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Message from Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., Prior General

‘All Tears Reach Heaven’

Dear 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 centuries of history, especially for having a Mother to whom we can turn and who cares for us. St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, with some surprise, acknowledged this: “For I have, Blessed Virgin, two mothers to whom I can turn, one on earth and the other in Heaven, whereas you have no Mother in Heaven to love, for you are the Mother yourself.”

1. Mary fills us with gratitude. In Bethlehem, Mary wrapped her Son in swaddling clothes (cf. Lk 2:12). That gesture reminds us that Jesus, as well as being true God and true man, was cared for and loved from the moment of his birth. In Sacred Scripture, “being wrapped in swaddling clothes” is a sign of protection and maternal love: “When I was born […] the first thing I did, like everyone else, was to cry. I was brought up with tender care and swaddling clothes …” (Wis 7:3–4); on the contrary, nakedness, “not being wrapped in swaddling clothes,” indicates vulnerability and helplessness: “No one took an interest in her […] No one bathed her, nor rubbed her with salt, nor wrapped her in swaddling clothes […] they abandoned her…” (cf. Ezek 16:4–5). How difficult it is to care for the lives of others without first, with gratitude, recognising one’s own as a miracle and an undeserved gift! Kierkegaard noted that gratitude is, apart from being the noblest feeling that can spring from the human heart, the “deepest spiritual response to the gift of one’s own existence.” Gratitude is, in fact, a good gauge for measuring our human and spiritual quality. Grateful people make everything easy and a blessing; instead of complaining about what they lack, they value what they have; they shun facile criticism and gossip... Mary, our Mother, teaches us to make our lives a Magnificat, a song of thanksgiving.

2. Mary clothes us in light. The Carmelite Order was founded in the Holy Land at the end of the 12th century. Amidst great danger, we were forced to migrate to Europe. To whom do we turn in the midst of adversity and tribulation? To our Mother. She defended us. We celebrate with joy the 775th anniversary–according to Carmelite tradition–of the presentation of the Holy Scapular to Saint Simon Stock. This is not an amulet that guarantees our salvation, but a sacramental that reminds us of our responsibility to wear the garment of baptism. A very special garment, made of linen, which, according to Scripture, represents the “good works” of the saints (cf. Rev 19:8). Linen is extracted from a plant, which must be beaten, again and again, until it is softened and the whiteness of its fibres is extracted. The Holy Scapular is a suit of armor that defends us from the blows (like the linen) that we receive in the battles of this life. Mary defends us and shows us how to persevere in always doing good. As a Hebrew epitaph once prayed: “A good deed done on earth causes a thread of light to be born in heaven. Many good deeds done on earth cause many threads of light to be born in heaven. For what purpose? To weave and knit together a garment. A garment of light that gives glory to the Master of all works.” Mary earnestly teaches us to clothe ourselves in this armor (cf. Rule 19), woven from many “threads of light”: mercy, gentleness, peace, justice, forgiveness, joy, hope, love, etc.

3. Mary clothes us in humanity. On the May 25, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, was published, addressing the protection of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence. He has asked the whole Church to read and reflect upon it. In the face of the growing link between technology, power and violence, a new civilisation of love is proposed to us as an alternative. Pope Leo XIV invites us to invoke Mary, Mother of Life, who looks upon us with mercy. We could cite many testimonies that would compel us to bow down before the suffering of the innocent: those who struggle to find work and make ends meet; those who emigrate from their countries without access to education and healthcare; war, famine, broken love. One example is sufficient. It is that of a prominent figure in French culture, Emmanuel Mounier, the believing philosopher, who felt the weight of his young daughter’s irreversible illness, as she lived in a vegetative state:

As I approached this silent cradle, I felt as though I were approaching an altar, a sacred place where God spoke through a sign. A piercing and profound sadness; profound, yet light and transfigured. And, around it, a sense of adoration… I have no other word for it. Never have I known so intensely what prayer is as when I spoke to that forehead which gave no reply, when my eyes ventured towards that lost gaze that looked towards the infinite behind me. Mystery… and it can only be a mystery of goodness. One must dare to say: a grace too lofty, a living host among us, silent as the Host, resplendent as She… – Mounier says to his wife –: For how many months did we wish she would die if she was going to remain like this! But… is this not mere bourgeois sentimentality? What does “being unhappy” mean to her? Who can assure us that she is? Who knows if we are not being asked to keep and adore this host among us…? My little Françoise, to me you are the very image of faith [Letter to Paulette Mounier, 1964, 671].

