Carmel teaches
the Church how to pray.
-Pope Francis & Pope Benedict XV
The Twenty-first week in Ordinary Time:
Morning Prayer for the
Passion of St.John the Baptist
Saturday August 29th
Click here for our newest hymns,
“Morning and Evening Prayer.”
We offer Night Prayer every night of the year.
Night Prayer
for the
Twenty-first Week
of Ordinary Time
Twenty-second Sunday
in Ordinary Time
August 30, 2026
Saturday August 29th
Sunday August 30th
The Gospel Reading
Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."
— Matthew 16:21—27
“Meet your
Beloved
every day:
same time,
same place.”
Sister Albertina’s
Golden Rule
for Prayer:
Choose a time
and place
each day to pray:
Elige un momento y un lugar para rezar cada día:
New Hymns!
Vocals: Alondra Garza and
Matthew Gummess, O.Carm.
Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
Viola: Briana Bandy.
Prayer Intention
of Pope Leo
for August 2026
For evangelization in the city.
Let us pray that in large cities, often marked by anonymity and loneliness, we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel and discover creative paths to build community.
Pray with
the Pope
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd,
You walk through our streets and squares,
enter tall buildings and humble neighborhoods,
and silently accompany millions
who seek meaning amid noise and haste.
You know, Lord, the heart of the city:
its lights and shadows, its noise and loneliness.
We know that cities are called to be places of freedom and opportunity,
but they can also become spaces of anonymity and isolation.
That’s why today we ask You for a renewed gaze,
able to discover in urban life
fertile ground for proclaiming your Gospel.
Give us a creative and deep faith,
that doesn’t remain in words,
but becomes flesh through simple and loving gestures.
Make us a Church that goes forth,
able to reach out to the peripheries,
to console those who are lonely,
and to sow fraternity and connection instead of giving in to indifference.
Lord, may our urban communities
be open and welcoming homes,
places where hope is shared,
where no one feels invisible,
and where the joy of your Gospel shines
in the hidden lives of so many brothers and sisters.
Make us your witnesses in the city,
bold and creative missionaries,
who proclaim your Love with their lives—
a Love capable of overcoming haste, noise, and anonymity.
Amen.
The Rosary
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:
“Windows into Heaven”
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 specific liturgy.
Icons are intentionally painted without realistic perspective or natural shadows. This stylistic choice is meant to pull the viewer out of ordinary, earthly time and invite them into the eternal presence of God.
Many of the Icons we use are written by Carmelite friars. The icons we share will change throughout the Church's liturgical seasons. 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. We also offer a simple format for Visio Divina on our Meditation Tools page.
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
“The Nativity”
Written by
Filiberto Oregel, O. Carm.
“Christ the Pantocrator”
Written by
Daryl Moresco, 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