Order of Carmelites - British Province

Celebrating At Home - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Great Commandment (Mark 12:28-34)

The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy and the Gospel today are linked by the words of the Shema – the creed which observant Jews pray every morning and evening. These words come from the Book of Deuteronomy: Listen, Israel: The Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. The title, Shema, comes from the Hebrew word for ‘listen’, the very first word of the prayer.
In a way, Shema is a call to conversion: to listen deeply with the heart and to respond to God’s grace and mercy with love, faithfulness and obedience.
When a scribe asks Jesus, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”, Jesus replies by quoting the Shema and then adds a quotation from the Book of Leviticus (19:18), “You must love your neighbour as yourself”.
According to Jesus, there is no commandment greater than these.
The scribe is impressed by Jesus’ reply. His words to Jesus show he has grasped what Jesus means. In repeating what Jesus has just said in his own words, the scribe also adds, “this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice”. Now it is Jesus who is impressed with the scribe’s depth of understanding: that love is the very heart of obedience to God and more important even than ritual worship. The scribe’s correct understanding of the Old Testament Law means he is very close to the Kingdom of God.
It also means that true faith, as Jesus teaches it, is about being in loving relationship with God and other human beings. Religious rituals are meant to be ways of reflecting on, savouring, remembering, celebrating and expressing that love. Sometimes they just end up as ‘empty’ rituals, when love has been replaced by fear, when we are trying to bargain with God, or when we are just ‘going through the motions’.
The Kingdom of God is not some far off place, but the moments when God’s life breaks into the human story. Those moments bring love, wisdom, grace, compassion, generosity, forgiveness and peace.
Those practiced in the things of God recognise God’s presence most of all in loving relationships. If our rituals grow out of and express our sincere love for God and neighbour then they have value. We are always at risk of putting ritual above the practise of love, of thinking that we are at rights with God just by attending a liturgy, by ‘paying God off’, in a sense.
The words of Jesus remind us of the importance of the other part of our religious lives – the liturgy of everyday life in which we make present and visible the love, mercy and compassion of God.

Read more at ocarm.org

English: https://t.ly/qc7Xf
Italian: https://t.ly/0F-qO
Spanish: https://t.ly/w71CO
Portuguese: https://t.ly/GeHoA

To keep up with the latest news about the Carmelite Order, you can subscribe to CITOC's digital newsletter at the following link: https://ocarm.info/subscribe/citoc.html

To subscribe to the newsletter and receive Lectio Divina each month, you can visit the webpage: https://ocarm.org/it/subscribe

To see the publications and the latest releases of Edizioni Carmelitane, the publishing house of the Order, you can visit the website: https://edizionicarmelitane.org/

Fifty-seven years ago yesterday, Fr. Elias - founder of the National Shrine of Saint Jude - died, a few weeks after his seventieth birthday. Read his last letter to the friends of Saint Jude: https://www.stjudeshrine.org.uk/news/57-years-fr-elias-lynch-ocarm

The Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) - November 2

In November the church prays for all those who have died. We pray in faith and hope. As St Paul says, what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by his death we have been made righteous in the eyes of God (Romans 5:8-10). God does not wait for us to be perfect before reaching out to us in love.

We join with the whole Church in praying that God welcome our departed sisters and brothers fully into the Divine embrace.

Prayer

Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord,
and, as our faith in your Son, raised from the dead, is deepened,
so may our hope of resurrection for your departed servants
also find new strength. Through Christ, our Lord.
Amen

Young Adults 20s & 30s. A great opportunity and an invitation to join us in 2025 on the Camino de Santiago. For more details and to register Interest https://carmelite.org/camino-2025/

The British Carmelites are leading a group of young adults, aged 18 to 35, on a Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome from July 30th to August 3rd, 2025. This pilgrimage is organised by the Carmelite European Youth Commission as part of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations. For more information - https://carmelite.org/news/carmelite-european-young-adults-jubilee-pilgrimage-to-rome-2025/

It is easy to think ahead to the future, or to dwell on the past. Creating a new person which we present to the world, one we think the world will prefer. But God loves us first as we are, this is the starting point for our discernment. The call to live in the present moment, allowing God’s love to transform all aspects of our life.

If you would like to know more about the Carmelite friars’ way of life, please contact us. Our vocations team are happy to support your discernment. - https://carmelite.org/vocations/

Happy Feast of Saint Jude. We will be celebrating his Feast at the special Carmelite Shrine of Saint Jude in Faversham. Find out more about the Apostle of Hope, below...