His testimony is deeply moving. Let us implore the Mother and Beauty of Carmel to teach us to see God’s invisible work and to view the world from below, from the perspective of the most vulnerable. The Joys of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are very old and popular poems, composed mainly to honour the Virgin Mary. They bring together ancient stories from the Carmelite tradition: “For you are our comfort, the most powerful means. Be our loving refuge, Mother of God of Mount Carmel.” The biblical scholar Miguel Aiguani, O. Carm. (1320–1400), affirmed that Mary is an “impregnable castle,” a secure stronghold in which to take refuge when we feel that life is threatened by death. St John Chrysostom insisted that “there is no motherhood without tears.” Tears nourish the soul. God gathers those tears, as the psalmist says, in His “skin flask.” Not a single tear is lost; they all go straight to the heart of God (cf. Ps 55). Tears intercede so that the Church’s mission may be more fruitful. Weeping for the pain of our neighbor or for the rejection we have suffered has a sanctifying and restorative power.

May Our Lady, whom we proclaim Mater et Decor Carmeli, protect us and, through her heavenly intercession, grant us the strength, hope and joy we need to reflect God’s goodness as we serve humanity.

Fraternally in Carmel,

The celebration of the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Bobo Dioulassou, Burkina Faso began with a procession at 1700hrs and finished with Mass which ended at 2100hrs followed by a meal for all attendees.

July is a busy month for the Carmelite Order with celebrations of many of its saints and blesseds. The month also includes celebrations of both Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Prophet Elijah. Each has a particular resonance with members of the Order and are celebrated in a variety of ways around the world. Here are a few of the celebrations we learned about over the past several days. We appreciate members sending a short summary as well as pictures of their celebrations.

Carmel in Albacete, Spain

From July 7 to 15, a novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmen was solemnly celebrated in the Cathedral of Albacete. Presiding and preaching the novena was Matias Tejerina, O. Carm.

There was a large crowd of the faithful and people devoted to the Virgin of Mount Carmel. There is a group of Carmelite Tertiaries and Confreres in Albacete who keep the Carmelite charism alive. They prepare the novena every year and have an oratory in the middle of the city which is open every day for prayer. Eucharist is celebrated there three times a month presided by Fr. Alfonso Herrera, O. Carm., the spiritual director of the Tertiaries. Also in Albacete is a community of Carmelite sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who minister in the parish of San Pablo. They also lead a very active and pastorally committed group of Carmelite Laity.

Huesca, Spain

The Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of the Encarnation San Miguel in Huesca, Spain, provided a film of their celebration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 2024. The monastery dates to 1622. (Sor Mª Blanca de la Eucaristía Barril, O. Carm.)

To watch the video

St. Thomas Province, India

The celebration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in St. Thomas Province (India), especially within its communities, is a deeply cherished event. Community members gather together-- in unity and reverence-- to commemorate this special occasion. Neighboring religious communities are invited, fostering bonds of friendship and solidarity. As a symbol of faith and protection, scapulars are ceremoniously distributed to everyone who attends, signifying devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The celebrations highlight the spiritual significance of the occasion through songs and homilies and prayers. Traditional rituals and processions enhance the solemnity and cultural richness of the event. Special meals are prepared and then shared among the gathered community, reinforcing bonds of camaraderie and fellowship. The celebrations serve not only as a religious observance but also as a joyful expression of our cultural heritage and communal identity. Ultimately, these celebrations deepen devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and reaffirm the participants' faith and commitment. Overall, the festivities reflect a deep-seated reverence and devotion that resonate throughout the Indian province and their local communities. (Deepak Aracka, O. Carm.)

