Eldridge Carmel

Contents Page	Reading List	Newsletter	Links

POETRY BY THE SISTERS OF ELDRIDGE CARMEL

Leaf Fall

Come in, rest a while, invites an autumn woods. I go,delighted with the new openness of leaf-bare trees, intoxicated with memory-evoking aromas.

Come, compost the year's experiences, be still, let go, let be, whispers the woods.

Watching endless leaf-journeys to common ground, I think perhaps our lives are like the leaves--

we bud,

come forth spring green,

mature,

blaze with autumn glory,

let go,

return home.

Sister Lynne Therese, OCD

She Prays Within Me

A little French girl

with a spirit as big

as Iowa's Heartland

catches my spirit,

and, this is how we pray:

As writing on the heart,

As lines upon the face,

As first tear upon the brim

And ruby in the locket,

So are You to me, God of my life.

As hunger in the heart,

As Way to life's little,

As light in the lantern

And wide open country to one small step,

So are You to me, God of my life.

As faith in the bleating of midnight,

As breath in last hour,

As forever to passing second

And all the world to one small corner,

So are You to me, God of my life.

As fire in the heart of mission,

As warm embrace to the surrendered,

As hidden rejoicing in struggle

And Gracious All to whimsical choosing,

So are You to me, God of my life.

One hundred years ago,

Love could no longer wait.

But, the little French girl,

with invincible spirit

and undaunted creativity returned.

Now, she moves among us,

smoothing out the rough, breaking impasses,

surprising in secret, smiling impishly,

making roses out of most unusual things.

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, OCD

Invaded

Your spirit invades my soul,

Child of the flower,

Small, tiny, insignificant-

Yet strong with the Power of Little.

Your spirit flows over like dew

Entering secret places,

Bringing to blossom unknown flora;

Unknown to bearer,

Known to Bestow-her.

Your within-Person is Wisdom Woman,

Feeding, emanating WORDS

From Wisdom Man

The teaching of the In-her-child.

Sister Mary Carol Strzynski, OCD

Darkness To Light

Darkness-void of light

Fearful-groping toward the unknown

Stumbling, falling, crying out for help

For someone to care

Alone-the emptiness of death.

Light-illuminating darkness

Hope filled-moving toward fulfillment

Rising, striving, reaching out for love

With someone to share

Together-fullness of life.

Sister Helen of Divine Intimacy,OCD

Transformation

Here I am, among seeming lumps of clay

Waiting for the potter's touch

To take me up, fashion and mold me, into a vessel,

A container to hold the sacred wine,

To be changed into Christ's live giving blood.

See me, what I'm not yet made into.

So empty, so useless, waiting.

Suddenly, a feeling of hope!

For among these many blobs of clay,

The potter picks me up, looks at me.

"Oh, yes. This piece is ready.

It's been used before,

But now, it seems to have the resiliency

For molding, for shaping."

Gently, Oh, so gently, the potter begins the molding process

Shaping, smoothing here and there,

The unwanted lumps, the ridges.

But then-abruptly, forcefully,

He throws me back on the wheel-

To become, however painful,

The shape, the form of the sacred cup

To hold his Son's blood.

Again, the fear!

Will he find me worthy-

Ready for such a great privilege?

Once again, reverently, he takes me from the wheel,

Holds me gently in the palm of his hand,

And continues once again,

To smooth over the unwanted lumps, the ridges.

Lovingly, gently, turning me,

Fashioning me into that sacred cup.

"Yes, she is ready now.

She can become what I see her to be!"

Sister Helen of Divine Intimacy, OCD

Leaf Song

O Lord of all Autumns,

you paint

bright

beautiful

colors of dying

on the hills of my spirit.

Give me the leaf-grace to let go,

trust

in Spring.

Sister Lynne Therese of the Resurrection, OCD

Carmelite Reading List

contents page