Happy Feast of Saint Jude to you all! Jude is the Apostle of Hope. Let's pray with Saint Jude for more hope in the world. Find out more and celebrate with his special shrine:
https://www.stjudeshrine.org.uk/news/happy-feast-saint-jude-24

Applications are open for our course starting in January 2025. For more details please visit the website spiritualdirectionaylesford.co.uk

Celebrating At Home - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:46-52)

There are all kinds of blindness - physical, lack of insight or perception, an unwillingness to see a confronting reality, and so on. For many weeks now we have travelled with Jesus and the disciples as they head towards Jerusalem. Many times, the disciples have seemed almost wilfully blind to understanding the mission of Jesus. Time and again, their own egos seem to get in the way – arguments about which is the greatest, wanting to be people of high status, powerbrokers and princes and rulers in the kingdom. On this journey Jesus has been instructing the disciples about his mission and their call to be true followers of his. As we have seen, they have largely resisted both.
We are nearing the end of the journey. Today’s Gospel episode, the cure of blind Bartimaeus, is the last before Jesus enters the Holy City.
Bartimaeus may be blind, but he sees more clearly who Jesus is than the sighted disciples. In terms of faith, it is the disciples who are blind, and it is Bartimaeus who sees.
Even in his blindness Bartimaeus recognises who Jesus is. When Jesus calls him, his reaction is full of energy and enthusiasm. He throws off his cloak, jumps up and makes his way to Jesus, in contrast to the rather hesitant attitude of the disciples.
Jesus restores Bartimaeus’ sight with the words, ‘Go, your faith has saved you.’ But Bartimaeus does not go; he stays and follows Jesus.
Not only has Jesus restored Bartimaeus’ sight, he has also removed the taint of sinfulness which surrounded people with disabilities in those days.
This story is a parable about discipleship.
Bartimaeus is an image of the true disciple. He recognises his blindness and asks for healing. He comes to Jesus with great faith and enthusiasm and not much else. With sight restored he becomes a follower of Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem.
The presence of Jesus in our lives heals and restores us to our true calling as the People of God so that we can truly follow Jesus in our lives.
What Jesus asks Bartimaeus, he asks us, too:
What do you want me to do for you?

Read more at ocarm.org
English: https://t.ly/y4gce
Italian: https://t.ly/wkz9O
Spanish: https://t.ly/aFEEZ
Portuguese: https://t.ly/thp7g

To keep up with the latest news about the Carmelite Order, you can subscribe to CITOC's digital newsletter at the following link: https://ocarm.info/subscribe/citoc.html

To subscribe to the newsletter and receive Lectio Divina each month, you can visit the webpage: https://ocarm.org/it/subscribe

To see the publications and the latest releases of Edizioni Carmelitane, the publishing house of the Order, you can visit the website: https://edizionicarmelitane.org/

‘He Loved Us’: The Pope’s encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Vatican News “Dilexit nos,” Pope Francis’ fourth Encyclical, retraces the tradition and relevance of thought on “the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus ...

“Young people are truly the joyful hope of the Church and of a humanity that is always on the move. I would like to take you by the hand and walk with you on the path of hope,” Pope Francis.

Responding to this invitation, the British Carmelites are leading a group of young adults, aged 18 to 35, on a Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome from July 30th to August 3rd, 2025. This pilgrimage is organised by the Carmelite European Youth Commission as part of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations. For more information - https://carmelite.org/.../carmelite-european-young.../

The Shrine of Saint Jude will celebrating the Feast of the Apostle of Hope this weekend. All are welcome.

All are welcome to visit the Shrine of Saint Jude this weekend for the Feast of Saint Jude celebrations: those who have never been before; those that have been a thousand times or just the once; those who want to find out more about the Carmelites or Saint Jude; those who are curious; those enjoying the first weekend of half term; and everyone else. All are welcome.

Come and see - visit the Shrine and the surrounding buildings and gardens, come and pray with the Carmelites, or come and have a cuppa with our team of volunteers. All are welcome.

https://www.stjudeshrine.org.uk/news/feast-saint-jude-26-28-october-2024

Day 2 of our novena to Saint Jude begins today at 6pm.
Today’s prayer will be led by Br. Paul de Groot, O.Carm
Join us in prayer as we prepare for the Feast of Saint Jude.
All are welcome.

Celebrating At Home - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Servants, not masters (Mark 10:35-45)

