May 3

A day observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.

From an open letter from Catholic journalists to Pope Francis on the occasion of the canonization of Carmelite Titus Brandsma, May 15, 2022.

Your Holiness,

In 2018 you asked us, journalists, loud and clear, “to promote a journalism of peace”, a “journalism that is truthful and opposed to falsehoods, rhetorical slogans, and sensational headlines. A journalism created by people for people, one that is at the service of all, (…) a journalism committed to pointing out alternatives to the escalation of shouting matches and verbal violence” (“The truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32), Fake news and journalism for peace. Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Communications Day, 24 January 2018).

We wholeheartedly endorse your call to action and in it we recognize a mission statement for the whole of the journalistic enterprise: for old and new media, for editors of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and internet platforms - and not only for journalists of Catholic origin, but for all journalists of good will.

Titus Brandsma has meant a lot to the Catholic community in the Low Countries, but his journalistic work stands out among all his other activities. He was editor-in-chief of a newspaper, devoted himself to the modernization and professionalization of the Catholic daily press in the Netherlands, and strove for better working conditions and the establishment of a professional training for journalists.

Father Brandsma did his work in the context of the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe. In word and deed he opposed the language of hatred and division that was becoming common at the time. In his view, what we now describe as ‘fake news' was not to be tolerated in the Catholic press; he successfully argued for an episcopal ban on the printing of National Socialist propaganda in Catholic newspapers.

[St. Titus Brandsma] paid with his life for his courageous actions.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 99 journalists were killed in 2023, 72 in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict alone.

Link to Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Link to the Windhoek Declaration (1991)

Link to full letter of the Catholic journalists to Pope Francis (May 2022)

Publications by or about St. Titus Brandsma,  include the Collected Works of Titus Brandsma in English (4 of 7 volumes completed); Un Frate Pericoloso, a play in Italian; biographies in English, Spanish, and Italian; a RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana-Tiber Cinematografica produced movie, Le Due Croci (DVD, in Italian with subtitles available in English and Spanish); and many other excellent offerings.

• pdf Lectio Divina May 2024 [Pdf] (1.73 MB)
• default Lectio Divina May 2024 [ePub] (242 KB)
• default Lectio Divina May 2024 [Mobi] (1.12 MB)
  

From the Vice-Postulator of the Cause of Isidore Bakanja
Carmelite Family Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Beatification of Blessed Isidore Bakanja

On April 24, 1994, Blessed Isidore Bakanja, layman and martyr of the Scapular of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Today the Order comes together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Church's recognition of the holiness of this Congolese Catholic who would not give up his scapular.

Isidore Bakanja was born in Bokendela (Democratic Republic of Congo) around 1885. Leaving his village, he moved to Mbandaka, where he was baptized on May 6, 1906 and confirmed a few months later, on November 25, 1906. He was heavily influenced by the witness of the Trappist missionaries, cultivating a special devotion to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Despite the difficulties he encountered at work because of his fidelity to Christ, he remained steadfast in his faith. On February 2, 1909, he suffered an atrocious scourging because he refused to get rid of the scapular of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel which he wore over his shoulders. Following a terrible beating and sensing his impending death, he received the anointing of the sick on July 24, 1909. Just as Christ died having forgiven his wrongdoers, so Bakanja died having forgiven his executioner: “The white man hit me; that's his business. It's up to him and God. When I get to heaven, I'll pray a lot for him and ask God to forgive him.”

Bakanja died on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1909, at the age of 24. In imitation of Christ, whom he had followed from the moment of his baptism, Isidore Bakanja lived in his own way, like Saint Paul, who wrote: “For me, to live is Christ.” (Philippians 1, 21). "For me, to live is to be a Christian."

On June 7, 1917, his remains were exhumed and buried at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Bokote. He was proclaimed Blessed on April 24, 1994. His cause for canonization is now underway. Popes Benedict XVI and Francis have recognized and proposed Blessed Isidore Bakanja as an authentic witness and example of faith for all Christians in the world. In his post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus vivit, Pope Francis named Blessed Isidore Bakanja among the young saints who today mobilize Christians in their quest for holiness and inspire new conversions. In short, Blessed Isidore Bakanja is a spiritual and ecclesial heritage for the world.

