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.

The narrow door
(Luke 13:22-30)

It is a horrible feeling to find yourself locked out of home. It can instil panic. What will I do now? It is even worse if those inside won’t let you in, or even recognise you. Worse still if the house is full of strangers. 

There is no mistaking the sense of warning in this passage of Luke’s Gospel. 

Over the last few weeks, the gospel has presented Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem and his teaching about how to live our lives as disciples and the hard choices involved. The readings this week continue in this vein and point to the difficulty in being authentic to God and being prepared. If we are not properly prepared, whoever we are, we will not see the Kingdom of God – remember the phrases of recent Gospel readings: ‘stand ready’, ‘lamps lit’, ‘dressed for action’. 

Jesus’ teaching in the towns and villages sparks a sense that things are nearing a climax. This provokes the question about how many will be saved. Jesus refuses to speculate about numbers, instead turning the question into a warning not to miss the opportunity while it is still available. Otherwise, a person may very well find themselves locked outside.

Through what Jesus will accomplish in Jerusalem, all will have the opportunity to be part of his kingdom. He will open the door.
Being a disciple is not about following Christ in name only. Our relationship with Jesus is not gained by casual acquaintance with his words and actions but by thoroughgoing conversion (repentance) – the ‘narrow gate’. So, we need to honestly and purposefully attempt to live out our humanity, social concerns and faith through action and prayer, in the light of Christ, in his spirit and according to his teaching. 

The disciple can only share fully in the life of Christ through true conversion of heart - that’s the ‘narrow door’ through which we enter the Kingdom, our true home.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 21th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF] (3.23 MB)
• default Celebrating At Home - 21th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub] (3.96 MB)
• pdf Celebrando en Familia - 21 Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario (822 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXI Domenica del Tempo Ordinario (822 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em Família - 21 Domingo do Tempo Comum (835 KB)

The Chapter of the Indonesian based Putri Karmel Congregation was held July 25-August 6, 2022. The meetings focused on continuing to deepen the congregation's Carmelite spirituality in their personal and community life and according to the congregation's charism.

Pictured with the new Council are Carmelite Pidyarto Gunawan, the bishop of Malang, and Johannes Indraksuma, founder of the Putri Karmel.

The names of the new Council for 2022-2026 are located below:

General Superior | Superiora General | Superiora Generale:
Sr. Maria Petra, P. Karm.

1^st Vice General | 1ª Vice General | 1ª Vice Generale
Sr. Maria Skolastika, P. Karm.

2^nd Vice General | 2ª Vice General | 2ª Vice Generale
Sr. Maria Sesilia Lumowah, P. Karm.

1^st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera
Sr. Maria Stanisla Kotska, P. Karm.

2^nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr. Maria Alvaresta, P. Karm.

3^rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera | 3ª Consigliera: 
Sr. Lisa Martosudjito, P. Karm.

4^th Councilor | 4ª Consejera | 4ª Consigliera: 
Sr. Alphonsa de Jesu, P. Karm.

INITIUM NOVITIATUS
03-07-22  Joseph Trung Do (SEL-Viet) Middletown, NY
14-08-22  Luke Huynh Kieu (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
14-08-22  Joseph Dinh Phan (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
14-08-22  Anthony Bau Tran (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
14-08-22  Yosef Marie Khanh Nguyen (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
14-08-22  Michael Ni Nguyen (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam


PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA
16-07-22  F.X. Eka Romario Erian Bulumanu (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Krisma Natal Josep Simbolon (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Wiligis Nggoni (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Mathias Maslamer Susanaman Londar (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Felix Andrian Pintubatu (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Felix Catur Pamungkas Simamora (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Gregorius Adelberd Sinaga (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Yohanes Is Nugroho (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
16-07-22  Yusuf Maria Nero Soluto Sihombing (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
20-07-22  Silvester Gou (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Nobertus Prestus Bidho (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Vinsensius Apaulo Roma Naju (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Mario Ronalastokia Nanisancara (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Petrus Sai (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Servasius Kandung (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Hendrikus Jiu (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Sales Agung (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Nikolaus Mario Watu (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Gregorius Mitan (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Yohanes Tangus (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Agustino De Pamela Nata (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Bernardino Realino Rey (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Agustinus Nong Sumanting (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Yoseph Hendrikus Reu (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Agustinus Mario Januarin (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
15-08-22  Joseph Mary Linh Pham (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
15-08-22  John Thu Hoang (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
15-08-22  Martin Dang Ngo (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
15-08-22  Joseph Tung Nguyen (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam
15-08-22  John Baptist Dieu Nguyen (SEL-Viet)  ThuDuc City, Vietnam


PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS
19-06-22  María Ofelia Mayor Miza (SEV)  Sevilla, España
16-07-22  Albertus Bernando Agung Hamonangan Situmorang (Indo)  Malang, Indo
16-07-22  Ignasius Anang Setia Darmanto (Indo)  Malang, Indonesia
27-07-22  Davi Maria dos Santos (Pern)  Camocim de São Félix, Brasil
27-07-22  Igor Ângelo Leite (Pern)  Camocim de São Félix, Brasil
27-07-22  Wanderson Luiz Freitas da Silva (Pern)  Camocim de São Félix, Brasil
27-07-22  Everton Ramos Cláudio (Pern)  Camocim de São Félix, Brasil
20-07-22  Adelbertus Zakarias Kasman (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Gustavianus Malino Tevi (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Novaldus Adventus Wero Gedho (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Yulius Dala Pede (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Gaudens Kandidus Marsiano Djago (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia
20-07-22  Inosensius Sumbi Sola (Indo. orientale)  Maumere, Indonesia


ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
06-08-22  Amandio Soares Salsinha  (Aust/TL) Hera, Timor-Leste
06-08-22  Narcizio Da Costa Vilanova  (Aust/TL) Hera, Timor-Leste
11-08-22  Shelton Slyvester Zimondi (Hib-Zim) Harare, Zimbabwe
11-08-22  Underson Musina (Hib-Zim) Harare, Zimbabwe
11-08-22  Marvellous Tawanda Murungu (Hib-Zim) Harare, Zimbabwe

On 17 August the Carmelite Order celebrates the memorial of Bl. Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi, priest.

The birth of Angelus is not known but probably around 1386. The necrology of the Carmel in Florence calls him the first son of the nascent "observance of the Selve"-- the Carmelite reform begun in the house of the same name. This later grew into the Mantuan Congregation.

Blessed Mazzinghi's name appears in Epilogatio brevis, a collection of names of members of the Order who died with the odor of sanctity assembled by John Bale.  He was known as Angelo of Florence.

The necrology in Florence speaks of him as most virtuous, of solid doctrine, a master in counseling, well-known and holy, a very famous preacher. A friend who lived with him for some time heard from "reliable" witnesses that when Mazzinghi preached in Florence, roses and flowers issued from his mouth. The flowers were gathered together by two angels and woven into a crown on his head. This is the iconography with which Mazzinghi is represented.

The Bollandists, in their Acts of the Saints of August in 1737 did not believe that the holiness and the cult of the blessed was sufficiently proved. They were willing to take up his cause again when additional proof became available. Dominic Mary Manni published a Life in 1739.

Read more here

The Triennial Elective Chapter of the Carmelite community of the Monastery of "Flos Carmeli" in Jaboticabal, Brazil, was celebrated on July 25-27, 2022.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:  
Ir. Francisca Marlene Rocha, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Ir. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Ir. Vera Lúcia Alves, O. Carm.

Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie
Ir. Maria do Carmo Silveira Moraes, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Ir. Francisca Marlene Rocha, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Ir. Vera Lúcia Alves, O. Carm.

• Lectio Divina August 2022 [PDF] Download  pdf here (931 KB)
• Lectio Divina August 2022 [ePub] Download  default here (240 KB)
• Lectio Divina August 2022 [Mobi] Download  default here (1007 KB)

12 August Optional Memorial

Bl. Isidore Bakanja, a member of the Boangi tribe, was born in Bokendela (Congo) between 1880 and 1890. In order to survive, even as a boy, he had to work as bricklayer or in farms. He was converted to Christianity in 1906.

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9 August Memorial (Feast in the provinces of Europe: Patron of Europe)

Sister Teresa Benedict of the Cross died in the gas chamber the same day that she arrived at the camp at Auschwitz, Sunday 9th August 1942, and her body was burned in one of the crematoria there. She was beatified on 1 May 1987 and canonized on 11 October 1998 by Pope John Paul II. On 2 October 1999 the same Pope proclaimed her co-patron of Europe.

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