Carmel teaches
the Church how to pray.
-Pope Francis & Pope Benedict XV
The Solemnity of the
Nativity of
St. John the Baptist
June 24, 2026
Tuesday June 23rd
Wednesday June 24th
The Gospel Reading
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately, his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke, blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel."
—Luke 1:57-66,80
Night Prayer
for the
Twelfth Week
of Ordinary Time
Monday June 22nd
Thursday June 25th
Friday June 26th
“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:
Hymn of the Month
Musicians
Viola: Briana Bandy.
Cello: Cameron Stone.
Oboe & French Horn: Phil Feather.
Prayer Intention
of Pope Leo
for June 2026
Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, of encounter, and lead to dialogue among cultures and nations so that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
Pray with
the Pope
Lord of life,
We thank you for the gift of sport,
for those who glorify you through the exercise of their bodies, for the friendships born on the field,
and for the joy of playing as a team.
You teach us that in life, as in the game, no one is saved alone. We need others to grow, to learn respect,
to overcome our limits,
and to celebrate together the victories we achieve.
We ask that sport may always be
a school of fraternity,
not of empty rivalry,
a space of encounter, not exclusion,
and a path of peace, not violence.
Lord Jesus,
May every sport become a parable of life lived with you,
working with joy and effort,
living with humility in defeat
and with gratitude in the victory you offer in your Resurrection.
May your Spirit never be lacking in us,
making us one team,
united with you to build
communion and fraternity in history.
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