O.Carm
Livestream of Liturgical Congress - Update!
Monday, May 5 to Saturday, May 10, 2025
Livestream of Liturgical Congress: Encountering the Risen Lord: Liturgy and Prayer in Carmel Today
Live Streaming
We are delighted to announce that live streaming has been arranged for the Carmelite Liturgy & Prayer Congress which is taking place in Rome next week. Most of the Presentations will be live-streamed (except for the presentation which takes place in Traspontina on Friday, 9th May 2025). Please see the attached programme for times which are all Central European Time (Rome).
Thanks to some very generous sponsorship, the total cost for watching the congress online is €50 per connection (for the week).
About the Congress
As you know, the primary focus of the congress is more pastoral than academic. It is open to all members of the Carmelite Family, that is, friars, enclosed sisters, members of the affiliated congregations and lay Carmelites and all those interested in knowing more about Carmelite Liturgy.
The Order’s Liturgy and Prayer Commission welcomes Pope Francis’ call for a serious, dynamic and authentic liturgical formation (Desiderio desideravi, 31, 62) noting in particular the essential relationship between “formation for the Liturgy and formation by the Liturgy” (Desiderio desideravi, 34). And so, the congress is for all those who have an interest in exploring and understanding the beauty of Carmel’s prayer and liturgy so that it can be authentically carried forward in this generation as a means of transformation.
How to register to watch the Congress online
Firstly, ensure that the payments of €50 is made to Curia Generalizia Dei Carmelitani: IBAN IT58 R056 9603 2000 0000 3147 X53, BIC-SWIFT: POSOIT22. (Please ensure that your name is placed in the subject line so your payment can be identified.)
Secondly, please email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) with details of your payment having been made in order to receive the link to the Congress.
The deadline for registration is set for 5pm on May 5, 2025.
Elective Chapter in Sumatra Celebrated
Elective Chapter of the Provincial Commissariat of Sumatra Celebrated
The members of the Provincial Commissariat of Sumatra held their elective chapter. The Commissariat is part of the Indonesian Province.
The following were elected on Wednesday, April 8 to the responsibilities listed:
Commissary Provincial | Comisario Provincial | Commissario Provinciale
Yohanes Rudy Kartolo Malau, O. Carm.
1st Councilor | 1er Consejero | 1o Consigliere
Valentinus Aditya Permana Perangin-angin, O. Carm.
2nd Councilor | 2do Consejero | 2o Consigliere
Martinus Manaek Sinaga, O. Carm.
Saint Angelus, Priest and Martyr
May 5th | Memorial
Angelus is thought to have been one of the first Carmelites to return to Sicily from Mount Carmel and, according to a long-standing tradition, he was murdered in Licata during the first half of the 13th century.
The cult of Saint Angelus spread throughout the Order and among ordinary lay people. Angelus and St Albert of Trapani are considered the "fathers" of the Order because they were the first two saints to have a cult in the Order.
Read more ...
Between 1625 and 1627, a “trial” was held in Licata on the miracles attributed to the Carmelite Saint Angelus, whose martyrdom, according to hagiographic tradition, was said to have occurred in the very town overlooking the Sicilian Channel. A detailed study of the proceedings of the trial can be found in the book Miracula et Benefitia: Malattia, Thaumaturgia e devozione a Licata e in Sicilia nella prima età moderna by Marco Papasidero, published by Edizioni Carmelitane.
Celebrating At Home - Third Sunday of Easter
Breakfast with Friends,
Leadership of Love (John 21:1-19)
The readings of the Easter Season continue to unfold for us the great Easter Mystery - the enduring presence of Jesus among us and what ‘new life in Christ’ might mean.
The Gospel today recounts the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection. At first, they don’t recognise him; then there is a huge haul of fish followed by a meal; then, in the long version of this Gospel, Peter’s commission to lead the flock in love.
It takes faith to recognise the presence of Jesus among us. Reality can be changed and good things result when we do. All the meals we share are reminders of the Eucharistic Meal which keeps us in communion with the life of the Risen Christ and with one another. Jesus continues to be nourishment and strength for the journey. Our faith is built on love.
In his dialogue with Christ, Peter reaffirms his love for him three times, reversing his triple denial of Jesus before the crucifixion. Peter is leader, but his leadership is built on his love of Christ. It is not the authority of tyranny, but of pastoral care. Peter is to ‘Feed my lambs’ - the young, the vulnerable. He is to ‘look after my sheep’ - feeding and caring for the flock, seeing to their needs.
Whenever Jesus shared a meal with his followers he opened their hearts and minds. As we continue to share in the Eucharistic Meal, Jesus continues to feed and nourish us with fresh insight, deeper understanding and greater love.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - Third Sunday of Easter [PDF] (3.80 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - Third Sunday of Easter [ePub] (4.50 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Tercer Domingo de Pascua (889 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - Terza Domenica di Pasqua (902 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Terceiro Domingo da Páscoa (892 KB)
Bl. Ángel, Lucas and Companions, Martyrs
Bl. Ángel M. Prat Hostench, Lucas of St. Joseph Tristany Pujol and Companions, Martyrs
May 4th | Optional Memorial (Obligatory memorial in provinces of Spain)
The Commissariat of Catalonia was established in 1932. Almost immediately difficuties began. In February 1934 the Carmelite church was desecrated. In October Communist guards were placed at the door of the priory to prevent the religious from leaving. In June 1936 the mayor forbade religious from teaching in the schools and working in hospitals. Shortly thereafter, a Carmelite was stoned while walking on the street. The only newspaper to defend the religious was closed down on July 18th. The following day churches and monasteries were pillaged, ransacked, and burned. On July 20, the Feast of St. Elijah, the community disbanded.
