Nothing is impossible for God

In the Jewish tradition, wealth was seen as a blessing from God and the wealthy person as especially favoured by God. Along with the idea of divine blessing and favour came a divine obligation (often ignored) – the care of God’s poor.
As the conversation between the rich man and Jesus unfolds, we see that he a good and upright man. The commandments which Jesus spells out are those to do with one’s treatment of others.
These, the rich man says, he has always kept.

Jesus’ love and affection for the man recognises his very genuine efforts to live according to the commandments. This love ushers in the call to discipleship: ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ Jesus wants this man to be a follower of his. He is inviting him to move from a way of life centred on the Torah (Jewish law) to a way of life centred totally on Jesus.

When the man first approaches Jesus he asks what more he must do to inherit eternal life while still maintaining the present direction of his life. What Jesus is inviting him into is the total transformation of his life – to go in a new direction. Jesus is inviting him to an even more radical fulfilment of his obligations to neighbour by selling all he has, giving the proceeds to the poor, and then becoming a follower of Jesus.

Rather sadly, the rich man cannot take this step. He is trapped and controlled by his possessions and cannot let them go in order to enter into joyful and life-giving companionship with Jesus.

When Jesus talks about how hard it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God the disciples are astounded. They, too, think of wealth and possessions as a sign of God’s favour and blessing.

Jesus drives home his point by insisting that, ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ The disciples are even more astounded and conclude that if rich people can’t make it into the kingdom, then what hope do the rest of us have?

Jesus’ reply to the disciples tells us clearly that if we rely on human resources and means it is impossible to find salvation. But if we rely on God, then we can be saved - the good and gracious God who gives the Kingdom as pure, unmerited gift.

Sometimes, the very things we love, in which we find our security and in which we place our trust can turn out to be our undoing and stumbling blocks on our journey into the kingdom.

Jesus’ reply about God who can do the impossible is also a reassurance that God stands ready to journey with us, to help us find the way to move our hearts from reliance on ourselves and human resources to rely on God’s love and companionship.

•   pdf Celebrating At Home - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time [PDF](1.20 MB)
•    default Celebrating At Home - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time [ePub](130 KB)
•   pdf Celebrando En Familia - 28 Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario(358 KB)
•   pdf Celebrando In Casa - 28 Domenica del Tempo Ordinario(385 KB)

...

Celebrating at Home is a Liturgy of the Word centred around the Gospel reading for each Sunday. It includes a reflection on the Gospel and prayers.

It can be used personally or with your family. Parts for all to pray are given in bold print and all the other parts can be shared among those present.

We hope that Celebrating at Home will be a source of nourishment and strength for all who use it.

In the room you decide to use for this prayer you could have a lighted candle, a crucifix and the Bible. These symbols help keep us mindful of the sacredness of our time of prayer and can help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.

From September 20-30, 2021, the International Center of Saint Albert (CISA), in Rome, hosted an intensive course of Carmelite history and spirituality. The course was organized by Giovanni Grosso and Sandro Vella with about 30 Carmelites participating, including the members of CISA, the students from the Italian Province, and eight Carmelite sisters.

Five presentations of approximately one hour each were given each day in Italian, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. Various Carmelite themes were covered by various lecturers to unearth the first 300 years of the history of the Order.

The resources for research which the Order has today were also presented. Giovanni Grosso began the course by introducing to the Carmelite studies and the materials available in the two libraries of CISA. Mario Alfarano contributed with a presentation on Carmelite studies through the perspective of the archive of the Order.

Alfarano also presented on the origin, development and rubrica prima of the Constitutions and Nicholas the Gaul’s Flaming Arrow (Ignea sagitta). Sandro Vella elaborated on the Rule, Mary of Carmel in the first centuries (of the history of the Order), Elijah in the Scriptures, and the Institution of the First Monks. Two doctoral researchers, Carlito da Silva and Kurt Mizza, each contributed one session, the former on Mary in the Scriptures, and the latter on major figures of Carmel in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Key speaker, Giovanni Grosso impressed with several other topics, including the origins of the Rule of Saint Albert in the pilgrimage movement of the times, the major events of Carmel in the 13th century before the definitive approval of the Order, images of the Blessed Mary of Mt. Carmel, the liturgical rite proper to the Order, the catalogue of the Carmelite Saints (Catalogus sanctorum), the forefathers of the Order: St. Albert and St. Angelo through texts and iconography, and the evolution of the Order in the 14th century. Giovanni combined his lessons with “field trips”: concretizing the role of the Blessed Virgin with an afternoon visit to the Basilica of Mary the Major, and the Carmelite saints at the Carmelite church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, located on the street leading into the St. Peter’s square.

