The Fount of Elijah
  • Home
  • Discernment of Spirits
  • Coming to the Font
  • RCIA
  • Encourage
  • Lessons & Carols Tickets
  • St. Joseph
  • 7 Sundays Devotion
  • Study on Revelation
  • Spirituality
  • Fr. Kendall Ketterlin
Coming to the Font is a monthly gathering for those wanting to deepen their experience of Carmelite Spirituality in prayer and also by learning about the Order, the Tradition and Saints of the Carmelite Orders.

Typically, this kind of gathering takes place with a Third Order, group of lay associates who maintain a formal relationship to the Order, there is presently no Third Order Carmelite chapter in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.  While not carrying the spiritual and formal benefits of belonging to the Third Order, Coming to the Font seeks to provide that common walk of pilgrimage in Carmelite Spirituality.
​
*All events are held at St. Thomas More, unless otherwise noted.
Picture

​2022 Calendar

January 15, 2022: The Prior

February 5: The Counsels of Perfection:
​           Obedience

​March 19: St. Joseph
​           Chastity

April 23: Easter Saturday
            Renunciation of Ownership

May 14: Simon Stock

June 11: Holy Trinity

July 16: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

August 6: The Transfiguration

September 17: St. Albert of Jerusalem

October 15: St. Teresa of Jesus

November 14: All Saints of Carmel

​December 10: John of the Cross

​2021 Calendar

January 16: Elijah and the Founding of
             Carmel

February 13: The Desert in Carmel: 
            Preparing for Lent

March 19: St. Joseph: Protector of the Order

April 15: Michael of St. Augustine

May 25: St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi:  
​            Mystical Union in Prayer

June 12: Immaculate Heart of Mary:
            Purification of the Soul

July 10: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
           The Apparitions of OLMC

August 15: Assumption of Mary:
           The Meaning of Perfection

September 18: St. Albert of Jerusalem:
           The Rule of Carmel
​
October 16: St. Teresa of Jesus
            The Holy Trinity in Carmel

November 13: All Carmelite Saints
           Conversing with the Saints

December 11: St. John of the Cross
Vertical Divider

NEXT SESSION

SATURDAY, MAY 14th, Memorial of St. Simon Stock:  
Solitude and Places that are Suitable to Our Way of Life
8:15 am
A significant, yet often overlooked aspect that is essential for the health of our Christian life, is the environment we are in.  Not only the place in which we live, but also our job, our hobbies and the places where we spend time and recreate.  This month we'll look at the importance of the places we occupy for our spiritual life, and the significance of a place of silence.
​
Chapter 5: The Importance of Place
File Size: 286 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

St. Titus Brandsma
File Size: 91 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Consecration to OLMC
File Size: 12208 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

List of Communities Supported
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
​​7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         Significance of Place
​​
**At St. Thomas More Parish

PREVIOUS SESSIONS

SATURDAY, APRIL 23rd, Easter Saturday:  
​THE COUNSELS OF PERFECTION: Renunciation of Ownership
8:15 am
Picture
Outline for April 23, 2022
File Size: 39 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chapter 4: Renunciation of Ownership
File Size: 486 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​​7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         Renunciation of Ownership
​
**At St. Thomas More Parish
Together, the Counsels of Perfection give us the guidance and direction that leads one to the Perfection of Love which we seek, that is, to love perfectly as our Father Loves us.  In this light we can see that while Obedience is the first step necessary in living a life in allegiance to Christ and loving Chastely is the reward and very end of this life, the renunciation of ownership is the day-to-day work that conducts one along the journey and the way of perfection.
​

Through the Renunciation of Ownership, we break away the ties that bind us to things, whether material or immaterial.  Just as something becomes no longer my computer or my books to the exclusion of others, we can ascend to where it is no longer my time or my joy in ownership.  Rather, we may still say my joy, but it is not because I own or a responsible for it, but by relationship--my joy is the joy that resides in me.
​


SATURDAY, MARCH 19th, Feast of St. Joseph:  
​THE COUNSELS OF PERFECTION: Chastity
8:15 am
Chapter 4: Chastity
File Size: 116 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

To love chastely is to love as God Loves and this is the Way of Perfection.  In short, it is to love according to virtue, toward a Divine end and without any self-interest.

On this feast of St. Joseph, we turn toward Joseph most chaste as one who is the exemplar of chaste love in the life of a family.  Following the 8:15 Mass, we will have adoration with Benediction at 9:15 and then join together for some refreshments and a short conference.  In honor of this Feast day, we will have some extra goodies to celebrate our spiritual father and the Protector of the Order.


SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5th:  
​THE COUNSELS OF PERFECTION: Obedience
8:15 am
Picture
The first thing the St. Albert requested of the brothers who were gathered around the Spring of Elijah was to promise obedience to a prior; later the Rule would be mitigated to include the vows of chastity and renunciation of ownership.  How then, do we live in holy obedience?  What does a life of obedience look like for one who lives in the midst of the world?

Following Mass and adoration, we will gather for snacks, fellowship and a short conference on being guided by a spirit of obedience.
​7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         Obedience in Daily Life

**At St. Thomas More Parish
Vertical Divider
Chapter 4: Obedience
File Size: 644 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


SATURDAY, JANUARY 15th:  
​THE COUNSELS OF PERFECTION: Recognizing the Prior
8:15 am
The first thing that Albert asks of the brothers of Mt. Carmel, is that they appoint a prior to whom they profess obedience.  In adapting the Rule, we would also consider recognizing a prior and how this may look very different from the prior of the monastery--and yet, also the same.

