The Way of Generous Service
(Mark 12:38-44)

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St. Nuno Álvares maintained an almost childlike in his devotion to God and his strict code of morality, even for the soldiers in his army. He attributed his stunning victories to Mary’s intercession on his behalf. Although the “Holy Constable” was one of the most powerful men in the kingdom, he used his wealth and influence to promote religious devotion, and to build many churches as signs of his gratitude. Perhaps the most spectacular of his churches was the imposing Carmo in Lisbon, which he entrusted to the care of the Carmelites. He provided built a large house to house the religious. At that time, there was only a single Carmelite house in Portugal, at Moura. The new house and church were lavishly endowed by the Constable, who also insisted on regular prayer and strict observance of the Rule.

While the ruins of the Carmo church in Lisbon stand today as just a shell following the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the house he built for the Carmelites next to the church remained intact. In fact, St. Nuno would enter the Order and live as a brother in this house following his retirement from military duty. Today, the building, known as the Carmo Barrack, serves as the headquarters of the National Republican Guard (GNR) although it retains a few of the features that were present in the time of St. Nuno.

On the ground floor a “cell” contains a few objects from the life of St. Nuno. A plaque near the door of the cell reads “This is the location of the cell where the Constable died on November 1, 1431.” On the bed is his habit. On one wall hangs two objects of popular mortification: a discipline, an instrument for self-flagellation and a metal chain cilice with inwardly-pointing tines.

Other objects include a flag decorated a large Cross and images of St. George, St. Thiago, St. John and of Mary, one with the Child Jesus. There is also a large trunk and a small statue of the Saint standing on an old altar decorated with a large Cross in a style favored by St. Nuno.

St. Nuno Álvares Pereira's tomb was lost in the famous 1755 Lisbon earthquake. His epitaph read:

"Here lies that famous Nuno, the Constable, founder of the House of Bragança, excellent general, blessed monk, who during his life on earth so ardently desired the Kingdom of Heaven that after his death, he merited the eternal company of the Saints. His worldly honors were countless, but he turned his back on them. He was a great Prince, but he made himself a humble monk. He founded, built and endowed this church in which his body rests."

Read more on the life of St. Nuno Álvares ...

540th Anniversary of the Entrustment of the Parish S. Maria in Traspontina to the Carmelites

On Friday, November 15, the Carmelites will be celebrating the 540th anniversary of presence at S. Maria in Traspontina. Pope Innocent VIII gave responsibility for the church to the Carmelites in the bull Sacrosanctae et militantis Ecclesiae.

The founding of the church has been documented back to 772 under the papacy of Adrian I. It was always dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The church building was located very close to Castel San Angelo when the Carmelites took possession during the papacy of Innocent VIII in 1484. The intent was to move closer to the Vatican where they popes had decided to maintain their permanent residence after the Council of Constance which ended the Western Schism (1378-1418). Plans to expand the defenses of Castel San Angelo with a ring of ramparts forced the destruction of the old church and the need for the Carmelites to build a new one. The prior general at the time, Nicolas Audet (1523-1562) insisted the Order remain close to the Vatican. The Carmelites were eventually allowed to move even closer to the Vatican, to the current location, with the foundation stone put in place by Giovanni Rossi (1562-1578).

For the celebration on November 15, the schedule is:

6 pm: Rosary

6:30 pm: Mass and prayer of suffrage for all deceased Carmelites in the community

7:15 pm: Organ concert, Gratias agimus tibi, given by Jordi-Agustí Piqué i Collado, OSB, a professor of Theology, Liturgy, and Music at the Pontifical Ateneo Saint’Anselmo in Rome.

8 p.m.: Aperitif in the parish hall.

Concelebrants are requested to bring white surplice and stole with them.

The website of the parish is: www.parrocchiatraspontina.it

(Photos courtesty of parish website and William J. Harry, O. Carm.)

Alfred Mizzi Foundation and Notarial Archives Foundation Join to Save Maltese Carmelite Library

In February 2022, a powerful storm hit the country of Malta. Small islands situated in the Mediterranean Sea, the country endured showers of hail and rain as well as winds at the beginning of the month. The historic Carmelite library in the Carmelite prior in Valletta, suffered severe damage. Besides numerous manuscripts and books being heavily damages, the wooden structure of the library itself was heavily damaged as well.

According to published reports, the Alfred Mizzi Foundation and the Notarial Archives Foundation have joined efforts to save the library. Since February 2024, the NAF and its team of volunteers have been carefully removing the books and manuscripts from the shelves of the library. This will allow the wooden library structure to undergo the necessary restoration as well as the books.

Warranted wood conservator Josef Aquilina has been entrusted with this job. While emptying the shelves, NAF volunteers are also superficially dusting the books and making an inventory. The books are then placed in archival boxes and temporarily stored in a different area of the priory. Besides the water damage, many of the books suffer from biological and chemical damage accumulated over the years. The conservation of the books is being done under the supervision of the NAF's warranted book and paper conservators Chanelle Mifsud Briffa and Maria Borg.

Carmelite Alex Scerri, the prior of Valletta, contacted the Dean of History from the University of Malta to seek help. The NAF got involved and with their help and the volunteers, the Mizzi Foundation became involved.

The Alfred Mizzi Foundation has committed to sponsoring the preliminary works and surveys for the conservation of the wooden library structure. This will guarantee that the structure is professionally reconstructed to last for many years.

The monastery in Valletta and its library houses many items of interest. The majority of the books deal with either theology or philosophy. But there are also works on Carmelitana and Melitensia which are of particular interest because they go back to the period of the Knights of Malta in the 15th century. The holdings include 7 incunabula, books using metal type and created before the printing press was invented. They differ from manuscripts, which are documents written by hand. The oldest of these incunabula in the Carmelite library in Valetta dates from 1471.

Fr. Alex spoke about the task ahead. “Quotes are still being studied by the architect, but the cost will be thousands of Euro. The plans are to restore the main roof of the bibliotheca which has to be built again as well as the furniture. So the cost of the project will be very large.”

The Carmelite Order arrived in Malta in 1418. The Carmelites agreed to serve at a chapel and minister to the people in the area around Lunzjata (Rabat). The church and convent in Valletta were founded in 1570.

Valletta’s Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel underwent various transformations over the centuries. Damaged during the Second world War, it was rebuilt from 1958 to 1981 providing a new skyline for the city with its striking dome. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fr Alex expressed his thanks to the Notarial Archives Foundation, The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, and the volunteers for their hard work and dedication in preserving the historic library and the patrimony of the Carmelite library. “The community and I are very grateful to all the volunteers who make the sacrifice to come each week to remove the books and make sure they are properly cared for. We are also grateful to everyone who has taken an interest in this major project so that our Carmelite heritage in Malta and especially in Valletta, dating back to 1570, will be restored and preserved for future generations.”

The Alfred Mizzi Foundation funds projects related to Maltese culture, its heritage, education, the environment and social solidarity. It promotes and assists the presentation and development and the public manifestation of Maltese heritage, including culture and the environment. The Notarial Archives Foundation is a non-governmental voluntary organization which seeks to preserve and raise awareness of the 600-year-old collection of notarial deeds of the Notarial Registers Archive. Since these records document the history of Malta, their availability to future generations is of paramount importance.

(Pictures courtesy of the Valletta Priory)

November 5 | Optional Memorial

Temptation Stimulates Virtue
From the Exhortations of Blessed Frances of Amboise to the Nuns

Whatever sorrow or discomfort you have in your hearts, bear it as patiently as you can, and think of it as your cross. Help our Lord and bear it with him, willingly, good-humoredly, for you must always bear the cross, and if you reject one, you may find another heavier one. With faith and hope in God's help, temptation is overcome. We must not lose heart and stop on our way, but always take courage. Think of the pains and great temptations that the holy fathers had to endure in the desert. The pains they suffered in the spirit, were without comparison much harder than the penances and austerities they imposed on their bodies. He who is not tempted acquires no virtue. So accept what pleases God, who never sends suffering that is not for our good. He says in the Gospel: Whoever wants to come after me, begin to deny himself, that is, to forget himself, to have no self-esteem, to despise himself and to desire to be despised by others. Our Lord says we must take up the cross in order to follow him, that is, accept penance and torments for his sake, as he bore the cross for our sake.

But I recommend, do not carry it as Simon of Cyrene did! To our Lord, exhausted from the beatings and torments he had endured, the Jews, fearing that he would die before reaching the place where he was to be crucified, took down the cross and loaded it on Simon. Simon took it reluctantly and although he carried it, he did not die on it like our Lord, who carried it of his own choice and willingly, and died there rendering his soul to God his Father.

Do as he did, following his example. You have the cross of penance; bear it willingly to the end: in it you will die and render your souls to him. Praise and thank God for calling you to his service. Despise no one. Think that God's command is that you love your neighbor as yourself and all your [brothers and sisters], even those who do or want to harm you.

