15 Oct - The 500th Anniversary of St. Teresa of Jesus

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
And my spirit exalts in God my Saviour.
For He has looked with mercy on my lowliness
And my name will be forever exalted.
For the mighty God has done great things for me
And His mercy will reach from age to age.

Refrain:  

And holy, holy, holy is His name.

He has mercy in every generation
He has revealed His power and His glory.
He has cast down the mighty in their arrogance
And has lifted up the meek and the lowly.
He has come to help His servant Israel
He remembers His promise to our fathers.

Refrain:  

And holy, holy, holy is His name.
Holy, holy, holy is His name. 

Lyrics:  John Michael Talbot
Choral Arrangement by Phil Perkins and Rick Modlin
Accompanist: Miss Christine Tee
Recording Artist:  Miss Christine Tee.
Choir:  Carmel Seremban

Last night I lay a-sleeping. There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, and ever as they sang,
Me-thought the voice of Angels from Heav’n in answer rang,
Me-thought the voice of Angels from Heav’n in answer rang.

Chorus: 

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King!

And then me-thought the scene was changed, the streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad hosannas the little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery, the morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill,
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill.

Chorus:  

And once again the scene was changed, new earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City, beside the tide-less sea;
The Light of God was on its streets, the gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter, and no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night, or sun to shine by day,
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away,
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Sing for the night is o’er,
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna for evermore!
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna for evermore!  

Music by: Stephen Adams
Words by: Fred Weatherly
Accompanist:  Miss Christine Tee
Recording artist:  Miss Christine Tee
Choir:  Carmel Seremban

Accompanist: Miss Christine Tee

Recording: Miss Christine Tee

My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I may not choose the colours, He knows what they should be.

For He can view the pattern upon the upper side,

while I can see it only on this the under side.

Sometimes He weaveth sorrow, which seems so strange to me,

But I will trust His judgement, and work on faithfully;

Tis He who fills the shuttle, He knows just what is best,

So I shall weave in earnest and leave with Him the rest.

At last, when life is ended, with Him I shall abide.

Then I may view the pattern, upon the upper side.

Then I shall know the reason why pain with joy entwined,

Was woven in the fabric of life that God designed.

Music: Traditional 

Hail, O Lady of Mount Carmel
Proudly do our hearts recall
From the Church's ancient treasures
Comes the title dear to all

Chorus:
Dearest Lady of Mount Carmel
Souls of prayer we long to be
Intercede for us, we pray Thee
With the child upon Thy knee

Many saints Thy bless are sharing,
For to God their lives they vowed
On the Holy Mount of Carmel
Where Elias saw the cloud

Simon Stock received Thy promise
in the ages long ago,
Those who wear Thy holy habit
Cleansing fires scarce will know

At Thy call the great Teresa
scorned all earthly joys as dross
Smiled Thou on Therese of Jesus,
And inspired John of the Cross.

Lyrics: Carmel - Oklahoma 
Music: Carmel of Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, West Malaysia.

Today to Saint Elijah
We lift our hearts appeal
For graces of His worship
and courage of His zeal

Upon the slopes of Carmel
In solitary prayer,
He heard God's message whispered
Upon the gentle air.

In deeps of contemplation
He learned God's holy will;
And then went forth with ardor
His mission to fulfill.

He pleaded with His people
to place in God their trust
Denounced the wicked rules,
The faithless, the unjust

May we in other ages;
God's sacred laws avow;
And listening to His spirit
Fulfill our missions now.

To love our great Creator
His Son and Spirit heed;
and so to love each other
And live our Christian creed 

Lyrics: Carmel - Quidenham
Music: Carmel of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Seremban, West Malaysia.

St. Teresa of Avila: Teresa de Ahumada was born in 1515 in Avila, spain. When she was 20, she joined the Carmelite Monastry of the Incarnation where the Mitigated Rule was observed. She had a warm, attractive and vivacious personality which attracted many visitors to the Monastery.

After her ‘second conversion’ at the age of 39, Jesus became her “all”. The “Good Jesus” became her only guide, her sole companion and the source of all Truth. She felt the need of an environment where she could live a life of greater and deeper intimacy with Jesus for His Church. At His urging she founded the Monastery of St. Joseph where the Primitive Rule was observed. Subsequently she founded 16 more such monasteries before her death in 1582.

St. Teresa’s major writings are spiritual classics and she was declared the first woman Doctor of the Church in 1970.

Your Word is as a lamp
To light my feet along life’s way
A light no gloom or darkness can defeat,
But makes night day.
Oh Mother make our hearts 
Aflame with yours,
Our spirits high,
Our faith a flame that soars.

Yours was a love that did not count
The cost nor seek reward.
That held all earthly fame and joy well lost
For Christ our Lord.
A burning zeal to quench that thirsting cry from Calvary’s height.
With Christ for souls to die

Teach us to die that only Christ 
May live and reign alone.
Our hearts and minds our very selves to give,
To be His own.
The frail vase of our lives O may we break over our God.
All reckless for His sake. 

Lyrics: Her own prayer arranged to music Carmel of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Seremban, West Malaysia.

Music: Waltz in A Flat - J. Brahms

Oh my Blessed Three, Trinity Whom I adore;
I plead for self-forgetfulness that so many soul its calm retains.
Your peace in me, and I in You - Unchanging Lord this my plea:
Each moment swept into the depts of Your hidden mystery.

Oh calm my soul, make it Your heav'n, Your loved abode, Your place of rest
Oh there may I be wholly yielded to you!
Oh Beloved Christ, so crucified by love,
My one desire Your bride to be and cover You with glory Lord.

But yet I feel my frailty and ask You Lord identify my soul with all the movements of Your own soul.
Oh my Blessed Three Trinity whom I adore,
Possess, immerse me in Your self, adorn me with Your very self. 

Adorer come, Redeemer come, O Saviour come, and this my prayer
That all my life to reflect Your own life Lord;
O Eternal Word, Beloved Star hold my gaze;
In darkness, void and powerlessness, O never let me leave You Lord.

Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, O let the Word renew His Mystery in me
So Father sees His own Son.
Oh my Three my All, Trinity Whom I adore;
I give myself to you as prey so that consumed God may I be.

Composer: Maria Parkinson

As I kneel before you, as I bow my head in prayer
Take this day make it yours and fill me with your love

Chorus:

Ave Maria, gratia plena
Dominus tecum, benedicta tu

All I have I give you, every dream and wish are yours
Mother of Christ, Mother of mine,
Present them to my Lord.

As I kneel before you and I see your smiling face
Every thought, every word is lost in your embrace.