The 17th century was a rich time in terms of holiness. The Ancient Observance of Carmel counted more than 500 individuals to whom a scent of holiness was attributed. Many of their life stories – an initial inventory already yielded about 200 – can be found in famous historiographies and other collections. These vitae provide interesting material for examining the characteristics and values of Carmelite holiness in the 17th century. The purpose of the project is to examine holiness in the life stories of Carmelite men and women who died in ‘fragrance of holiness’ during the seventeenth century and to compare their vitae. In this way we hope to gain insight into which values were central in Carmel and to answer questions such as: are these values found throughout Europe? If not, what differences appear? What similarities are there? Was there one and the same Carmelite spirituality? If not, which emphasis was placed in which culture? This research is done using topoi. The

The Carmelite Order is pleased to announce a new leadership team for their international academic institution, Institutum Carmelitanum, located at St Albert’s International Centre in Rome (Italy). Boby Sebastian Tharakkunnel, O. Carm., (Province of St Thomas, India), has been appointed as the President of the Institutum Carmelitanum. He will direct, coordinate, and promote the research and the scientific activities of the Institutum Carmelitanum for the next six years. Father Boby was born in Kerala (India) and made his first profession as a Carmelite in 1993. He worked as Executive Secretary of the Order’s Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission and also as a member of the Order’s Inter-Religious Dialogue Commission. After earning his doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute (Rome) in 2014, he has been a professor of Canon Law, Civil Law and director of retreats and courses of personality development. Currently, he is the prior and rector of our minor seminary