Above all, have charity for one another and concern yourselves about overcoming your passions. Take one remedy today and another tomorrow. Thus you will gradually come to overcome your temptations, and when our Lord sees your good will and perseverance, He will give you His grace and help you to carry the burdens of religious life to the end. Nothing will be difficult for you to bear for His sake.

(Carmelus,11 [1964] 254-255)

Read more on the life of Bl. Frances d'Amboise ...

5 November Optional Memorial

Bl. Frances D'Amboise was born in 1427, probably at Thouars, France. At fifteen years of age, she was married to Peter II, Duke of Brittany and crowned with him in the cathedral at Rennes in 1450. She was widowed in 1457 and, not wanting a second marriage, she turned towards religious life. For this purpose, she built a Carmel for sisters at Bondon in 1463 following the advice of Blessed John Soreth, Prior General of the Carmelites.

To read more

Sporting Event Between Two Carmelite Secondary Schools

Mount Carmel Chicago Students Broadcast School’s Football Team Nationally

Education in the various tools of communications has been a major part of the curriculum in secondary schools in the United States. Most schools have a regular newspaper which was in some cases replaced by livestreamed announcements. Students produce and publish Yearbooks, a physical record of the year’s events and pictures of the school community. Many schools produce poetry or book of the students’ writings. Perhaps the most recent developments have been made in television production.

But a new level was reached when two Carmelite secondary schools, Mount Carmel in Chicago, Illinois and Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, Illinois, faced off in a game of American football. Already a long established rivalry, this year’s meeting was a memorable experience for both schools—on and off the playing field.

On October 11, the student-run Mount Carmel media team streamed their football contest against their brother school from nearby Joliet on national television. According to reports in local newspapers, senior student Matthew Malloy, the play-by-play announcer, and the “color commentator” (the analyst who fills in background when play is not in progress), senior Christos Dimas, were key players in making the production a great success. They were backed up by their behind-the-scenes team, under the guidance of Mt. Carmel’s media moderator Ellie Menke.

Months of preparation, including rehearsals, paid off the night of the game. For a number of years, the students streamed the games and commentary on YouTube. There were some challenges going national, however. Dimas was the leader on a school retreat and absent from school the week before the broadcast. A few technical problems showed up during the game.

During the halftime period of the game, a very special segment for both schools played out before the nation. Mount Carmel honored a popular former teacher, Kevin Hansen, who died in 2015. Hansen was also the class valedictorian and Man of the Year of the Class of 1999 at Joliet Catholic. Since his death, the student body at Mount Carmel annually chooses a teacher that embraces the values and virtues of Hansen. The recipient is awarded a green jacket. A video, produced by the students, with interviews of former recipients of the award speaking was shown.

The game’s winning team is awarded the Carmelite Classic trophy. The game between the two powerhouses was once an annual event. However, 2024 is the first time in 17 years that the game was played. The trophy always goes home with the winning team, to sit in a place of honor until the next game between the two Carmelite schools. Mount Carmel took home the trophy this year, winning the game 35-21.

(Pictures were provided by the school and are not from the October 11, 2024, event)

On September 28 members of Spain’s Mater Unitatis Federation held a course on finances given by José Mª Herranz, O.S.A., at the monastery of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas in Madrid.

The first part of the course dealt with the way of living and concretizing the vow of poverty in the consecrated contemplative life, starting from the following of Christ and dealing with practical questions.

In the second part he presented the document of the Sacred Congregation Boni dispensatores multiformis gratiae Dei which deals with the fundamental criteria that should govern the relationship between the different institutions that make up the consecrated life and material goods, essential for the survival and development of their own goals and charism.

The professor showed great experience and knowledge on the subject and gave us valuable guidance.

From October 7 to 11 the sisters took part in the ongoing formation course in the monastery of the Incarnation in Zaragoza. Salvador Villota, O. Carm., prior provincial of the Province of Aragon, Castile and Valencia, and doctor of Sacred Scripture presented the Wisdom and prophetic books. 

According to the possibilities of each monastery, sisters from Valencia, Madrid and Huesca attended in person. The rest of the sisters received it online, so all the monasteries of the federation participated. 

This year the Carmelite Nuns of the Federation of America also participated in this transmission, according to their possibilities and schedule compatibility, at the request of their president, M. Consuelo. Consuelo.

According to chronicler, Carmelite Sister Mª Brunilda Rodríguez, “As every year, we all received an abundance of spiritual fruits that Fr. Salvador, with his wisdom and humility, served us from the abundant table of the Word of God.”

The Great Commandment
(Mark 12:28-34)

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