To read more

Jesus True Vine; Through Fellowship With Him
the Branches Bear Much Fruit (John 15:1-8)

• pdf Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter [PDF] (2.87 MB)
• default Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter [ePub] (2.65 MB)
• pdf Celebrando en Familia - Quinto Domingo de Pascua (463 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa -  Quinta Domenica di Pasqua (459 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em família - Quinto Domingo da Páscoa (460 KB)

Carmel Celebrates World Book Day Connecting People Around the World

On Tuesday, April 23, people in over 100 countries around the world will celebrate World Book Day. Melody Triumph, of The Black Curriculum website, captures the importance of the Day, "How special and exciting it is to be able to have someone’s story from the past, or from the other side of the world, in your hands. ... It reminds us that everyone has a story to tell, everyone has an experience we can get joy and learn from, and perhaps most the most important of them all, is that every reader has a story that shows them that they are not alone."

World Book Day is a perfect opportunity to remind children of the importance of reading and it really helps to spark their enthusiasm and get them excited to pick up a new book. Stories offer a child so much and play a vital role in their growth and development.

The day is not just for children!!! Carmelites can use the day as a starting point to gain new insights into the Order's history and spirituality.

The benefits of reading at all ages are multiple. For example, reading can reduce stress levels, preserves brain health and lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, helps your sleep and relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression.

There are plenty of other benefits of reading, including making you smarter. Reading provides a workout for our brains, a bit like physical activity for our bodies. Reading also increases vocabulary, helps us to understand different ideas and theories, increases knowledge and keeps our memory sharp.

In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book would be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare as well as that of the birth or death of several other prominent authors.

To choose a book to enjoy, see Edizioni Carmelitane

Interview With Its Writer

Story Behind the Icon for the 100th Anniversary of the Indonesian Province

An icon written for the 100th anniversary of the Indonesian Province which concluded a short time ago has an interesting history and an interesting writer. The Icon will find a permanent home in the provincial house of the Indonesian Province. It is hoped that it becomes both a tool of prayer and a sign of courage to be the true light of God to others and the good follower of Jesus Christ.” according to its creator.

She was born into a Christian family although her mother, born in Bali, was Buddhist. Her parents enrolled her into a Catholic secondary school under the care of the Sisters of Perpetual Help. One of the nuns, Sr. Flora took care of her when she was sick and became her private teacher after school in the area of math, religion and catechism. Two years later, Sr. Flora invited her to become a Catholic and gave her the baptismal name of Cecilia. “However, as she was filling out the form for the baptism, Sr. Flora received a message in prayer that her name should be Marina Carmel. So Our Lady of Mount Carmel became my patron saint. This was my first contact with the Carmelites.”

Following an accident involving her hands, Marina Carmel had the opportunity to learn from Orthodox nuns and priests how to write icons. “They encouraged me, improving my ability to use my injured hands. I also asked for God’s healing in my soul. A few months later, some priests borrowed my icon for a public session of prayer. They saw God’s work and compassion through the icons. They saw the tears and peace of those who came to pray.”

“They advised me to listen my calling from God to see whether I should be an icon painter or not. After many years of my unwillingness and discernment, an invitation to write icons about the Our Lady of Mount Carmel came from the Discalced Carmelites in Taiwan, the Carmelites in Hong Kong and Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Hong Kong.”

What would such icons represent for their author? “It acts as a connection between myself and others in the tender hand of God. It is a way of communion with our Father in heaven, his constant presence to us. I am so grateful to be one of his tiny tools as iconographer serving in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Christian churches, religious communities, and monasteries both overseas as well as in Hong Kong.”

“The Carmelite saints I was invited to write are Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Jospeh, the Prophet Elijah, and St. Titus Brandsma. I do all of the icon writing as a result of an invitation, not because of my own wishes. 

