Elective Chapter Held in Carmelite Monastery of Monte Carmelo in Vetralla, ItalyThe Carmelite monastery of Monte Carmelo in Vetralla, Italy, held its Chapter of Elections on September 9, 2026.The monastery was founded in 1669 by Carmelite nuns commonly referred to as the "Barberine." The Venerable Maria Minima Aloisia of Jesus the Nazarene (d. 1831) lived there. After the buildings were completely destroyed during the Second World War, a new monastery was established in the suburbs of the town of Vetralla. In ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: God's Outrageous Generosity25th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Mt 20: 1-16For many, the parable which Jesus tells in the Gospel today seems profoundly unjust. Why should those who have done little work get the same pay as those who worked all day?Maybe the answer lies in the first reading for today: My ways are not your ways; my thoughts not your thoughts. So often in the scriptures, God seems to have a totally different way of approaching things to most of us.God’s outrageous and extravagant grac ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: God's Outrageous Generosity25th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Mt 20: 1-16For many, the parable which Jesus tells in the Gospel today seems profoundly unjust. Why should those who have done little work get the same pay as those who worked all day?Maybe the answer lies in the first reading for today: My ways are not your ways; my thoughts not your thoughts. So often in the scriptures, God seems to have a totally different way of approaching things to most of us.God’s outrageous and extravagant grac ...Continue Reading

The Friars, Aylesford, England. Artword by Adam KossowskiCircular Letter on the 800th Anniversary of Ut vivendi normam (1226-2026) Issued by the Carmelite Superiors GeneralSeptember 17 | Feast of St. Albert of JerusalemIn 1226, Pope Honorius III issued Ut vivendi normam, recognizing for the first time the community of Carmelite hermits living on Mount Carmel and affirming their way of life based on the “Formula of Life” given by St. Albert of Jerusalem. This document encouraged the hermits to remain faithful to a l ...Continue Reading

The Friars, Aylesford, England. Artword by Adam KossowskiCircular Letter on the 800th Anniversary of Ut vivendi normam (1226-2026) Issue by the Carmelite Superiors GeneralSeptember 17 | Feast of St. Albert of JerusalemIn 1226, Pope Honorius III issued Ut vivendi normam, recognizing for the first time the community of Carmelite hermits living on Mount Carmel and affirming their way of life based on the “Formula of Life” given by St. Albert of Jerusalem. This document encouraged the hermits to remain faithful to a li ...Continue Reading

St. Albert of Jerusalem, bishop and lawgiver of CarmelSeptember 17 | FeastThere are very few facts known about the birth of Albert. The first biographical data comes from the Canons of Mortara. Albert entered into this order around 1170. Around 1180 Albert began developing connections with the pope and the Roman curia. Between 1181 and 1183 he undertook two missions at the behest of Alexander III and Lucio III. The following year he was nominated bishop.He was bishop of Vercelli for 20 years but continued to be involved ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: A Family Formed By Forgiveness - Part 224th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Mt 18: 21-35Today’s Gospel follows directly from last Sunday’s reading about how to deal with differences and disputes.Peter has understood the point of last Sunday’s Gospel (forgiveness and pastoral care), but wants to know the limits – is forgiving someone seven times enough? Jesus’ reply indicates that there should be no limit to the number of times. Then he tells a parable about forgiv ...Continue Reading

*Correction to the Prior General’s Schedule for September* In the CITOC online (141/2026) listing the schedule of the prior general for the month of September, there was an error. The meeting of Major Superiors of America to be held in São Paolo on September 19-23 has been rescheduled for October. Nor will there be a visitation of the Rio Province on September 23-27. The correct schedule is that Fr. Desiderio will be at the chapter of the Commissariat of Paranà which will take place September 21-25. +& ...Continue Reading

 *Provincial Chapter of the Neapolitan Province Held From August 31 Until September 3, 2026*The Prior General, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., in his homily at the opening Eucharist, reminded the participants that our faith is not based on human intelligence, but on the wisdom of God. (la nostra fede non si fonda sull'intelligenza umana, ma sulla sapienza di Dio) He said, “We must certainly be intelligent witnesses of the Gospel, but Jesus reminds us that intelligence, according to human lo ...Continue Reading

  Prior General's Schedule for September 2026Fr. Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of September 2026:August 31-September 3: Triennial Chapter of the Neapolitan Province September 7-11: Retreat-Planning -- General Curia -- Nocera Umbra,                              (Italy)September 19-23: Meeting of the Major Superiors of America - ...Continue Reading