O.Carm

Giovedì, 04 Maggio 2023 08:31

Bl. Angel Prat Hostench & Companions

May 4 - Optional Memorial (Obligatory Memorial in Provinces of Spain)

In 1936 seventeen Spanish members of various Carmelite communities gave their lives in defence of and in witness to their Christian faith and consecration to Jesus Christ.

On 28 July at the railway station in Tarrega, twelve religious belonging to the Tarrega community were arrested. They were moved to Clots dels Aubens di Cervera and were shot at dawn on 29 July while they called on Jesus’ name and that of the Mother of Carmel.

Martedì, 02 Maggio 2023 07:55

Portugal's General Commissariat Chapter Held

The Chapter of the General Commissariat of Portugal was held from April 26-28, 2023 in Hotel Casa São Nuno in Fatima. Both the Prior General Míċeál O'Neill and the General Councilor for Europe, Richard Byrne, participated.

In 1251 Carmelites, coming from Mount Carmel, made a foundation in the town of Moura. In 1397 St. Nuno Álves Pereira, a hero as commander of the Portuguese in their war for independence from Castille in 1383-1385, entrusted the magnificent monastery and church in Lisbon which he had built in honor of the Blessed Virgin, to the Carmelites. He himself then entered the Order.

In 1423 the Province of Lusitania was established in the Order. During the 15th century, the province was completely reorganized with the foundation of several houses, among them the house of studies in Coimbra (1536). In 1580, the first Carmelites established Carmel in Brazil.

The province continued to grow in the 17th and 18th centuries, until the earthquake of 1755, which was devastating. The province was suppressed in 1834 along with other religious orders in Portugal. The work to reestablish Carmel in Lusitania was initiated in 1930 by the Province of Baetica. Beginning in 1949, the daughter province of Rio de Janeiro joined in the efforts, replacing the Baetica Province in 1954. A provincial commissariat was created shortly thereafter. On December 8, 1992, the General Commissariat of the Lusitania was created.

The following members were elected to leadership:

. . .

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Venerdì, 28 Aprile 2023 13:32

Lectio Divina May 2023

Cover Image: Our Lady, Main Shrine, Aylesford, England.

Lord our God, Father of all,

you sent your Son Jesus Christ among us to reveal to us that you care about people

and that your love extends to all,

without any distinction of race or culture. Give us a great respect for all people, whatever way they come,

and let your Church embrace all cultures, that Jesus may truly be

the Lord and Shepherd of all, now and forever.

"Lectio divina," a Latin term, means "divine reading" and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us. In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk called Guigo, described the stages which he saw as essential to the practice of Lectio divina. There are various ways of practicing Lectio divina either individually or in groups but Guigo's description remains fundamental.

Cover Image: Our Lady, Main Shrine, Aylesford, England.

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Venerdì, 28 Aprile 2023 12:15

Carmelite Nuns' Federation Elects New Leadership

The Electoral Assembly of the Federation of St. Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, a federation of the Carmelite monasteries of nuns in Italy, was held April 17-20.

The Federation was created, after years of cooperaton between the monasteries, on July 16, 2010.

The results of the elective chapter were as follows:

. . .

Federation President | Presidente de la Federación | Presidente della Federazione:
Sr Maria Valentina Rossin, O. Carm. (Carpineto)

1st Councilor | 1ª Consejera | 1ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Martina Simeone, O. Carm. (Sutri)

2nd Councilor | 2ª Consejera  | 2ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Rosalia Mangiarotti, O. Carm. (Vetralla)

3rd Councilor | 3ª Consejera  | 3ª Consigliera:
Sr Marilla Pia Fiumana, O. Carm. (Sogliano)

4th Councilor | 4ª Consejera  | 4ª Consigliera:
Sr Maria Archangela Parisi, O. Carm. (Fisciano)

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Venerdì, 28 Aprile 2023 11:43

Presentation of book on the Carmel of Andalusia

On April 20, the latest volume of the prestigious TPM (Texts for a Millennium) collection, entitled "Flowers of the Carmel of Andalusia", was presented at the Carmelite Monastery of Seville. It is the work of Fernando de la Corte (1685-1759), a Carmelite from Granada, in which he recounts the founding of some of the most important monasteries of the contemplative Carmel in Andalusia: Seville (Santa Ana), Seville (Belen), Villalba del Alcor, Cañete la Real and Utrera. De la Corte also presents the lives of a series of venerable figures of the Andalusian female Carmel. It is, in short, a very valuable work to know the evolution of the Carmel in this part of Spain in the post-Tridentine period. The book also includes an extensive introductory study by historian Pedro Godoy Domínguez, in which he frames the founding of these convents in their historical context.