When St. Teresa of Jesus returned to her home monastery of Avila as the appointed prioress, she shocked many of her sisters by placing a statue of Mary in the prioresses seat, reminding them that the Mother of God was the Prioress.  In the family setting, we can also be reminded of the sacramental affects of Marriage.  God unites what was two into one, such that husband and wife are together bound as prior of the home.  In fact, in almost every situation, we can consider and look toward recognizing who the prior is.  While not offering the vow of obedience, live with a disposition and view toward a proper sense of obedience.

Next month, we will look more closely at the promise and living with a disposition of obedience.
Chapter 4 of Adaptations
File Size: 86 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11th:  
​OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND JOHN OF THE CROSS
8:15 am
Chapter 3 of Adaptations
File Size: 535 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Mountain of Perfection
File Size: 44 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         The Saints of Carmel

**At St. Thomas More Parish
Picture
The Mountain of Perfection (John of the Cross)

Picture
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13th:  
​ALL SAINTS OF CARMEL
8:15 am
The second chapter of the rule reminds us of the many ways that our saintly forebears lived in allegiance to Christ.  Although we have found great Love on Carmel, it remains but one of the ways that men and women have found in drawing them deeper to the Heart of Jesus.  Yet all of these ways--Dominican, Franciscan, Augustinian, Benedictine, Eastern Rite Catholics . . .-- also bear in common a central key:  All are called to a life of service and to be united with the Heart of Christ, and such life must be lived unswervingly.
​
In other words, all are called to a life on holiness and sainthood, and we have been given the lives, words and examples of the Saints to lead us down this way.
7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         The Saints of Carmel

**At St. Thomas More Parish
Chapter 2 of Adaptations
File Size: 563 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Saints of Carmel
File Size: 65 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16th:  
​TERESA OF JESUS AND THE HOLY TRINITY IN CARMEL
8:15 am
Chapter 1 of Adaptations
File Size: 247 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Teresa and the Holy Trinity
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Teresa of Jesus wrote eloquently and intensely about the Beloved, the Son of God who captured her heart; John of the Cross wrote of the burning fire and love of the Holy Spirit; Therese of the Child Jesus painted the image of a child in the loving arms of the Father.

It seems to be no accident in these three foundations illuminated one particular person of the Holy Trinity, and through this person, they describe the soul's spiritual journey to purification and love.

As we begin exploring adaptations to the Rule for daily life, we will look at the place of the Holy Trinity in Carmel.
Picture
7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on
​         The Holy Trinity in Carmel

**At St. Thomas More Parish

Picture
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH: ST. ALBERT OF JERUSALEM
8:15 am
The Carmelite Order has the unique moniker of being the only major order whose Rule was written by someone who was not their founder.  In fact, Albert of Jerusalem was not a part of the order, but as Patriarch, held the position to formalize the Way of Life that had been lived on Mt. Carmel for more than a hundred years.

We'll also answer the question as to why paintings of early Carmelites depicts the friars in striped habits.


7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on The Carmelite Rule

**At St. Thomas More Parish
The Carmelite Rule
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Rule and Perfection
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Picture
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH:  THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY
11:00 am
Meaning and Origin of Perfection
File Size: 63 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Excerpts from the Syriac Book of Steps
File Size: 3551 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


11:00 am MASS
         
12:15 Conference on the Meaning of Perfection

**At St. Thomas More Parish

Picture
Apparitions of OLMC
File Size: 1735 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

SATURDAY, JULY 10TH
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
8:15 am
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is one of the very few mantles of the Blessed Virgin that has appeared in different places and and times.  Her first appearance was to St. Simon Stock, but she later appeared at Fatima and Garabandal.  She is also associated with the appearances at Lourdes.

7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

**At St. Thomas More Parish

SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH
FEAST OF
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
8:15 am
​Every Saint who has walked with Christ has sought and desired to obtain a Pure Heart.  It is not something that is peculiar to the Carmelite Order and Way of Life.

What is the Carmelite way of seeking and attaining a Pure Heart?  What does it even mean, to have a Pure Heart?

7:15-8:00 am CONFESSIONS
8:15 am MASS
         ADORATION (until 9:15)
9:15 Conference on Purification of the Heart

**At St. Thomas More Parish
Picture
Purity of Heart
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


TUESDAY, MAY 25
MEMORIAL OF
MARY MAGDALENE de PAZZI
6:30 pm
Mystical Union in Prayer

6:30pm  Evening Prayer
              Adoration (ends at 7:30)
7:30.      Conference​ on Mary Magdalene de 
​              Pazzi and the Mystical Union of Prayer
Picture

THURSDAY, APRIL 15
MEMORIAL OF
MICHAEL OF ST. AUGUSTINE
6:30 pm
6:30pm  Evening Prayer
               Adoration (ends at 7:30)
7:30pm   Conference on Michael of St.
               Augustine and 
the Maryform Life
Michael of St. Augustine
File Size: 66 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture

Picture
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
​FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH
6:30 pm
St. Joseph, Protector of the Order

6:30        Evening Prayer
               Adoration (ends at 7:30)
7:30        Conference on St. Joseph and Act
​               of Final Consecration to St. Joseph
​
St. Joseph, Protector of the Order
File Size: 61 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Picture
Remnants of the Monastery on Mt. Carmel
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
The Desert in Carmel: Preparing for Lent
The Desert in Carmel: Preparing for Lent

8:15        Mass
               Adoration (ends at 9:20)
9:20        Presentation
​
**Confessions are offered from 7:15 - 8:00

Picture
JANUARY 16: Elijah and the Founding of Carmel
Elijah and Carmel
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

1925-Carmel in America
File Size: 4435 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Proudly powered by Weebly