Electoral Chapter of the Monastery of Caudete, Spain
The Elective Chapter of the Carmelite Monastery of Caudete, Spain, was held 14-15 June 2018. The following were elected:
- Prioress: Sr. Josefina Marco Navarro, O.Carm.
- 1st Councilor: Sr. Estela Santos Torres, O.Carm.
- 2nd Councilor: Sr. Cristina Conejero Rodríguez, O.Carm.
- Director of Novices: Sr. Estela Santos Torres, O.Carm.
- Treasurer: Sr. Estela Santos Torres, O.Carm.
- Sacristan: Sr. Cristina Conejero Rodríguez, O.Carm.
Provincial Chapter of the Irish Province
During the Provincial Chapter of the Irish Province held on 10-14 June 2018 following earlier elections were confirmed:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Richard Byrne, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Brian McKay, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Éanna Ó hÓbáin, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Simon Nolan, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Fr. David Twohig, O.Carm.
- Commissary Provincial of Zimbabwe: Fr. Vitalis Tendai Benza, O.Carm.
Provincial Chapter of the Italian Province
During the Provincial Chapter of the Italian Province held on 4-9 June 2018 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Roberto Toni, O.Carm.
- Vice Prior Provincial: Fr. Lucio Maria Zappatore, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Nicola Sozzi, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Fr. Giuseppe Midili, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Carlos Rivera Rodríguez, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Fr. Augustin Barbut, O.Carm.
Biannual Meeting of the O.Carm and OCD Councils
Last June 1st, the biannual meeting of our General Council with that of our Discalced brothers took place in our Curia in Rome. After praying Midday Prayer, the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., welcomed the members of the OCD General Council and presented the program of this meeting that follows the meetings that have been taking place regularly for more than 25 years.
To begin, the theme of the triennial meeting of both councils that will take place in Dublin (Ireland) from May 27 to 31, 2019, was set: "The missionary journey of Carmel today". In view of that, a small committee was formed by Fr. John Keating, O.Carm. and Fr. Daniel Chowning, OCD., to have responsibility for preparing the meeting.
Both councils were informed of the preparations for the "Carmelite Day" that will be celebrated on January 28, 2019 within the framework of the World Youth Day that will take place in Panama. The Discalced Carmelites from the Province of Central America and the Carmelites from El Salvador are collaborating for this day.
Likewise, the program for the 5th meeting of ALACAR (Latin American Association of Carmelites) that will take place in Santo Domingo next autumn was presented. The theme of this meeting will be, "The martyrs of yesterday for the Latin American Carmel of today" and it will look at such figures as Oscar Romero, Tito Brandsma and Edith Stein.
The General Superior, Father Saverio Cannistrà, OCD, reported on some questions concerning "Cor Orans" (the recent application instruction on female contemplative life, from the CIVCSVA ). An interesting dialogue and a wide-ranging exchange of ideas were generated around the subject.
Next, the latest information sent by Bro. Fausto Spinelli, OCD, president of the joint international commission, on the steps that are being taken with the municipality of Haifa and the corresponding government authorities of Israel for the restoration and maintenance of the ruins of the first Carmelite monastery in the Wadi es-Siah on Mount Carmel, were shared.
Finally, the two councils exchanged various items of information regarding upcoming events in both orders. The meeting, which took place in an atmosphere of great fraternity and joy, ended with the community meal.
Lectio Divina June 2018
Pope's Prayer Intentions for June 2018
Universal: Social Networks
That social networks may work towards that inclusiveness which respects others for their differences.
