Angelus was born in Florence or near there; the year is unknown but it was before 1386. He was the first member of the reformed observance of Our Lady of the Wood, was many times prior of various houses and noted for his work in preaching the Word of God. He died in Florence in 1438.
Bartholomew Fanti was born in Mantua: the year is unknown, but in 1452 he was already a Carmelite priest of the Congregation of Mantua. For thirty-five years at the Order's church in Mantua he was spiritual father and rector of the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for which he composed a rule and statutes. He is especially remembered for his love of the Eucharist. He died in 1495.
Frances was born in 1427, probably in Thouars in France. She was the wife of Peter II, Duke of Britanny. After his death, and under the direction of Blessed John Soreth, the prior general, she took the habit of the Carmelite Order in the monastery she had previously founded in Bondon. Afterwards she transferred to another foundation in Nantes, also erected by her, where she held the office of prioress and nourished the sisters with wise teaching. She is considered the foundress of the Carmelite nuns in France. She died in 1485.
Hilary Januszewski was born on 11 June 1907 in Krajenki (Poland). In 1927 he entered the Order of Carmel and was ordained on 15 July 1934. In 1939, Poland was occupied by the Germans and one year later, Fr. Hilary decided to present himself in exchange for an older and sick friar. He was sent to Dachau, where he was a model of prayer life, encouraging others and giving hope for a better tomorrow. He died from typhus on 25 March 1945, a few days before the liberation of the concentration camp. Fr. Hilary Januszewski was beatified by John Paul II on 13 June 1999.
Bl. Jacques Retouret was born at Limoges in France on 15th September 1746 to a merchant family. He was a serious young man, a lover of books and greatly gifted. At fifteen years of age, he entered the Carmelite house in his native city. After ordination, his zeal and learning were widely admired and large crowds of people were attracted by his way of preaching.
The French Revolution did not spare him. Like the majority of his fellow clergy, Jacques refused to accept the civil law, unilaterally introduced by the state. He was arrested and condemned, together with many other priests and religious, and sentenced to exile in French Guinea in South America. Jacques died at Madame Isle on 26th August 1794 at the age of 48 years. He was beatified, together with 63 other priests and religious, as martyrs for the faith, on 1st October 1995 by Pope John Paul II.
Mother Euphrasia was born on October 17, 1877. Her pious mother taught her to pray the rosary and to participate in the Holy Mass. She had a vision of Mother Mary at the age of nine and she offered her virginity to God eternally. Her father was opposed to her entering the Convent but eventually gave her permission to go to the Carmelite Convent in 1888. For the rest of her life she was immersed in prayer, in contemplation or praying the Rosary. People began to call her “The Praying Mother.” She was most devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and had a great longing to be with the Eucharistic Lord and participate in the Holy Mass and adore the Blessed Sacrament. She was canonized by Pope Francis on November 23, 2014 in Vatican City.
Saint Kuriakos Elias Chavara, co-founder and first prior general of the congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, was born at Kainakary in Kersala, India, February 10, 1805. He entered the seminary in 1818, and was ordained priest in 1829. He made his religious profession in 1855, in the congregation he founded. Throughout his life he worked for the renovation of the church in Malabar. Above all, he was a man of prayer, zealous for the Eucharistic Lord and devoted to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. He died at Koonammavu in 1871. Kuriakose Kathanar was beatified on February 8, 1986 and canonized on November 23, 2014.
Born about 1305 in southern Perigord in France, Peter Thomas entered the Carmelites when he was twenty-one. He was chosen by the Order as its procurator general to the Papal Court at Avignon in 1345. After being made bishop of Patti and Lipari in 1354, he was entrusted with many papal missions to promote peace and unity with the Eastern Churches. He was transferred to the see of Corone in the Peloponnesus in 1359 and made Papal Legate for the East. In 1363 he was appointed Archbishop of Crete and 1364 Latin Patriarch of Constantinople. He won a reputation as an apostle of church unity before he died at Famagosta on Cyprus in 1366.