The entire group also enjoyed a day trip to Sutri, an ancient Roman town one hour north from Rome, where they were hosted by a community of the cloistered Carmelite nuns.

In general, the course refreshed and surprised our participants with a richly lived heritage of Carmel in the first 300 hundred years of its history. The course reminds us that we all have received certain formation of the history and spirituality of the Order but it was either not enough or mostly forgotten. It is interesting that, while many of us come to know the Order by the tradition of the brown Scapular and major Saints such as John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus, none of these have been touched yet during the two-week course. That says, we have a super-rich tradition, but we know so little about it.

Finally, main coordinator Giovanni Grosso ended the course with the Catalogus sanctorum, in which he listed six categories of Carmelite Saints: 1) Prophets (Elijah & Elisha), 2) Bishops (Pietro di Tommaso & Andrea Corsini), 3) Founders (Bertoldo, Brocardo, Cirillo, Simone), 4) Hermits (Ilarione, Simone), 5) Preachers (Angelo & Albert), and 6) Penitents & Pilgrims (Teodorico, Avertano, Francesco da Siena).

These six categories of saints represent for the values of Carmel which continue to be relevant for our times. The examples given by the lives of these Carmelite saints serve as guides for our choices and encouragement in our journey.

One participant in the courses commented, “While the courses were both very interesting and very intense, because of the number of courses each day. However, they presented us with the opportunity to reflect on our charism and our identity. The possibility to see the changes in the life of the Order after the members fled the Holy Land and came to Europe in the context of the Church at the time was very interesting.”

On October 14, the Center for Carmelite Studies at the Catholic University of America will host its Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies celebrating the Year of St. Joseph, the principal patron of the Carmelite Order. This year’s event will take place at 3:30 PM-4:30 PM (Eastern USA Time - GMT -04:00). The program will be in English.

The presenter will be Prof. Joseph Chorpenning, OSFS, from St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. He will speak on St. Joseph: Father, Intercessor in Every Need and Teacher of Prayer.

Fr. Joseph has written extensively on St. Teresa’s devotion to St. Joseph as being the hallmark of her Carmelite spiritual patrimony. He will include sacred art from both Europe and the Americas in his presentation. Fr. Chorpenning is executive director of Saint Joseph’s University Press and serves as president of the International Commission for Salesian Studies (ICSS). He has authored many publications.

For further information or to register for the course, click here

On September 25, the second conference of scholars on St. Angelo, was held. The conference was sponsored by the General Archives and the General Postulation of the Order. This is the 800th anniversary of the death of the saint. The conference was financed by the Banca Sant'Angelo who hosted the first conference in November 2019 at their offices. This conference was held at the school Liceo Clásico Vincenzo Linares with a representation of teachers and students attending.

After the greetings of the director of the school and the prior provincial of the Italian province the morning session, moderated by the postulator general, Giovanna Brizi, heard presentations from Giovanni Grosso, president of the Institutum Carmelitanum on the presence of the Carmelites in Sicily in the 13th and 14th centuries; Mario Alfarano, the general archivist, on the hagiographical interpretation of The Life of Enoc (Vita di Enoc); Marco Papasidero, of the University of Torino, on the miracles of St. Angelo connected to pestilence and storms; and Marco Grassi, of the University of Messina, on the iconography of St. Angelo in Santa Maria in Traspontina in Rome.

The afternoon session, moderated by Marco Papasidero, featured contributions from scholars who responded to the "call for papers" issued in July 2019. They included Michele Lodone, from the University of Venice, on the prophecies in the life of Saint Angelo; Tommaso Maria Rossi, archivist of the Diocesan Archives of Lucca, on the parallelism between Saint Angelo and Saint Avertan; Mateusz Zimny, from the University of Krakow, on the iconography of Albert present in Poland; and Ruggiero Doronzo, from the University of Bari, on the iconography preserved in the General Archives of the Order.