The icon of Titus is striking. It was written for a specific purpose. “There is an icon of Elijah created from icon material which was donated by an Orthodox person in gratitude for the of Carmelites prayers and kindnesses. However, that icon was sent to the new retreat house in Sumatra last year with Fr. Heru Purwanto, O. Carm. So, a Catholic sponsored icon material for me to write another icon for Carmelite evangelization. Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O. Carm., suggested that I write an icon of the recently canonized saint Titus Brandsma. So, I began to study about the life of St. Titus Brandsma. I received guidance from Fr. Benny Phang, O. Carm., other Carmelites in Rome, and the brothers of Mount Athos. Fr. Phang summed up the advice of those Carmelites, and asked me to include some signs on the icon which represent the virtue of the saint.

The Carmelites gave me the story of St. Titus and quotes from the saint to read for my spiritual preparation. I took a week for retreat and tried to reflect on my relationship with God through the poem which was written by St. Titus regarding Eucharist. Since Eucharist often comforted him in his suffering, Titus kept close to Jesus on the Cross. He really experienced the loneliness of the Lord and was devoted to the Eucharist through sacrifices and standing with weakness.”

“How do I stand with the weak through the icon writing in prayer, the pain of illness, and the grace that God gave me in His plan? How did I get to know His plan and the vision of God? From St. Titus I learned that I should be present to the Lord. I learned from the Prophet Elijah to have the courage to walk with Jesus in weakness. Those questions appeared in my mind when I was writing the icon. I feel the heaviness of my heart and brush. I beg for the mercy of God for my weakness in service, especially in my sacred harp music. With the icon for the illness, I kept praying by invoking Jesus' name, a kind of aspirative prayer in Carmelite spiritual and early Chrisitian faith. Hoping the Lord accepts my compassion, and lets me be his tiny tool to finish the icon in his way. Glory be to the Lord!”

According to the theology of traditional icons, there are special meanings in the icon of St. Titus Brandsma. Those colors were made with rare crystal and metal stone in prayer. The icon panel of special wood was made by carpenter in prayer. Those colors were mixed with egg, vinegar, and water in prayer. As iconographer, we cannot make any changes or put our on creative touches into the icon. All the colors of traditional icons were written from dark color to bright color. Because it means “Lord save us from sin,” it reminded me of the words of St. John of the Cross: "Even in the darkness, there is light.”

The dark blue color of the background is a sign of a martyr with purity in the soul. The shape of nose is straight, it means the breath of Holy Spirit is present in the life of the saint. The prominent, slightly out of proportion head of saint means the saint is full of wisdom in the Lord. St. Titus holding a pen and paper because he is a reporter and wrote to bring about justice.

“There also a quote of the saint written on a scroll of paper ‘He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it.’ It reminds us to be brave in following Jesus Christ. The mirror effect of the halo was made with real gold. Gold means the true light of God. It acts as the mirror of the heart which reflects our prototype of God's image. How did St. Titus Brandsma come to reflect the true light of God in his life, in the darkness? How he can he guarantee himself to be present before our Lord Jesus Christ? How enormous his courage be in order to savor the loneliness on the cross of Jesus Christ?”

Preparations Underway as 2025 Designated a Jubilee Year by Pope Francis

Pope Francis has designated 2025 a Jubilee Year with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The last Jubilee year was in 2015, considered an “extraordinary Jubilee year” as Jubilees normally take place every 25 years. That extraordinary year was dedicated to mercy, a central theme of Francis pontificate. A Jubilee year normally begins just before Christmas and ends at the Epiphany of the following year. Special rites include the opening of the Holy Door—actually doors on the four major basilicas of Rome with St. Peter’s Basilica the first to be opened.

