Today, December 11, is the memorial of Saint Maria Maravillas de Jesus. Carmelite nun. Maria de la Maravillas Pidal Chico de Guzman was born in Madrid in 1891. Her father was the Spanish ambassador to the Vatican. She grew up in a pious family, was known as “Mavi, ”an intelligent and religious child. When she …
Today, December 5, is the memorial of Blessed Bartolomeo Fanti. Bartolomeo was born in Mantua, Italy in 1428. He was a Carmelite priest for 35 years. He served as spiritual director and rector of the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for which he composed a rule and statutes. He was also the spiritual teacher …
Today, November 14, is the feast of All Carmelite Saints. Who are the saints of Carmel? They are hermits of Mount Carmel who “lived in small cells, similar to the cells of a beehive, they lived as God’s bees, gathering the divine honey of spiritual consolation.” They are mendicants of the first medieval communities, who …
Today, November 13, is the memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa Scrilli. Foundress of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters Institute of Our Lady of Carmel. When Maria was born in 1825, her parents was hoping for a boy. Her mother, who wanted a male heir, treated Maria indifferently. An unknown illness kept the adolescent Maria …
Today, November 6, is the memorial of Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira. Carmelite lay brother and Portuguese military leader (“The Holy Constable”). Nuno was born in Portugal in 1360. He was the illegitimate son of Brother Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, Hospitalier Knight of St. John of Jerusalem and prior of Crato and Donna Iria Gonçalves do Carvalhal. …
Today, November 5, is the memorial of Blessed Frances d’Amboise. Carmelite religious and widow. Frances was born in 1427 in a castle in Thouars, France. Her father was Louis d’Amboise, Prince of Talmont and Viscount of Thouars, and Louise-Marie de Rieux. At the age of three, Frances was already engaged to marry Peter II, a …
Today, October 30, is the memorial of Blessed Maria Teresa of St. Joseph. Foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. She came from a deeply religious Lutheran pastor’s family. Many trials and experiences with society’s poor and needy led her to the road of the Catholic faith. In front of her …
Today, October 15, is the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila. Virgin and Doctor of the Church. Foundress of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in 1515 to the Spanish nobility, the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatriz. She grew up reading the lives …
Today, October 1, is the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. Carmelite virgin and Doctor of the Church. Patron saint of missionaries. Thérèse was the daughter of St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azelie Guérin Martin. She had four sisters, all of whom became nuns. Marie-Azelie died of …
Today, September 24, is the memorial of Blessed Encarnación Gil Valls. Third Order Carmelite and martyr. Apart from being a diligent tutor and teacher, Encarnación was a woman of prayer. She had a schedule for prayer; she had her devotions, her Ave Maria, and Holy Rosary. She attended daily mass and was often seen waking …