O.Carm
Saint Angelus of Sicily, Priest and Martyr
May 5th | Memorial
Angelus is thought to have been one of the first Carmelites to return to Sicily from Mount Carmel and, according to a long-standing tradition, he was murdered in Licata during the first half of the 13th century.
The cult of Saint Angelus spread throughout the Order and among ordinary lay people. Angelus and St Albert of Trapani are considered the "fathers" of the Order because they were the first two saints to have a cult in the Order.
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Between 1625 and 1627, a “trial” was held in Licata on the miracles attributed to the Carmelite Saint Angelus, whose martyrdom, according to hagiographic tradition, was said to have occurred in the very town overlooking the Sicilian Channel. A detailed study of the proceedings of the trial can be found in the book Miracula et Benefitia: Malattia, Thaumaturgia e devozione a Licata e in Sicilia nella prima età moderna by Marco Papasidero, published by Edizioni Carmelitane.
Bl. Ángel Hostench, Lucas of St. Joseph and Companions
The Commissariat of Catalonia was established in 1932. Almost immediately difficuties began. In February 1934 the Carmelite church was desecrated. In October Communist guards were placed at the door of the priory to prevent the religious from leaving. In June 1936 the mayor forbade religious from teaching in the schools and working in hospitals. Shortly thereafter, a Carmelite was stoned while walking on the street. The only newspaper to defend the religious was closed down on July 18th. The following day churches and monasteries were pillaged, ransacked, and burned. On July 20, the Feast of St. Elijah, the community disbanded.
The story of the Carmelites during this time and a biography of many of the martyred Catalonian Carmelites can be found in the book Profiles in Holiness I by Redemptus M. Valabek, O. Carm., published by Edizioni Carmelitane.
Prior General's Schedule for May 2026
Fr. Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of May 2026:
May 4-8, 2026: Chapter of the Dutch Province
May 18-24, 2026: Provincial Chapter of East Indonesia
May 27-29, 2026: Assembly of the Union of General Superiors
May 30-31, 2026: Meeting of the TOC-Castellina and Florence Family
Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter
Jesus, Our Way, Truth and Life (Jn 14:1-12)
Jesus calls them to trust him as the way to God, the living truth about God and the very life of God.
In a sense, Jesus is our map, our road and the destination of our journey. But arriving at the destination is not something which only happens in heaven. We are meant to start arriving now through the gift of the Spirit.
It is the spirit of Jesus who holds us in communion with God, who reveals to us the truth about God and who is the very life of God within each of us. Jesus is the reign of God in person and that is what we are called to be, too.
We want to live true to the vocation God has given us, aware of the Spirit which has been placed into our hearts, allowing that Spirit to change us into true believers so that the face of God might be seen within our own.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter [PDF](3.21 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter [ePub](4.69 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Quinto Domingo de Pascua(855 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - V Domenica di Pasqua(857 KB)
- pdf Comemorando em família - Quinto Domingo de Páscoa(844 KB)
Carmelite Rep For Malta at Religious Leaders' Meet
Carmelite Represents Malta at Meeting of European Religious Leaders
Religious leaders from across Europe gathered in Croatia this past week for the biannual conference of Major Superiors, organized by the Union of the European Conferences of Major Superiors (UCESM). Representatives from numerous countries came together to reflect on the current realities and future direction of religious life in Europe. Among the participants, are Carmelite prior provincial of the Maltese province, Charles Mallia, member of the executive committee. He is representing Malta.
The conference hopes to foster dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration on key issues shaping religious communities today, particularly within the European context. Discussions focus on both emerging challenges and practical aspects concerning the governance and mission of UCESM.
Four themes, guiding the reflections, were covered in thematic sessions: safeguarding in religious communities, the digital world: challenges and tensions, youth culture and engagement, and interculturality in religious life.
(l-r) Fr Eric Cachia (president, Maltese Conference of Major Religious Superiors), Charles Mallia (provincial, Carmelite Maltese Province and member of the Executive Committee), and Fr. Jānis Malnikovs, SJ. (president of the Executive Committee of UCESM)Elective Chapter of the Commissariat in Portugal
General Commissariat of Portugal Holds Elective Chapter in Fatima, Portugal
The triennial chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal as held April 21-23, 2026 in Hotel Casa São Nuno in Fatima. The theme of the chapter – echoing the theme of the General Chapter in 2025 – was: “You Must Do Some Work” (Rule 20). Our Contemplative Fraternity Discerns Its Mission in Portugal. Before the chapter, the preparatory commission did a lot of work synthesizing the reflections of the friars and the communities, as well as putting together the various proposals for the chapter to consider.
