This year, on December 29, is the 450th anniversary of the birth of Ven. John of St Samson. He was christened the following day in Sens. He had a very difficult childhood. He was blinded by an incompetent physician after contracting chicken pox and was orphaned at a young age.He was introduced to the Parisian Carmelites in Place Maubert in 1603 and joined the Order at Dol-de-Bretagne three years later. When he was transferred to Rennes in 1612, he became the spiritual soul of the Touraine reform.His deep mystical life made him a seasoned teacher of the spiritual life. His teachings, dictated to novices and disciples, have come down to us in over 4000 manuscript folios.A lover of solitude made fruitful by his encounters with God,
Anatomy of a Soul: St Teresa and the Interior Castle
View this presentation here: https://youtu.be/c5CXUBM0GB4
2024 Roland Murphy O.Carm Lecture
Icon Writing Workshop | February 8-11, 2024
Celebrating St Thérèse of Lisieux 1873 -2023
THE CENTER FOR CARMELITE STUDIES continues to celebrate the150th anniversary of St Thérèse of Lisieux's birth and the 100th anniversary of her beatification. October 19th, 2022 was the 25th anniversary of her being proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. Below, you will find recordings of several events the Center has held in honor of these celebrations. To receive detailed information and notifications about these events and more, please sign up for our Center Newsletter at https://carmelitestudies.catholic.edu/
4th Annual Carmelite Lecture | November 14, 2023
St Thérèse and Her Musical Themes
Apostolic Exhortation on St Thérèse | October 15, 2023
Supper with the Martin Family
Presented by MAUREEN O'RIORDAN, Curator of the website "St Thérèse of Lisieux: A Gateway" as well as websites for Thérèse's parents. Maureen brings a depth of knowledge and insight into the conversations and a deep love of St Thérèse and the Martin family. Watch the presentation HERE
Ecumenical Dialogue on St Thérèse of Lisieux
An Ecumenical Dialogue with St Thérèse of Lisieux with Cardinal Arborelius, OCD, Bishop of Stockholm, and Lutheran Bishop Karin Johannesson, Bishop of Uppsala. Both have written and spoken widely on the saints and spirituality of Carmel. Watch the presentation HERE
Certificate in Carmelite Studies Program
Here is the LINK to register for the Certificate in Carmelite Studies.
https://trs.catholic.edu/academics/certificate/certificate-carmelite/index.html
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2023 Celebrating St Thérèse of Lisieux
March 27 Video Recording Thérèse: The Creative Power of God's Gaze Upon
Roland Murphy (O.Carm) Lecture
2023 Lenten Reflection Series
NEW Carmelite Studies Series |1st Edition
Use this link to purchase the book with "CT10" discount code.
Third Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies
YouTube links to the Third Annual Lecture and Symposium
Third Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies & Symposium Third Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies
Ceritificate in Carmelite Studies Approved
The Center for Carmelite Studies at the Catholic University of America currently offers a variety of courses and programs to make the resources of the rich Carmelite heritage more available to the contemporary church and world. This new program provides two options for a more in-depth study of the Carmelite tradition. Non-degree graduate students may obtain the “Graduate Certificate in Carmelite Studies” by successfully completing four courses (12 credits) authorized for the program. Graduate degree students may obtain this additional academic qualification as a “subplan” of their degree program, by successfully completing four courses (12 credits) approved for the subplan. Read more...carmelitestudies.catholic.edu/programs
Novena to St Therese of the Child Jesus
Please join us in praying this Novena (September 22 to October 1) and listening to reflections by Fr. Christopher LaRocca, OCD, including a final reflection on the Feast Day of St. Thérèse, October 1, 2022.
Novena to St Therese - Follow here
Novene Prayer:
St Thérèse, flower of fervor and love, please interced for me. Fill my heart with your pure love of God. As your Feast Day approaches, make me more aware of the goodness of God and how welll He tends His garden.Instill in me your little way of doing ordinary things with extre-ordinary love. Give me the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm.Teach me your delight in God’s ways so that divine charity may blossom in my heart. Little Flower of Jesus, bring my petitions before God our loving Father. (mention these here) With confidence and trust, I come before you Jesus as God’s child. As we celebrate the Feast Day of your homecoming in heaven, continue to shower roses and graces upon me. Amen.
