Saint Brokard: Miracles, Crusades & the Hidden Carmelite Legacy (2 September)

About this sermon

Do you ever feel like the only person seriously trying to live the Catholic Faith? St. Brocard and the hidden spirituality of the Carmelites offer a powerful answer: solitude endured for God can become a source of grace. Born in Jerusalem during the Crusader era, St. Brocard became a hermit on Mount Carmel, following the spiritual example of the Prophet Elijah. After St. Berthold of Calabria died around 1195, Brocard succeeded him as superior of the hermits whose community would develop into the Carmelite Order. Recognizing their need for an established way of life, Brocard approached St. Albert, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. St. Albert gave the community the primitive Carmelite Rule, organizing its life of prayer, silence, work, obedience and solitude. According to Carmelite tradition, the young order later received the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary when its future appeared uncertain. Brocard was also remembered as a diplomat and wonderworker, reportedly healing a Muslim official of leprosy and restoring a young man to life. Both men subsequently embraced the Carmelite vocation. Before his death around 1230, Brocard encouraged his monks to follow the examples of Elijah and the Blessed Virgin Mary. His life teaches us the value of the hidden life. Franciscans exemplify evangelical poverty, Dominicans emphasize preaching and Carmelites remind us to live for God alone. Perhaps you are the only practicing Catholic in your family or workplace. That isolation can cause discouragement—but St. Brocard shows us how loneliness can become holy solitude. We do not need the world’s recognition when our lives are offered to God. If you feel alone in practicing the Faith, do not surrender. Enter more deeply into prayer and allow your isolation to draw you closer to Christ. St. Brocard of Mount Carmel, pray for us! 00:00 St. Brocard of the Carmelite Order 00:26 A Founding Father of the Carmelites 00:33 Born in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem 00:48 Christianity and the History of the Holy Land 02:07 St. Brocard Becomes a Hermit 02:15 Elijah and the Spirituality of Mount Carmel 02:34 The Ancient Hermits of Carmel 03:05 St. Berthold of Calabria 03:21 The Crusader Who Vowed His Life to God 04:02 Brocard Becomes Superior in 1195 04:20 The Carmelite Order Takes Shape 04:26 Brocard Approaches St. Albert of Jerusalem 04:43 The Need for a Formal Rule 04:51 The Primitive Rule of the Carmelites 05:10 The New Order Faces Controversy 05:29 Franciscans, Dominicans and New Religious Orders 05:54 Our Lady and Pope Honorius III 06:10 St. Brocard’s Hidden Carmelite Life 06:18 A Diplomatic Mission 06:40 The Miraculous Healing of Leprosy 06:57 Conversion and a Carmelite Vocation 07:03 A Young Man Restored to Life 07:27 St. Brocard’s Death and Final Exhortation 07:45 The Different Charisms of Religious Orders 08:26 Learning Poverty from the Franciscans 08:43 Learning Evangelization from the Dominicans 08:51 The Hidden Spirituality of Carmel 09:20 When You Feel Alone in the Faith 09:35 The Only Serious Catholic Around 09:51 Transforming Loneliness into Solitude 10:07 Resisting Discouragement 10:24 Solitude as a Source of Grace 10:42 Living for God Alone 10:52 Persevere Even When You Feel Isolated 10:59 Closing Prayer to St. Brocard Please say 3 Hail Marys for the priest. #SaintBrokard #CarmeliteOrder #CatholicSaints #MountCarmel #CatholicHistory #Christianity #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSpirituality #SensusFidelium #CatholicHomily #carmelites 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Miracles