisdom of one of the best spiritual directors in the Church's history, these books are beneficial for advancing on the path. All of the information given on our own Lent information page will be of interest, and, as the years pass, we are adding more citations of the Saints to illustrate the value of this holy season. Other books will assist you in your Lenten observance, particularly Devotion to the Holy Face and Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother, small booklets which give details about these prayerful, reparative devotions, some of the oldest in Christian tradition. Peruse our book selection, particularly the sections on Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Spiritual Life and the Holy Eucharist. You will also appreciate our fine selection of Easter cards.

The past weeks and months have brought sad and tragic news to all the world—of violence, destruction and sorrow. We have been keeping in touch with several friends from Japan, as well as friends who know many of the Japanese. Happily, these have written that they are safe, but have begged prayers for those who are suffering the desolation of having lost family and home—and endure the tensions that have followed upon the earthquake earlier this month. Closer to home, many of the Sisters' families have been tried by crosses, too, including the loss of home by fire, sicknesses and troublesome news of all kinds. Although sometimes the feelings still come to want to go out and help everyone, we quickly realize that fidelity to our life with God in prayer, interceding for those in need, does far more to help than our being closely involved with "problem-solving"! How gratified we are when we hear that prayers have been answered—dear friends coming to the rescue of those who lost their home—to rebuild it—and so many other signs of God's loving attention to the pleas of His children who are in need. As Father instructed us after the tragedy in Japan, "Sympathy is not enough. Something more is needed, since they are our brothers...our fraternal charity goes out to all. We share, in some measure, their sorrows, not only by sympathy, but by empathy, uniting sorrow to theirs through our prayers for them..." through Holy Mass and the Rosary.