The book was presented by Doña Rosario Vera, Prioress of the Third Order of Carmel of Seville, and Father Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm. and the editor of the book, Pedro Godoy Domínguez, intervened. Both highlighted the contribution of this work to the Carmelite historiography and the need to make known these texts that form the living history of the Carmel of a certain historical period.

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Book Review

Venerdì, 28 Aprile 2023 10:54

Chapter of the Province of Great Britain Held

The Provincial Chapter of the Province of Great Britain was held April 17-21, 2023, in Aylesford, Kent (England).

Carmelites arrived in England about the year 1241 and quickly established a province. Records indicate a certain “W. provincial in England," in the years 1256-1257. At the time when the province was most flourishing, there were about a thousand brothers and about 37 houses. The first division of the province into two, namely, England and Ireland-Scotland, was recorded already in 1291 or 1294; which division, apparently, lasted until the year 1300. The autonomous province of Ireland was established in 1305. The establishment of the province of Scotland, established in 1321, was finally carried out in 1324.

In the course of time the Province of England was greatly reduced and it finally ceased with the suppression of Henry VIII (c. 1538). Some failed attempts were made to restore houses until c. 1926, when the brothers of the Province of Ireland opened the houses of Faversham and Sittingbourne in southeastern England.

Other houses were later added. Among these was ancient monastery in Aylesford which had been founded by 1242 but lost in Henry VIII suppression. On January 1, 1952, the general commissariat was established; and on September 12, 1969, the province of England and Wales was established under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name of the province was changed to 'Great Britain' in May 1999.

The following members were elected to leadership:

. . .

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Giovedì, 27 Aprile 2023 14:32

Pope Francis on Cloistered religious

At his weekly General Audience on April 26, 2023, Pope Francis spoke of monks and nuns in the context of his catechesis on apostolic zeal. He referred to the monks and nuns as the “beating heart” of the Church’s mission.

As part of his reflection, the pope spoke of the medieval Armenian monk, Gregory of Narek, as the example par excellence of the universal, all-embracing love which Christian are called to.

Asking what contribution men and women living in an enclosed monastery make towards the announcing of the Gospel, the pope rhetorically proposed a more effective way to contribute. His tongue in cheek proposal is one often heard in society and in the Church. “Wouldn’t it be better, if they dedicated their energies to mission?” he suggested.

He then went on to explain what he sees as their already most valuable contribution.

“Monks and nuns,” he said, “are the “beating heart of the Church’s proclamation— their prayer is oxygen for all the members of the Body of Christ, the invisible force that sustains the mission.”

He then pointed out that the patron saint of mission is the Discalced Carmelite nun, Thérèse of Lisieux. In 2023 the Church is celebrating the 150^th anniversary of St. Thérèse’s birth and the 100th anniversary of her beatification.

Using St. Gregory as a specific example, Pope Francis spoke of his “universal solidarity” – his identification with all people and his decision to dedicate his life to praying for them. The pope then said that this universal solidarity is a feature of the lives of all monks and nuns. The monks and nuns, in imitation of Christ, "take on the world's problems, the difficulties, the illnesses, many things, and pray for others." Cloistered religious, he said, are always busy - with work, and with prayer.

Pope Francis concluded by encouraging people to visit monasteries whenever possible. "It'll do you good!"

The enclosed Carmelite nuns have a long history, being officially recognized by the Church with the papal bull Cum nulla issue by Pope Nicolaus V in 1452. According to the 2019 Status Ordinis, there are 757 nuns in the Order, living in 83 monasteries.

