Excerpt from: Drink of the Stream: Prayers of Carmelites Ignatius Press. 1991
Chapter XVIII Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified 1846-1878 Mariam Bouardy was born in 1846 at Abellin, Galilee. Her family was Lebanese and lived in the hill country. They belonged to the Greek Melkite rite. Her parents had lost twelve sons before her birth, so they traveled to Bethlehem and petitioned the Blessed Virgin for a child, promising to name her Miriam if it was a girl. Two years after Miriam's birth, her parents were also blessed with a boy, Boulos... Mariam was attracted to penance and humility from an early age. She loved to enjoy the orchards and vineyards and especially spent her time thinking of God. She had no formal education, but had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Her life was marked by a deep hunger for the Eucharist, drawing her to receive her first Communion before she was given permission. At that moment she saw Jesus give Himself to her as a most beautiful child. In 1870 she entered the Carmel of Pau, France. Her whole religious life was marked with supernatural gifts. She had eight ecstatic levitations from 1873-1874. She possessed the stigmata and gave off a strong, sweet fragrance. Her heart was transpierced; she had apparitions and received prophecies that were fulfilled. Maraim had a mysterious knowledge and even bilocated. she also had the gift of poetry, which was remarkable considering her lack of schooling. Blessed Mary traveled to Mangalore, India, and then returned to Pau. This "Little Arab" founded the monastery in Bethlehem and died in 1858. copyright Penny Hickey, OCDS This is one of her poetic prayers. To what shall I liken me? To little birds in their nest. If the father and mother do not bring them food, they die of hunger. Thus is my soul without You, Lord; it does not have its nourishment, it cannot live! To what shall I liken me? To the little grain of wheat cast into the earth. If the dew falls not, if the sun does not warm it, the grain molds. But if You give Your dew and Your sun, the little grain will be refreshed and warmed; it will take root and will produce a beautiful plant with many grains. To what shall I liken me, Lord? To a rose that is cut and left to dry up in the hand. It loses its perfume; but if it remains on the rosebush, it is always fresh and beautiful and keeps all its perfume. Keep me, Lord, to give me life in You. To what shall I liken You, Lord? To the dove that feeds its little ones, to a tender mother who nourished her little babe. (Mariam the Little Arab. Amedee Brunot, S.C.J. Carmel of Regina Maria. Eugene, Oregon. 1984) Ever so gratefully, Penny Hickey, OCDS You can get the book here: Ignatius Press: http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=224&SKU=DOTS-P&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3ddrink+of+the+stream Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Drink-Stream-Carmelites-Penny-Hickey/dp/0898708524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237687957&sr=8-1 Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Drink-of-the-Stream/Penny-Hickey/e/9780898708523/?itm=1 <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Custom Faith-based U.S. Postage <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "A person is a person, no matter how small." Dr. Seuss --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