Feast of St Albert of Jerusalem | Rule Giver | September 17
Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, wrote the Rule around 1207. He wrote his formula vitae for the hermits living on Mount Carmel. This document was addressed to someone named “B” which later traditions named “Brocard.” Albert becomes referred to in the Carmelite Order as “the Rulegiver” for his development of a rather short document (about 1400 words) outlining the life of the hermits on Mount Carmel. Albert’s formula vitae will eventually become the Rule of the Order.
[Chapter 1] - Rule
Albert, called by God’s favor to be Patriarch of the Church of Jerusalem, bids health in the Lord and the blessing of the Holy Spirit to his beloved sons in Christ, B. and the other hermits under obedience to him, who live near the spring on Mount Carmel.
Read the Rule here: Rule of St Albert of Jerusalem - The Carmelite Rule
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross | 80th Anniversary
Edith Stein was born at Breslau on 12th October 1891 to German Jewish parents, and after her secondary education, she enrolled in the department of philosophy in the city university. In 1913, she transferred to the University of Gottingen to study under Edmund Husserl. Until the age of thirteen years, she was in effect an atheist. She had her first serious encounter with Christianity listening to Max Scheler. In 1916, she continued and completed her studies at Fribourg where she wrote her doctorate directed by Husserl. She remained working in the university until 1921.
During those years, she read the autobiography of Teresa of Avila and became aware of being called to become a Catholic; she was baptized on 1st January 1922. Read more...
Bld Isidore Bakanja | August 12
Extract of Homily of St. John Paul II at the Beatification of Isidore Bakanja
St Peter's Square - Vatican | April 24, 1994
"You were a man of heroic faith, Isidore Bakanja, a young layman from Zaire. As a baptized man, called to spread the Good News, you knew how to share your faith and bore witness to Christ with such conviction that, to your companions, you appeared as one of those valiant lay faithful who are catechists. Yes, Blessed Isidore, fully faithful to the promises of your baptism, you were truly a catechist, you worked generously for "the Church in Africa and its evangelizing mission."
80th Anniversary of Edith Stein's Death
ROME – On Tuesday, the 80th anniversary of Edith Stein’s death, a cardinal close to Pope Francis celebrated Mass in a Carmelite convent in Auschwitz, saying that he shares with the saint his own Jewish origins, his Catholic faith and his vocation to religious life.
Canadian Jesuit Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development, visited the grounds of the former concentration camp Tuesday. He then said Mass in a nearby Carmelite convent in Oswiecim, a Polish town that was under Nazi German occupation during World War II, to mark the anniversary of Stein’s “birth to heaven.”
Stein, a German Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism, joined the Carmelite sisters, took the name Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and was put to death in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on Aug. 9, 1942.
Pope John Paul II declared her a martyr in 1987 and a saint in 1998.
Feast of St Albert of Trapani | August 7
Born in Trapani (Sicily) in the 13th century. He distinguished himself for his dediction to mendicant preaching and the notoriety of his miracles. In the years 1280 and 1289 he was in Trapani and shortly afterwards in Messina. In the year 1296 he was prior provincial of the Carmelite Province of Sicily. He was celebrated for his passionate love for purity and prayer. He died in Messina most likely in 1307.
He was the first saint who received devotion in the Carmelite Order, and was even considered it patron and protector (or “father”), a title he shared with another saint of his time, Angelo of Sicily. In the 16th century, it was decided that every Carmelite church would dedicate and altar to him. Later Carmelite saints Teresa of Jesus and Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi were devoted to him.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel | July 16, 2022
A Message from the Carmelite Prior General on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Carmel,
I would like to wish all Carmelites a very joyful and fruitful celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2022. Our spirits are lighter because of the feeling that we will be able to celebrate our Lady's feast this year fully without the threat of Covid.
There is also the joy that we share because of the canonisation of Saint Titus Brandsma that we celebrated two short months ago, when Carmelites from around the world gathered in Rome in great numbers, while many more followed all that was happening through social media.
Full text HERE View the full video HERE
Encounter: Carmelite Spirituality
Fr Steven Payne, O.C.D. was recently interviewed by Catholic Faith Network on Carmelite Spirituality focusing on Prayer and Contemplation in the Carmelite Tradition. View the video clip here:
Encounter: Carmelite Spirituality
The Catholic Faith Network (CFN) is at the service of the Word, the Church, the Bishops and the Encounter of Faith and Culture. Our mission is to proclaim the teachings of our Lord to the Catholic Community and beyond using media in all forms.
