Carmelite Friars Today
The Carmelite Order has a tradition of prayer and service that has been present in the Church for over eight hundred years. Its story goes back even further into the pages of history to the biblical times. It has seen many changes in society throughout the ages. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever but people change. That the Gospel might be understood by people of various cultures and experiences, Carmelites have often had to adapt to changing circumstances. The message does not change but the way it is presented must. We understand the need to grasp what is going on in today’s world so that our ministry is faithful to both God and the people we serve. In this we live out the prophetic call of baptism – to read the signs of the times.
Those who join the Carmelite Order today come from a very different world to that of the first Carmelites. They will join a small group of brothers who are involved in the work of preaching the Gospel and witnessing to the presence of God in the world. You will find friars in parishes, chaplaincies, among young people, on pilgrimage and on retreat. We have found that actions speak louder than words and the best form of preaching remains the example of a life which is totally dedicated to God.
The Carmelite Order began as a group of hermits. Mount Carmel is a place of incredible beauty on the coast of what is now Israel. From before the time of Jesus, from the time of the Prophet Elijah, people had sought out the beauty and solitude of Carmel to be with God in silence and prayer. In the early years of the thirteenth century a group of hermits came together in a form of community and asked the local bishop, Albert Patriarch of Jerusalem, to approve and regularise their way of life. This he did and the hermits of Mount Carmel became notable for their prayerful way of life. Change was forced upon them with a change in circumstances. Shortly after its foundation, the Order spread rapidly through Europe. The early Carmelites decided to change their lifestyle to that of friars. The hallmark of the friars was service with and amongst the people but the Carmelites never forgot their origins as hermits. Prayer which leads to intimacy with God is the ideal of the Carmelites but prayer drives us into the active apostolate to tell others of god and to show them His love in practice. Intimacy with God is what we aim for and at the same time it is the source of all our apostolic activity. Therefore prayer and ministry are the two constants in Carmelite life.
Friars are available for the work of the Church and attempt to respond to the changing need of God’s people. Our work is never boring as it brings us into contact with people with a rich variety of experiences and cultures. The Church in the UK brings together people from lands near and far.
Our Church is universal, and Carmelites are called to be present in its heart. One of the great saints of our modern times was a young Carmelite woman, Therese of Lisieux, who proclaimed that her vocation was to be ‘love at the heart of the Church.’
Our story spans centuries. Our history provides us with insights and truths that help us tackle the problems and situations that people of our times now face. The Carmelite tradition with its emphasis on prayer, community and service has much to teach to us today. We gain strength from it to serve the Church and the world and to proclaim the message of Christ which is ever new.
Questions for Reflection.
· What are the needs of people today?
· What are your own needs?
Those who join the Carmelite Order today come from a very different world to that of the first Carmelites. They will join a small group of brothers who are involved in the work of preaching the Gospel and witnessing to the presence of God in the world. You will find friars in parishes, chaplaincies, among young people, on pilgrimage and on retreat. We have found that actions speak louder than words and the best form of preaching remains the example of a life which is totally dedicated to God.
The Carmelite Order began as a group of hermits. Mount Carmel is a place of incredible beauty on the coast of what is now Israel. From before the time of Jesus, from the time of the Prophet Elijah, people had sought out the beauty and solitude of Carmel to be with God in silence and prayer. In the early years of the thirteenth century a group of hermits came together in a form of community and asked the local bishop, Albert Patriarch of Jerusalem, to approve and regularise their way of life. This he did and the hermits of Mount Carmel became notable for their prayerful way of life. Change was forced upon them with a change in circumstances. Shortly after its foundation, the Order spread rapidly through Europe. The early Carmelites decided to change their lifestyle to that of friars. The hallmark of the friars was service with and amongst the people but the Carmelites never forgot their origins as hermits. Prayer which leads to intimacy with God is the ideal of the Carmelites but prayer drives us into the active apostolate to tell others of god and to show them His love in practice. Intimacy with God is what we aim for and at the same time it is the source of all our apostolic activity. Therefore prayer and ministry are the two constants in Carmelite life.
Friars are available for the work of the Church and attempt to respond to the changing need of God’s people. Our work is never boring as it brings us into contact with people with a rich variety of experiences and cultures. The Church in the UK brings together people from lands near and far.
Our Church is universal, and Carmelites are called to be present in its heart. One of the great saints of our modern times was a young Carmelite woman, Therese of Lisieux, who proclaimed that her vocation was to be ‘love at the heart of the Church.’
Our story spans centuries. Our history provides us with insights and truths that help us tackle the problems and situations that people of our times now face. The Carmelite tradition with its emphasis on prayer, community and service has much to teach to us today. We gain strength from it to serve the Church and the world and to proclaim the message of Christ which is ever new.
Questions for Reflection.
· What are the needs of people today?
· What are your own needs?
|
Carmelite wisdom“Where there is no love, put love and you will find love”.
St. John of the Cross, Carmelite friar |