The International Carmelite commission for Liturgy and Prayer met at the General Curia, Rome from May 23-27, 2022. Having held several virtual meetings over the past two years, this was their first face-to-face gathering since the General Chapter of 2019.
Following on from their virtual meetings, the members dedicated each of the five days to a specific topic: shrines, liturgical texts, initial discussions for a liturgical congress in 2024, liturgical formation, prayer. During the week, the commission also had the opportunity to meet online with four Carmelite scholars engaged with or beginning liturgical studies: Luca Zerneri (ACV), Elijah Januaris Mutinda (Ken), José Lucas Do Nascimento (Flum), Daniele di Filippo (Ita). It is hoped that this fruitful conversation will continue into the future.
Much of the work these days centered on the present situation with regard to liturgical texts, their translation and publication (supplements to the Missal and the Liturgy of the Hours) in addition to the material received from the previous commission (2013-19) regarding the Saturday Memorial of Our Lady and the Carmelite Funeral Rites. Initial work has begun on liturgical and prayer formation for a Ratio Studiorum. A preliminary project in ongoing formation was also initiated. Finally, the commission prepared a document addressing our many Shrines throughout the Order.
The commission will meet again in October (online) of this year and again in May 2023 (in person). The members present were (in picture below left to right): John Keating. O. Carm., (Hib), Alexander Vella O. Carm., (Mel), Désiré Unen Alimange O. Carm., (It/Cong), Richard Byrne, O. Carm., (Hib), and Sr. Nerina de Simone, CMSTBG. Robert Manik O. Carm., (Indo), was unavoidably absent.