The story of the Carmelites during this time and a biography of many of the martyred Catalonian Carmelites can be found in the book Profiles in Holiness I by Redemptus M. Valabek, O. Carm., published by Edizioni Carmelitane.
Read more ...
Prior General's Schedule for May 2025
Fr. Míċeál O'Neill, the prior general, has the following schedule planned for the month of May 2025:
May 1-4: Completion of Chapter and visit to Australia.
May 5 -10: Congress on Liturgy in Sassone, Italy.
May 7: Address to the Meeting of Formation Directors in Lima, Peru.
May 12 -15: Chapter of the General Commissariat of La Bruna, Naples, Italy.
May 16 - 20: Rome, Italy.
May 21 - 23: Assembly of the USG, Rome, Italy.
May 24 - 26: Canonical Visitation in Romania.
May 27 - 31: General Council, plenary meeting.
Message on the Death of Pope Francis
Message for Carmelite Brothers and Sisters on the Death of Pope Francis
Brothers and sisters in Carmel,
The world mourns the passing from this world of Pope Francis, on the morning of Easter Monday. On Easter Sunday he was fully alive in mind and heart, in a body that could not give any more. It is like a death in our family. He was so close to us.
His vision and his spirituality were very clear. They came from the Gospel. They were inspired by Mary and the holiness of the saints, the great saints and the saints next door. Salvation, mercy and peace are in Jesus Christ and the are given to those who look to Him and see in him the truth that can make us free. Children of the one Father, every one of us, we are sisters and brothers to one another. That is our greatest dignity and everything we need to know about one another, in order to build and live in a world where that dignity is the rule of law and no other. There is a cry in the human heart, and in the created world itself, that the followers of Christ, the pastors and the political leaders needs to hear. There is a way to treat other human beings and it is not the way of devious interests or the recourse to arms of violence but the way of tenderness and mercy for all. When we recognize that the Eucharist is not the reward for holiness but the greatest help we have towards holiness, we recognize the heart of Pope Francis’ ministry and the way he himself celebrated every time he stood at the altar.
Carmelites around the world, let us give thanks to God for the life, witness and teaching of Pope Francis and pray for his eternal happiness, as we treasure our own vocation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and preach his Gospel. Mary, mother of the word incarnate, salus populi, pray for us in our sorrow, and open our hearts in thanksgiving for the wonders of God's mercy shown to us in the life of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.
Míċeál O’Neill
Prior General
24th of April, 2025
Condolences on the Death of Pope Francis
The members of the Carmelite Family join Catholics, Christians, and all people of good will in mourning the death of of Pope Francis.
He dedicated his life to following the Gospel and he taught us how to experience the mercy of God in our lives and to allow others to experience that mercy through us.
"Well done you good and faithful servant." (Mt 25:21)
Read the address of Pope Francis to the Carmelites on the occasion of the 2019 General Chapter
Lectio Divina May, 2025
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, your Son Jesus Christ came from you and bore witness to the things he had heard and seen. He could not but bear witness to you. Give us the Spirit of your Son, we pray you, to speak your word and to live it, that we may show Christ, your living Word, to those who have not seen him. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Celebrating At Home - Second Sunday of Easter
A Joyful Meeting, the Spirit Received,
Doubts Transformed (John 20:19-31)
The great Easter feast of last Sunday began the Church’s fifty-day celebration of the Resurrection which concludes with the feast of Pentecost in six weeks.
The Gospel of each Sunday is a meditation on Jesus as: the resurrected Christ, made known in the scriptures and the breaking of the bread, the bearer of life in all its fullness, our way, truth and life, pledge of God’s love.
In today’s Gospel reading there are two stories of transformation through encounter with the risen Jesus.
Firstly, Jesus appears to a group of frightened and bewildered disciples hiding in a room. His first words are, ‘Peace be with you’. Fear and bewilderment turn into joy as the disciples recognise the presence of the Risen Jesus with them. But that’s not all. He then sends them out to be missionaries of peace and forgiveness.
In receiving the Holy Spirit they are transformed from a group of frightened people, hiding in a room, to bold proclaimers of God’s love and mercy.
The second story in today’s Gospel is the one we all know as doubting Thomas, though, really, it should be known as believing Thomas - doubt is only the beginning of the story.
Jesus doesn’t scold or rebuke Thomas. If Thomas is looking for proof, he has only to touch Jesus to see he is real. But Thomas doesn’t do that. It is his personal encounter with Jesus which transforms him from doubter to believer.
It is yet another Gospel reminder that faith is not about believing with our minds or in looking for proof.
It is found only in our living relationship with Jesus.
Perhaps these days give us a bit more time just to sit and chat with Jesus, to recognise him already present in our hearts, to allow our fears and doubts to be overcome by love, to find new, creative ways of transforming darkness into light, peace and joy for others.
May the new life we celebrate over the next fifty days bring us the creativity of Spirit we need to be the living heart of God in our world today.
- pdf Celebrating At Home - Second Sunday of Easter [PDF] (2.86 MB)
- default Celebrating At Home - Second Sunday of Easter [ePub] (2.60 MB)
- pdf Celebrando en Familia - Segundo Domingo de Pascua (584 KB)
- pdf Celebrando in Casa - Seconda Domenica di Pasqua (730 KB)
- pdf Celebrando em família - Segundo Domingo da Páscoa (548 KB)