In 2025, the door of St. Peter’s will be opened on December 24. Days throughout the year have been specified for particular celebrations such as January 24-26 as “Jubilee of World Day of Communications”; July 28-August 3 as “Jubilee of the Youth”; October 8-9 as “Jubilee of Consecrated Life”; December 14 as “Jubilee of Prisoners.” The door of St. Peter’s basilica will be sealed up in January 2026. A full calendar of events can be found at: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/pellegrinaggio/calendario-giubileo.html

Jubilees have biblical roots, as the Mosaic era established jubilee years to be held every 50 years for the freeing of slaves and forgiveness of debts as manifestations of God's mercy. The practice was re-established in 1300 by Boniface VIII. (It was Pope Boniface VIII who removed the Council of Lyon’s restrictions on the Order. We were now approved unconditionally.) Pilgrims to Rome were granted a plenary indulgence. Between 1300 and 2000, 29 jubilee years were held in Rome.

The city of Rome has been spending the last few years preparing for expected large crowds. Some 35 million people are expected throughout the year. (An estimated 20.4 million people participated in the 2015 Jubilee in Rome.) Rome has allocated approximately $2.5 billion for 87 public works projects, though people suspect this figure will almost double to $4.3 billion.

Among project are plans to improve public transport and public bathroom facilities, repave roads, build underground parking and pedestrian underpasses, and clean up the area around the city’s main train station, Termini.

Major construction is taking place in various parts of the city, including the Coloseum and Piazza Venezia, as a new line of the metro is added. A pedestrian mall, with an underground passageway, is being constructed between Castel San Angelo and Via Conciliazione to separate vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

Joan Lewis, the author of the book A Holy Year in Rome: The Complete Pilgrim’s Guide for the Jubilee of Mercy is quoted as saying “Be prepared for crowds. Bring patience along with your comfiest walking shoes.”

Official information about the Jubilee Year can be found at the Vatican website:  https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/giubileo-2025.html

Additional information can be found on this webite:  https://www.giubileo-2025.it/en/jubilee

European Youth Committee Meets to Plan Jubilee Celebrations

The Carmelite European Youth Committee (CEYC) met in St Albert's (Rome) from 12th to 14th April 2024. On this occasion, only four members of the committee were able to travel to Rome for the meeting: Antonella Brincat, João Manuel OCarm, John Toryusen and Richard Byrne OCarm. 

Responding to Pope Francis' invitation to young people for the Jubilee Year, CEYC had previously decided to organise a gathering in Rome of young adults from across Europe so as to celebrate and journey together in Carmel as part of the Jubilee of Youth in 2025. While in Rome, the Carmelite European Youth Committee continued with its planning of a programme for this gathering and the collection of supporting information. The committee also visited the Jubilee offices as part of its work.

During the gathering in 2025, we hope to accompany the young adult participants as together we explore and deepen our common Carmelite identity. We hope this will also be a springboard to rebuild a network of young adults across Europe. The participants will also spend two days in the city of Rome celebrating with the Jubilee Year with the wider Church.

The details for the gathering are being finalised and they shall be published and shared among the different European provinces, commissariats and delegations in the coming weeks. 

PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
19-03-24  Mary Anastasia Mwikali of Christ the King (MAC) Machakos, Kenya
07-04-24  Pierpaolo Marcotullio (Ita) Pianella, Italia

ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
10-02-24  Rafael Dorgival Alves Fonseca Neto (Pern) Pernambuco, Brazil

Glen Attard, O. Carm.

Emotional and spiritual intelligence are two fundamental pillars of the human “inner cosmos”, each offering unique insights into the complexities of the human experience. This seminar aims to delve deeply into these two intelligences separately before exploring possible areas of convergence. The first session will begin by dissecting emotional intelligence, unraveling its components of self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. Following this, the focus shifts to spiritual intelligence, probing the depths of meaning and transcendence, the measure of spiritual growth, its areas of development, its method, its barriers, and its types. In the final session, the seminar brings emotional and spiritual intelligence into dialogue, highlighting their shared principles and areas of convergence. Participants examine how self-awareness and self-deception, empathy and relationships, common values and limits bridge the gap between the emotional and spiritual realms, fostering holistic well-being and personal growth.

Program:

Friday 26 April 2024 (6-8 pm)

Saturday 27 April 2024 (9:30 am – 12:30 pm)

(Central European Time)

Language: English

Venue: Online via Zoom

How to register: Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.