O.Carm

Martedì, 13 Maggio 2025 08:06

Celebrating At Home - Fifth Sunday of Easter

Farewell, Glory & Discipleship of Love (John 13:31-35)

Given during Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, these words begin what is called The Farewell Discourse in John’s Gospel (13:31-17:26). They are Jesus’ last words to his disciples before his death. In the course of offering assurance and comfort, Jesus develops various themes that have been introduced earlier in his ministry, including in particular glory, mutual indwelling and love. His main point is the experience of life in God the disciples have and will continue to have. The relationship between the Father and the Son, which has been revealed in the first twelve chapters of the Gospel, Jesus now declares to be realised in the disciples.
The relationship between the Father, the Son and the Spirit are described in more detail here than anywhere else in the Bible. In these chapters, therefore, is the most profound teaching on God and discipleship in the Bible.
The first part of today’s Gospel reading is a bit confusing unless we understand that ‘glory’ in the biblical tradition has to do with the revelation of the unseen God. So, in these lines there is a sense of mutual glorification - the Father is revealed in the Son and the Son reveals the Father in his death on the cross. The Son will reveal the love of the Father most patently when he gives up his life.
Using the intimate form of address, ‘My little children,’ Jesus gently begins to prepare the disciples for the difficult reality of his leaving them.
Just as Jesus has been God’s love in action in the world, so now, the disciples must be. The indispensable nature of abiding in love is underlined by the use of ‘commandment’. It is through their mutual love that all will recognise them as disciples of the One who loved even to laying down his life.

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Celebrating At Home

Venerdì, 09 Maggio 2025 06:56

St. George Preca, Priest

9 May Optional Memorial (Obligatory Memorial in the province of Malta)

Born in Malta on 12 February 1880. He lived in Valletta, the capital of Malta, near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. As a child, and according to the customs of the times, George joined the Carmelite Family by being enrolled in the Scapular. As a young man he felt called to the priesthood. He was ordained priest on 22 December 1906.

To read more ...

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Calendar of Feasts and Memorials

Giovedì, 08 Maggio 2025 08:34

Presentation of the Book on the San Giuliano Church

Presentation of the Book "La chiesa e il convento di San Giuliano l'Ospitaliero ai Trofei di Mario" at CISA on May 16

Some would swear they had never heard of it, yet it existed until 1876 in what is now the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome. Between legend and real historical news, the church of San Giuliano seems to have been founded by St. Angelo di Sicilia himself, establishing itself as the first Carmelite presence in the capital, then passed in ownership to the Congregation of the Redemptorist Fathers, to the Odescalchi family, and finally expropriated and used by the Municipal Archaeological Commission. Built in the area where the horti of Maecenas must have stood, of which today we observe the well-known Auditorium on Via Merulana, the Carmelite church was also one of the stages of the procession of the Acheropita returning to the Lateran; in the garden of the convent, moreover, the famous fresco, preserved in the Vatican Museums and known as the “Aldobrandini Wedding” will be found. This book is proposed as a journey through time, carried out mainly within the archival record and aimed at reconstructing the church of San Giuliano in the Esquiline district, as important as it is almost completely unknown.

The presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Centro Internazionale Sant'Alberto (CISA) at Via Sforza Pallavicini, 10 in Rome. The presentation is sponsored by the Institutum Carmelitanum.

The book will be introduced by Giovanni Grosso, O. Carm., praeside of the Institutum Carmelitanum. He will also be the moderator. Prof. Maria Vittoria Marini Clarelli of the Ministry of Culture and the Pontifical Gregorian University will also present. The author, Cristina Cumbo, will be present.

