Carmel teaches
the Church how to pray.
-Pope Francis & Pope Benedict XV
Pentecost Sunday
May 24, 2026
Saturday May 23rd
Sunday May 24th
The Gospel Reading
On the evening of that
first day of the week,
when the doors were locked,
where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this,
He showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again,
"Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me,
So I send you."
And when he had said this,
He breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive
are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
—John 20:19-23
“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:
May is dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Special music devoted to Mary is often integrated into liturgies and personal prayer throughout the month.
We are featuring the
Ave Maria and the Regina Caeli
to foster a contemplative and celebratory atmosphere dedicated to
our mother and sister, Mary.
Click here to listen.
New Hymn!
Our new hymn
for May
is “Festival Canticle”.
Click here to listen.
Hymn of the Month
Musicians
Viola: Briana Bandy.
Cello: Cameron Stone.
Oboe & French Horn: Phil Feather.
Marian Hymns for the Month of May
Music: by Charles Gounod,
based on Prelude No. 1 in C Major (BWV 846)
by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Lyrics: Traditional Latin Text.
Guitar & Bass: Julian Pardo.
Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
Vocals: Héctor Tavarez, O.Carm.,
Ryan-Joseph Resurrección, O.Carm.,
Matthew Gummess, O.Carm.,
and Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
Prayer Intention
of Pope Leo
for May 2026
That everyone might have food
Let us pray that everyone,
from large producers to small consumers,
be committed to avoid wasting food,
and to ensure that
everyone has access to quality food.
Pray with
the Pope:
Monthly Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord of creation,
You gave us the fertile earth and, with it, our daily bread,
as a sign of Your love and providence.
Today, we recognize with sorrow
that millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger,
while so many goods
are wasted at our tables.
Awaken in us a new awareness:
that we learn to thank for every food,
to consume simply,
to share with joy,
and to care for the fruits of the earth
as a gift from You,
destined for all, not just a few.
Good Father,
make us capable of transforming
the logic of selfish consumption
into a culture of solidarity.
May our communities
promote concrete gestures:
awareness campaigns, food banks,
and a sober and responsible lifestyle.
You who sent us
Your beloved Son Jesus,
broken bread for the life of the world,
give us a new heart,
hungry for justice
and thirsty for fraternity.
May no one be excluded
from the common table,
and may Your Spirit teach us
to see bread
not as an object of consumption,
but as a sign of communion and care.
Amen.
– Pope Leo
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