SECULAR ORDER OF DISCALCED CARMELITES
England, Wales and Scotland
The prayers below are a representative selection of classic short prayers in the Carmelite tradition. For a longer devotion which beautifully distills our spirituality click here to read or download a Novena to St Teresa of Avila.
Act of Oblation to Merciful Love
O my God! Most Blessed Trinity, I desire to Love You and make You Loved, to work for the glory of Holy Church by saving souls on earth and liberating those suffering in purgatory.
I desire to accomplish Your will perfectly and to reach the degree of glory You have prepared for me in Your Kingdom.
I desire, in a word, to be a saint, but I feel my helplessness and I beg You, O my God! To be Yourself my Sanctity! Since You loved me so much as to give me Your only Son as my Savior and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. I offer them to You with gladness, begging You to look on me only in the Face of Jesus and in His Heart burning with Love.
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Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
O Lord, how I long to labour for Your glory! I long to give myself entirely to You, to be pervaded by Your divine life; be the life of my life, the soul of my soul, and grant that I may always remain under the influence of Your divine action.
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St Elizabeth of the Trinity
Holy Spirit, inspire me.
Love of God, consume me.
Along the true road lead me.
Mary, my mother, look upon me.
With Jesus bless me.
From all evil, from all illusion,
from all danger, preserve me.
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St Mary of Jesus Crucified
Community Prayer
Dear Lord, teach us to care deeply for one another. Help me to understand that we are united by a special closeness within the larger family of Carmel.
This union we share is both my responsibility and my strength. Help me to realise at all times that others are dependent upon my prayers, my understanding and my friendship. And in times of difficulty give me the faith to see that they are remembering me.
Distance is no deterrent to my union with each one because in the sphere of love we are all brought together.
Today and every day I ask you grace for myself and each member of Carmel that we may find happiness and peace in our journey towards you.
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Prayers
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing:
God never changes.
Patient endurance
accomplishes all things
Who God possesses
is lacking in nothing;
God alone suffices.
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St Teresa of Avila
O Lord, my God, how You possess the words of eternal life, where all mortals will find what they desire if they want to seek it! You are almighty; Your works are incomprehensible. Bring it about, then, Lord, that my thoughts not withdraw from Your words.
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St Teresa of Avila
One all possessing love I ask
My God, my should centred on You, making a delightful nest,
A resting place most pleasing.
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St Teresa of Avila
A Morning Offering
O my God! I offer You all my actions this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His merciful love.
O my God! I ask You for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Your holy will, to accept for love of You the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all eternity.
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Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself to You as Your prey. Bury Yourself in me that I may bury myself in You until I depart to contemplate in Your light the abyss of Your greatness.
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St Elizabeth of the Trinity
O Prince of Peace, to all who receive You, You bright light and peace. Help me to live in daily contact with You, listening to the words You have spoken and obeying them. O Divine Child, I place my hands in Yours; I shall follow You. Oh, let Your divine life flow into me.
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St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
Prayer of Pope Francis
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O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
As a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, Who, at the foot of the Cross,
Were united with Jesus’ suffering
And preserved in your faith.
Protectress of the Roman people,
You know our needs,
And we know that you will, provide,
So that, as at Cana in Galilee,
Joy and celebration may return to
After this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
To conform our ourselves to the will of the Father And to do what Jesus tells us,
For he took upon himself our suffering,
And burdened himself with our sorrows
To bring us through the cross,
To the joys of the Resurrection.
Visitors to this website may also be interested in the Carmelite-inspired Novena to the Holy Spirit offered by Hozana, a worldwide social network of prayer: