The elective chapter of the Monte Carmelo Monastery in Vetralla, Italy, took place on October 15, 2022.

The monastery was founded in 1669 by Servant of God Benedetto Baldi with Carmelite nuns from Rome, commonly called Le Barberine. The original monastery was located in a medieval castle, but this was completely destroyed during World War II. Mother Maria Angelica di Gesù secured a new location with the help of Cardinal Domenico Tardini, Vatican secretary of state under Pope John XXIII. The present monastery is the modified villa of the sculptor Canonica.

The community often benefited from the spiritual assistance of St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. Pope John XXIII visited the tomb of Cardinal Tardini in the monastery chapel on the first anniversary of the cardinal's death.

The monastery of St. Joseph of San Giovanni la Punta is a daughter foundation of the Monastery of Mount Carmel in Vetralla.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

Prioress | Priora | Priora:
Sr Maria Rosalia Mangiarotti, O. Carm.

1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr Marianna Caprio, O. Carm.

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera: 
Sr Maria Sabina Berneschi, O. Carm.

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Rita Gugliara

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera: 
Sr Maria Celina Atzei

Director of Novices | Maestra de Novicias | Maestra delle Novizie
Sr Maria Sabina Berneschi, O. Carm.

Treasurer | Ecónoma | Economa: 
Sr Maria Benedetta Succu, O. Carm.

Sacristan | Sacristán | Sacrestana:
Sr Marianna Caprio, O. Carm.

We’ve all met them!
(Luke 18:9-14)

We’ve all met them: people who only seem to be able to bolster their self-image by putting everyone else down. We meet such a character in the Pharisee in the Gospel for this Sunday. 

Like the Pharisee in this week’s Gospel, we can sometimes see religion as a set of personal rituals, actions and prayers that cause us to think we have been faithful to God’s calling because we have done this or that.

Spirituality, however, is about practising our ‘faith’ with a profound sense of God’s presence, God’s love for us, and ours for one another. We live work and pray out of our relationship with God, deeply aware of God’s gift of abiding love and mercy that surrounds us.

The background for the Gospel is set in the First Reading from Ecclesiasticus (35:12-14, 16-19) – God’s judgement is not fooled by outward appearances of wealth, or power, or religious shows of piety. God cannot be fooled into judging against the injured, the poor, the widow or orphan.

It is the person ‘who with his whole heart serves God’ whose prayers are accepted.

The parable in this Gospel, we are told, is addressed to ‘people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else’.

The Pharisee (people well respected due to their personal piety) prays to God, reminding God (and himself) what a good person he is and all the religious things he has done. He has thus fulfilled the duties of a ‘religious’ and ‘righteous’ person – unlike, he says, the tax collector.

However, the tax collector (considered a sinner in Jesus’ time), doesn’t see himself worthy to even lift his eyes to God and acknowledges that he has sinned and considers himself unworthy to be in the presence of God. But, as Jesus says, he leaves the temple ‘at rights with God’. His relationship with God is from the heart. Overcome with a deep awareness of God’s love for him, and his own unworthiness of it, he does not dare to even lift up his eyes. Whereas the Pharisee, through his lack of humility and apparent self-righteousness, leaves assuming that he is at rights with God.

Our prayer and worship should never be empty words or merely symbolic actions. They must truly come from our hearts and so lead us not only into a deeper relationship with God but also into the willing service of all.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.47 MB)
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• pdf Celebrando en Familia - 30 Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(632 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXX Domenica del Tempo Ordinario(631 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em Família - 30 Domingo do Tempo Comum(633 KB)

October 15th is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila or Teresa of Jesus. We join with our Discalced brother and sisters in celebrating the life of this remarkable Carmelite.

On March 12, 2022, we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the canonization of St. Teresa of Avila. Perhaps there has never been a canonization celebration at the Vatican matching the one held on March 12, 1622! Pope Gregory XV solemnly recognized the holiness of one woman, a Carmelite nun, Teresa of Avila, along with Ignatius of Loyola, Isidore of Madrid (also known as Isidore the Farmer), Francis Xavier, and Philip Neri. Never before had four people been declared saints in the same ceremony.

One must also be impressed with the fact that each of these new saints would continue to be major figures in the Church down to our current time. In the case of St. Teresa, she worked to establish enclosed monasteries according to what she understood was the “primitive rule” of the Order. Today many parts of the world benefit from Carmels founded in the tradition of Teresa, small oases of silence and prayer amidst the turmoil.

The saint's writings are recognized as masterpieces of 16th century Spanish literature and spirituality. Her reflections on the process for one to progress toward God through prayer and contemplation are considered benchmarks in the history of Christian mysticism. In 1970 she became the first female declared a “Doctor of the Church.”

Read St. Teresa's bio here

To learn more about the life of St. Teresa and her work and legacy, we suggest reading the books The Heirs of St. Teresa of Avila and "I Consider the Labor Well Spent" A Mini-Course on the Interior Castle, both published by Edizioni Carmelitane.

To access this and many other fine publications at Edizioni Carmelitane, click here.

To place your order please contact Edizioni Carmelitane at Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.

Don’t give up!
(Luke 18:1-8)

Jesus tells this story of a persistent widow who wins the day against an unjust judge. St Luke says that the story is “about the need to pray continually and never lose heart”. God is not like the unjust judge, who delays in answering and finally gives in only when threatened. God will hear and answer the persistent cry of his people.
We, too, can be tempted to lose heart as we live in the midst of the evils of our own day. When will there be justice for the poor, the hungry, the disabled, and the disadvantaged, we wonder.
Sometimes in prayer, we realise that we are called to play our part with concrete actions which help to relieve the suffering of others. We know we cannot do it all by ourselves, but perhaps there is something that we can do.
St Luke uses this story to encourage his community of believers – to urge them not to lose heart as, surrounded by the evils of their day, they wait for the return of Jesus. They should keep faith and rely always on God’s goodness. Their persistence in prayer is an expression of their trust in God. Perhaps their prayer will show them what to do as they wait.
Just as Moses keeps faith with God in the battle against the Amalekites (first reading), so the disciples must remain in a faithful relationship with God. Prayer, understood as nourishing our relationship with God, rather than ‘saying prayers’, keeps us in this faithful relationship with God as we wait for Jesus’ return. That is the kind of faith Jesus wonders about in the final sentence.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.02 MB)
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• pdf Celebrando em Família - 29 Domingo do Tempo Comum(647 KB)

Recently the Provincial Council of the Betica Province (Southern Spain) inaugurated a temporary exhibition hall dedicated to St. Titus Brandsma, the Dutch Carmelite and recognized journalist in a provincial museum located in Jerez de la Frontiera. Brandsma's martyrdom in the Dachau Concentration camp in July 1942 resulted in his canonization on May 15, 2020 by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square.

The exhibit contains sculptures, writings, and paintings by various European artists. It is a unique opportunity to learn more about the life and the gift of St. Titus to the Church.

The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Carmelite Museum. The museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturdays from 11 am until 6 pm and Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm. The display is open until November 26.

For more information on the museum (in Spanish) ...

Pope Francis and his inspiring encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, has motivated millions of people to care for our common home and work against the climate crisis. Now the encyclical will be the focus of an upcoming feature-length documentary film entitled “The Invitation.” The film was released on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

“I wish to address every person living on this planet” wrote Pope Francis in the opening pages of his encyclical letter, and this is what Nicolas Brown, director of the film, from the production company Off The Fence, together with the Laudato Si’ Movement want to achieve with the film: that all the people of the world understand the Church’s concern for the cry of the earth and the poor. 

“The Invitation” follows diverse ecological advocates from around the world: a climate refugee from Senegal, a young activist from India, two marine biologists from the United States, and the leader of an indigenous community in Brazil. They receive an “invitation” to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican. 

Read more from the Laudato Si' website ...

The Letter (available on YouTube)  

Speak with the Heart: Veritatem facientes in caritate
The Press Office of the Holy See announced the 2023 World Day of Social Communications on Thursday, September 29. The theme, "Speak with the heart: Veritatem facientes in caritate” (Doing the truth in charity) links to the theme for 2022-- "Listen with the Ear of the Heart"-- to form part of the path to the Church's celebration of the Synod in October 2023.

Speaking with the heart, explained a statement, means giving “a reason for your hope” and by doing so gently, “using the gift of communication as a bridge and not as a wall.”

It is an invitation to “go against the grain” at a time characterized by polarization and heated debates that exacerbate tempers – even in ecclesial life.

For more information ....

The Carmelite Gen Z International Course took place from November 15-19, 2021 for participants from Europe, Africa and the Americas and from November 22-26 for those from Asia, Australia and Oceania.

The General Formation& Moderators were: José Cláudio de Alencar Batista, O. Carm., Delegate General, São Cristóvão, Brazil; Alejandro Lopez Lapuente Villalba, O. Carm., Salamanca, Spain; Robert Noel Rosas, O. Carm., Manila, The Philippines; Martin Pulickal, O. Carm., Thrissur, India; Daryl Moresco, O. Carm., Washington, D.C., USA and Benny Phang , O. Carm., President, Rome, Italy.

The keynote speakers, who spoke at the course, from Brisbane, Washington DC and Rome, were Cicilia Evi Yuwono, Brian Rhude, Benny Phang , O. Carm., Craig Morrison, O. Carm. and Donna Lynn Orsuto.

The Carmelite Gen Z from America, Africa, Europe who joined the meeting were: Daniel Ulises, O. Carm (El Salvador), João da Costa, O. Carm. (Portugal), Luca Zerneri, O. Carm. (Spain), Ashley Salima, O. Carm. (Zimbabwe), and in representation of Asia, Australia and Oceania participated: Joseph Tuan Bui, O. Carm. (Vietnam), John Lorenzo Morales, O. Carm. (Filipinas), Justin Shaji, O. Carm. (India) and Thomas Onggo, O. Carm. (Indonesia).

The conferences were held at Zoom for 5 days:

DAY 1
15 & 22 November 2021
Introduction
Psychological Perspective of Gen Z
DAY 2
16 & 23 November 2021
Socio
Cultural Realities of Gen Z
Morality for Gen Z
DAY 3
17 & 24 November 2021
Meet & Talk to Gen Z
Mapping the Generational Challenge
DAY 4
18 & 25 November 2021
Jesus Walks with Gen Z
Sharing the Gift of Carmel with Gen Z
DAY 5
19 & 26 November 2021
Final Statement,
Lectio Divina,
Evaluation

Read or Download: 

• pdf MORALITY FOR GEN Z: Offering the Formation of Good Conscience and Virtues(19.73 MB)

• pdf PATHS OF YOUTH: Gen Z: Who, Where, and how(3.05 MB)

• pdf THE BEDROOM CULTURE OF GEN Z: Psychological perspective and strategies to engage Gen Z(5.19 MB)

• pdf JESUS WALKS THE ROAD TO EMMAUS (Luke 24:13-33) with Generation Z the Woke Generation(7.26 MB)

• pdf SHARING THE GIFT OF CARMEL With Generation Z(4.64 MB)

• pdf HOW TO ENGAGE GENERATION Z? Being Faithful Witnesses to the Carmelite Charism from One Generation to the Next(3.16 MB)

• pdf MAPPING THE CHALLENGE in the Inter Generational Relationship(1.82 MB)

• pdf LECTIO DIVINA The Rich Young Man Matthew 19:16-26(220 KB)

• GEN Z CARMELITE INTERNATIONAL COURSE 2021 Watch on YouTube 

An invitation for all
(Luke 17:11-19)

A major theme in St Luke’s Gospel is that the message of Jesus is for all: men and women, rich and poor, old and young, healthy and sick, gentile and Jew. No one is excluded.
It is no accident that the one grateful leper in this week’s Gospel is not a Jew but a Samaritan – an outsider, excluded by race, religion and his illness. He joins the others in asking a Jewish Rabbi for mercy.
In curing the ten lepers, Jesus gives them back to their families, their communities, their religious practice. No longer confined to isolated places for fear of spreading disease, they are free to take up their lives again. In short, as well as healing them physically, Jesus gives them back their lives.
All ten are cured, but only one, the Samaritan, fully experiences his healing as a moment of salvation; a moment when the mercy of God has broken into his life. Jesus says that it is the Samaritan’s faith that enables him to see what the other nine do not. The man is so moved by this realisation that he turns back to Jesus breaking into shouts of joy, praising God at the top of his voice.
The Samaritan’s faith has drawn him deeper into his relationship with God who heals him and sets him free. And that is God’s great desire for each of us.
The way of Jesus (and, therefore, of his disciples) is not to exclude, but to proclaim God as the God of all by working for healing, restoration and the good of all people. And to recognise and celebrate the presence of God we read in the concrete realities of our lives.

• pdf Celebrating At Home - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](3.63 MB)
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• pdf Celebrando en Familia - 28 Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(911 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa - XXVIII Domenica del Tempo Ordinario(816 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em Família - 28 Domingo do Tempo Comum(820 KB)