A week prior to the Fraternity Exercises in Florham, NJ, my aunt received in the mail a scapula from the shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Looking at the return address, I realized it was only a short 30 minute drive from my family's summer home. As Memorial Day weekend was approaching, Caitlin and I had planned to spend time upstate, enjoying nature and relaxing from city life. At the Exercises, we extended an open invitation to our friends to meet us at the Shrine and to walk through the Holy Door with us.

Saturday was beautiful; we met at the Shrine, had lunch together, prayed, walked through the Holy Door and spent time praying in front of Carmelite relics. Wanting the day to continue, we invited our friends back to the house for a barbecue and other summer house activities (eg: shooting BB guns).

I was very moved by the friends who came to walk with us through the Holy Door; it was clear that the only reason we are friends (in fact, the only reason we know each other) is Christ present in our midst. This is the center of the life we live with CL.