Carmel teaches
the Church how to pray.

-Pope Francis & Pope Benedict XV

Holy Week

Wednesday of Holy Week
April 1st
Night Prayer

The Gospel Reading

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;
In your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”

Journey
Holy Week

Enter the Stillness—Anytime, Anywhere.

Experience the profound mystery of Holy Week through the lens of Carmelite spirituality. Our digital meditations invite you to step away from the noise of the world and into the "gentle whisper" of the desert, accompanying Christ from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the sacred triduum and the glory of the Resurrection.

Let these daily Carmelite reflections challenge your comforts, fuel your zeal, and draw you closer to the living God.

Hymn of
the
Month

Credits

Text and Music: Rory Cooney, b. 1952. Copyright 1984 Spirit & Song, a division of OCP.
Vocals: Steven Begert-Clark.
Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
Viola
: Briana Bandy.
Produced by: Julian Pardo.

Prayer Intention of
Pope Leo for April 2026

For Priests in Crisis

Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Pray with the Pope:
Monthly Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Good Shepherd and companion
on the journey,
today we place in your hands all priests,
especially those going through
moments of crisis,
when loneliness weighs heavily,
when doubt clouds their hearts,
and when exhaustion
seems stronger than hope.

You who know their
struggles and wounds,
Renew in them the certainty of
your unconditional love.
Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes,
but beloved sons,
humble and cherished disciples,
and pastors sustained by
the prayer of their people.

Good Father,
teach us as a community
to care for our priests:
to listen without judging,
to give thanks without
demanding perfection,
to share with them the baptismal mission
of proclaiming the Kingdom
in word and deed,
and to accompany them with
closeness and sincere prayer.
May we support those
who so often support us.

Holy Spirit,
rekindle in our priests
the joy of the Gospel.
Grant them healthy friendships,
networks of fraternal support,
a sense of humor when
things don’t go as expected,
and the grace to always
rediscover the beauty of their vocation.
May they never lose trust in You,
nor the joy of serving your Church
with a humble and generous heart.

Amen.

– Pope Leo

The Rosary

Multiple hands holding a rosary with a crucifix against a dark background.


Pray the Rosary
in English and Spanish
with the Carmelites here
or on SoundCloud.

Rece el Rosario
en inglés y español
con los Carmelitas aquí
o en SoundCloud.

Iconography

Praying with Spiritual Icons is an ancient practice still used by Eastern Rite Catholics and the Orthodox Church today. Icons present holy images and symbols that invite us to a still, contemplative space, deepening our connection with God. The Icons in our videos are intended to enhance the experience of praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

Many of the Icons we use are written by Carmelite friars. New Icons will appear beginning in the Third Week of Ordinary Time and thereafter, changing through the different liturgical seasons of the Church. We will do our best to briefly explain the symbols found in these icons and list resources for users who wish to learn more about the tradition of this sacred art form.

If praying with Icons interests you, here is a link to a guide that might be helpful.

Additional Reading
Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons
by Henri JM Nouwen

Praying with Icons
by Jim Forrest

The Open Door
by Frederica Mathewes-Green

Religious icon depicting the Nativity scene with Mary and Joseph, baby Jesus in a manger, angels, shepherds, wise men, animals, and other biblical figures.

“The Nativity”
Written by
Filiberto Oregel, O. Carm.

Resurrection of Christ written by Bro. Filiberto Oregel, O.Carm.

“Resurrection of Christ”
Written by
Filiberto Oregel, O. Carm.

Christ the Pantocrator written by Bro. Daryl Moresco, O.Carm.

“Christ the Pantocrator”
Written by
Daryl Moresco, O. Carm.

Religious icon of "Christ of the Gospels." Written by Carmelite Filiberto Oregel, O.Carm.

“Christ of the Gospels”
Written by
Filiberto Oregel, O. Carm.

“Certainly, I find that the starting point for prayer
has to be a brief moment
of self-awareness:
an acknowledgment of how
I find myself right then —
peaceful…
troubled…
restless…
joyous…
preoccupied…
angry…
questioning…
Whatever the mood,
this is what I bring to prayer…[.]”

Upon This Mountain: Prayer in the Carmelite Tradition
by Mary McCormack, OCD.
Copyright 2009, Teresian Press