"The heart of it is a commitment to the three keystones of Carmelite life: prayer, community and service.". Ive had many inexplicable spiritual experiences in my life, not because Im all that wonderful, and not because Ive lost touch with reality, but because our wonderful Lord chose to open my eyes to everyday miracles so as to serve certain purposes of His. Payers time at the monastery, she says, fills a void in my heart for community and a more disciplined prayer life.. , Lay Member Series: Secular Discalced Carmelite #BISblog //, An Aspirancy of one year, in which one learns what it means to live out the charism and spirit of Carmel as a lay person, Formation for the Temporary Promise of two years, in which one grows in deeper understanding of prayer and the Rule. The event will bring together sisters, monks, oblates, and Benedictine staff, as well as nonreligiously affiliated Millennials interested in contemplative spirituality. Theres the sense that the monks have figured something out.. Oblates are necessary too, but their first commitment isnt to the monastery. This does not mean we imitate monastic life, but we do dedicate time to solitude, silent prayer, and acts of charity. By entering the order, the Lay Carmelite takes upon him/herself the Carmelite charism of prayer, community . A Lay Carmelite does this by sharing in the charism of the Carmelite Order. Our motto is Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum, which means With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts, which are the words of the Prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10. 8. The next two years of learning would be more concentrated study on the topics covered in the first year. The Carmelite charism is deeply grounded in the kind of prayer which draws one nearer to God; it is a journey which leads a person to experience an intimacy with Jesus Who dwells within the soul. Pray after pledging. The Lay Carmelite is a true member of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. I just couldnt see myself there. We are 4 years old and are located in the Diocese of Easton (Maryland). Having a very active and attention-loving little one makes quiet, focused prayer very difficult to work into a day. (Fun fact: Diocesan priests can be members of a third order.). So I've never not been in the Church. As I said, the Enemy is always looking for cracks in the cistern of our souls so that he can suck out the living water. Primarily the order accepts single or widowed women aged 18 to 45 who are in good health. But lay Catholics can become members of these religious orders, too, by making promises or professions instead of vows and practicing the order's spirituality. . I just cant worry about failure. I am a Cradle Catholic with weekly Mass attendance being the norm along with weekly religious education classes. Wooden says she was drawn to Benedictine spirituality because of its emphasis on balance, moderation, and contemplation. During the 16th century, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross worked to restore the Carmelite Order's original primitive state. Becoming a nun is a life-altering decision. The actual time-line of formation for both has become quite similar. (Most oblates wear a pin or oblate medal on a chain.) 'Lay Carmelites can create community in various ways: in their own families, where the domestic church is to be found . Visitors to the abbey know her as Sister Scholastica, a name she took with the abbots permission in honor of St. Benedicts sister and her patron saint. Kelly Sheredy, a.k.a. The Carmelite charism is deeply grounded in the kind of prayer which draws one nearer to God; it is a journey which leads a person to experience an intimacy with Jesus Who dwells within the soul. There are some single oblates, but even they have not given their life over to the monastery. Ask God outright where He wants you. I cant make it to Mass with my son who rarely makes it through the entire Sunday liturgy remaining in the pew, and Night Prayer doesnt work well with mommy bed time. My first meeting was in December 2007. 4. With 111 sisters in residence, the Mount is one of the largest Benedictine womens monasteries in the country. Discernment . If I live in a place where there is no Lay Carmelite Community can I still become a Lay Carmelite? Basically, the Blessed Virgin Mary came and got me! Carmel has been part of the background of my imagination since I first started learning about the lives of the saints. Oblates and tertiaries (Third Orders) do not simply "sign up," as though they were joining a club. As Secular Carmelites, we share the same charism as the Friars and Sisters, the same traditions, the same call to holiness and the same apostolic mission. June 17, 2019 Lay Carmelites wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a witness of the commitment made in Carmel. A diocesan priest can also become a Secular Franciscan, indeed a pope can be a Secular Franciscan. Now oblates are going to have to start digging their own well, which they are fully capable of doing.. So I read. Lay Member Series: Secular Carmelite #BISblog //Click to tweet This branch was reformed by St. Teresa of Avila and encompasses so many incredible Carmelite saints: St. John of the Cross, St. Thrse of Lisieux (the Little Flower), St. Edith Stein (a.k.a. This trend marks both an opportunity and a challenge for the Benedictine way of life. Becoming a Lay Carmelite is a vocation for anyone - married or single, man or woman. We promise to strive to live in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and the Beatitudes, according to our state of life. Secular Discalced Carmelites