Province of Malta

The Carmelite feast in Valletta on the July 16 is a major event. Many streets are decorated. Bands march in the streets over a four day period. There is a musical concert and a fireworks display. The religious celebration includes a 2 hour Solemn Mass in the morning and an evening Mass lead by the Archbishop Scicluna. This Mass is followed by a procession with the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Carmelite community also hosted a lunch with guests including the prior provincial of the Discalced Carmelites of Malta, the Canon and his wife from the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul in Valletta, the parish priests of Valletta, the Suore Carmelitane Missionarie di S. Teresa del Bambino Gesù, two Domincans, and all the Carmelites of the Maltese Province who could attend.

General Delegation of Kenya

On July 16, 2024 the Kenyan Delegation gathered at the newly formed  Carmelite community in central Kenya (the priory at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Retreat Centre). The celebration was attended by many of the faithful as well as friars, religious sisters, Third Order Carmelites, and diocesan clergy.

Before the celebration of Mass, we held with a procession carrying a five foot (152.4 cm) statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, to a newly constructed grotto on the property.

We continue to seek Her intercession as a Kenyan delegation especially as we continue the construction of the retreat centre to serve the people. (Daniel Kyalo, O. Carm.)

Malaga (Spain) Area

The city of Malaga in southern Spain and many of the towns and villages along the Costa del Sol celebrated Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron of seafarers, special festivities and processions on July 16. Even some inland towns and villages join in on the celebrations.

To read more about this read the article in "Sur".

A Joint OCARM-OCD Letter for the Year of Prayer and the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2024
"In Mary a Dawn of Hope: In Mary Our Way of Praying"

A joint letter of the two general superiors, Míċeál O'Neill, O. Carm., and Miguel Márquez Calle, OCD is being published on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 2024 which coincides with the Year of Prayer called for by Pope Francis to mark a time of preparation for the Jubilee Year in 2025. Entitled "In Mary A Dawn of Hope: In Mary Our Way of Prayer," the letter seeks "to recall and relive the great traditions of Carmel in relation to prayer, and in relation to Our Lady of Mount Carmel." But the focus is on "the fruit of our personal experience the Carmelite charism," and not as a theological treatise.

The approximately 3,500 word letter reviews that various aspects of Mary's spirituality found in her appearances in the Gospels and Carmelite tradition. It concludes with possibilities for Pope Francis' "symphony of prayer" to become a reality, recognizing the dignity of the person who prays, and renewing our own prayer as Carmelites. By putting prayer at the center of our lives and our own will and desire to prayer, write the two leaders, will renew that prayer.

Frs. Míċeál and Miguel conclude by extending their prayer and good wishes to the entire Carmelite Family around the world.

pdf Read the letter(98 KB)

IN SOLLEMNITATE B.V. MARIAE DE MONTE CARMELO

Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera,
splendor caeli, Virgo puerpera singularis.
Mater mitis, sed viri nescia,
Carmelitis esto propitia,
stella maris.

MÍCEÁL PRIOR GENERALIS
DOMUSQUE GENERALIS COMMUNITAS

16.VII.2024

A Video Message for the Solennity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, 2024, from Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm, Prior General of the Order

Dear sisters and brothers in the Carmelite family throughout the world:

The celebration of the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel this year coincides with the Year of Prayer, announced by Pope Francis as a time of preparation the celebration of the 2025 Jubilee. The desire of the Holy Father is that there should be a “symphony of prayer” throughout the world. His teaching on prayer is an invitation to the Carmelite family to play its part in praying and in helping others to pray. Our rich tradition of prayer has been an inspiration to many generations from the beginning. Never was that tradition more needed by the world than today, in order to be able to encourage and accompany all the people who already have a life of prayer and are praying, and to open new doors for people who do not yet know the meaning of Christian prayer. Our prayer gives dignity to our lives because it affirms that we are the children of God, in communication with God. Our pray is also the strength of hope because of how we place our trust in God and in the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Carmel represents a place of human dignity, where God has brought people together in his name and Jesus is there in their midst. Mary is the Lady of that place, showing us what the dignity of the human person looks like, and the people who dwell in that place are people who pray, knowing that in their lives Jesus Christ is their deepest motivation, and that there is no higher ambition than to live in allegiance to him. On a day that unites us all in joy and thanksgiving, I join with Carmelites around the world, in praying that God’s name may be held as a blessing, that God’s will may be done, that God’s kingdom may come, that our daily bread may lead to daily peace and that we will find the path to forgiveness and reconciliation for ourselves and for our sisters and brothers in a world so terribly afflicted by its own lack of faith, hope and charity.  May your celebrations this year bring you the abundance of God’s grace and an answer to your fervent prayer. 

Thank you. 

Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm

IN SOLLEMNITATE B.V. MARIAE DE MONTE CARMELO

Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera,
splendor caeli, Virgo puerpera singularis.
Mater mitis, sed viri nescia,
Carmelitis esto propitia,
stella maris.

 MÍCEÁL PRIOR GENERALIS
DOMUSQUE GENERALIS COMMUNITAS

16.VII.2023

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This image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is venerated in the parish in Fatima where the little shepherd children to whom she appeared were born. On October 13, 1911, during her final vision at Fatima, the Virgin appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The young Sr. Lucia reported "She had some things hanging from her hand [a scapular] and she looked like the image that is venerated in the parish of Fatima."

Each year, the Carmelites deliver prayer cards for Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout the entire country of El Salvador. Seven routes were drawn up for five teams to cover on July 1 and 2. Teams comprised of four Carmelites left from both Centro Xiberta Formation House and St. Alberto de Jerusalem Formation House. Two of the routes were specifically for locations with JUCAR (Carmelite Youth Groups). Other routes visited ten or so parishes each day. Cards were left at each location for distribution to the parishioners to celebrate the feast.

“An genuine presence of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is always an occasion of joy, fraternity, and sharing with the community,” said Juan Carlos Meléndez who was professed this past January. Noé Marcelo Girón, who also professed vowed in January of 2023, added, “To celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the best way to bring the love that we have to fullness.

A Video Message for the Solennity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, 2023, from Fr. Míċeál O’Neill, O. Carm, Prior General of the Order

A Novena by the Province of Australia and Timor Leste:  

The Province of Australia and Timor-Leste has made available nine days of prayer intentions which will be available online throughout the year. The prayer intentions are directed at  the needs of people throuhout the world.

Access the Novena here

Weekly Reflections from the British Province: 

Beginning on July 10, the British Province will be posting a weekly reflection on Carmelite Spirituality focusing on different aspects of our way of life and charism. The first reflection is on Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Access the Weekly Reflections here

Distribution of Prayer Cards for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Throughout El Salvador 

              Each year, the Carmelites deliver prayer cards for Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout the entire country of El Salvador. Seven routes were drawn up for five teams to cover on July 1 and 2. Teams comprised of four Carmelites left from both Centro Xiberta Formation House and St. Alberto de Jerusalem Formation House. Two of the routes were specifically for locations with JUCAR (Carmelite Youth Groups). Other routes visited ten or so parishes each day. Cards were left at each location for distribution to the parishioners to celebrate the feast.

            “An genuine presence of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is always an occasion of joy, fraternity, and sharing with the community,” said Juan Carlos Meléndez who was professed this past January. Noé Marcelo Girón, who also professed vowed in January of 2023, added, “To celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the best way to bring the love that we have to fullness.

The Interesting Story of a Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Huelva, Spain

            The story of the beautiful 16th century statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel maintained in the Carmelite church in Huelva, Spain. The anonymous work is from the Seville school of art. Our Lady is holding a scapular that is contained in a silver reliquary as the scapular was worn by St. Pope John Paul II. 

Watch the video here

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We would like to hear how others are celebrating the feast in their local communities or ministries. Please send a short writeup and pictures to the Communications Office (Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.)