The research presented at the two conferences will be published by Edizioni Carmelitane and made available to those who wish to know new interpretations and further insights into the figure of this early Carmelite saint. In the meantime, a final conference scheduled on the results of the canonical recognition of the relics and the restoration of the urn of the saint, scheduled for next year, has been announced although the exact date is pending.

On September 21, while the Elective Chapter of the monastery of S.Anna in Carpineto Romano was celebrated, the following were confirmed as the new leadership in service to the daughter community of Biella:

Responsable | Leader | Responsabile:
Sr Maria Cristiana del Crocifisso, De Gaspari, O. Carm.

Ecónoma | Treasurer | Economa:
Sr Rita Maria dello Spirito Santo e di S.Elia profeta, Otorho, O. Carm.

Maestra | Teacher | Maestra
Sr Maria Aurora della Risurrezione, Pierconti, O. Carm.

Sacristana | Sacristan | Sagrestana:
Sr Rita Maria dello Spirito Santo e di S.Elia profeta, Otorho, O. Carm.

Sor Natividad de Maria Martinez Guerrero (SEV)
26-08-21
Ortus: 14-08-34
P. Temp.: 01-01-64
P. Soll.:  01-01-67

P. Lorenzo Sansevero (Neap)
27-08-21
Ortus: 21-06-27
P. Temp.: 08-08-45
P. Soll.: 08-08-48
Ord.: 13-07-53

Br. Albertus Bartolomeus Priyahutama (Indo)
07-09-21
Ortus: 06-08-42
P. Temp.: 07-08-60
P. Soll.: 07-08-63

Fr. Antoon Korterik (Neer)
08-09-21
Ortus: 05-03-40
P. Temp.: 25-08-60
P. Soll.: 25-08-63
Ord.: 07-07-66

P. Alberto Salas López (Baet)
10-09-21
Ortus: 01-03-43
P. Temp.: 05-08-74
P. Soll.: 24-07-77
Ord.: 15-08-78

P. Janvier Ngona Bakambu (Ital-Con)
29-09-21
Ortus: 12-07-62
P. Temp.: 22-09-85
P. Soll.: 29-03-92
Ord.: 09-09-96

On October 1st, we celebrate the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

“Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.”

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

Read St. Therese's bio here

Read the words of Pope Benedict XVI on St. Teresa during the General Audience of April 6, 2011 here

Read Pope John Paul II 's declaration of St. Therese as Doctor of the Church, the Apostolic Letter Divini Amoris Scientia here

Read A Prayer to Saint Thérèse during COVID-19 here: here

A missing papal bull dated 1304 from Pope Benedict XI to the Carmine church in Messina, Sicily (now called the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) was found for sale for 100 euro in the catalogue of an auction house. The Carabinieri were notified and the special division dealing in stolen or missing patrimony of the country went into action.

On Sunday, September 26, 2021, the officials of the Carabinieri restored the document to representatives of the Order. The ceremony took place at the Carmelite Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Trapani, Sicily.

Present to receive the document was Fr. Mario Alfarano, O. Carm., General Archivist of the Order, and Fr. Roberto Toni, O. Carm., prior provincial of the Italian Province. Also in attendance were the Carmelites serving at the sanctuary and members of the Lay Carmelites from the area. Representing the Carabinieri were top officials from the Palermo section of the Nucleo per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale (Division for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage), under the command of Major Gianluigi Marmora.

The document is the result of a request to transfer the Carmelites from their location at the time next to the Cathedral of Messina to the Church of San Cataldo. According to Fr. Alfarano, the canons complained that noise from the Carmelites priory interrupted the religious services of the canons of the cathedral. This story of the transfer is confirmed in a book by Placido Samperi (1590-1654) entitled "Iconologia della gloriosa Vergine Madre di Dio Maria protettrice di Messina", confirming the importance of the document.

At the request of the Carabinieri and the Soprintendenza of Sicily, the General Archives presented documentation which proved the Order’s ownership of the document. That study will be published in the Analecta Ordinis Carmelitarum.

It is believed that the document was lost during the 1908 earthquake which destroyed the church and priory of the Carmelites. It would have been kept in the archive of the house. Consequently, the owner of the auction house was not charged.

There is some damage to the document so it will be sent for restoration. Copies of the text exist in other places so words that have been damages due to deterioration of the parchment can be restored as well.

