The Spirit Of Carmel 
"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting
on them in her heart." (1)
Our Carmel is a life of prayer;
A charism from which all flows.
The Word, pondered with loving care,
Transforms as it takes root and grows.
"You are my friends if you do what I
command you…I have called you friends, because
I have told you everything I have heard from
my Father." (2)
Our Carmel forms us in the ways
Of friendship with our loving Lord:
Our prayers are petition and praise;
By His mercy we are restored.
"And for their sake I consecrate myself,
that they also may be consecrated in truth."
(3)
Our Carmel promise guides the way:
The freedom of simplicity;
The will of God as we obey;
The pure love lived in chastity.
"And he said to all, 'If any man would
come after me, let him deny himself and take
up his cross daily and follow me.'"
(4)
Our Carmel leads us to the cross
With prayer, fasting, and sacrifice.
The soul is gain; the self is loss --
Christ crucified has paid our price.
"The community of believers was of one
heart and mind" (5)
Our Carmel is community:
We share the journey side by side;
We strive to serve in unity --
In charity, our hearts abide.
"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the
Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his
handmaiden.'" (6)
Our Carmel is Mary's child:
She shields us with motherly care;
Her heart faithful; her way mild --
She shows us to her Son in prayer.
"that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, may have power to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know
the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness
of God." (7)
Our Carmel's saints teach us the cross:
The way of prayer - St. Teresa;
Detachment - St John of the Cross;
True zeal for God - St Elijah.
" They are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world…As thou didst send
me into the world, so I have sent them into
the world." (8)
Our Carmel serves its Master's bride:
Our Mother Church we serve with zeal.
To Jesus Christ we are allied --
Our lives are witness and appeal.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are
the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God." (9)
Our Carmel fosters attitudes
Of selfless service lived in love --
Guided by the beatitudes,
And strengthened by grace from above.
(c) Paul Buis, 2002
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1.Luke 2:19
2. John 15:14-15
3. John 17:19
4. Luke 9:23
5. Acts of the Apostles 4: 32
6. Luke 2:46-48
7. Ephesians 3:17-19
8. John 17:16, 18
9. Matthew 5:3,5-8