live a life of contemplative prayer and detachment. Sister Teresa Jackson, membership director at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, uses these lines from Isaiah to describe both the opportunities and challenges oblates represent. Jodi Kileup, an oblate of Mount Angel Abbey outside of Portland, Oregon, says oblates arent another club or social group. Nor are they monastic groupies, but rather people with a vocation connected but not the same as professed monastics. As I prayed about this, the Lord helped me realize that I would never be ready or worthy or capable on my own. Like many oblates, she fears her monastery will not be able to sustain itself in the future. Carmelites are not hermits; relationships on both the temporal as well as spiritual dimensions are important for the nourishment of ones full Carmelite vocation. Are we failing to see the new life, new energy and longing for monastic life?. Lay people in the O.Carm.s. This October will be six years since Ive been fully professed. Peters says he believes there is a place for monasticism in the evangelical Protestant tradition. Before I open the clinic, I bless the space with prayers of gratitude and petitions for anyone that walks through the door, that they will find a refuge of help and hope, she says. Born in 1928, Ann had dreams of becoming a nun, but she fell in love instead. 36-41) Lay Carmelites live a life of intense prayer based on daily meditation (use of Lectio Divina is a highly acceptable method), participation in the sacramental life of the Church centred on daily Mass and reception of Holy Communion as often as possible, praying at least Morning, Evening and Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, the wearing of the Brown Scapular of Carmel, and cultivating a love and devotion for our Blessed Mother nourished with practices such as the praying of the Rosary. Brian met Eszter - who is from Hungary - in church, and they married last year. Anne Tropeano hopes to build a social-justice-oriented parish: "I will strive to be a completely kick-ass priest.". The sisters have made rooms available for oblate affiliates, people who want to spend extended periods within the monastery. Secular Carmelites. For all of our Lay Carmelite community Marney's friend Paula- Hip surgery Dodie Pflumm- surgery 2/13/14 The Carmelites of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Annunciation Catholic Church and our priests, nuns and religious. I see a remarkable difference in my life, not only before and after entering Carmel, but also the huge difference between when Im having a good day of prayer and communion with God, and when Im struggling to pray at all. 78) allows for one to be admitted to the Third Order without being enrolled in a particular community. Its important to recognize that our oblates are not a program. Yet even the more traditional communities will . Perhaps familiarity of the various saints of the Order, is the attraction. However, the huge benefits of officially belonging to the family of Carmel are non-trivial especially as regards what one experiences in the support they receive from their local, provincial and even worldwide community of brothers and sister Carmelites whether First, Second or Third Order members. Everything I read seemed to resonate with exactly the place I had reached in my faith journey thus far. However, after a considerable time of prayer, discernment and competent spiritual direction, one may profess two vows: obedience, and chastity in accordance with ones state in life. Post-college, I was able to find community in various Catholic young adult activities all over the Cleveland Diocese: from monthly prayer events to book groups to Theology on Tap to a co-ed softball league. What are the daily obligations particular to the Lay Carmelite vocation?7. We are to participate fully in the life of our community and in the bigger community of Carmel. We see this in the example of Saint Teresa. While there, she wears a simple white dress that serves as a kind of habit. They are Catholic lay men and women over the age of 18 (married or unmarried) or they can be ordained diocesan priests or deacons. The other branch of Carmel, whose friars and nuns use the letters OCarm, has their own third order, TOC. We summarize our charism by saying: Under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in the biblical tradition of the prophet Elijah and inspired by the teachings of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross, (we) seek to deepen (our) Christian commitment received in baptism (OCDS Constitution, #3). Carmelites are known for their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. But if you come across an order and start reading the words of their founders or their Saints and feel profound peaceas though youve found ancestors or a brother or sisterthat, my friend, that is everything. She describes herself as a spiritual seeker from about the age of 4 on. She sought to become an oblate after attending several retreats at Queen of Angels Monastery outside of Portland, Oregon. Third Orders are comprised of lay men and women who are formally associated with a religious order such as the Benedictines, Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans, Mercedarians, Norbertines, Servites, Marists, and Trinitarians and who may or may not live in community (Third Order Regular versus Third Order Secular). Tropeano hopes to build a social-justice-oriented parish: & quot ; first started learning the., Ann had dreams of becoming a Lay Carmelite community can I still become a Secular Franciscan indeed! 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