Edizioni Carmelitane announces that the first of a multi volume series of the writings of Titus Brandsma is now available. The book has received very positive reviews with great anticipation for the publication of the remaining volumes. What sets this series apart is that it captures Brandsma in his own words and not through the filter of later studies.

Entitled Titus Brandsma: Mysticism in Action, this first volume of 287 pages, shows Titus as “a philosopher, priest, leader of Catholic schools and Catholic journalism, as a brother to Carmelites, member of his family, native Frisian, a free and authentic thinker, a champion of peace, activist against poverty, pro animal welfare, a prisoner, and a faithful martyr.” The book brings Brandsma alive by reprinting letters from Brandsma to a variety of friends and family as well as others, as well as some of his speeches and entries he authored in encyclopedias.

Among the writings included is Brandsma’s famous address, The Idea of God (Godsbegrip) to the community of the Catholic University of Nijmegan when he became rector magnificus in 1932. Brandsma’s very wide range of interests in many areas of life are represented here. He developed an explicitly Christian perspective on whatever topic he studied. Of course, we see the beginnings of his commitment to truth. It was this commitment that brought him into direct confrontation with the Nazi authorities and ultimately led to his murder for the faith.

Whether you consider yourself an expert on Brandsma or this is your first encounter with this fascinating Carmelite, this book will hold your interest.

To access the many fine publications at Edizioni Carmelitane, click here.

To place your order please contact:

Libreria Nardecchia
TEL.: (+39) 06-5373901
FAX: (+39) 06-5373902
E-mail: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Edizioni Carmelitane
TEL.: +39-0646201807
FAX: +39-0646201808
C.C.P.: 14069009
BIC/SWIFT: BPPIITRRXXX
IBAN: IT67 Z076 0103 2000 0001 4069 009
E-mail: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

Available in other Carmelite Bookshops Worldwide

It was announced in Washington, DC., that Carmel Catholic High School, located in Mundelein, Illinois and sponsored by the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province, has again been singled out for excellence in education by the US Department of Education. This is the 5th time Carmel has received this recognition, an achievement matched by only six other schools in the nation. This year 325 schools of which 23 are private schools (religious or privately administered schools) were recognized.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

The coveted award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Every year the U. S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.

Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed more than 10,000 awards to over 9,000 schools. Carmel-Mundelein has previously received the designation in 1985, 1996, 2002, 2007 and now in 2021.

US Secretary of Education Cadona said, “This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish.” He continued, “Blue Ribbon Schools have so much to offer and can serve as a model for other schools and communities so that we can truly build back better.”

In order to prepare for the evaluation required for the award, an internal school committee was formed to collect research and assist in the writing. A collective group assisted in reviewing the draft and incorporating other pertinent information. The school’s principal, Jason Huther, was the primary writer of the application. The evaluation process also includes an on-site visit by administrators from other schools.

Dr. Brad Bonham, president of Carmel, said in an interview with CITOC, "Our Carmelite charism serves as the foundation of our school mission. As the recipient of a 5th Blue Ribbon, we are reminded that we are called to continue our mission to serve our students, alumni, and community. We are grateful and humbled to receive this award, and this recognition renews our commitment to serve the Lord through education."

The school will be celebration this national award in various ways during the year including a recognition ceremony on October 7 after the Board of Directors meeting. There will also be a student celebration during lunches and some activities after school. The school placed blue balloons (color of the award materials) and decorations throughout the school, including outdoor/indoor signage to celebrate the event.

Realizing such recognition is the fruit of the contributions of many, Dr. Bonham concluded, “We are grateful for our faculty, staff, and administration who made this possible.”

The Department will formally recognize the schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, DC on November 4th and 5th, 2021. Members of the school community will participate. Traditionally this ceremony takes place at the White House in the presence of the President and Vice-President of the United States taking part.

Carmel-Mundelein is a coeducational high school co-sponsored by both the Carmelites and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Dubuque, Iowa. It was founded in 1962 as a “co-institutional high school” meaning that two schools operated within one building, sharing a number of facilities and classes. In August 1988, the two schools merged and Carmel High School was founded. A Board of Corporators (members of the two sponsoring religious orders) and a Board of Directors (members of the community with representation from the two sponsoring religious orders) were established and the President/Principal model of administration established.