5/22/2021 Our Lady of Mt. CarmelThe Call to Carmel Part A...by Rose HillThis is a first in a series about Carmelites and the vocation of being a Tertiary of Our Lady... When I was a little girl probably around age thirteen - I had wanted to be a Carmelite Nun and live a life like that. Of course, at the time, I didn't know much about nuns or convents. Later on, we started attending Latin Mass at a Carmelite Convent! So, I was able to "go to the turn" to ask for prayers and such! I even wrote to the sisters for awhile. One of my best friends "Chrissy" wanted to be a nun as well. However, our desires of youth did not quite come to pass. For myself, I didn't end up a religious nun - even despite going on a retreat where the priest suggested talking to my parish priest about a religious vocation. This retreat I took around age 26. I did go visit 2 of orders of nuns as well as go up to Canada on a special pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, I went to St. Anne De Beaupre' Shrine and I felt that she was saying to me, "You will be a teacher!" That pilgrimage left a great impression upon my soul. However, I decided my vocation was not to be a nun after the Sisters at another convent thought I did not have such a vocation. I accepted this as God's will. So, I prayed to God to find a "soul mate" someone that could help me reach heaven or at least that is one of the ideals of Marriage and to have children to give to God. I finally found someone when I was around 35 years old. I know that was quite a few years to wait to find a "soul mate." We have been married for 13 years, so I think that is showing that we are a good match - I still consider my husband my "soulmate". We also have children! Many marriages don't even last this long - Deo Gratias we are still together. So, the question you may ask - did I become a teacher? "Yes and no". I didn't become a teacher in a regular school so to speak. I did take some teacher education in college; however, God blessed my husband and I with children and we decided to "home school" them - so I became their teacher. (Also, hubby helps!) During my college years, I also decided to take an online doula course. That is how I became a doula and childbirth educator! So, I have ended up being a teacher of sorts to mothers and parents! Anyway, I feel like I need to go back to the subject now of Carmelites. So, what is a Tertiary in an order of religious? This means one is a Third Order member - someone "secular" living in the world, but can offer themselves in a spiritual way united with this particular order. So, there are Third Order members for the following - at least this is from my research: *Third Order Dominicans *Third Order Franciscans *Third Order Carmelites *Oblates of St. Benedict (same as Third order) *Third order of Servites I also was wanting to join a more Traditional Catholic Third order - not a secular version (or Novus Ordo) just because I probably would end up not being able to conform to everything in a Novus ordo version. (Not that they don't have merit - I am sure if you are a Third order member of a N.O. you will gain alot of merit as well!) So, I did some research and found about that the SSPX has also their own third order. I thought about joining the "regular" SSPX third order. However, I did deeper research and found out they have other third orders: *Franciscan SSPX Third Order (based in California - with ties to monks in France) *Dominican SSPX Third Order (Fr. Albert a Dominican priest is head of this one) *Carmelite SSPX Third order - originally my research took me to a website in Australia! There is also I believe a third order associated with FSSP - but I don't know that much about it. So, why join a third order to begin with? First of all, to get to heaven! I feel that the ideals of a third order would help a particular person gain the graces needed to get to heaven! Second, to practice one's Faith better with more fervor and practice virtues better. Things like humility, patience, and more... Third, one also must feel called the particular spirituality of the "order" that you are choosing. For instance Franciscans have a definite distinct mission. I feel called to the Carmelites - however, I want to show various spirituality below. This is information below about Franciscan: Along with the entire Franciscan family, the spirituality of the secular Franciscan is intensely Christocentric and focused on Jesus, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, who became one of us in the Incarnation. Franciscan spirituality is primarily focused on Christ’s Incarnation, His Passion, and His Presence in the Eucharist. For secular Franciscans, Jesus is the inspiration and center of our life with God and with people. He is the way to the Father, and the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us. (OFS Rule, Article 4).(1 reference below). Dominican spirituality - has 4 pillars: Dominican lives are rooted in the four Dominican charisms: Prayer, Study, Community, and Service - all for the sake of Veritas (the truth of God’s mercy and love). (Reference 2 below) Carmelite Spirituality: Carmelite spirituality is meant to be experienced and not just studied. In fact, I find it the hardest to describe - but if you are familiar at all with St. Therese's writings - she said "My vocation is love." That in a nutshell is the spirituality of a Carmelite - To meditate, To give God our Love, To "pray without ceasing" is what St. Teresa of Avila says. Meditation is the core of the Carmelite spirituality; and praying the Little Office of Mary (for Third order members). The spirituality of a Carmelite is a spirituality of contemplation and seeking God above everything! St. John of the Cross writes about the Carmelite Spirituality: What is this union with God that is so fundamental to St. John of the Cross's spirituality? It is a complete dying to the old fallen self and living anew in perfect docility to God and His movements in the soul. St. John said in The Living Flame of Love, "Let it be known that what the soul calls death is all that goes to make up the old self . . . In this new life that the soul lives when it has arrived at the perfect union with God here being discussed, all the inclinations and activity of the [soul] . . . become divine. Since . . . the soul's operations are in God through its union with him, it lives the life of God." The soul in union is perfectly docile to grace, and so the soul is moved by God alone and not by its own desires or thinking. He explains, "For the soul, like a true daughter of God, is moved in all things by the Spirit of God." The will of the soul is lost in the will of God and the two become one by grace. (Reference 3 below). So, this is the call to Carmel - the longing and desired to set one's heart on fire with the love of God! In next series - we will explore the steps to becoming a Third Order Carmelite member! References: 1. https://secularfranciscansusa.org/franciscan-spirituality/ 2. https://www.aquinas.edu/resources/student-resources/campus-ministry/dominican-spirituality 3. http://www.carmelitemonks.org/CarmeliteSpirituality.php Comments are closed.
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