The prophet Elijah has been known in Carmel since the beginning as our ideal and model of inspiration, both in terms of contemplation (or silent prayer) and apostolic zeal. In iconography he is represented with the Latin inscription on his sword: «zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum», that is: «I burn with zeal for…
The origin of the procession dates to 1914 (during the First World War). During the month of November, the Ottoman authorities appeared in the Stella Maris monastery (Mount Carmel), notifying the religious men that in three hours they had to leave the monastery, because it was going to be taken up by the Ottoman army.…
Our meeting of this morning, in the garden of God (the Carmel/Kerem-El), walking together with the Lord: Discalced Carmelite friars, Discalced Carmelite nuns and laymen consecrated in the Secular Carmel, who today, in the liturgical memory of Palm Sunday, triumphantly enters Jerusalem to consummate his Easter. Encountering and creative hope, in which our mother Theresa…
For some years the need for restoration of the internal paintings of the dome of Stella Maris had been seen. The construction project was supposed to start in 2020 but was delayed by 3 years due to the pandemic. Now, finally, the time has come. The restoration was carried out by Stefania who, having come…
Father Rafic Nahra was appointed by Pope Francis as auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, this Friday, March 11, 2022, announces the Holy See. Ordained a priest in 1992 for the diocese of Paris, he was until now Patriarchal Vicar for Israel within the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Father Rafic Nahra was born…
We Carmelites celebrated on December 7, 2021 the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the parish church, ocd in the lower part of the city of Haifa near the sea. In the same act, we celebrate S. José patron of the parish, also celebrated in 2021 as patron of the universal Church. The Carmelite parish…
Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph You who, in the company of the Divine Jesus and of your spouse Mary Most Holy, knew the bitterness of emigration in your flight to Egypt, accompany along the roads of the world our countless brothers and sisters who, far from their homeland, struggle to overcome the difficulties of a life…
Today, September 17, the Latin Diocese of Jerusalem celebrates the memory of its Patriarch Saint Albert (+1214). St. Albert is closely linked to the birth of the Order of Carmelites. He writes a Rule (way of life) for the Cenobite hermits who inhabited the caves of Mount Carmel, particularly those in the Siah Valley, about…
Most Reverend Excellencies Your Excellencies the Consul Generals of Jerusalem Dear priests, religious and faithful, The Lord give you Peace! “Non est hic, surrexit enim sicut dixit” (Mt 28,6). Al Masih kam, haqan kam “He is not here! He is risen as He said” (Mt. 28:6) Here we are, again, in front of the Empty…
The word «sukkoth» is the plural of the Hebrew word sukah which means «hut». The term sukah in the common language indicates precisely the hut that is built for the celebration of the feast in memory of the period “in the desert” after the biblical Exodus of the Jewish people after having been in Egypt.…