The book can be purchased from the Edizioni Carmelitane web store. There is a special 30% discount offer at the presentation. You can use the following promotional code to get the discount in the web store: PRESENTAZIONELIBROCUMBO2025

About the author:

Cristina Cumbo was born in Rome, Italy, on July 22, 1987. She holds a PhD in Christian Archaeology. She graduated in History and Conservation of the Artistic and Archaeological Heritage, discussing a thesis on the patristic ogdoad and its reflection in iconography, architecture and liturgy, and in Science of Archaeology and methodology of historical-archaeological research at the University of Roma Tre with a thesis in iconography on the prophet Balaam. In 2016, following the achievement of the Baccalaureate and Licentiate degrees in Christian Archaeology, she was proclaimed Doctor of Research at the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology with an innovative iconographic research on the so-called ganunadiae in the Roman catacombs and the creation of a database for their study (GMS - Gammadiae Management System).

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Mercoledì, 07 Maggio 2025 11:00

Elective Chapter in Australia and Timor-Leste Held

New Provincial Council Australia & Timor-Leste.

Elective Chapter of the Province of Australia and Timor-Leste Held April 28-May 2, 2025

The Carmelites of the Province of Australia and Timor-Leste held their Provincial Chapter from April 28-May 2, 20225. Míċéal O'Neill, the prior general, accompanied by Robert Puthussery, General Councilor for Asia, Australia, and Oceania, participated.

In 1881 five members of the Irish province went to Australia; they were entrusted with the parish of Gawler in South Australia. In 1882 Sandridge (Victoria) was founded, which was later, in 1890, divided into the present-day Port Melbourne and Middle Park. In 1886 the Australian Commissariat was established but lasted only two years. In 1902 the Gawler house was closed and Port Adelaide, now called Pennington, was opened (the Carmelites left this parish in 1999). On March 22, 1930, the area was erected as a General Commissariat. After the founding of communities in Coorparoo, Queensland, and Donvale, Vic, the province was then erected.

In 1949, the Australian Carmelites went to New Zealand and founded a house in Meadowbank but that closed in 1970. In May 2001, the Province accepted an invitation to engage in East Timor. On September 24, 2004, the Prior General and his Council changed the name of the province to Province of Australia and East Timor. The province is dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians.

The website of the province is www.carmelites.org.au

The following members were elected to leadership at the Chapter:

Image Captions: L to R Front row: Paul Cahill, Robert Puthussery, Bruce Clark, Miceal O’Neill. Back Row: David Hofman, Martinho Da Cost, Januario Pinto

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Martedì, 06 Maggio 2025 13:21

Celebrating At Home - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Shepherd and Sheep,
Bonds of Life and Love (John 10:27-30)

This fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday because the Gospel for this Sunday always portrays Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Being a shepherd in the time of Jesus was not anything like the large-scale, commercial farming enterprises of today. Then, a shepherd usually had responsibility for about fifteen or twenty sheep whom he accompanied day and night. Both shepherd and sheep got to know each other. The shepherd was responsible for keeping the flock together and safe, for leading it to good pasture, for binding up wounds. The sheep depended on the shepherd for life.
No wonder the image of the Good Shepherd became so popular as a description of the relationship between Jesus and his followers.
Today’s Gospel is full of warmth and intimacy in the way it speaks about Jesus’ relationship with us.
The sheep who listen to Jesus belong to (are in relationship with) him. There is a sense of intimacy in the idea that Jesus knows each of the sheep who follow him. He knows them and they follow him because they are bound together by the bond of love.
The sheep have life through their relationship with Jesus, a relationship which brings eternal life, not just after death; the sheep already live the eternal life of God here and now.
This relationship with Jesus and the eternal life it brings can never be lost or snatched away.
We are the gift that the Father gives to Jesus. And because the Father and Jesus live in deep communion with each other, we, too, are caught up in this enduring communion of love.
This love God has for us makes us part of God’s family: God’s beloved daughters and sons.
Any reflection about Jesus as the Good Shepherd also keeps us mindful that shepherding each other according to the heart of Jesus is part of our vocation as disciples.

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Celebrating At Home

Lunedì, 05 Maggio 2025 08:31

Livestream of Liturgical Congress - Update!

Monday, May 5 to Saturday, May 10, 2025
Livestream of Liturgical Congress: Encountering the Risen Lord: Liturgy and Prayer in Carmel Today

Live Streaming

We are delighted to announce that live streaming has been arranged for the Carmelite Liturgy & Prayer Congress which is taking place in Rome next week. Most of the Presentations will be live-streamed (except for the presentation which takes place in Traspontina on Friday, 9^th May 2025). Please see the attached programme for times which are all Central European Time (Rome).