The afternoon before the chapter began, the gremiales were led in a reflection guided by the Reverend Father José Antunes, missionary of the Divine Word, under the theme, “International Religious Communities.”
In opening the Chapter, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., the prior general, encouraged the friars to rediscover the beauty of the Carmelite charism especially with regard to our interior life. On the second day of the Chapter, the Prior General gave a presentation building further on the theme of spiritual renewal.
During the Chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal were elected:
Commissary General | Comisario general | Commissario generale
Altamiro Tenório da Paz, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Agostinho Marques de Castro, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Fernando Manuel Afonso Araújo O. Carm
3rd Councilor | 3er Consejero | 3o Consigliere
João Manuel Oliveira da Costa, O. Carm.
4th Councilor | 4to Consejero | 4o Consigliere
Pedro José Martins Monteiro, O. Carm.
Lectio Divina May, 2026
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
your Son Jesus Christ is to us the way that leads to you and to one another, the truth that is good news of love and hope, the life which he sacrificed to give it.
Help us to show the way to him and to go his way to one another, to speak the truth that is encouraging and credible, to give life by sharing happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Nuns in Granada, Spain
Elective Chapter Held in Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation in Granada, Spain
At noon on April 15, 2026, the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation in Granada (Spain) held its triennial elective chapter. After celebrating the Eucharist and singing a hymn to the Holy Spirit, the nuns began the elective chapter with the election of the prioress.
The monastery is part of the “Mater et Decor Carmeli” Federation and is located in the Diocese of Granada. Originally an ascetery (asceterium), in 1508 it became an enclosed monastery of the Order through the efforts of Mary Anne of St. Sebastian, a nun of the city of Ecija. The Venerable Joan Ursula of St. Joseph lived at Incarnation in Granada.
The nuns elected to leadership roles are:
Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sor Ma. Lourdes Santos, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma. Dolores Montes, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera | 2ª Consigliera:
Sor Ma. Jeanette Monica Santos, O. Carm.
Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa:
Sor Ma. Dolores Montes, O. Carm.
Formator | Formadora | Formatrice:
Sor Mary Jeanette Monica Santos, O. Carm.
Sacristan | Sacristana | Sacrestana:
Sor Gretchen Marie Cabalquinto, O. Carm.
April 23 Marks International Book Day Worldwide
April 23 the World Celebrates International Day of the Book
This annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educations, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) promotes reading and publishing. Books are like a window onto another world – with each new page, they introduce us to new people, new cultures and new ideas. World Book Day is celebrated in recognition of the power of books as a bridge between generations and across cultures.
April 23 was chosen as the date of the celebration as it is the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilasco de la Vega as well as less prominent authors. In an historical coincidence, Miguel Cervantes is also listed as dying on the same date – April 23, 1616 – as Shakespeare but in fact they died 11 days apart since Spain was using the Gregorian calendar and England was using the Julian calendar at the time.
Celebrating At Home - Fourth Sunday of Easter
The Good Shepherd Calls His Own by Name,
and They Recognise His Voice (John 10:1-10)
This year, the Gospel reading talks about Jesus as the ‘gate of the sheepfold’, that is, Jesus is the one through whom we truly enter into the fold of God. The reading implies that those who get into the sheepfold some other way bring only disaster and destruction. Those who enter the fold through Christ, the Good Shepherd, will be safe, will be led to good pasture and have life in all its fullness.
Jesus acts towards us like a good shepherd: feeding, nurturing, defending and even laying down his life for us. Our Good Shepherd is deeply concerned about us, the flock and there is a deep sense of warmth and intimacy in the realisation that Jesus knows each one of us by name. Like a good shepherd Jesus is the source of life, nourishment, and safety for the sheep.
Any reflection about Jesus as the Good Shepherd also serves as a reminder that shepherding each other in Jesus’ name is part of the vocation of every disciple. We are very used to thinking about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but we also need to think about being/becoming good shepherds to each other.
One of the very encouraging things about the pandemic was the number of people who became good shepherds to others, providing safety and security to vulnerable people, supporting health workers, providing meals and companionship. Yes, there were the ‘thieves and brigands’ too who preyed on others by hiking prices, selling goods which were never delivered and various other online scams.
But, like Jesus, we are called to bring life in all its fullness to one another.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - Fourth Sunday of Easter [PDF](2.90 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - Fourth Sunday of Easter [ePub](2.63 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Cuarto Domingo de Pascua(754 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - IV Domenica di Pasqua(741 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Quarto Domingo da Páscoa(753 KB)