Behold Your Mother Novena | July 7-15, 2022
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Novena
Please join us in praying this Novena (July 7 through July 15) and listening to reflections by Fr. Christopher LaRocca, OCD, including a final reflection on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, July 16, 2022.
From the Prior General | The Cross for Me is Joy
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Carmelite Family: His Holiness, Pope Francis, presiding at the ordinary consistory of cardinals, gave his approval to the canonisation of Blessed Titus Brandsma, O. Carm., a cause of enormous joy to the whole Carmelite Family. In the same act he announced the date on which Blessed Titus would be inscribed among the saints as the 15th of May, 2022. With enormous satisfaction, I take this opportunity to address the Carmelite Family around the world.
The witness of Fr. Titus is one that inspires and enlightens, not only members of the Carmelite Order, but the society in which we live. We find in him in these times so troubled by the threat and existence of war, a prophet of hope and a champion of peace....
Canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma | May 15, 2022 | Rome
Transmission of the Canonization of Carmelite Titus Brandsma from St. Peter's Square, Sunday, May 15
Watch the Mass of Canonization for Titus Brandsma here. https://youtu.be/GEbi-g7bBzE
Priestly Ordination of Br Michael Joyce, O.Carm | May 14, 2022
Into the Land of Carmel Retreat July 10-15, 2022
For more information: carmelitespiritualcenter.org/workshops-spiritual-retreats/
Links to Brandsma Lecture Series
3rd Brandsma Lecture on April 21, 2022 given by Leopold Glueckert, O.Carm. Ph.D.
2nd Brandsma Lecture on March 24, 2022 given by Dr Dianne Traflet, J.C.D., S.T.D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZg1j0nAb4
1st Brandsma Lecture on February 17, 2022 given by Fr Michael Driscoll, O.Carm. recipient of the miracle aprroved for the canonization and Fr Mario Esposito, O.Carm. Vice Postulator of the Cause.
Brandsma Lecture #3
Our apologies to anyone who was not able to connect to the lecture via zoom.
Easter Blessings!
May the the peace and joy of the Risen Christ be with you.
Share the good news, sing joyfully: His death is victory!. Lord Jesus, Victor King, show us mercy. (Easter sequence)
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Christ is risen.
He is truly risen!
Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia!
Miracle Connects Two Carmelites
Read this article on the realtionship between Carmelite martyr, Blessed Titus Brandsma and Fr Michael Driscoll whose miraculous cure is attributed to Blessed Titus Brandsma. His canonization is on May 15, 2002 in St Peter's, Rome.
Two priests connected by a miracle
The Carmelite Mystics - Lenten Series
Enjoy a Lenten series of exciting and spiritually enriching talks on the great mystics of the Carmelite Order.
March 8: St. Teresa of Avila
March 22: St. John of the Cross
March 29: Bro Lawrence of the Resurrection
April 5: St. Therese of Lisieux
Given by Fr Steven Payne, O.C.D. Chair of Carmelite Studies
Fr. Steven Payne, OCD, currently holds the endowed Chair of Carmelite Studies and is an ordinary professor of theology at the Catholic University of America.
2nd Brandsma Lecture
400th Anniversary of the Canonization of St Teresa of Avila
Letter to the Order on the Occasion of the Fourth Centenary of the Canonization of St. Teresa of Jesus - Prior General Míceál O'Neil, O.Carm.
Dear brothers and sisters, I believe we are living through a moment of great grace in our Order. The news that Titus Brandsma will be canonized very soon has moved hearts and minds in every Carmelite community. The next few weeks will be filled with the life and thoughts of this very saintly man. As I write this letter, I am conscious of a part of the life and thinking of Titus Brandsma that enriches the Carmelite Family in a very notable way, namely, his great interest in the life, experience, and writings of St. Teresa of Jesus...
Continue reading HERE
Canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma - May 15, 2022
Pope Francis announced the canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma, O. Carm., on Sunday, May 15, 2022
Today, Friday 4th March 2022, at 10:30am, in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis convened the Ordinary Public Consistory. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only the Postulator General of the Order was able to take part in the Consistory.
