Fr Jesús Castellano, ocd wrotes about joy as an important element for our spiritual balance, for our communities, for our mission. He wrote an article with the title “The Decalogue of Joy”, where he explains why we should be joyful… not only because “a sad saint is a sad saint”, but because this has human,…
Today, our reflection focuses on the figure of Saint Albert of Jerusalem, legislator of the Order of Carmel. He was born in Emilia (Italy). He entered a congregation of canons regular where he was elected prior. Three years later, he was appointed Bishop of Vercelli in Italy. He ruled this Church for twenty years. His…
The Carmel that is born on this mountain blessed by the action of the prophet Elijah, in its origins and in its development in the world has always preserved this significant aspect of spirituality, proposing it also to all those who are thirsty for God. Contemplation is an action that goes beyond simply seeing and…
Getting to Muhraka, the Carmelite monastery and shrine dedicated to the prophet Elijah, can be a significant experience of linguistic and cultural misunderstandings between different peoples. Meanwhile, a question: how important is it to know the language of the place you visit? My friends where I live in Haifa insist that you visit Mukhraqa absolutely.…
Today I celebrated (Fr. Paco ocd) the Holy Mass with a small group of parishioners in the convent where Fr. Prospero lived and died and in which the Carmelite friars lived from 1632 to 1762. The convent is located on the promontory of the mount, not far from the current Stella Maris monastery. The photos…
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…
To speak of Teresa of Jesus is to speak of the Mother who gave us life in the Church, inspired by the Lord who was the vital center of her experience. Each birth goes through suffering, the pain of difficulties, misunderstandings, hostilities, little revenge; Almost the entire local Catholic hierarchy has participated in this project,…