Contemplation and Castanets - Catholic and Carmelite Spirituality

Vuestra soy, para Vos nací,

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

Dadme muerte, dadme vida,

dad salud o enfermedad,

honra o deshonra me dad,

dadme guerra o paz cumplida,

flaqueza o fuerza a mi vida,

que a todo diré que sí:

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

Dadme riqueza o pobreza,

dad consuelo o desconsuelo,

dadme alegría o tristeza,

dadme infierno o dadme cielo,

vida dulce, sol sin velo,

pues del todo me rendí:

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

Si queréis dadme oración,

si no, dadme sequedad,

si abundancia y devoción,

y si no esterilidad.

Soberana Majestad,

sólo hallo paz aquí:

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

Dadme, pues, sabiduría,

o por amor, ignorancia;

dadme años de abundancia,

o de hambre y carestía.

Dad tiniebla o claro día,

revolvedme aquí o allí:

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

Si queréis que esté holgando,

quiero por amor holgar;

si me mandáis trabajar,

morir quiero trabajando.

Decid, ¿dónde, cómo y cuándo?

Decid, dulce Amor, decid:

¿qué mandáis hacer de mí?

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For more Catholic content, please follow our other podcasts:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠ (Prayers in English)
• ⁠⁠Bajo Tu Amparo⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Prayers in Spanish)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Bilingual Prayer Channel)

About: Contemplation and Castanets is a podcast dedicated to Carmelite spirituality and the life of the Carmelite family. We explore the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and other Carmelite saints, along with topics related to contemplative prayer, mental prayer, Carmelite formation, OCDS life, religious vocations, Carmelite legislation, and the mission of Carmelite friars, nuns, and seculars. Whether you are discerning a vocation, living the Carmelite charism, or simply seeking a deeper life of prayer, you’ll find reflections, discussions, and resources rooted in the rich tradition of Carmel.

Saint Teresa's Poem

I am Yours and born for You,

What do You want of me?

Majestic Sovereign,

Unending wisdom,

Kindness pleasing to my soul;

God sublime, one Being Good,

Yours, You made me,

Yours, You saved me,

Yours, You endured me,

Yours, You called me,

Yours, You awaited me,

Yours, I did not stray.

What do You want of me?

In Your hand

I place my heart,

Body, mind, and soul,

Deep feeling and affections mine,

Spouse—Redeemer sweet,

Myself offered now to You,

What do You want of me?

Give me, if You will, prayer;

Or let me know dryness,

An abundance of devotion,

Or if not, then barrenness.

In You alone, Sovereign Majesty,

I find my peace,

What do You want of me?

Yours I am, for You I was born:

What do You want of me?

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* This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠ * To explore more podcast platforms and listen to my other podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - traditional Catholic prayers and prayers for inner healing and deliverance please visit:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alittlepilgrim.org⁠⁠/podcasts⁠ or find it on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

In this episode of Edith Stein's Essays on Women, we explore the concept of "vocation" not just as a job, but as a divine calling. We'll look into the separate and shared vocations of men and women as described through different historical and spiritual orders: the original order of creation, the order after the Fall, and the order of redemption.

Join us as we examine biblical passages from Genesis to understand the original relationship between man and woman—a partnership of love where they were jointly tasked to be the image of God, masters of the earth, and to bring forth posterity. We'll then discuss how the Fall transformed this partnership into one of sovereignty and subordination, assigning man the struggle for existence and woman the hardship of childbirth.

The discussion will also touch on how redemption through Christ aims to restore the original, harmonious order. We'll analyze how the nature of both men and women reflects these different orders, exploring man's primary vocation as a ruler and woman's as a mother, and how these roles are meant to be complementary. Finally, we'll consider the practical implications for modern life, including professional work outside the home and the idea that all work, when understood as God-given, becomes a service to God.

