From the Prior General, Míceál O'Neill, O. Carm.A Message during this Christmas Season to the Carmelite FamilyBrothers and Sisters in the Carmelite Family, friars, nuns, sisters and brothers in the affiliated congregations, lay Carmelites, in a special way our Third Order Carmelites, the Third Sunday of Advent, that we have just celebrated, invites us to be joyful always. The angels at Christmas will proclaim peace to people of good will, and the Jubilee Year that is about to begin will inspire us wi ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: The Promise Fulfilled4th Sunday of AdventAs always in Advent, what is promised in the first reading is brought to fulfilment in the Gospel reading. We began Advent with the cry, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. We will end it with the joyful shout, ‘God is with us!’ Beautiful words from the Prophet Micah form the first reading today which looks forward to the birth of a leader for Israel who, as a shepherd king gathers the people and feeds them with the power of the Lord and the majesty of God.Read more ...[*]Ce ...Continue Reading

CAUSA NOSTRAE LAETITIAE PROFESSIO TEMPORANEA* 10-11-24  Teresa Maria de São José (TRI) Triunfo, Brasil 10-11-24  Teresinha Maria do Coração de Jesus (TRI) Triunfo, Brasil 10-11-24  Maria José do Espirito Santo (TRI) Triunfo, Brasil 10-11-24  Maria Isabel de Jesus Crucificado (TRI)  Triunfo, Brasil PROFESSIO SOLEMNIS* 23-11-24  Dominic Therese Nhat Huynh (SEL-Viet) 23-11-24  Joseph Mary Luong Nguyen (SEL-Viet) 23-11-24  Nicholas of the Cross Da ...Continue Reading

St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchDecember 14th | FeastWith all that the Eucharist is for a Catholic Christian, does John of the Cross have a Eucharistic spirituality? His devotion to the Blessed Sacrament or the Mass is not immediately evident. But, if in fact the Eucharist holds central importance for him, why is this obscure in his writings?For more on John of the Cross and His Eucharistic SpiritualityFor more on the life of John of the Cross +      +    ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: What Must We Do?3rd Sunday of AdventWe continue to focus on John the Baptist in the Gospel today. The Gospel opens with the people, the tax collectors and some soldiers, having heard the call to change their lives, all asking John, ‘What must we do?” These three groups would normally be very suspicious of each other.Yet somehow John’s preaching has brought them all together in a community of sorts. Notice how practical John’s advice is. And, at the same time, it is a call to live by the values of co ...Continue Reading

 Meeting of the Order's Treasurers Held in FatimaFrom November 11 to 16, 2024, fifty bursars/treasurers from the provinces, commissariats, and delegations gathered in Fatima, Portugal, at the Casa San Nuno Hotel for the meeting of the bursars of our Order. This included lay people who collaborate in this ministry in their respective provinces. All entities present shared a brief report of the realities in which they live, problems, main challenges and possible solutions. Secretary for Missionary Cooperation of the ...Continue Reading

 Meeting of the Order's Treasurers Held in FatimaFrom November 11 to 16, 2024, fifty bursars/treasurers from the provinces, commissariats, and delegations gathered in Fatima, Portugal, at the Casa San Nuno Hotel for the meeting of the bursars of our Order. This included lay people who collaborate in this ministry in their respective provinces. All entities present shared a brief report of the realities in which they live, problems, main challenges and possible solutions. Secretary for Missionary Cooperation of the ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Prepare a Way for the Lord!2nd Sunday of AdventThe sense of preparing is very strong in our readings this weekend. The Gospel highlights the role of John the Baptist as the one who prepares the way for Jesus. The first reading from the prophet Baruch is a call to do the same. It talks about taking off the dress of sorrow and distress and putting on the beauty and glory of God. It’s a call for the people to become God’s people. Our Advent readings help us realise God’s profound love fo ...Continue Reading

  Bl. Bartholomew Fanti, priestDecember 5 | Optional MemorialChrist Is Truly 'God With Us'From the encyclical letter of Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of FaithIN A MOST SUBLIME manner, Christ is present in his Church as she offers in his name the sacrifice of the Mass. He is present in her as she administers the sacraments. But there is yet another manner in which Christ is present in his Church, a manner which surpasses all the others; it is his presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which is for this reason ...Continue Reading

 Triennial Chapter of the Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of Santa Catalina in Aracena, Spain HeldThe Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Catalina in Aracena, Spain was held on November 18-19, 2024. Fr. Emilio Rodriguea Claudio, OSA, vicar general and episcopal vicar for Contemplative Life in the Diocese of Huelva presided. Eight nuns of the community participated.Various decisions were taken. Among these was to work on ongoing formation and within it to deepen the community's identity according to ...Continue Reading