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The Praise of Glory
Elizabeth was given the name of the Holy Trinity for her consecrated life in the Carmel of Dijon. In here writings, however, she referred to herself as the Praise of Glory (Ephesians 1:12) on account of her special gift of penetrating the sublime truths in the epistles of St. Paul. So abundantly fruitful was the life of God in here that she seemed to reflect in here every act the eternal processions of His Truth and Love. Saint Elizabeth has been called another Thérèse.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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About the author
Elizabeth of the Trinity
25 books15 followersElizabeth of the Trinity, O.C.D. was a French Discalced Carmelite nun, mystic and spiritual writer. She has been beatified by the Catholic Church.
Catez had a terrible temper as a child. After receiving her First Holy Communion in 1891 she became more controlled and had a deeper understanding of God and the world. She also gained a profound understanding of the Trinity. Elizabeth visited the sick and sang in the church choir. She taught religion to children who worked in factories.
Catez began to be interested in entering the Discalced Carmelites, although her mother was against the idea. Men had asked for Elizabeth's hand in marriage, but she declined, because her dream was to enter the Carmelite monastery that was located 200 meters from her home.
Elizabeth entered the Dijon Carmel on August 2, 1901. She said, "I find Him everywhere; while doing the wash as well as while praying."
At the end of her life, she began to call herself Laudem Gloriæ. Elizabeth had wanted to be called that in Heaven because it means "praise of glory". She said, "I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them to go out of themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself."
Elizabeth died at the age of 26 from Addison's disease, which in the early 20th century had no treatment. Even though her death was painful, Elizabeth still accepted that God gave her that gift and was grateful. Her last words were, "I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!"
Elizabeth was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 25, 1984. Her feast day is celebrated on November 8. Her best-known prayer is "Holy Trinity Whom I Adore"[1] which she wrote out of her love of the Trinity. Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is a patron of illness, sick people and loss of parents.
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[1]
O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in You, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from You, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of Your mystery! Pacify my soul! Make it Your heaven, Your beloved home and place of Your repose; let me never leave You there alone, but may I be ever attentive, ever alert in my faith, ever adoring and all given up to Your creative action.
O my beloved Christ, crucified for love, would that I might be for You a spouse of Your heart! I would anoint You with glory, I would love You – even unto death! Yet I sense my frailty and ask You to adorn me with Yourself; identify my soul with all the movements of Your soul, submerge me, overwhelm me, substitute Yourself in me that my life may become but a reflection of Your life. Come into me as Adorer, Redeemer and Saviour.
O Eternal Word, Word of my God, would that I might spend my life listening to You, would that I might be fully receptive to learn all from You; in all darkness, all loneliness, all weakness, may I ever keep my eyes fixed on You and abide under Your great light; O my Beloved Star, fascinate me so that I may never be able to leave Your radiance.
O Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, descend into my soul and make all in me as an incarnation of the Word, that I may be to Him a super-added humanity wherein He renews His mystery; and You O Father, bestow Yourself and bend down to Your little creature, seeing in her only Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased.
O my `Three’, my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in whom I lose myself, I give myself to You as a prey to be consumed; enclose Yourself in me that I may be absorbed in You so as to contemplate in Your light the abyss of Your Splendour!
Catez had a terrible temper as a child. After receiving her First Holy Communion in 1891 she became more controlled and had a deeper understanding of God and the world. She also gained a profound understanding of the Trinity. Elizabeth visited the sick and sang in the church choir. She taught religion to children who worked in factories.
Catez began to be interested in entering the Discalced Carmelites, although her mother was against the idea. Men had asked for Elizabeth's hand in marriage, but she declined, because her dream was to enter the Carmelite monastery that was located 200 meters from her home.
Elizabeth entered the Dijon Carmel on August 2, 1901. She said, "I find Him everywhere; while doing the wash as well as while praying."
At the end of her life, she began to call herself Laudem Gloriæ. Elizabeth had wanted to be called that in Heaven because it means "praise of glory". She said, "I think that in Heaven my mission will be to draw souls by helping them to go out of themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself."
Elizabeth died at the age of 26 from Addison's disease, which in the early 20th century had no treatment. Even though her death was painful, Elizabeth still accepted that God gave her that gift and was grateful. Her last words were, "I am going to Light, to Love, to Life!"
Elizabeth was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 25, 1984. Her feast day is celebrated on November 8. Her best-known prayer is "Holy Trinity Whom I Adore"[1] which she wrote out of her love of the Trinity. Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is a patron of illness, sick people and loss of parents.
----
[1]
O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in You, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from You, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of Your mystery! Pacify my soul! Make it Your heaven, Your beloved home and place of Your repose; let me never leave You there alone, but may I be ever attentive, ever alert in my faith, ever adoring and all given up to Your creative action.
O my beloved Christ, crucified for love, would that I might be for You a spouse of Your heart! I would anoint You with glory, I would love You – even unto death! Yet I sense my frailty and ask You to adorn me with Yourself; identify my soul with all the movements of Your soul, submerge me, overwhelm me, substitute Yourself in me that my life may become but a reflection of Your life. Come into me as Adorer, Redeemer and Saviour.
O Eternal Word, Word of my God, would that I might spend my life listening to You, would that I might be fully receptive to learn all from You; in all darkness, all loneliness, all weakness, may I ever keep my eyes fixed on You and abide under Your great light; O my Beloved Star, fascinate me so that I may never be able to leave Your radiance.
O Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, descend into my soul and make all in me as an incarnation of the Word, that I may be to Him a super-added humanity wherein He renews His mystery; and You O Father, bestow Yourself and bend down to Your little creature, seeing in her only Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased.
O my `Three’, my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in whom I lose myself, I give myself to You as a prey to be consumed; enclose Yourself in me that I may be absorbed in You so as to contemplate in Your light the abyss of Your Splendour!
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 17, 2019
(mine is a Bibliolife reprint, but I use this cover)
Canonized in 2016, this Carmelite saint is of the less-mentioned type, though if you get to know her, she's pretty awesome. This biography was written freshly after her death, and was quite popular at least five years after her death, as all the introductions and appreciations show, before the main text. Produced by her community for wider use among the Carmelite convents as it was requested, it quotes a lot from her writings, letters, and comments from people that knew her.
She lived in her Dijon community from 1901 to 1906 when she died of Addison's disease, which at the time couldn't be treated as it could be today (so she would survived it today). There are a few black and white pictures included, as well as texts of her last retreat and some letters at the end. The last letter, from someone who knew her, acts pretty well as the epilogue for the whole book, IMO.
There's some connections in the text towards St Thérèse Of Lisieux - who was 6 years her senior, and died 9 years before her - Elizabeth felt some connection to her, and they do share some common things, like being French, having close family connections, having a disease that killed them, having a temperament flaw that was fixed at one point, and an attempt to make a sinner change their mind and return to Church, without success. Both also suffered from dryness, though Elizabeth's was briefer. Elizabeth was also more easily liked by her community, for her spirituality was pretty much the same and visible from her arrival. Their spiritual types were also a little different: Thérèse had her 'little way', while Elizabeth's was more personal 'bride of Christ' focused. Perhaps that's one reason why the former was and is more popular - hers is easier and more everyday to connect to, while Elizabeth's devotion was more tunnel-visioned and private.
I feel some connection to Elizabeth because we share the birthday, and in a way also the name (though mine is only a part of her name).
The tone of the writing in this book may be something that would put some readers off. It's not too sweet, it's just so strongly, tunnel-vision style focused on her intense mission of connection with Jesus and the Trinity, right until her dying moment. 'Praise Of Glory' was her nickname, connected to her devotion to the Trinity (thus her name at the convent).
Her final illness is a little hard to read about: intense exhaustion, stomach ulcers (thus a liquid diet), sleeplessness, fever, headaches and other pains, and in the end increasing breathing issues. I'm glad that her final moments were in the end quite peaceful, because it was hard to read how she suffered, although she bore them well due to her intense devotion.
I can understand why she isn't mentioned much when Carmelite saints are mentioned (and her canonization is new anyway), and this biography won't appeal to all, but one can admire her dedication and character in all its intensity. I think this book is worth looking into, and it's good to find some less known saints like her. A moving, intense experience.
Canonized in 2016, this Carmelite saint is of the less-mentioned type, though if you get to know her, she's pretty awesome. This biography was written freshly after her death, and was quite popular at least five years after her death, as all the introductions and appreciations show, before the main text. Produced by her community for wider use among the Carmelite convents as it was requested, it quotes a lot from her writings, letters, and comments from people that knew her.
She lived in her Dijon community from 1901 to 1906 when she died of Addison's disease, which at the time couldn't be treated as it could be today (so she would survived it today). There are a few black and white pictures included, as well as texts of her last retreat and some letters at the end. The last letter, from someone who knew her, acts pretty well as the epilogue for the whole book, IMO.
There's some connections in the text towards St Thérèse Of Lisieux - who was 6 years her senior, and died 9 years before her - Elizabeth felt some connection to her, and they do share some common things, like being French, having close family connections, having a disease that killed them, having a temperament flaw that was fixed at one point, and an attempt to make a sinner change their mind and return to Church, without success. Both also suffered from dryness, though Elizabeth's was briefer. Elizabeth was also more easily liked by her community, for her spirituality was pretty much the same and visible from her arrival. Their spiritual types were also a little different: Thérèse had her 'little way', while Elizabeth's was more personal 'bride of Christ' focused. Perhaps that's one reason why the former was and is more popular - hers is easier and more everyday to connect to, while Elizabeth's devotion was more tunnel-visioned and private.
I feel some connection to Elizabeth because we share the birthday, and in a way also the name (though mine is only a part of her name).
The tone of the writing in this book may be something that would put some readers off. It's not too sweet, it's just so strongly, tunnel-vision style focused on her intense mission of connection with Jesus and the Trinity, right until her dying moment. 'Praise Of Glory' was her nickname, connected to her devotion to the Trinity (thus her name at the convent).
Her final illness is a little hard to read about: intense exhaustion, stomach ulcers (thus a liquid diet), sleeplessness, fever, headaches and other pains, and in the end increasing breathing issues. I'm glad that her final moments were in the end quite peaceful, because it was hard to read how she suffered, although she bore them well due to her intense devotion.
I can understand why she isn't mentioned much when Carmelite saints are mentioned (and her canonization is new anyway), and this biography won't appeal to all, but one can admire her dedication and character in all its intensity. I think this book is worth looking into, and it's good to find some less known saints like her. A moving, intense experience.
Displaying 1 of 1 review