SECULAR ORDER OF DISCALCED CARMELITES
England, Wales and Scotland

Today’s saint, the great Pole Maximilian Kolbe, widely remembered for his sacrificial death in Auschwitz, ' often referred to St....

An interesting question came up recently in discussion during a formation session.  We were looking at Book I, Chapter 3 of The Ascent of...

Are we just right at the beginning of the internet age?  Is this period the equivalent to the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution? ...

I blogged last week (7 August) about the mediaeval Carmelite St Albert of Trapani and about the delightful story that has his admirers...

Teresa’s Way of Perfection never ceases to amaze me.  She displays such a combination of spiritual wisdom and plain common sense.  What...

It seems that St Teresa had a great devotion to today’s saint, Albert of Trapani OCD (c.1240-1307).  He was a Sicilian Carmelite, son of...

I was just sent a rather beautiful YouTube video entitled ‘ Three Powerful Words that open heaven’ .  It is a half-hour talk, very simple...

I was just reading about the first Australian-born saint, Mary Mackillop (1842-1909) - and a fascinating story it is.  In 1867, Mary...

Below is a prayer of St John Vianney, the Curé of Ars (1786-1859), patron of priests, whose Feast is today.  He was actually a Franciscan...

Today’s saint, the Italian St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), has had a huge influence in the Church as a spiritual writer, composer,...

‘Discernment is the ability to see things for what they REALLY are and not for what you WANT them to be.’ I like this quotation from St...

I was with an OCDS community as a visitor the other day and they were holding a Quiet Day.  The Community President and his wife have a...

I will be taking some time off, including time off the computer. May God bless and keep all of us. Meanwhile, below is a prayer...

On today’s feast of St Bridget of Sweden I learn for the first time about the Brigittine Rosary, which apparently has special...

On this feast day of the wonderful St Mary Magdalene, I am reminded of the Italian Carmelite saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (1566-1607 -...

Fascinated by the news that a new Carmelite church was consecrated in Minsk, Belarus, in June.  The Discalced Carmelite Newsletter from...

An illustration of the astonishing impact of St Therese in the Church immediately after her death comes to us in a delightful newsletter...

I was talking on the phone to one of my mentors in early days in Carmel yesterday.  Her memories of Secular Carmel go right back to the...

On this Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel I am reminded of the beautiful "miracle of Our Lady of Mount Carmel" which took place in Palmi...

I often find great inspiration of the Office of Readings.  Today an extract from the marvellous Italian bishop, academic, and mystical...