Lectio Divina: June - Junio – Giugno 2018
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- Friday, June 1, 2018
- Saturday, June 2, 2018
- Sunday, June 3, 2018
- Monday, June 4, 2018
- Tuesday, June 5, 2018
- Wednesday, June 6, 2018
- Thursday, June 7, 2018
- Friday, June 8, 2018
- Saturday, June 9, 2018
- Sunday, June 10, 2018
- Monday, June 11, 2018
- Tuesday, June 12, 2018
- Wednesday, June 13, 2018
- Thursday, June 14, 2018
- Friday, June 15, 2018
- Saturday, June 16, 2018
- Sunday, June 17, 2018
- Monday, June 18, 2018
- Tuesday, June 19, 2018
- Wednesday, June 20, 2018
- Thursday, June 21, 2018
- Friday, June 22, 2018
- Saturday, June 23, 2018
- Sunday, June 24, 2018
- Monday, June 25, 2018
- Tuesday, June 26, 2018
- Wednesday, June 27, 2018
- Thursday, June 28, 2018
- Friday, June 29, 2018
- Saturday, June 30, 2018
Provincial Chapter of the German Province
During the Provincial Chapter of the German Province held on 21-25 May 2018 were elected:
- Prior Provincial: Fr. Peter Schröder, O.Carm.
- First Councilor: Fr. Ludwig Eifler, O.Carm.
- Second Councilor: Br. Guido Niessner, O.Carm.
- Third Councilor: Fr. Klemens August Droste, O.Carm.
- Fourth Councilor: Br. Günter Benker, O.Carm.
Sessions of the Institutum Carmelitanum on Baptist Spagnoli and the Mantuan Reform
The recent fifth centenary of the death of Blessed Baptist Spagnoli was the occasion for the Institutum Carmelitanum to offer a series of evening sessions on history, art and spirituality, at the Saint Abert’s International Centre (CISA) on the first three Mondays of May. The sessions opened with an interview with Cristian Poli on the much-discussed figure of Tommaso Connecte, initiator of the Mantuan Reform, who, although he died at the stake as a heretic in 1434, was celebrated as a martyr by Spagnoli in his De vita beata. The second evening session was dedicated to the restoration of an autograph letter by Spagnoli which is kept in the General Archive. Fr. Mario Alfarano introduced the evening with a presentation of the content, context and symbolic value of this letter that Mantovano sent to Nicolas Audet in 1514; He was follow by Prof. Eulalia Ramos, from the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, who illustrated the detailed and delicate restoration of the document. The last meeting was conducted by Fr. Giovanni Grosso who spoke about a part of the iconographic collection that enriches the church of San Felice del Benaco, which is one of the first foundations of the Mantuan Reform. Fr. Giovanni paid particular attention to some images of Our Blessed Lady and the early saints of the Order.
Assembly of nuns in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
On April 16-19, an assembly of the prioresses and formation directors of the five monasteries of the Dominican Republic and of the two monasteries of Puerto Rico took place in Santo Domingo. This time the nuns of Camaná, Peru, also took part in this event, which is celebrated every two years. The goal of this assembly was the establishment of a new federation among the monasteries of this part of the Order. The nuns prepared for the event, individually and in community, through a study promoted by the local delegate, Fr. Rogelio Mur. During the first two days, the delegate general, Fr. Mario Alfarano, was present. He guided the sessions, facilitating the work of the participants and planning with them the next stages of the assembly in view of the establishment of the federation. Before the assembly, Fr. Mario, accompanied by P. Rogelio, visited all the monasteries of the Antilles. Among the most important initiatives arising from the visit and the assembly, there was the proposal to ask the Prior General to introduce the cause of beatification of three nuns who lived in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico at the turn of the last century.
Carmelite Liturgical Congress 2018 - Final Message
“Offer to God the Sacrifice of Praise” (Psalm 50:14)
The Carmelite International Congress on the Liturgy took place from 16-20 April 2018 at Il Carmelo in Sassone, Rome with 32 participants drawn from across the Order. The Prior General presided at the opening Eucharist and then welcomed the participants. He encouraged us to recognize the link between Carmelite Spirituality and Liturgy (Constitutions 71 & 86). We began with a presentation of the lived reality of the Order in the area of Liturgy and the Carmelite Charism, informed by responses to the Order-wide questionnaire. The large response highlighted the importance of the Liturgy in the overall spiritual life of the Carmelite Order. Throughout the conference, we heard enlightening presentations on the state of liturgy in the various geographical areas of the Order.
