Feast of All Carmelite Saints
(The Carmelite Order)
On this day the Carmelite Order celebrates the memory of all its saints, those known and those unknown. Some of the most famous Carmelite saints include St. John of the Cross, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Thérèse of Lisieux), St. Albert of Jerusalem, St. Teresa of Jesus (of the Andes), St. Rafael of St. Joseph, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), and St. Simon Stock. The Carmelites have a very unique background. Unlike most Religious Orders, they have no founder. Earliest historical accounts find the first Carmelites already settled as Christian hermits on Mount Carmel – a mountainous ridge in Israel-Palestine – around the year 1200. The text known as the Rule of Saint Albert is the foundational document setting out the spirit in which all members of the Carmelite Family are invited to live ‘in allegiance to Jesus Christ’. Although the shortest of all medieval ‘rules’, this text has proved to be full of wisdom and inspires thousands of Carmelites to this day. The feast day for all the Carmelite Saints and Blesseds is November 14th.
Credit: Adapted from Universalis and various Carmelite Order sites and sources. Information herein posted under the "rules of fair use" to foster education and discussion in accordance with Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.
All of us who wear this holy Carmelite habit are called to prayer and contemplation. This is what we were founded for. We are descended from those holy fathers of ours on Mount Carmel, those who went in search of that treasure – the priceless pearl we are talking about – in such solitude and with such contempt for the world.“
Saint Teresa of Jesus
Litany of the Saints of the Carmelite Order Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Queen of all saints, pray for us. Mother, ornament of Carmel, pray for us. St. Joseph , protector of our Order, … St. Albert, our most wise lawgiver and director, … St. Albert of Sicily, exalted model of unspotted purity, … Bl. Aloysius Rabata, model of holy and severe penance, … Bl. Angelus Augustine, marvel of eloquence in preaching the Word of God, .. Bl. Angelus Mazzinghi, filled with virtue, master in counseling, devoted in preaching, … St. Andrew Corsini, wonderful peacemaker and despiser of worldly honors, … Bl. Anne of St. Bartholomew, one with St. Teresa in the reform of Carmel, … Bl. Archangela, most tender in your love for Jesus and Mary, … Bl. Bartholomew Fanti, burning with love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, … St. Berthold, who united the dwellers on Carmel into one ecclesiastical Order of Mary, … St. Brocard, great zealot for the observance discipline, … St. Cyril of Constantinople, eminent for virtue, wisdom, and learning, … Bl. Denis of the Nativity, invincible soldier of Christ and His holy martyr, … Our holy father, the prophet Elijah, who by your prayer and contemplation laid the foundation of our Order of Carmel, … St. Elisha, who through your disciples preserved the spirit of Elijah on Carmel, … St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, instructress in interior recollection and in awareness of the indwelling Trinity, … St. Frances of Amboise, noble by birth, but nobler in virtue and steadfast confidence in God, … St. Jacobinus, renowned for profound meekness and great humility, … St. Jane Scopelli, perfect model of prayer and mortification, … St. John of the Cross, doctor of the Church and sure guide in the mystical life, … St. John Soreth, burning with love of the primitive observance, … St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, victim of crucified love, .. Bl. Mary of Jesus Crucified, witness of the joy and charity of the Holy Spirit, … St. Mary of the Incarnation, lover of true meekness, St. Nuno Alvares Pereira, loyal servant and devotee of Mary, … St. Peter Thomas, great servant and imitator of Mary who adorned you with all virtue and strengthened you in martyrdom,. St. Raphael of St. Joseph, practitioner of the Carmelite way in fullness of love in sacrifice St. Redemptus of the Cross who, through your holy zeal, earned the martyr’s crown, … St. Simon Stock, privileged servant of Mary, … St. Teresa Margaret, great venerator and humble disciple of the Sacred Heart, … St. Teresa of Augustine and Companions, martyrs for Christ in the French Revolution, St. Teresa of Jesus, illustrious reformer of Carmel and doctor of the Church, full of heavenly wisdom, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, teacher of the little way and patroness of missions, … All you holy virgins and matrons of Carmel, … All you holy men and women who by your virtues have given glory to Carmel, … Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. V. Pray for us, all you saints of Carmel, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: Almighty and merciful God, Who rejoices us by the memory of all the saints of the Carmelite Order, grant that, inspired by their example and merits, we may live for You alone in the continual observance of Your law and in the perfect abnegation of self, and that we may attain to perfect happiness with them in heaven, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Litany of the saints of the carmelite order
With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.”
Motto of the Carmelite Order (1 Kgs 19:10)
All ye Carmelite Saints, pray for us.
Be not afraid! And may the peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones today and always. Holy Family pray for us. Amen.
