Celebrating at Home: Lifting the Burden; Lightening the Load14th Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe Gospel today is a joyful, ecstatic outburst of feeling by Jesus.Matthew’s community must have been deeply troubled by the fact that the ‘learned and clever’ religious leaders of their day did not accept the message of Jesus. Surely they, of all people, should have been able to recognise the truth. But in this passage, Matthew explains that it is not from a position of knowledge or power that one recognises who Jesus is. Ra ...Continue Reading

 July  –  Julio  –  Luglio 2026ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL | ITALIANODownload English: ocarm.org/en/prayer/lectiodivina Descargar Español: ocarm.org/es/prayer/lectiodivina Scarica Italiano: ocarm.org/it/prayer/lectiodivina ENGLISHLECTIO DIVINA - July 2026[*]Lectio Divina - July 2026 [Pdf][*]Lectio Divina - July 2026 [ePub][*]Lectio Divina - July 2026 [Mobi] If you wish to receive updates on current news from the Carmelite Order, subscribe to CITOC News at ocarm.org ...Continue Reading

Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lake Elmo, Minnesota Held on June 24The elective chapter of the Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lake Elmo, Minnesota (USA), was held in a spirit of fraternity and discernment under the presidency of the prior general, Desiderio García Martínez, with the participation of the General Councilor for the Americas.The eight solemnly professed members proceeded with the election of its leadership in accordance with the nor ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: True Discipleship13th Sunday in Ordinary TimeToday’s Gospel is the final in this section of Matthew’s Gospel about the spread of the Kingdom and the role of the disciples. So far in this sermon we have heard Jesus teach that the truly virtuous are those who exercise mercy; disciples are to proclaim the Kingdom of God with works of compassion and mercy; they are not to let fear compromise the message, but are to trust always in God.Today’s Gospel passage highlights both the cost and rewar ...Continue Reading

 Exhibition at San Felice del BenacoFive or Six Mass Extinctions? The Future is TodayTo promote awareness and sensitivity regarding ecological issues, an exhibition has been organized titled: “Five Or Six Great Mass Extinctions? The Future Is Today!” The exhibition, held inside the Casa di Accoglienza, adjacent to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine in San Felice del Benaco (BS), aims to allow people—and especially young students—to reflect on the importance of preserving Creation, offering a simple starting p ...Continue Reading

*Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Holds Triennial Chapter in Niagara Falls, Canada in June *Over 60 members of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province, ministering in Canada, the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Perú, and Italy gathered at the Mount Carmelite Spiritual Center in Niagara Falls, Ontario for their triennial Chapter. The Chapter took place from Monday, June 15 (registration) until Friday, June 19, 2026.The theme of the Chapter was Legacy of Hope. A series of working sessions wer ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Be the Living Gospel12th Sunday in Ordinary TimeThe second part of Jesus’ instruction to the disciples as they set out for their mission is the text of the Gospel today. The opening sentence sets the tone for the disciples’ mission: Do not be afraid - a phrase which is repeated twice more in this Gospel passage.Preaching in the name of God is a risky and frightening business, as Jesus knows. So he urges the disciples not to be afraid of small beginnings, of those who can kill only the body, or ...Continue Reading

Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm. -- 2026Message for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount CarmelAll Tears Reach HeavenDear Carmelite family: Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!Once again, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is fast approaching. This year we recall that, on September 24, 1726, Benedict XIII extended the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to the whole of Christendom. We give thanks to God for all the blessings our Order has received during these eight centur ...Continue Reading

Photo © Nick Thompson.    Prophet Elisha from a series produced c1690 for the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Couvent de Grande Carme, Toulouse by Marc Arcis. Musée des Augustins, Toulouse.St. Elisha, prophetJune 14 | MemorialElisha, the Disciple Par ExcellenceElisha is not Elijah's only disciple. According to a Jewish tradition found in the Vitae prophetarum, in Jerome's introduction to his Commentary on the Book of Jonah, and in some other patristic writings, Jonah was the son o ...Continue Reading

Bl. Hilary Januszewski, priest and martyr June 12 | Optional Memorial *He Gave His Life So That Others Might Live* (from his canonization process) Pawel Januszewski was born in Krajenki, Poland, on June 11, 1907. At the age of twenty, he felt called to Carmel and entered the monastery in Krakow, taking the religious name Ilario. He was sent to Rome, to Collegio Sant'Alberto (now CISA), for theological studies, where he took his solemn vows and was ordained a priest in 1934. The following year, after obtaining a degre ...Continue Reading