The day this was recorded was the first day of May and fell on a Sunday this year.  It is also the day we would have been celebrating the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Deacon Mark Danis was just recently ordained to the diaconate and this is his first homily given to our Secular Discalced Carmelite community in Dayton, OH.

3 themes are covered:

--St. Joseph the Worker

--the gift of prayer and contemplation, especially in Carmel

--St. Joseph as a model of contemplation

Deacon Danis begins by quoting Holy Mother Teresa on her confidence and devotion to St. Joseph. He continues by telling us the origin of the feast day to St. Joseph the Worker and the importance of the worker over work. 

What is the work of those in Carmel?  And how is that manifested? What guidance does St. John of the Cross give us?

Deacon Danis then relates this to the Gospel passage on the 3 denials of St. Peter.  How is this related to our prayer and our relationship with the Lord?  In what ways does St. Joseph model prayer?  Finally, in what ways do the prayers affect the whole world?

So, get to work!  Pray, pray, pray!