The VIII Assembly of the Mater et Decor Carmeli Federation took place from March 5-9, 2022, in the Monastery of the Sacred Heart and of Blessed Titus Brandsma. The monastery is in Córdoba, Spain.

These were days of prayer and discernment in which the sisters who participated were able to deepen their understanding of the reality of living in a Federation, based on the documents of the Church and in communion with the synodal desire to walk together in communion, participation, and mission.

Those elected to the Federal Council are the following:

President | Presidente | Presidente:  
Sor María Dolores Domínguez Pérez, O. Carm.

1st Councilor  | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor Elena María López Font, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sor María del Carmen del Toro Medina, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sor María Teresa Molina Sánchez, O. Carm.

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera:
Sor Reinhild Maschke, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma  | Economa: 
Sor Reinhild Maschke, O. Carm.

Titus Brandsma left many writings, either in the form of books, articles or letters, but he never wrote about his teachings on fraternity. In spite of that, he lived a fraternal life. We can learn how he valued fraternity from his life journey. For Titus, love is the foundation of fraternity. Fraternity is impossible without love. Titus' love for others grew from his close relationship with God. Titus realized that God loved him and that he loved God. This experience of love with God made Titus love his fellow human beings. When dealing with others, Titus realized that his main task was to love them. Titus lived the second Law of Love, namely: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Titus believed that God was present in his fellow human beings. To love and serve them means to love and serve Jesus. His love is also shown in the form of generosity. Titus always told his brothers and sisters in the Order to share with those in need. He warned them not to be stingy in giving food and money to the poor, because they had the right to the food and money. He urged the brothers and the sister to live on charity. For him, the poor are God's friends. In order for us to be friends of God, we must be friends to his friends.

Titus's fraternity is not limited to certain circles or to his own group (ad intra) but penetrates group boundaries (ad extra). He never discriminated against people because of their religion, ethnicity, race, class, or nationality. Titus made friends with people regardless of their background. Titus also fought for equal rights for his neighbors regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion, and social class. True fraternity always transcends the boundaries of fit and unsuitability. True fraternity does not look at whether someone has the same views or backgrounds.

Fraternity for Titus not only includes being together in physical terms, although that is also important, but also being together in spiritual terms. Being together in the presence of God is no less important than doing something together and working together. Titus also paid attention to the spiritual development of his brothers. When Titus heard that there was a nursing home for the elderly people that needed a priest to celebrate the weekly mass, but was unable to provide the stipends, he asked permission from his prior to give them spiritual services. Likewise, when Titus was imprisoned by the Nazis, Titus always tried to provide spiritual service to other prisoners.

One of the shelters run by the Indonesian Carmelite NGO is dedicated to Titus Brandsma. The shelter was blessed on April 18, 2018. It is located in one of the slum areas in Malang. This shelter functions as a shelter for homeless poor people. These unfortunate people are taken care with love by the volunteers. Any person, regardless their religious background, ethnicity and affiliation, may live in the shelter but, of course, it depends on bed availability. The requirements to be accepted in those houses are that they are really poor and have nobody to takes care of them.

The shelter also functions as an informal school for children from poor families to develop their knowledge. Students with different religious backgrounds participate actively in this school. The subjects offered by this informal school are the usual subjects (mathematics, English, and general knowledge). The difference between this informal school and formal schools is the process of teaching is founded on love. Students are accepted as they are, with their strengths and weaknesses. Each student is taken care of without any judgement being made. Their competence is developed individually since we believe that every child is created uniquely. The students are happy to study here because they are respected as individuals. Thanks to God, most of the students studying in this informal will be successful when they go to a formal school. Moreover, this informal school offers character building and the Christian value of love. Students are invited to respect themselves, be open to others, accept differences and love their neighbors without knowing their backgrounds. Finally, this informal school also offers performance and creativity classes. The students are encouraged to develop themselves and to be independent.    

There are some other done by the volunteers together with the local people. They cook together and share the meal with people living on the streets and poor people in the area. On certain occasion they cooperate with donors to get daily needs and then share them with the poor families who are affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.   

Many people with different backgrounds love to come to that place since they may experience the love shared by the volunteers, the patients, the teachers and the students. Students from Islamic university in Malang often come to visit the patients and the students. They also become volunteers in some of the programs. The spirit of fraternity of Titus Brandsma really fills the atmosphere of this shelter. This place becomes a meeting place for people to celebrate fraternity.

Below are some pictures of the activities done in the Titus Brandsma Shelter, Malang. 

The Carmelite NGO in Indonesia established Mercy House — dedicated to Blessed Titus Brandsma — in Malang in April 2018 to serve the elderly and children from families of all faiths. The elderly are provided a dignified place to live with food and care. The children are provided education and enrichment. It is a living example of Blessed Titus’ words “He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come in conflict with it."

You can see a short video on the Indonesian Mercy House Dedicated to Blessed Titus Brandsma below.

