Living As Love in the Church

When Saint Therese said, "I will be LOVE in the Heart of the Church", she
was envisioning the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. The Head and
members of this Body always need to be empowered by the vigor flowing
from the heart. This life-blood Therese described as LOVE. The Church's
marvelous apostolic work and missionary activity - amd all the faithful
participation of the faithful - must always be prompted and sustained by love,
the living prayer of daily oblation.

A Carmelite's vocation becomes this powerhouse of love when each action of
the day is immersed in a prayerful union and relationship with Our Lord. This
is expressed not only during our periods of silent prayer, but throughout the
day in our loving and thoughtful interactions with one another and also in our
willing and sacrificial service of the community. This powerful motivation
and the humble trust that our generous participation in the welfare and growth
of the Church unites us in love to the ardent desires of the Heart of Christ. We
also desire ardently to be "Love in the Heart of the Church."

Sr. Anne of Christ, O.C.D.