Discalced Carmelites Archives

Behind a gentle Salvadoran bishop, a legacy in defense of the poor

Dec 6, 2019

At 51, Bishop Oswaldo Escobar Aguilar is the youngest prelate of El Salvador, and one notably influenced by his country’s Catholic martyrs.

By Rhina Guidos

In Africa, Pope tells nuns to beware of “educated devils”

Sep 7, 2019

“Faith is the greatest treasure of the poor!” the pope told a group of contemplative nuns in Madagascar Saturday, urging them to proclaim the faith to the poor, to help them strengthen that faith, so that they can live in hope.

By Inés San Martín

Peace prayers offered on centennial of statue’s return to Israel monastery

May 7, 2019

Israel’s second largest annual Christian gathering became a vehicle to pray for peace as tensions between Israel and Palestinians living in Gaza intensified.

By Judith Sudilovsky

On feast day, Carmelite nuns pray for conversion of ISIS

Sep 16, 2016

On the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, marking the anniversary of their monastery, a group of Carmelite nuns prayed for the conversation of the radical Islamic terrorist group ISIS and the healing of a broken world, repeating the name of Mary 1,000 times.

By Nirmala Carvalho

Latin America sees a week of high Catholic drama

Sep 14, 2016

From Mexico to Peru and from Argentina to Venezuela, the past week has been chock full of Catholic drama in Latin America, including debates over gay marriage, a cloistered convent under investigation, and a cardinal taking on a president over shortages of food and medicine.

By Inés San Martín

Police raid on convent described as ‘disproportionate’

Aug 30, 2016

A police raid on a convent in Argentina, including describing a traditional religious article used for self-mortification as a form of ‘torture,’ is being denounced as disproportionate by Catholic leaders, especially in a country where apparently more serious crimes do not attract the same aggressive response.

By Inés San Martín