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Venerdì, 28 Aprile 2023 13:34

Celebrating At Home - Fourth Sunday of Easter

The Good Shepherd calls his own by name,
and they recognise his voice
(John 10:1-10)

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because no matter what reading cycle we are in, the Gospel always focusses on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

This year, the Gospel reading talks about Jesus as the ‘gate of the sheepfold’, that is, Jesus is the one through whom we truly enter into the fold of God. The reading implies that those who get into the sheepfold some other way bring only disaster and destruction. Those who enter the fold through Christ, the Good Shepherd, will be safe, will be led to good pasture and have life in all its fullness.

Jesus acts towards us like a good shepherd: feeding, nurturing, defending and even laying down his life for us. Our Good Shepherd is deeply concerned about us, the flock and there is a deep sense of warmth and intimacy in the realisation that Jesus knows each one of us by name. Like a good shepherd Jesus is the source of life, nourishment, and safety for the sheep.
Any reflection about Jesus as the Good Shepherd also serves as a reminder that shepherding each other in Jesus’ name is part of the vocation of every disciple.

We are very used to thinking about Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but we also need to think about being/ becoming good shepherds to each other.

One of the very encouraging things about the pandemic was the number of people who became good shepherds to others, providing safety and security to vulnerable people, supporting health workers, providing meals and companionship. Yes, there were the ‘thieves and brigands’ too who preyed on others by hiking prices, selling goods which were never delivered and various other online scams.

But, like Jesus, we are called to bring life in all its fullness to one another.

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Venerdì, 21 Aprile 2023 12:44

Celebrating At Home - Third Sunday of Easter

Strangers share a journey, hearts begin to burn
and they recognized him
(Lk 24:13-35)

Luke’s wonderful story of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus is another story of transformation through personal encounter with the risen Jesus.

It is a heart-warming story and we can easily identify with the two disciples feeling crushed by the weight of their shattered dreams. They don’t believe the story of the women that Jesus is alive.

They don’t recognise the stranger when he walks beside them. Perhaps that’s because they are so involved in their own hurt and disappointment, and doesn’t that sometimes happen to us, too?

What does Jesus do? First, he invites them to share with him their story, he lets them talk it out. Then he draws them into the bigger story of his life, death and resurrection by unfolding the scriptures for them. In other words, he gives them a sense of perspective. He puts their story in touch with the bigger story of God’s purpose.

Their hope is being rebuilt and their hearts are beginning ‘to burn’ as Jesus talks. They are beginning to ‘catch fire’ again. When they arrive at Emmaus, Jesus makes as if to go on, but the disciples beg him to stay.

At table Jesus takes the bread, says the traditional Jewish blessing (like Grace Before Meals) and breaks the loaf and the eyes of these faithful, yet blind, disciples are opened to recognise him.

The disciples can scarcely contain themselves and set out immediately to return to Jerusalem, eager to share their story. To travel at night in the ancient world was to risk robbery and death, but, they just can’t wait.

From being two sad, depressed, down-hearted, grieving men the disciples have been transformed into impatient, enthusiastic heralds of good news through their encounter with Jesus.

It is the same Jesus whom we encounter in our hearts and in the Eucharist.

Maybe we could spend a little time sharing with Jesus our story and listening more deeply to his.

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Venerdì, 14 Aprile 2023 12:53

Memorial of Bl. Baptist Spagnoli

17 April Memorial

Born in Mantua on 17th April 1447, Bl. Baptist's father was of Spanish origin and hence his surname. He entered the Carmelites in Ferrara and professed his religious vows in 1464. He was awarded a doctorate in theology in Bologna in 1475 and subsequently held a number of different positions in a succession of convents. Six times elected Vicar General for the Reformed Congregation (the Mantuan Reform), at the end of his life he was elected Prior General for the whole Order (1513-16).

Prayer:

Lord God,
you made Our Lady's faithful servant,
Bl. Baptist Spagnoli,
a preacher of your Gospel by word and example.
Through his prayers may we ponder your word in Mary's company,
and praise you with her by the way we live.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.