* This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠ * To explore more podcast platforms and listen to my other podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - traditional Catholic prayers and prayers for inner healing and deliverance please visit:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alittlepilgrim.org⁠⁠/podcasts or find it on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of our series, where we embark on a profound exploration of Edith Stein's seminal work, "Essays on Woman". In this foundational episode, we delve into Chapter 1, "The Ethos of Women's Professions," offering a comprehensive overview of its rich and insightful themes.Join us as we first define "ethos" as an intrinsic spiritual attitude or "habitus" that shapes our actions from within. We then unpack "professional ethos," understanding it as the abiding spiritual attitude that transforms a career into an "authentic vocation," rather than merely a source of income or pastime. Every profession, from the helpful nurse to the circumspect undertaker, is shown to possess a unique ethos.This episode then transitions into the core of Stein's argument: Woman's Natural Vocation and its Corresponding Ethos. We explore the assertion that woman, in soul and body, is inherently "destined to be wife and mother", endowed with distinct feminine characteristics like a natural inclination to cherish what is "living, personal, and whole," an aversion to abstraction, and a powerful companionate gift of empathetic interest. We also confront the "perversions of feminine nature" stemming from original sin and contrast them with the ideal of the Virgin Mary, presented as the prototype of the purely developed spouse and mother. The discussion also touches upon the role of "solid objective work" as a natural remedy for these defects.Moving beyond the natural vocation, we examine "Other Natural Feminine Vocations." Discover how women's "individual gifts and tendencies" lead them to diverse fields, and what constitutes "authentically feminine professions" rooted in "sympathetic rapport," such as nursing and education. Intriguingly, we'll explore how even traditionally "masculine" professions can be practiced in an "authentically feminine way" by focusing on humanizing influence and a "view of the whole". The Virgin Mary again emerges as a model, demonstrating quiet, observant service in professional life.Finally, we consider "The Supernatural Vocation of Woman," delving into religious life as a "total surrender to God" that uniquely fulfills woman's deepest longing to give herself lovingly. We acknowledge the "sad image of the average woman" in contemporary life, burdened or unfulfilled, and reveal that "grace and a Eucharistic and liturgical life" are the ultimate sources of strength, leading to inner peace and the true "formative principle of woman's soul".Tune in to gain a foundational understanding of Edith Stein's vision for women's ethos and professions. This is just the beginning of our journey into Chapter 1, and we invite you to join us for future episodes as we unpack these profound insights in greater detail!

* This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠ * To explore more podcast platforms and listen to my other podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - traditional Catholic prayers and prayers for inner healing and deliverance please visit:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alittlepilgrim.org⁠ or find it on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

Meditation 379: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Divine Intimacy Meditations

From Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD * Published by ⁠⁠⁠Baronius Press⁠⁠⁠. ⁠ * This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠ * To explore more podcast platforms and listen to my other podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠⁠⁠ - traditional Catholic prayers and prayers for inner healing and deliverance please visit:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alittlepilgrim.org or find it on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

✨ Season 2 of Divine Intimacy Meditations concludes on Easter Sunday ✨

Thank you for walking this Lenten journey with me! These meditations will remain here for you anytime you need to return to the desert, the Garden, or the tomb…

But this is not goodbye. Just a little silence. 🌿

🕊️ Continue the journey with me on my sister podcast: Under Thy Protection

Where prayer and quiet devotion live — day by day.

🎧 Listen & follow here:

• 🍎 Apple Podcasts

• 🎵 Spotify

• 📺 YouTube

• 🛒 Amazon Music

🌹 May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

We continue our journey through the liturgical year by entering into the most sacred week of all: Holy Week.

In this episode, we will reflect on the profound significance of these pivotal days, as presented in Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year. We'll journey with Christ from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, recalling the joyous procession and the foreshadowing of His Passion We will then contemplate the intimate scene of the Supper at Bethany and the poignant moments leading to the Paschal Mystery.

As the week unfolds, we will prayerfully enter into the Agony in the Garden, the profound suffering of Good Friday and the Crucifixion, and finally, the expectant silence of Holy Saturday.