* Fr. Hariwan Adji, O. Carm., the author of this article, is the current prior provincial of the Indonesian Province of the Carmelite Order. He is a member of the Carmelite NGO and chair of the Indonesian Carmelite NGO. He holds a doctorate and is a lecturer on the Faculty of Humanities at Airlangga State University.

New Prior Provincial and Councilors of the German Province

The Prior General has confirmed the recent elections of the Prior Provincial and the Councilors of the German Province.

The following were elected:

Prior Provincial | Prior Provincial | Priore Provinciale: 
P. Klaus Rudolf Schenkelberger, O. Carm.

1er Consejero | 1^st Councilor | 1° Consigliere: 
P. Peter Schröder, O. Carm.

2do Consejero | 2^nd Councilor | 2° Consigliere: 
P. Michael Plattig, O. Carm.

3er Consejero | 3^rd Councilor | 3° Consigliere: 
P. Ludwig Eifler, O. Carm.

4to Consejero | 4^th Councilor | 4° Consigliere: 
Fr. Andreas H. Scholten, O. Carm.

The Carmelite General Curia in Rome welcomed the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, for dinner on March 23, 2022.

The Cardinal is friends with Fr. Luis Maza Subero, the General Councilor for the Americas, from his time as Papal Nuncio in Venezuela.

The forgiving father
(Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)

This Sunday’s Gospel is a parable of lavish and unexpected forgiveness and reconciliation. It is one of three parables in which God’s mercy breaks through all human and religious restrictions about how God should act toward sinners.

A wealthy father has two sons. Very cheekily, the younger son asks for his share of the estate which would come to him on his father’s death. This is a young man who has places to go and things to see!

Remarkably, the father gives him half of his estate, not the one-third to which the son was entitled.

No wonder the older son is put out. The younger son goes off and has a great time until the money runs out. Financially ruined he has to earn his keep feeding pigs. He decides to return home, beg forgiveness and ask to be only a servant in his father’s household.

The father is anxiously waiting for the son when he returns. He runs to embrace him. The son begins his confession, but the father takes no notice. He does not chastise or lecture. He refuses to treat

his son as a servant and immediately sets about restoring him to his rightful place in the household with the ring, the robe and sandals. He orders a feast to celebrate the fact that his son is alive and has returned. No wonder the older son is angry and resentful. But the father sets about reassuring him that his place in the household and in the father’s affection is secure and urging him to be reconciled with his brother. We are left wondering about what eventually happened.

The Gospel offers not just the hope of God’s forgiveness but the certainty of it.

The message today is: Rejoice in God’s abiding mercy!

Quiet time for reflection

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 4th Sunday in Lent Year C [PDF](3.92 MB)
• default Celebrating At Home - 4thSunday in Lent Year C [ePub](7.00 MB)
• pdf Celebrando en Familia - Cuarto Domingo del Tiempo de Cuaresma(2.73 MB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa - IV Domenica di Quaresima(2.76 MB)

Upcoming Titus Brandsma Lectures

October 3-7, 2023

Titus Brandsma Congress

(in English)

Radboud University – Nijmegan, Netherlands

Schedule will be posted nearer to the time of the conference

May 11, 2022

Titus Brandsma on National Socialism

(in English)

Dr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm.

Sponsored by the Titus Brandsma Institute - Nijmegen

May 10, 2022

Symposium Titus as Journalist

Sponsored by the Catholic Journalists accredited to the Vatican

May 2, 2022

Conference on the life of Blessed Titus Brandsma

(in Spanish)

Dr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O. Carm.

Presentation by the former General of the Carmelite Order on the life of Blessed Titus Brandsma

regarding his imminent canonization in Rome

St. Joaquina Vedruna Parish of Barcelona

Watch here

April 21, 2022

“That Dangerous Little Friar”

(in English)

3:30-4:30 PM (Eastern USA)

Sponsored by the Center for Carmelite Studies @ The Catholic University of America

April 20, 2022

Titus Brandsma on Holiness

(in Dutch)

Prof. Dr. Inigo Bocken

Sponsored by the Titus Brandsma Institute - Nijmegen

March 30, 2022

March 30, 2022

Titus Brandsma on Medieval Philiosophy

(in English)

Dr. Simon Nolan, O. Carm.

Sponsored by the Titus Brandsma Institute - Nijmegen

Past Titus Brandsma Lectures

March 24, 2022

The Lecture will be Recorded and Available on YouTube.

Visit the Center's Website here for the link

March 3, 2022

Los Santos del Siglo XX y la Enfermedad

P. Fernando Joaquin Millán Romeral, O. Carm., et al

Hora: 18:00 (peninsular)

March 2, 2022

Titus Brandsma: Personal Testimonials

(in Dutch)

Dr. Anne-Marie Bos

Sponsored by the Titus Brandsma Institute – Nijmegen
Online via Zoom

Register by email: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo. or via the TBI website.