The formal input surveyed the origin, development, spirituality and reform of the Carmelite liturgy from the beginnings on Mt. Carmel up to the suppression in 1972. By reviewing the historical and Mariological aspects, it became evident that this topic of Carmelite liturgy warrants further study and research and is of great interest to the friars.
The second day had a pastoral orientation; we were reminded that Vatican II was a pastoral council and we revisited Sacrosanctum Concilium. Participants were urged to know the Roman Rite and to take care in preparing and presiding at the liturgy. We were also encouraged to discover new pastoral possibilities through collaboration with all who participate in the liturgy.
In the afternoon we considered the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the community. The religious community is a church in miniature. As the Eucharist builds the church, so also the Eucharist builds the religious community. Various ways of looking at community were considered – gathered around the Word, offering the sacrifice of praise, as a praying sacrament and centered on the Eucharist. Carmelites are called to bring their contemplative way of living into the Liturgy and keep it always as a Paschal, an Easter reality in keeping with the Resurrection orientation of the Carmelite liturgical tradition. The place of silence, of Mary, of the Word of God and communion were all emphasized.
On Wednesday, the participants enjoyed a marvelous day at the Casamari Cistercian Abbey and experienced the warm hospitality of the monks. All were struck by how their life and architecture reflects the religious and liturgical spirituality of the monks.
On the fourth day, we explored the relationship between liturgy and Carmelite spirituality. We recalled Blessed Pope Paul VI´s conviction that liturgy is the first school of our spiritual life. We were therefore challenged to ask whether we live the liturgy we celebrate. We were invited to re-discover the elements inherent in our tradition, not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as actors in the present life of the Church. For this exercise, Mary and Elijah provide us with rich, evocative models. Particular stress was laid on the Christocentric life of Carmel as a praying fraternity. Our fraternity is in turn, a fruit and sign of our prayer and our point of contact with the world.
The mystagogical experience of the Easter Season provided a template for the participants as we explored the experience of the elements of Carmelite spirituality and how Carmel celebrates and passes on its charism and life. Our spirituality is expressed in Liturgy, not just by what we do, but what God does in mystery in and through the Liturgy. Carmel is a contemplative community in the midst of the people, and we were asked how contemplation, prayer, silence and Lectio Divina can be manifested. Eucharist, together with listening to the word have been central to Carmel since the very moment of our eremitical foundation. These are the values and ways of praying that will always be at the root of the transmission of our identity.
The final day of the conference was dedicated to formation in the broadest sense of the term. The Word of God is always formative for Carmelites, and we were reminded that pondering the Word is an essential element of our charism and Carmelite identity. Through a deep reflection on the Rule of St. Albert, we were led to a more profound understanding of how the Carmelite is called into community and towards the Lord, a movement led by discretion, into encounter, relationship and healing.
From the beginning of the Conference to the end, concerns regarding proper liturgical formation in the Order were voiced. Ways and means for addressing this area of our life were explored. The need for liturgical formation in our novitiates and houses of studies is critical, as well as making ongoing formation available for all the members of the Order. Advanced liturgical studies within the Carmelite tradition certainly seem to be necessary.
The Commission for Liturgy and Prayer should be commended for taking the initiative to organize this Conference. As the prayer life of the Order is vital, the hope is to see similar initiatives proposed in the near future. Above all, Liturgy is prayer, and Carmel is a school of prayer always in need of fresh and new inspiration and zeal.
Il Carmelo
Sassone, Rome, Italy
20 April 2018
International Congress of the Carmelite Laity 2018
The General Commission of the Carmelite Laity would like to remind all Provincials, Commissaries, and Delegates about the International Congress of the Carmelite Laity 2018, that will be held in Rome, Italy, from September 15 (arrival) to September 21 (departure) as specified in the convocation letter sent a few months ago. The organisers would like to ask all Superiors to send the list of participants of their respective Carmelite entities before May 31 (deadline) to the following email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In case a participant is required to get a visa to enter Europe, please, send as soon as possible the corresponding information in order to prepare a letter of invitation. We need full name as it appears on passport, passport number, expiration date of passport, dates of arrival to and departure from Europe.
