Communicationes
Mount Carmel (2010-02-27).- “It is a grace to live in these places in which everyone was born”, emphasized Fr General, Saverio Cannistrà, in his message to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Holy Land, during the visit he made to Egypt and the Holy Land from 6th to 21st of February.

In his words, Fr General stressed the need to live with “great human and spiritual maturity”, while inviting the Carmelite nuns to simplify their lives in order “to go to the essential of their own vocation.” “The existing conflict between the Arab and Jewish world is the present moment which you are called to take upon yourselves, lifting it up in prayer and transforming into an offering of love all that you are called to suffer in communion with the men and women of these peoples.”

The Discalced Carmelite Superior General also placed value on “the multicultural composition” of the communities, describing them as an example of plurality of cultures for the whole Order.
He also pointed out in his message the interest the monasteries had shown in being involved in the preparation process for the V Centenary of the Birth of Saint Teresa of Jesus, with the reading of the Book of her Life of Saint Teresa of Jesus. “We need to discover St Teresa’s fundamental options in order to discern what protects contemplative and fraternal life, as well as what can be detrimental to it and lead it astray”, said Fr Saverio.

Association of the Holy Land

The Association of Our Lady of Mt Carmel of the Holy Land is composed of the monasteries of “Pater Noster” in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Mount Carmel and Nazareth – which celebrated its first centenary of foundation this year.

Sr Ana-Françoise, Coordinator of the Association, during an interview published on their web page www.carmelholyland.org, emphasized hopeful signs for Carmel in the Holy Land. Notable among these signs was an increase of vocations in all the monasteries, where the novitiates remain open with “one of two sisters and some aspirants”. “There are also close friends of Carmel who like to come and pray with us and share our spirituality”.