Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
July 10, 2002
Littleton Carmelite monastery to host annual triduum
Prayer services July 14-16 honor anniversary of Mary's gift of the scapular
By Roxanne King
For centuries Catholics have worn the brown Carmelite scapular that tradition holds Mary gave to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251, with the promise that whomever dies wearing it would be spared the fires of hell. To celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the gift of the scapular the Discalced Carmelite nuns invite the public to their monastery chapel for prayer services at 7 p.m. July 14-16.
The Carmelite monast-ery is at 3168 S. Gallup St. in Littleton.
The triduum honoring their patron draws several hundred faithful every year, said the prioress, Mother Judith Hartford.
While the congregation prays in the sanctuary, the cloistered nuns participate behind a metal screen that prevents the public from seeing them and vice versa. The services will include the rosary, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the prayer of the triduum, enrollment in the scapular confraternity — which is simply accepting the scapular and a blessing, no registry is kept — and a guest speaker. Leading the liturgies in chronological order are Father Shabas Crasta, O.C.D., of Risen Christ Parish, Father William Vollmer of the Colorado Springs Diocese and Father José Salgado, F.S.S.P., of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Latin Mass Community in Littleton.
The scapular devotion "is a big enrichment to your spiritual life," Mother Judith said during a rare media interview with the Register two weeks ago.
"That's one of our apostolates — promoting the scapular," the 70-year-old nun said.
Originally an apron-like piece of fabric worn over one's clothing, the scapular today consists of two stamp-sized holy images sewn onto brown fabric attached to ribbon. It is worn under one's clothing and serves as a reminder to clothe oneself in the virtues of humility, purity, charity and poverty modeled by Mary.
In a letter to the Carmelites on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the scapular last year, Pope John Paul II wrote that the wearing of the scapular links one with the Carmelites and their way of life and "is essentially a habit."
The scapular's power to save one from hell, proponents told the Catholic News Service, occurs by inspiring the wearer to live the Gospel, not by magic.
Nine nuns are living out their lives in prayer and penance on the 16-acre Carmel of the Holy Spirit Monastery, which was established 55 years ago by Archbishop Urban Vehr. Four of them are founding sisters. Mother Judith joined the community a week after graduating from college in 1954.
She received her call to religious life while attending Catholic high school in St. Paul, Minn. The principal gave her a book on the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The 17-year-old convert read it and was profoundly moved.
"I said, `That's for me,'" the jolly nun said with a laugh.
The nuns' days are spent in silence, prayer and work consisting of housekeeping, gardening and making rosaries and prayer cards. Speaking is only allowed during the two hours of recreation each day. As a penance they do not eat meat. They rely on Providence for their basic necessities.
"God has never given us a bill we couldn't pay," Mother Judith noted cheerfully.
Except for the Register and the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the nuns don't read the news or watch TV. The only radio they listen to is a weather station. They also keep abreast of what is happening in the world through the numerous prayer requests they receive daily at the chapel and via the mail and phone. The nuns are asked to pray for personal and community concerns. Crises are quickly phoned in.
"We get calls to pray for things like the fires," Mother Judith said. "On Sept. 11 it was nonstop."
They pray for the universal Church, the archdiocese and particularly for priests.
"We really have the primary position for doing some good," Mother Judith said about their contemplative vocation. "Prayer is the most powerful instrument on heaven and earth. Prayer is what moves everything."
Friends of the Carmel, a branch of the Archbishop's Guild that exists to aid the monastery, conducts a drive every year inviting people to the triduum and soliciting donations. Last year's drive earned $16,000.
The drive is led by charter members Marion Kelly, 92, who has overseen the project since its inception at the monastery's founding, and Margaret Struck, 90.
Making a donation to the monastery, Struck said, is a way to thank the nuns for the many graces the diocese receives through their prayers.
"Our diocese is so blessed to have them," she said. "We should reach out and help take care of them. It's a task of love to be able to give them a donation and thank God for the blessing of these sisters."
The monastery "is a bit of heaven," she added.
"The triduum is beautiful," Kelly said. "People fill the chapel to standing room only."
Describing himself as "a servant of Our Lady," Littleton resident Isidore Maez said he attends the annual triduum and visits the monastery chapel daily.
"It's very holy and our Lord is here," he said. "You feel his presence when you come here. . . . It's a privilege to come here."
The chapel is open daily from 5:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Mail prayer petitions to 3168 S. Gallup St., Littleton, CO 80120, or call the monastery at 303-798-4176.
To donate, make check payable to Friends of the Carmel and mail to 301 S. Sherman St., Denver, CO 80209. Your check serves as your receipt.
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