Raphael Kalinowski was born to Polish parents in the city of Vilnius in 1835. Following military service, he was condemned in 1864 to ten years of forced labor in Siberia. In 1877 he became a Carmelite and was ordained a priest in 1882. He contributed greatly to the restoration of the Discalced Carmelites in Poland. His life was distinguished by zeal for Church unity and by his unflagging devotion to his ministry as confessor and spiritual director. He died in Wadowice in 1907.
The Free Resources section provides information about the Carmelite Order, Spirituality and Catholicism. It includes access to the writings of and about some of our most influential saints, videos, quizes to test your knowledge of Carmel and the faith, prayers, newsletters and links to websites for further study.
Test your knowledge of Prayer. You can check your answers as you go along to see if…
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Lectio Divina — “The Divine Reading” or “Divine Listening” by hearing the word spoken — is a…
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The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office or the Work of God (Opus Dei), is…
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Many of these titles are available — at no cost to you — to read online, view on a mobile device, or…
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Test your knowledge of Carmelite History. You can check your answers as you go along…
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Our Lord taught Saint Teresa a simple method of prayer. It is often called mental prayer. “I never…
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To pray along with the Carmelite Feast days you may consult the Discalced Carmelite…
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Test your knowledge of Carmelite Saints. You can check your answers as you go along…
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Test your knowledge of Carmelite Symbols & Traditions. You can check your…
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Test your knowledge of Catholicism. You can check your answers as you go along to…
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Articles by Father Christopher O’Donnell, O.Carm., about Mariology and Carmelite Spirituality that…
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Contemplation, Part 1. This is the first half of one of the most profound half hours…
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Contemplation, Part 2. This is the second half of one of the most profound half…
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Articles by Father Ernest Larkin, O.Carm., about Carmelite Spirituality and Prayer that are available…
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Flos Carmeli (Latin, “Flower of Carmel”) is a Marian Catholic hymn and prayer honoring Our Lady of…
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Test your knowledge of the Virgin Mary. You can check your answers as you go along…
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Br. Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC, author of “Everything is Grace: the Life and Way of Thérèse of Lisieux”…
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Episode 2 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 3 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 4 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 5 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 6 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 7 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Episode 8 of an 8-part series of 2-minute webisodes on Thérèse and the Little Way. In this episode,…
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Articles by Fr. John Russell, O.Carm. about Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus that are available…
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Test your knowledge of Latin phrases. Check your answers as you go. Ready? Avanti…
Use this guide from Carmel’s Call for your individual practice of Lectio Divina. As…
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Test your knowledge of Lent and Easter. You can check your answers as you go along…
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The Litany of Loreto (also known as the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is a Marian litany…
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Litany to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. This litany may be prayed at any time,…
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Video Discussion. Father John and Dan Burke discuss the difference between…
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O Glorious St. Thérèse, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I…
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An official VMG virtual choir, "Nada Te Turbe" is one of two virtual choirs produced for the…
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Lay Carmelites seek God’s presence in prayer while living an active life in the world. This duality…
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[audio recordings] Carmel means ‘Garden of God’ and Father Greg Houck,…
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Edith Stein, St. Benedicta of the Cross, the saintly Carmelite, profound philosopher and brilliant…
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The Twenty-four “Glory be to the Father” novena can be said at any time. However, the ninth to the…
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The novena prayers are said from July 7 through July 15 in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The…
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The novena to Saint Joseph is prayed from March 10 through March 18 in honor of Saint Joseph. The…
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Prayers to be said each day during the Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, September 22-30. Her feast…
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[audio recordings] Please join us in a Pilgrimage to Pentecost…
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An official VMG virtual choir, "Salve Regina" is the second of two virtual choirs produced for the…
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Fr. Leopold Glueckert gives us a picture of Spain and the Catholic Church during the time of St.…
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When Pope Paul VI proclaimed St. Teresa of Ávila the first woman Doctor of the Church on September 27…
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The Rule of Saint Albert is also know historically as The Carmelite Rule. In more…
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The Icon of Mary, “La Bruna”, is the oldest image of Mary that has been adopted by the Carmelites. We…
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...the kingdom of God
and his righteousness,
and all these things
will be given you besides.
Psalm 57:2
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