St. John of the Cross and Others Helping Russell Miller to Enter Secular Carmelites Order

To fully celebrate Advent, Catholics can turn to the saints whose feast days fall within this time of hopeful anticipation. One of them is St. John of the Cross, whose feast day is Dec. 14. He is among the Carmelite saints who “shined a light on the path” for Russell Miller of Baton Rouge when he was searching to reconnect with God in his spiritual life. 

Miller was recently welcomed into the Secular Discalced Carmelites Order in Baton Rouge.

When Miller was in his 20s, he and his wife, Janice, attended Mass at the Discalced Carmelite Nun’s Monastery, Mary, Mother of Grace, in Lafayette. The Millers got to know the sisters and Rusty mowed the grass around the monastery. He also served at the altar at some Masses.

“I recall the peacefulness and interior joy that the sisters exuded. It was a wonderful peace,” said Russell Miller.

A career opportunity drew him and his wife to Baton Rouge about 18 years ago. 
Miller said he always thought in the back of his mind that he was called to be a deacon. His desire was particularly sparked when St. John Paul II died on April 2, 2005.

“The loss of him hit me so deeply and I said, ‘Lord I want to serve you in honor of him,’” said Miller.

About five years ago the thought resurfaced, and Miller entered the diaconate program for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

As he went through the discernment process Miller wasn’t “100 percent sure” that he was called to be a deacon. After two years in the program, he discerned he wasn’t called to be a deacon.

Top Right Photo: Pictured making their promises before Father Joseph Bresowar, spiritual assistant for the Baton Rouge Discalced Carmelites, are, from left, Greer Gordon, and Russell and Janice Miller. Photos provided Rusty Miller
Above Photo: Father Bresowar clothes Russell Miller with a scapular.  With emotion in his voice Miller said, “I have to say it was with a deep sadness that I left the diaconate program. There was a sense of God didn’t want me.”

He grieved for about six months and felt “lost.” 

But that is when he received his call to “Carmel.”

The Christmas after Miller left the diaconate program, his soon to be son-in-law gave him the book “Fire Within” by Thomas DuBay.  The book features the lives and traits of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross and their teachings in Carmelite spirituality.

“(My son-in-law) told me, ‘Mr. Rusty, I saw this book. I’ve never read it, but I just saw it. And I thought I’d give it to you.’”

“For Christmas it was great, wonderful. I started reading it and I could not put it down. I felt like I was reading about my own spiritual journey. It was amazing to me … I found my way again and my relationship with God and what he was calling me to do.”

After delving into the book, Miller believed, “I have to find other people who are experiencing the same thing in their spiritual journey because it’s a very rich, joyful, and beautiful spiritual journey.”

Miller searched the Internet and discovered the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. 

“I had no idea about who the secular Carmelites were, even after my experience with the Carmelites in Lafayette,” said Miller.

At first, Miller couldn’t seem to find a community in Baton Rouge, and he became sad, wondering, “Where am I going to find one?” 

He continued his online search until he found the Discalced Secular Carmelites community in Baton Rouge.

Miller has finished his first year of aspirancy in a six-year formation process that preceeds a definitive promise to the order. 

The Carmelite saints teach Miller how suffering transforms people to become closer to God and be who he created them to be.  St. Thérèse of Lisieux shows him how interior suffering can be transformed into grace. St. John of the cross teaches him about the joy of interior communion with God and how the pain of abandonment brings people to an even deeper, abiding joy. With the help of St. Teresa of Avila, Miller learns how Christ draws people into a relationship with God, the Trinity, and each other.

“I believe that in itself can help anyone suffering and struggling in today’s world,” said Miller. “Because we must live in relationship with one another. We are called to live our communion as a community – whether it’s in a marriage, our friendships, our neighbors or a city.”

Reflecting on his encounters with the Carmelite nuns and reading “Fire Within” confirmed to Miller that he is a Carmelite. 

Like any community, the Secular Carmelites are “human,” according to Miller. But he enjoys learning and growing spiritually with others who are on a similar pathway to holiness.

“For me it’s not about the definitive promises I will make one day. It’s the joy of the journey that I look forward to,” Miller said. 

For more information about the Baton Rouge Secular Discalced Carmelites, visit discalcedcarmelitesofbatonrouge.com.