Through these meditations, we aim to deepen our understanding of Christ's immense love and sacrifice acknowledging the twofold nature of Holy Week: both the triumph of our King and the necessity of sharing in His Passion for our spiritual growth. Join us as we enter into this sacred time with reverence and reflection, embracing both the somber reality of Christ's suffering and the hopeful anticipation of His ultimate victory.

May God grant us a blessed Holy Week and keep us close to His Heart.

We are continuing our journey through the Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year by Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, O.C.D .

Today, we enter Passion Week, also known as Passiontide, the important week that leads us into Holy Week. This is a time traditionally observed with a special focus on the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this episode, we will reflect on the profound mysteries of this week, exploring themes such as the value of suffering, patience, embracing our daily crosses, abandonment to God's will, the sorrows of Mary, and the love of the Cross. Join us as we seek to deepen our understanding of Christ's Passion and how we are called to respond to suffering in our own lives. We pray this reflection will be a source of grace and deeper intimacy with our Lord during this sacred time.

May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

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Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD. Published by ⁠⁠⁠Baronius Press⁠⁠⁠. ⁠ This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to the "Divine Intimacy Series" continuing Father Gabriel's Meditations on the Interior Life. This week, entering the Fourth Week of Lent, our theme is Obedience, reflecting on Meditations 119-125.We'll explore obedience as a path to union with God, surrendering our will to the divine will manifested through lawful superiors. We will contemplate Christ's perfect obedience and our call to follow His example through voluntary dependence. We'll also consider obedience as a free offering of our liberty and the importance of a supernatural perspective, seeing God in our superiors. The call to blind obedience and the role of humility in overcoming difficulties will also be addressed.

While the concept of obedience is often associated with religious vows, the wisdom we will explore in these reflections holds deep significance for every devout Catholic and Secular Carmelite. Because at its heart, obedience is about aligning our will with God's will, a principle that guides us all in our pursuit of a deeper spiritual life, regardless of the specific commitments we have made. Join us as we ponder into the meaning of obedience for all who seek divine intimacy.

May God bless us and keep us close to His Heart.

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Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD. Published by ⁠⁠⁠Baronius Press⁠⁠⁠. ⁠ This podcast is created and published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Little Pilgrim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To explore more podcast platforms and listen to my other podcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under Thy Protection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - traditional Catholic prayers and prayers for inner healing and deliverance please visit:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/m/alittlepilgrim⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or find it on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to the "Divine Intimacy Series" podcast, continuing the profound spiritual journey offered by Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.'s Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year. This week, as we go into the Third Week of Lent, we continue our focus on the vital theme of humility.Join us as we reflect on Meditations 112 through 118, exploring key aspects of this essential virtue. We will contemplate Jesus' example of service and the call to embrace the "lowest place" in our lives, both before God and our neighbor. We will also examine the significance of the hidden life, learning from Jesus' choice to conceal His divinity and the importance of seeking God's glory in secret.Furthermore, we will consider the challenge of being hidden from oneself, moving beyond self-concern to center our focus entirely on Christ. This leads us to the desire to be hidden with Christ in God, participating in His interior life and intimacy with the Trinity. We will also discern the meaning of true glory, detaching ourselves from the fleeting desire for honor and recognition and seeking instead union with Jesus. Finally, we will confront the ego's tendency to make excuses and learn the importance of not excusing oneself, acknowledging our faults with humility.

Contemplation and Castanets is a podcast dedicated to Carmelite spirituality and the life of the Carmelite family. We explore the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and other Carmelite saints, along with topics related to contemplative prayer, mental prayer, Carmelite formation, OCDS life, religious vocations, Carmelite legislation, and the mission of Carmelite friars, nuns, and seculars. Whether you are discerning a vocation, living the Carmelite charism, or simply seeking a deeper life of prayer, you’ll find reflections, discussions, and resources rooted in the rich tradition of Carmel. Produced by A Little Pilgrim. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and discover our other podcasts at: [https://alittlepilgrim.org/podcasts]