May 25 | Feast
St. Mary Magdelen de' Pazzi, Virgin

Born into the noble family of Pazzi in Florence in 1566, Mary Magdelene had a deep sense of the presence of God, a great love of the Eucharist, and a longing to live a penitential life. She entered the cloistered Carmelite monastery of St. Mary of the Angels in Florence, near the Carmelite church. She underwent continuous physical suffering and severe spiritual trials but also experienced God's mercy with extraordinary graces. She died on May 25, 1607.

She was keenly aware of the need to reform the Church. She offered herself to that clergy would once again be a witness to Christ in the world and that the lapsed would return to the Church. The central theme in her spirituality is love: we are created by God with love and by love and is the means by which we must turn to him. She had a great devotion to Our Lady.

She was beatified in 1626, 19 years after her death, and was canonized in 1669.

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Free Online Seminar | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (European)
The Carmelite Institute of Malta Online Seminar: Disenchantment and Hope

On May 25, the Carmelite Institue of Malta is sponsoring a free English language seminar by Michael Farrugia. Registration is by email: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.

In recent years many discussion have centered on the problem of disenchantment, which primarily is the loss of meaning or value. The term was first coined by the German sociologist Max Weber. Although thought to be a distinctly modern problem with the rise of science, people of faith known from the Scritpures went through periods of doubt and disenchantment.

As modern society goes through disenchantment, we remember what God has done and continues to do in our lives, In the experience of disenchantment, hope is indispensable. Hope is God's gift and virtue that has to be cultivated, nurtured, and practiced. Hope guides us on the journey by keeping us focused on the true meaning and essence of life.

The seminar is free. But if you wish to donate you can do so in three ways:

1) Bank Transfer: Institute Bank Account: [IBAN] MT 28 VALL 2201 3000 0000 400 1797 9621
2) Cheque addressed to "Carmelite Institute" for amounts greater than €20 (according to Directive n. 19 by the Central Bank of Malta)
3) via Revolut or BOV Mobile to 79060733

God enfleshed in us
(Matthew 28:16-20)

• pdf Celebrating At Home - The Most Holy Trinity [PDF](3.02 MB)
• default Celebrating At Home - The Most Holy Trinity [ePub](2.81 MB)
• pdf Celebrando en Familia - La Santísima Trinidad(462 KB)
• pdf Celebrando in Casa - Santissima Trinità(460 KB)
• pdf Celebrando em família - Santíssima Trindade(458 KB)

Carmelite Life and Ministry is Vibrant in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Prior General, Míċeál O’Neill and Conrad Mutizamhepo, General Councilor for Africa, conducted the canonical visitation of the Carmelite friars in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visitation was conducted in two phases; the first part covered Kinshasa and Kisangani and took place March 19-30, 2024, while the second part took place April 19-May 4, 2024, and covered the eastern region of the country, including the communities in the dioceses of Mahagi-Nioka, Bunia, and Butembo-Beni. During the visitation, the visitators had a good insight into the vitality of Carmelite life with its beneficial effect on the lives of the peoples.

The first Carmelites from Italy arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then known as Zaire, in February 1973. The first missionaries were Fr Archangelo Colandrea, Fr Ubaldo Pani, and Dominico FioreI. On fire with missionary zeal, they were entrusted with the care of the mission of Jiba, founded in 1954 by the Missionaries for Africa. Soon, the Carmelite presence spread to Bunia, Mahagi-Nioka, Kinshasa, Butembo, Kisangani, and Mbujimayi. Today there are 66 Carmelites in solemn vows and 15 in simple vows. They minister in nine parishes in six dioceses as well as Carmelite houses and institutions such as hospitals and schools.

Having visited all the communities except Mbujimayi, the visitors noted with hopeful joy that the Carmelite presence in Congo is vibrant. Four young men are undergoing introduction to Carmelite life in the postulancy program at Titus Brandsma house in Butembo while ten others are learning Carmelite life in the novitiate programme at St Joseph’s, Bunia. Two friars are pursuing studies in theology at Blessed Isidore Bakanja in Kinshasa. Ongoing formation and skills training are emphasized so much that there are friars who are undergoing studies within Congo and in Italy in various fields such as theology, philosophy, administration, and medicine.

At the conclusion of the canonical visit Frs. Míċeál and Conrad participated in two significant events. The first was the celebration of the Eucharist for the closing of the Golden Jubilee Year of Carmelite presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Eucharist was presided over by the bishop of Butembo-Beni, Bishop Melchizedek Sikuli Paluku, assisted by close to fifty priests, scores of religious and a large crowd of the faithful. During the same Eucharist, three Carmelites were ordained deacons and one was ordained priest. The liturgy was so well organized that even when it rained fairly heavily, hundreds of the faithful endured the rain to witness the proceedings to their conclusion. The participation of the faithful can only be described as animated and enthusiastic. After the mass, the newly ordained and their families, friends and colleagues enjoyed a sumptuous banquet to choral as well as traditional music performances. “Participating in these activities revealed to us that the Church in Congo is youthful, alive and active. It is heartening to know that Carmel is playing a significant role in the spiritual accompaniment, educational enlightenment of the youths, and pastoral formation of multitudes,” said Fr. Conrad.

The other significant event that took place was the triennial Assembly of the Commissariat of Congo. This was held April 28-30, 2024 in preparation for the Provincial Chapter due to be celebrated in Rome in June 2024. The Assembly was made up of the priors of each community, parish priests from each parish, former Commissary Provincials, and invited friars and guests. Although not all the eligible friars attended, eighteen friars with the right to vote and 7 friars without a right to vote participated. At the beginning of the Assembly all agreed to a code of conduct, namely, to be docile to the movement of the Holy Spirit, to be punctual and regular, to respect mutuality and tolerance, and to be animated by the concern for the common good. Great effort was made to appreciate the achievements during the fifty years of Carmelite presence. These years have included a good reception of the Carmelite charism and spirituality as well as growth in the number of friars as well as lay people who are committed to witnessing to the Carmelite charism. The men also recognized the challenges encountered over the decades, some of which were outside of their control, like the destabilization of a sustainable peaceful atmosphere in the country because of outbursts of war and the insecurity and political unrest that ensues.

The political climate has impacted the socio-economic and spiritual development of the country negatively. Some political actors have sown the seeds of distrust in some ethnic communities fanning tensions, conflict, and reprisals. From the open discussions and interventions at the Assembly it was clear that Carmelites wish to be a force for socio-spiritual transformation and revival in the regions in which they are working. In line with the Carmelite Constitutions, the Carmelites renewed their commitment to live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ in a contemplative attitude exercised in a life of prayer, fraternity and service in the midst of the people (Const 2019 §14). As such, the friars committed themselves to living the charismatic endowment of Carmel in openness to the Holy Spirit in an effort to cultivate forgiveness, reconciliation, fraternal correction, and sincere conversion to Christ; to prioritize formation and skills development; to have a leadership that will help the friars to live according to Carmelite religious life; to sustainably utilize the resources available to them and generate productivity; to commit to pooling their earnings together while at the same time cultivating transparency and accountability in administration and management; to commit to ongoing collaboration with the founding province and promotion of fraternal dialogue at all levels in the commissariat in preparation for the decision to become a province.

“Having shared in the life of the friars in the Commissariat for slightly more than four weeks, we returned to Rome with a sense of joy and hope. We were joyful to share in the Eucharist concluding the first fifty years of presence since the planting of the charism by gallant Italian Carmelites and we are hopeful that, with the seriousness demonstrated at the Assembly and the Resolutions flowing from it, the Congolese Carmel will continue to grow both numerically and qualitatively. Rooted as the Carmelite presence is in following in the footsteps of Christ inspired by the example of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the fiery Prophet Elijah, we can testify to the vibrancy of Carmelite life and ministry in our communities, parishes and institutions, said Fr. Conrad.

As called for in the Constitutions, the Prior General Míċeál O’Neill convoked the 2025 General Chapter by letter on May 16, the feast of St. Simon Stock. The meeting will take place September 9-26, 2025, at the Harris Convention Center in Malang, Indonesia. The letter was sent via email to all prior provincials, general commissaries and delegates, commissary provincials, and the prior of CISA. Copies were sent to the Carmelite bishops, the prioresses of the enclosed monasteries, and the superiors general of the affiliated congregations. A printed copy will be sent via regular mail, according to Roberto Sianturi, the general secretary.

The General Council chose You Must Have Some Sort of Work to Do (Rule 20): Our Contemplative Fraternity Discerns Its Mission as the theme for the Chapter. Building on previous work done studying the Order’s history and traditions, “the 2025 General Chapter will focus its attention on those chapters of our Constitutions that deal with our mission in the world and in the Church, worldwide, and local,” wrote Fr. Míċeál. Numbers 94, 97, and 101 of the Carmelite Constitutions are specifically highlighted.

The letter continues, “By discernment we will be able to identify clearly what apostolic work we are called to take on and in what manner we should perform that work as a way of giving expression to the gift we have received from the Holy Spirit, to be put at the service of God's reign, in other words, our charism and tradition.”

pdf To read the Letter(152 KB)

22 May Optional Memorial

Saint Joachina was born on April 16, 1783 in Barcelona, Spain. She wanted to become a Carmelite cloistered nun but was rejected due to her young age. In 1799, at age 16, she married Theodore de Mas but was widowed in 1816. She brought up nine children, three of whom died at an early age, with loving care.

In 1826, guided by the Holy Spirit, she founded the Congregation of Carmelite Sisters of Charity which spread throughout Catalonia, opening numerous houses for the care of the sick and to help and look after those who suffered from poverty and a lack of education. She found her inspiration in the mystery of the Holy Trinity and the distinguishing features of her spirituality were her love of prayer, self-denial, detachment, humility and her love for others.

She died at Vich on August 28, 1854. She was beatified on May 19, 1940 by Pope Pius XII and canonized on April 12, 1959 by Pope St. John XXIII.

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ORDINATIO DIACONALIS
19-03-24  Wanderson Luiz Freitas (Pern) Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brasil
27-04-24  Elysée Kombi Kalihi (Ita-Congo) Butembo, RepCongo
27-04-24. Clement Kanyoro Biaruhanga (Ita-Congo) Butembo, RepCongo
27-04-24  Elisée Kasereka Kayilanda (Ita-Congo) Butembo, RepCongo
04-05-24  Ryan Joseph Resurrección (PCM) Middletown, USA
04-05-24  Gregg Jude Durham (SEL) Middletown, USA

ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
27-04-24  Jean Bosco Kasereka Sivihwa (Ita-Congo) Butembo, RepCongo

In a bull entitled Hope Does Not Disappoint, Pope Francis explains that the coming Jubilee Year is a Holy Year also celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea (325). Referencing Scripture, the pontiff prays that “the witness of believers be for our world a leaven of authentic hope, a harbinger of new heavens and a new earth where men and women will dwell in justice and harmony, in joyful expectation of the fultillment of the Lord’s promises.”

He writes, “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite not knowing what the future may bring.” He goes on to explain that hope is born of love which ultimately comes from Jesus upon the cross. In a few lines he describes St. Paul’s idea on hope and gives a short history of the jubilee years as pilgrimages. The Jubilee Year of 2025 he sets up as a Pilgrimage of Hope.

The pope will open the holy door of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, on November 9—the 1700th anniversary of its dedication. The door to St. Peter’s will be opened on December 29 and that of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on January 1—the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. On January 5, 2025, the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls will be opened. All diocesan bishops are to celebrate a Mass as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year. A delegate can be designated for celebrating in co-cathedrals. The Holy Year will conclude with the closing of the Holy Doors on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

Returning to a constant theme of his pontificate—world peace—Pope Francis writes that “the first sign of hope should be the desire for peace in our world…,” and he laments that we seem to be further from peace.

He wants us to have an enthusiasm for life and “a readiness to share it.” This brings him to comment on “the alarming decline in the birthrate” in some countries, which he blames on “today’s frenetic pace, fears about the future, the lack of job security and adequate social policies, and social models whose agenda is dictated by the quest for profit rather than concern for relationships.”

Finally Pope Francis calls on the Christian community to be “signs of hope” and details a variety of concrete ways this might occur. He asks “with all my heart that hope be granted to the billions of poor, who often lack the essentials of life,” and reminds the readers that “the goods of the earth are not destined for a privileged few, but for everyone.” He calls for a refocusing of financial priorities: “I renew my appeal that with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favor development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory situations, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life.”

As 2025 coincides with the first ecumenical council of the Church, that of Nicea, this Jubilee Year will also be celebrating the 1700th anniversary of that Council. Pope Francis calls it “a milestone in the Church’s history” as it sought to preserve Church unity and debated the full divinity of Christ, establishing the concept of His “consubstantiality” with the Father, incorporating this into a Creed that is still recited today. The Council also discussed the date of Easter, unfortunately failing to come up with a universal method of establishing the date of celebration. In 2025, a common celebration will take place however.

The document was given at St. John Lateran on May 9, the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord. It is the 12th year of Francis’ pontificate and his second Jubilee Year.

Spes non confundit: Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (English)

Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 (English)

HCSCJ Congregation Concludes 100 Anniversary Celebrations

The closing of the centenary of the foundation of Hermanas Carmelitas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (HCSCJ) took place from May 11-13, 2024, in Málaga, Spain. . The meeting, which began in the late afternoon on May 11 with words of welcome by the Superior General of the HCSCJ, Sr. Mª Teresa Delgado, was both intense and enriching. More than 200 people (religious, sisters, and lay people) took part. Among the programmed activities, there was a series of talks and group meetings to share the reflections; there were also moments of prayer and Eucharistic celebrations with a large number of faithful, attracted by the Carmelite spirituality of Mother Asunción Soler Gimeno (1882-1959), the foundress; finally, the rich and abundant lunches and dinners put a fraternal finishing touch to all the events.

Fr. Miceál O'Neill, the prior general of the Carmelite Order, gave the first talk on "The Richness of Carmelite Spirituality for Today's World." Other talks continued on Sunday, one on "Christocentrism in Mother Asunción," given by the diocesan priest, Fr. Sevo Agotinho; another on "The Charismatic Witness with Those Deprived of Liberty," given by the priest Pablo Morota; and the General Coordinator of the Mother Asunción Carmelite Family, Prof. Guillermo Chumilla, spoke on "How to Live the Christian Commitment from the Charism of Mother Asunción."

On Sunday, a solemn Eucharist of the Ascension was celebrated in the cathedral of Malaga, presided over by the Archbishop Emeritus of Pamplona, D. Francisco Pérez González. On Monday, May 13, after visiting the sisters' house in Monsalve, the prior general, Miceál O'Neill, blessed the bust of the Servant of God Mother Assumption which has been placed in the courtyard of the "Mother Assumption" School in Limonar (Málaga), Mother House of the HCSCJ, and then celebrated the closing Eucharist of this international meeting.

May the spiritual richness witnessed during these days and the joy experienced be a sign of the Christian hope that pervades the whole Mother Assumption Carmelite Family, so that, in the Holy Spirit, it may continue to give glory to God - always and everywhere - in the fulfilment of his will, as was the wish of Mother Assumption.

The Congregation was founded in Spain on May 20, 1924, by the Servant of God Asunción, with the goal to live according to the spirit of Carmel, in and with the people, especially the poor and needy. Diocesan approval was granted in 1938 and aggregation to the Carmelite Order took place on Jun3 7, 1947. The sisters, who commit themselves to the education of the youth, social action, and to the sick, as well as to other needs of the Church, have a presence in Spain, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Kenya, and Mozambique. In 2022 there were 108 members in 18 houses.

Website of the Congregation is: hermanascarmelitasscj.com

16 May Optional Memorial (Obligatory Memorial the province of Great Britain)

As far as can be ascertained from the earliest references, Simon Stock was an English Prior General, known for his holy way of life, who died about 1265 in Bordeaux in France. After his death, miracles were recorded by those visiting his tomb and during the 14th century a local cult developed in Bordeaux.

Around 1400, a separate legend emerged in the Low Countries of a "holy Simon" who had a vision of Our Lady, in which she appeared to him bearing the scapular and promised: "This is a privilege for you and your brethren: whoever dies wearing it, will be saved." Within a few years, the two accounts had been merged and Simon Stock, the Prior General, was credited with having the vision of Our Lady. The combined account quickly became elaborated with imaginary biographical details of Simon's life, such as his birth in Kent, his living for some years as a hermit in the trunk of a tree and his authorship of the Flos Carmeli, a beautiful Carmelite hymn to Our Lady (which is, in fact, found in the 14th century and hence predates the legend).

The Carmelite Scapular and Its Confraternities

The scapular consists basically of two pieces of cloth, tied by thin cords, which rest one on the shoulders (between the "scapulae") and the other on the chest. The object, nowadays used for devotional purposes, originates from the "night" scapular used by religious so that they would never have to not be wearing their proper habit, not even at night.

By the middle of the 13th century, lay people began to be affiliated to the Order in order to share in the spiritual benefits. It was also offered by the Order as an expression of gratitude and recognition to benefactors. The scapular ended up constituting a customary means of handing over the habit to the laity and the consequent juridical-spiritual aggregation to the religious family. The white cloak, the sign of the Order in the Middle Ages, was given to lay people at the moment of their association.

Stories began to circulate of the miraculous gift of the habit from the Lord or Our Lady to the founders or saints of the various Orders. As a result, numerous scapulars exist. They are distinguished by different colors and images, precisely because of the wide use made of them by the various religious families and, over time, as a sign of consecration according to the different forms of spirituality.

From the end of the 15th century, the Carmelites began to hand over the scapular, which was considered the habit of the Order for lay people to be aggregated to the Order. Thus was born the Confraternity of the Scapular, which ended up practically supplanting or replacing the previous forms of lay aggregation to the Order. These confraternities were also found in churches not belonging to the Order.

A typical element of the devotion use of the religious habit among the laity was that either Our Lord or Our Lady would give it to the religious. Two visions are associated with the Carmelite scapular—both involving Our Lady and both doubtful as historical events. In the case of the appearance to St. Simon Stock, similar vision accounts are found continually in the traditions of the different religious families.

The very origins of the Order refer, one the one hand, to the protection of Mary, and on the other hand, to the “dedication” of the Carmelites to her, who is considered to be lady, sovereign because Mary is the Mother of the Lord. Even after their departure from the Holy Land, the Carmelites continued to consider themselves as subjects to the Lord Jesus and therefore to his Mother.

Members of most confraternities in the 17^th and 18^th centuries shows they were open to people of all classes: nobles, middle-class, laborers, peasants, artisans—both the rich and the poor. This kind of unity among members from different social backgrounds lasted a long time. It was a characteristic of Scapular confraternities as distinct from other types of confraternities, even religious ones.

The suppression of religious groups in the 19th century almost entirely destroyed the network of Scapular confraternities. The ones that survived very often continues to exist without much contact with the Order. The works of mercy almost entirely disappeared with what remained being more philanthropic than Christian charity. With the Canon Law Code of 1917, the confraternities were reorganized. The scapular devotion developed more and more as a sign of the protection of Mary, with the aspect of consecration to Mary and the demands of a covenant of made with Mary now written out.

Now to enjoy the privileges attached to the scapular, it suffices to receive it from an authorized person and to have your name written in the general confraternity register of the Order. This faculty has been extended to all priests and the need to have a register of inscriptions was done away with. The so-called “Rule of the Carmelite Third Order” set out norms for a Gospel way of life. The document reflects Carmelite values, proposing a commitment to prayer, the sacraments, the works of justice, and the building up of the human person in accordance with God’s plan.

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