Schedule of Conferences

By Blessed Titus Brandsma, February 12-13, 1942

Before a Picture of Christ

by Blessed Titus Brandsma

February 12-13, 1942

Original Dutch

O, Jezus, als ik U aanschouw

Dan leeft weer dat ik van U hou

En dat ook Uw hart mij bemint

Nog wel als Uw bijzondren vriend.

Al vraagt dat mij meer lijdensmoed

Och, alle lijden is mij goed

Omdat ik daardoor U gelijk

En dit de weg is naar Uw Rijk

Ik ben gelukkig in mijn leed

Omdat ik het geen leed meer weet,

Maar 't alleruitverkorenst lot

Dat mij vereent met U, o God.

0 laat mij hier maar stil alleen

Het kil en koud zijn om mij heen

En laat geen mensen bij mij toe

't Alleen zijn word ik hier niet moe.

Want Gij. O Jezus, zijt bij mij

Ik was U nimmer zo nabij.

Blijf bij mij, bij mij, Jezus zoet,

Uw bijzijn maakt mij alles goed.

English Translation By Gervase Toelle, O. Carm.

A new awareness of Thy love

encompasses my heart:

Sweet Jesus, I in Thee and Thou

In me shall never part.

No grief shall fall my way but I

Shall see thy grief-filled eyes;

The lonely way that Thou once walked

Has made me sorrow-wise.

All trouble is a white-lit joy,

That lights my darkest day;

Thy love has turned to brightest light.

This night-like way.

If I have Thee alone,

The hours will bless

With still, cold hands of love

My utter loneliness.

Stay with me, Jesus, only stay;

I shall not fear

If, reaching out my hand,

I feel thee near.

English Translation By Joachim Smet, O. Carm.

 Dear Lord, when look on you

My love for you starts us anew:

And tells me that your heart love me

And you my special friend would be.

More courage I will need for sure,

But any pain I will endure,

Because it makes me like to you

And leads unto your kingdom too.

In sorrow do I find my bliss,

For sorrow now no more is this:

Rather the path that must be trod,

That makes me one with you, my God.

Oh, leave me here along and still,

And all around the cold and chill,

To enter here I will have none;

I weary not when I’m alone.

For, Jesus you are at my side;

Never so close did we abide.

Stay with me, Jesus my delight,

Your presence near make all things right.

Rector Tom Brocks has been governing the former Carmel Lyceum in Oss, founded in 1922 by Titus Brandsma, since 2007. After WWII the school was renamed Titus Brandsma Lyceum. Titus' ideas are alive and well here, permeating the school culture. 

Rector Brocks: ''Titus 's statement about Catholic education, 'knowledge is only half [the goal],' is the name of our school plan.'' Titus is referring to the Carmelite value of humanization as the goal of education, as well as the transfer of knowledge and skills. Today it is called personality formation and socialization of young people: discovery of one's own talents, awareness that one is part of society and co-responsible, and one is able to contribute to that society. 

''Teaching from this perspective is a part of every lesson,'' says Brocks. A fellow professor of Titus’ in Nijmegen, Prof. Mohrman who taught classical languages, said that as a professor Titus distinguished himself in this respect. “Before the start of his lectures, he would go up to students and ask how they were doing.  In those days such a rapport was quite unusual between professors and students.''

Being Known  

Titus Brandsma Lyceum clears out a week three times a year without regular classes. Time is taken for reflective discussions with students and social activities such as meeting ex-prisoners, excursions to the Lower House [of Government] or social institutions, places of art and culture. Brocks says, "Another of Titus’ ideas is also a guiding principle: 'As long as the good things happen.’ It is a statement that contains a lot of meaning. The expectation is that you actively participate in society; that you think about what is good and make moral considerations. It also implies there is room for autonomy. You can choose within the framework of what is good. A core value of our school is that you may be who you want to be. Titus Brandsma Lyceum scores high on social safety. We hear this from the evaluators, and we see this reflected in student surveys. It means a safe climate for one to live respectfully one’s sexual orientation, for example. It means space is available for disabled children. Being 'known' is something adolescents are sensitive to. So especially in this most vulnerable and beautiful period of their lives, we are able to accompany them.''

Legitimate Hangout

School leadership, in the spirit of Titus, must be in agreement with this, says the rector. ''It means keeping an eye out to assist your colleagues. What are you passionate about? How can we, as school leaders, help you develop as a professional?

Before the Christmas lockdown, our mentors spent a week having online conversations with individual students and their parents. The purpose was to hear how things were going, how they see things at the school. The listening was very much appreciated. But the young students also called on us. They said things like, “Please make sure school reopens on January 10.”

The students are under pressure because of the corona pandemic. Delays in learning forced all of us to make up a lot of work in a very short period of time. This evoked some resistance as well as uncomfortable behavior. I understand that. School is also a legitimate hangout, I sometimes say. Being anchored with Titus’s values creates congruence in the school. I try to bring home that message often, at the opening and closing of the school year, at Christmas celebrations, and New Year's speeches, at parent information evenings and so forth. Hearing this gives colleagues and students a good feeling I notice.”