The Prayer Journey of St John of the Cross
To those struggling on the path of meditation there are figures and forms and similitudes of faith; in the way of contemplation there is simply darkness, a presence in absence.
Why do we Pray a Novena?
Novenas can take many forms. They may focus on preparation for a feast, petition or intercession, communal solidarity, remembrance and mourning, or spiritual formation.
The Enduring Wisdom of Carmel: Prayer as Presence
“Genuine prayer begins in the real world, in our real selves, with all the relationships with other people and our tasks in life. Prayer is not an escape. It is contact with God where He comes to us. That means real life, in the depths of our own identity, in our human contacts with one another.”
The Enduring Wisdom of Carmel: Amazing Grace
Fr. Ernest Larkin is an American Carmelite theologian and teacher. He gave the keynote address at the first Australian Catholic Charismatic Conference in Melbourne on 1 June 1974; this article is the text of that address.
Contemplative Prayer in Carmelite Spirituality
In Carmelite spirituality, contemplative prayer is the practice of becoming present to God so that God may increasingly become present within us. It is less about saying something to God and more about creating the interior silence in which we can listen, receive, and simply remain with God.
Rediscovering The Institution of the First Monks
Among the treasures preserved in the Carmelite Institute of North America Archives is a remarkable four-part lecture series recorded in 1996 by Paul Chandler, O.Carm.
Patterns of Prayer
Heart to Heart with Mary, Our Sister – A reflection on the talk presented at Into the Land of Carmel 2026 by Mother Madonna of the Assumption and Sister Veronica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
A Week of Prayer, Learning & Fraternity
This past week, approximately 60 people gathered at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, Illinois, for the annual Into the Land of Carmel retreat.
Go Back! Traveling the desert road toward purpose
In “Go Back! Traveling the desert road toward purpose,” retreat guests at Into the Land of Carmel 2026, reflected on the paradoxical nature of spiritual progress.
Youth Voices of Carmel @ CCHS
This collaborative project seeks to flip the script. Rather than presenting a scripted message to young people, Religious and Lay Carmelites are invited to listen first, allowing youth to lead the conversation through their own questions, experiences, and perspectives. Together, these conversations open a dialogue centered on what it means to live Carmel in the 21st century through the eyes and voices of today’s youth.