Thanks to some very generous sponsorship, the total cost for watching the congress online is €50 per connection (for the week).

About the Congress

As you know, the primary focus of the congress is more pastoral than academic. It is open to all members of the Carmelite Family, that is, friars, enclosed sisters, members of the affiliated congregations and lay Carmelites and all those interested in knowing more about Carmelite Liturgy.

The Order’s Liturgy and Prayer Commission welcomes Pope Francis’ call for a serious, dynamic and authentic liturgical formation (Desiderio desideravi, 31, 62) noting in particular the essential relationship between “formation for the Liturgy and formation by the Liturgy” (Desiderio desideravi, 34). And so, the congress is for all those who have an interest in exploring and understanding the beauty of Carmel’s prayer and liturgy so that it can be authentically carried forward in this generation as a means of transformation.

How to register to watch the Congress online

Firstly, ensure that the payments of €50 is made to Curia Generalizia Dei Carmelitani: IBAN IT58 R056 9603 2000 0000 3147 X53, BIC-SWIFT: POSOIT22. (Please ensure that your name is placed in the subject line so your payment can be identified.)

Secondly, please email (Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.) with details of your payment having been made in order to receive the link to the Congress.

The deadline for registration is set for 5pm on May 5, 2025.

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Liturgy and Prayer Commission

Martedì, 29 Aprile 2025 08:14

Elective Chapter in Sumatra Celebrated

Elective Chapter of the Provincial Commissariat of Sumatra Celebrated

The members of the Provincial Commissariat of Sumatra held their elective chapter. The Commissariat is part of the Indonesian Province.

The following were elected on Wednesday, April 8 to the responsibilities listed:

Commissary Provincial | Comisario Provincial | Commissario Provinciale
Yohanes Rudy Kartolo Malau, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1^oConsigliere
Valentinus Aditya Permana Perangin-angin, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero |2^oConsigliere
Martinus Manaek Sinaga, O. Carm.

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Elections

Lunedì, 05 Maggio 2025 07:39

Saint Angelus, Priest and Martyr

Carmelite Church and Priory dedicated to St. Angelus, Licata (Sicily)

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.

Giovedì, 01 Maggio 2025 13:43

Celebrating At Home - Third Sunday of Easter

Breakfast with Friends,
Leadership of Love (John 21:1-19)

The readings of the Easter Season continue to unfold for us the great Easter Mystery - the enduring presence of Jesus among us and what ‘new life in Christ’ might mean.

The Gospel today recounts the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection. At first, they don’t recognise him; then there is a huge haul of fish followed by a meal; then, in the long version of this Gospel, Peter’s commission to lead the flock in love.

It takes faith to recognise the presence of Jesus among us. Reality can be changed and good things result when we do. All the meals we share are reminders of the Eucharistic Meal which keeps us in communion with the life of the Risen Christ and with one another. Jesus continues to be nourishment and strength for the journey. Our faith is built on love.

In his dialogue with Christ, Peter reaffirms his love for him three times, reversing his triple denial of Jesus before the crucifixion. Peter is leader, but his leadership is built on his love of Christ. It is not the authority of tyranny, but of pastoral care. Peter is to ‘Feed my lambs’ - the young, the vulnerable. He is to ‘look after my sheep’ - feeding and caring for the flock, seeing to their needs.

Whenever Jesus shared a meal with his followers he opened their hearts and minds. As we continue to share in the Eucharistic Meal, Jesus continues to feed and nourish us with fresh insight, deeper understanding and greater love.

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Celebrating At Home

Mercoledì, 30 Aprile 2025 13:53

Bl. Ángel, Lucas and Companions, Martyrs

Bl. Ángel M. Prat Hostench, Lucas of St. Joseph Tristany Pujol and Companions, Martyrs
May 4th | Optional Memorial (Obligatory memorial in provinces of Spain)

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.