After the recitation of Terce, the Holy Father announced the canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma, O. Carm. The canonization will take place on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in St Peter’s Square.
After the recitation of Terce, the Holy Father announced the canonization of Blessed Titus Brandsma, O. Carm. The canonization will take place on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in St Peter’s Square.
450th Anniversary of Br John of St Samson
Christmas Greetings! 2021
A Christmas reflection
From Blessed Titus Brandsma: December 1922
... I see with more clarity that it is always Christmas for me, that, just like that night, Mary the Mother of the Lord, accompanied by St Joseph, still goes around from house to house, that is, from heart to heart, to find a place where Jesus can be reborn.
Blessed Titus Brandsma on the Road to Sainthood
BLESSED TITUS BRANDSMA
Pope Francis authorizes the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a series of Decrees including the recognition of a miracle attributed to Blessed Tito Brandsma.
During an audience given to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate the decrees regarding the miracle attibuted to the intercession of Blessed Titus Brandsm (born Anno Sjoerd), priest and professed member of the Order of Carmelites. He was born on February 23, 1881 in Bolsward (The Netherlands) and was killed in hatred of the faith on July 26, 1942 in Dachau, Germany.
Blessed Titus Brandsma gave a lecture series on "Mysticism" at CatholicU in 1935.
November 14 - Feast of All Carmelite Saints
We pray that the example of these saints will continue to inspire holiness in a new generation of our brothers and sisters.
Like them, we can live in allegiance to Jesus Christ and serve Him with a pure heart and a good conscience.
Like them, we can know how to devote ourselves day and night to the contemplation of the Word and to generous service for the humanity.
Finally, we ask that the examples of Carmelite saints may impact us immensely and concretely and make us have a deeper love for Christ, for the Church and for the whole world.
All Carmelite Saints. Pray for us.
Carmelite Conversations: Paths to Spiritual Maturity
October 14, 2021 | Annual Carmelite Studies Lecture | St Joseph in the Carmelite Tradition
Click here for the video recording of the lecture:
The Annual Carmelite Studies Lecture is scheduled for October 14th on the eve of the Feast of St Teresa of Jesus (Avila). The topic is St Joseph: Father, Intercessor in Every Need and Teacher of Prayer" - St Teresa of Avila. The presenter is Fr Joseph Chorpenning, OSFS who has written extensively on St Teresa’s devotion to St Joseph as being a hallmark of her Carmelite spiritual patrimony. Chorpenning will include sacred art from both Europe and the Americas in his presentation
October 1, 2021 | Daily Reflections and Novena to St Thérèse of Lisieux
Join the Carmelites as we prepare for the Feast of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face with daily reflections and a Novena of prayer starting on September 22.For the daily Reflection use this link: https://www.littleflower.org/category/st-therese-daily-devotional/
Our Lady of Mount Carmel | July 16
As Queen, whenever we seek the right path, she guides us.As Mother, whatever we encounter, she watches over us.
As Sister, wherever life leads, she walks with us.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.
Carmelite Symposium - Summer 2021 Carmel Witness Today: Prophetic, Prayerful, Present
The Center for Carmelite Studies at the Catholic University of America is co-sponsoring with the Carmelite Institute of North America the following summer symposium. For all the details and full schedule, click this link:
Into the Land of Carmel Retreat: July 11-16, 2021
Into the Land of Carmel Retreat is a five day retreat in the Carmelite Tradition in Darien, Illinois. For all the details click here carmelitespiritualcenter
April 6, 2021: Annual Roland Murphy (O.Carm) Lecture
Topic: “Jesus and the End: The Problem of Contingency” Sponsored by the Center for Carmelite Studies and the Biblical Area of the School of Theology and Religious Studies.
Dale Allison is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament. He earned his MA and his PhD from Duke University.
March 19, 2021: St Joseph, Ordinary Holiness, and the Renewal of Society
In this Year of St Joseph, Patron and Principal Protector of the Carmelite Order, the Center for Carmelite Studies is co-sponsoring an event with the Institute of Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America called St Joseph, Ordinary Holiness, and the Renewal of Society. Fr Steven Payne, OCD, Chair for Carmelite Studies, will give the invocation. May St Joseph protect you and your families, now and always.
