Carmelite Monastery of Baltimore

03/25/2026

The recent Spring weather has encouraged our magnolia tree to blossom in time for today’s Feast of the Annunciation. This beautiful arrangement in our chapel speaks of Mary’s goodness, her simplicity, and her openness to God’s invitation to share in his plans for our future.

03/19/2026

Happy feast of St Joseph!

St Teresa entrusted her first monastery to the patronage of St Joseph of whom she wrote: “especially persons of prayer should always be attached to him” (Life, 6.8). May St Joseph continue to guide and protect our Carmelite communities today as we live out the Teresian charism of contemplative prayer for a world which is all in flames.

03/17/2026

"The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired." (From the *Sayings of Light and Love* by Saint John of the Cross, 97) Today, our sister Leah peacefully picked up sticks from our garden with true love in her heart. She is weighing the scales of the world toward peace and love. Thank you, Leah, for transforming the world with this simple act of love and for making our shared home a place of peace.

03/10/2026

Wow, we had two birthdays in one day! Our sister Barbara and our friend, Gene Geinzer, SJ, or as we like to call them, "Barb-Gene." Fr. Gene even made a cake from his grandmother's recipe to celebrate this special double birthday with us. Can you believe that Sr. Barbara Jean is already 93 years old? And what is her secret to such a long and fulfilling life? She simply tells us, "Be who you are!" The joy, love, and dedication of our beloved Sister Barbarita, as we fondly refer to her, inspires us every day to strengthen our commitment to Jesus through the vows we have professed. Thank you, Barbarita, for always being true to yourself and showing us the way!

03/07/2026

Our chapel is bare of flowers for Lent, but outside there are indisputable signs of life as our world makes its slow turn from winter into spring. These crocuses remind us of both the fragility and the tenacity of life as they poke their heads through the last vestiges of the winter snow.

03/03/2026

Did you know that we Carmelite nuns in Baltimore have a tradition of eating Milk Rice on Ash Wednesday as a sacrificial meal? Here's Sister Judy Murray making it! We have a sacrificial meal most Fridays during Lent uniting with all who lack food. May our prayer and fasting reveal our genuine love and hunger for God, and also our compassion for our brothers and sisters who lack food!

02/23/2026

Over the past week we’ve been watching the snow recede and enjoying the gradual return of green to our lives. Yesterday we even found some brave crocuses poking their heads above ground. Today they (and we) are back under several inches of snow. A metaphor perhaps for the spiritual life, and God’s invitation to return constantly to the beginning.

02/20/2026

Hope blossoms!
A couple of days ago we posted about the crimson-stemmed dogwood which had put out shoots in the chapel. Yesterday it went one step further and flowered! It was already a sign of hope for us - now it reminds us once again that the quiet task of prayer will always bear fruit. May all your hopes for our wintry world beak forth into flower.

02/16/2026

We brought these beautiful red stems of Crimson Dogwood into the chapel back in January to bring color to the dark days of winter. Encouraged by the warmth indoors – in contrast to the persistent snow outdoors – they have now broken into leaf! Standing beneath our Great Cross, the tender shoots remind us that the forthcoming season of Lent is a time of hope; a witness to our faith in the triumph of light over darkness, life over death, and hope over despair.

02/09/2026

02/02/2026

Today, on the Day of Consecrated Life, the liturgy begins with the blessing of candles. Many religious communities renew their commitment on this day, reaffirming their dedication to being lights in the world. God has called us to be light; we are all consecrated, and we all possess a spark of light that we must cultivate. The secret to shining brightly is connecting with God, who is the ultimate source of light. It is through this connection that God makes us shine. Our light is unique and unlike any other that has ever shone in this world. God deeply loves your light and is pleased with your work and struggles, even those that may go unnoticed by others. No one can replace your light because only God knows your story, everything you have lived through, and who you are. It is only God who truly understands us, and it is precisely our vulnerability that pleases On this Day of Consecrated Life, let us celebrate and embrace our unique lights, knowing that they are a gift to God.

01/29/2026

Mount Carmel magazine provides free online edition and archive

Future editions of Mount Carmel magazine will become freely available to all online through a new website. At the same time, hundreds of digital back issues will also become open access thanks to a partnership with DigiCarmel. The magazine reflects on the timeless wisdom of the great Carmelite Saints. Articles are practical and accessible to people striving for holiness in their everyday lives. Digital readers can subscribe for email updates as new editions are released and also search through recent articles online.

To visit the new Mount Carmel magazine website and connect to DigiCarmel, go to https://conta.cc/4k6g7Kb.

Print issues of Mount Carmel magazine will continue to be available for purchase on demand through The Great British Bookshop (https://conta.cc/3NNDonY).