They’re at it again! One might be forgiven for wondering at just how slow the disciples are in getting Jesus’ message. For weeks he has been instructing them about the Kingdom of God and the conversion of heart needed to be his followers.
This Sunday’s Gospel episode shows that, yet again, they just don’t get it. This time it is James and John, who together with Peter form the ‘inner circle’, the group of disciples closest to Jesus. James and John are asking for the highest places of honour when Jesus comes into his ‘glory’.
While they understand that Jesus is the Messiah, they misunderstand what kind of Messiah he is and what kind of Kingdom he is bringing. While Jesus continues to talk about the path his own life will take through suffering, death and resurrection, the disciples are so focussed on themselves that they ignore his words.
Rather than brush aside the brash request of James and John, Jesus attempts to draw them deeper by hinting at the path of true discipleship. Using two biblical motifs, the cup (the fate that lies ahead of a person) and baptism (not the sacrament but the idea that undergoing trials and dangers is like passing through stormy, turbulent waters) Jesus asks if they can really commit to sharing his life and mission. Without hesitating they say, “We can,” and Jesus affirms that they will. But, as for the places of honour, these are for the Father to assign.
The other ten disciples have been standing near by, eavesdropping on the conversation between Jesus, James and John. They are angry at hearing of their attempt to get in first and claim the seats of honour for themselves – no doubt, they would have liked to do the same!
Jesus takes the opportunity to tell them, yet again, that real greatness in the Kingdom of God lies in self-sacrificing service to humanity. Authority among the people of Christ is not to be exercised by ‘lording it over’ others or by using positions and capacities for self-serving ends. Authority is always to be at the service of and for the benefit of others. Disciples are called to be servants, not masters.
As we follow Jesus through the Gospel, we see that his ‘authority’ over demons, illness and death, as well as his teaching, always brings liberation, restores health and wholeness and sets others at rights with God and neighbour.
That is the pattern that he asks the disciples to follow. The only way to enter into Jesus’ ‘glory’ is to follow him in self-sacrificing service of humanity, as one who gives up their life as a ransom for many.

Read more at ocarm.org
English: https://t.ly/piROo
Italian: https://t.ly/bam1n
Spanish: https://tinyurl.com/3kd8763s
Portuguese: https://tinyurl.com/yh7ej5cb

To keep up with the latest news about the Carmelite Order, you can subscribe to CITOC's digital newsletter at the following link: https://ocarm.info/subscribe/citoc.html

To subscribe to the newsletter and receive Lectio Divina each month, you can visit the webpage: https://ocarm.org/it/subscribe

To see the publications and the latest releases of Edizioni Carmelitane, the publishing house of the Order, you can visit the website: https://edizionicarmelitane.org/

Formation Course Focuses on Life of St. Titus Brandsma International Ongoing Formation Program Celebrates Life of St. Titus Brandsma An international ongoing formation course visiting places from the life of Titus Brandsma took place in the Netherlands and Germany from October 6-16, 2024. The conference focused on the life of St. Titus Brandsma as Carme...

“Young people are truly the joyful hope of the Church and of a humanity that is always on the move. I would like to take you by the hand and walk with you on the path of hope,” Pope Francis.

Responding to this invitation, the British Carmelites are leading a group of young adults, aged 18 to 35, on a Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome from July 30th to August 3rd, 2025. This pilgrimage is organised by the Carmelite European Youth Commission as part of the Jubilee of Youth celebrations. For more information - https://carmelite.org/news/carmelite-european-young-adults-jubilee-pilgrimage-to-rome-2025/

St Teresa of Avila sought to experience God's love in her life. She built communities of friends who were dedicated to prayer. Living in them, she found her vocation in serving her neighbours and God.

If you would like to know more about the Carmelite friar’s way of life, please contact us. Our vocations team are happy to support your discernment. - https://carmelite.org/vocations/

Read about St. Teresa of Jesus here:
https://ocarm.org/en/item/220-st-teresa-of-jesus-virgin-and-doctor-of-the-church-feast

As part of our preparations for next Easter’s Camino, a few of us took part in a day pilgrimage from Our Lady of Mount Carmel , Faversham to Cathedral . It was a truly meaningful and enjoyable day, rooted in prayer, connected to nature, great conversations, and new friendships formed.

If you’re a young adult in your 20s or 30s, consider joining us on the Camino de Santiago in 2025. For more details and to register your interest, visit: https://carmelite.org/camino-2025/”

This Sunday is Prisoners' Sunday.
God of mercy, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison and for their children and families. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. May your love overcome struggle and heartache and bring new life.

Bishop Moth's statement for Prisoners' Sunday 2024 - Catholic Bishops' Conference Bishop Richard Moth, Liaison Bishop for Prisons, has issued a statement acknowledging that our prisons are in crisis and calling for prayer.

Celebrating At Home - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nothing is impossible for God (Mark 10:17-27)

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.

Read more at ocarm.org

English: https://t.ly/wau4_
Italian: https://t.ly/BrxRe
Spanish: https://t.ly/sZugu
Portuguese: https://t.ly/wHeof

To keep up with the latest news about the Carmelite Order, you can subscribe to CITOC's digital newsletter at the following link: https://ocarm.info/subscribe/citoc.html

To subscribe to the newsletter and receive Lectio Divina each month, you can visit the webpage: https://ocarm.org/it/subscribe

To see the publications and the latest releases of Edizioni Carmelitane, the publishing house of the Order, you can visit the website: https://edizionicarmelitane.org/