February 11, 2021: First Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies
Professor Keith Egan, Ph.D. T.O.Carm. attracted a wide and very appreciative audience to the First Annual Lecture in Carmelite Studies. In a very scholarly and profound way he approached the question: What Makes a Carmelite a Carmelite? An Evolving and Dynamic Charism. Dr Egan's lecture explored aspects of Carmel's original charism, and illustrated so comprehensively how this dynamic charism shaped Carmelite identity from their origins as hermits on Mount Carmel, and as it continued to evolve with their migration to Europe eventually embracing the mendicant movement .
The lecture can be viewed HERE
January 1st: Mary, Mother of God
In Carmelite depictions of Mary there is very rarely a crown? A well-known quotation from Saint Thérèse of Lisieux explains this: “Mary is more mother than queen.” For Carmelites, Mary is sister; she is mother; she is family. The Greek title of today’s feast - January 1st - is “theotokos”, which means “Mother of God or God-bearer.” It is also the beginning of another year - a New Year. May we, like Mary, make Christ more present in our world.
In this new Year of Grace, we pray: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
This image of the Mother of God and Child is the original image that Carmelites brought with them when they were forced to leave Mount Carmel in the 13th century.
December 14, 2020: Inaugural Lecture for the Endowed Chair of Carmelite Studies
On the Feast of St. John of the Cross, Rev. Prof. Steven Payne, O.C.D., gave the inaugural (virtual) lecture entitled The Dark Night of the Soul, Yesterday and Today: Revisiting John of the Cross’ Classic Text and Symbol. In his profound and insightful presentation, Fr Payne examined variations on the phrase "dark night of the soul" that appear often today in discussions of major personal and societal challenges. He also spoke about the expression's roots in John of the Cross' poem and treatise of the same name, and raised questions about how it is applied (and perhaps sometimes misapplied) in contemporary contexts.
You can view the lecture HERE
December 8, 2020: St Joseph, Patron of Carmel: Celebrating 150 years
A Letter from the Prior General of the Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.) and Superior General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.) to the Carmelite Family on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX, on the 8th of December 1870, 150 years ago.
Read the Letter Here
Managing Director of the Center for Carmelite Studies
On September 9, 2020, Br Daryl Moresco, O.Carm. was hired as the Managing Director of the Center for Carmelite Studies. Prior to this, Br Daryl served as Novice Director for the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary from 2017- 2020 and Director of Pre-Novitiate Formation from 2007-2017. In 2003, he graduated from the Washington Theological Union with a Certificate in Carmelite Studies and an M.A. in Pastoral Studies.
November 18, 2019: Talk on St. Teresa of Avila
On Monday, November 18, 2019, at 4 pm, Very Rev. Saverio Cannistrà, OCD, presented a talk on “Friendship and Love of God in Saint Teresa of Avila.” Fr. Saverio has served as a professor of Christology and theological anthropology in the Faculty of Theology of Central Italy, near Florence. Since 2009 he has served as Superior General of the Discalced Carmelite Order. In his talk, Fr. Saverio explored St. Teresa’s understanding of friendship as model for our relationship with God and an aid in the spiritual life, The speaker was introduced by Prof. Steven Payne, OCD, Chair of Carmelite Studies.
October 15, 2019: Inauguration and Installation
The Center for Carmelite Studies was officially inaugurated on October 15, 2019. A series of events to mark the occasion began with a lecture by Rev. Prof. Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., on “Blessed Titus Brandsma: Carmelite Scholar for Our Times.” Fr. Fernando has served as professor of Sacramental Theology at the Pontifical Faculty “Comillas” in Madrid, and as an invited professor at the Gregorianum in 1998, 2000, and 2002. He has recently completed two terms -twelve years - as Prior General of the Order of Carmelites.
After the talk, a Mass was celebrated in the Caldwell Hall chapel for the feast of the Carmelite saint and Doctor of the Church, Teresa of Avila. Very Rev. William J. Harry, O.Carm. (Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary) presided, assisted by Rev. Prof. Mark Morozowich (Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies), Rev. Prof. Fernando Millán, O.Carm., Rev. Steven Payne, OCD (incoming Chair of Carmelite Studies), and Rev. Quinn Conners, O.Carm. (local Carmelite superior and CUA lecturer) as concelebrants.
See the news article and watch the video.
