Daniel del Castillo González
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the most widespread and invocated Marian devotions in all the world.
This devotion was born 800 years ago and eventually gave rise to the Carmelite Order, but it has gone through various stages that transformed and redirected its charism back to its monastic origins in Jerusalem. But what is it? And why was it reformed?
P. MIGUEL ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ O.C.D
Prior Discalced Carmelites Avila (Spain)
It began back in the 13th century on Mount Carmel, in the Holy Land, in the land of the Lord, when a group of Crusaders who had set out to reconquer the holy sites were unable to enter Jerusalem. They then settled on Mount Carmel as the city was occupied by the Saracens.
Later, they expanded into Europe. On Mount Carmel, they had built a monastery and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of that mount, to Our Lady who took the name of that place. It's from that mount that she is called Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
During the 16th century, the Church underwent a period of reform, such as the Council of Trent.
It was then that a nun by the name of Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada left the Monastery of the Incarnation. She did this at the Church's request with the help of King Philip II, to begin the reform of the Carmelite Order.
P. MIGUEL ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ O.C.D
Prior Discalced Carmelites Avila (Spain)
They founded their first monastery, the Convent of Saint Joseph, in the city of Avila, which was later followed by others, bringing the total to 17 houses. They undertook a reform, seeking to return to the origins of Mount Carmel, to a more evangelical life, with more prayer and greater fraternal fellowship.
A reform undertaken by a nun was bound to be fraught with difficulties and struggles, that is, until the then General Superior visited Teresa's first reformed convent.
P. MIGUEL ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ O.C.D
Prior Discalced Carmelites Avila (Spain)
The General Superior, an Italian Father named Rubeo, visited the monastery of Saint Joseph of Avila. Saint Teresa recounts the visit: “The General Superior was thrilled when he saw the reform undertaken by sister Teresa of Avila.”
If Teresa of Avila was able to secure support for the women's branch, the men's branch would need a friar who also understood the need for reform.
This was Saint John of the Cross, a 25 year old priest that wanted to be a Carthusian, but instead decided to collaborate with Teresa of Avila, who was then 52.
P. MIGUEL ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ O.C.D
Prior Discalced Carmelites Avila (Spain)
In 'The Book of the Foundations' she comments on the experience: “Speaking with him gave me great joy. He told me that he wanted to join the Carthusians.” The saint writes that she won over John of the Cross to the reform. He agreed on one condition: that it not take too long. St. Teresa of Avila took him with her to the monastery in Valladolid.
For St. John of the Cross, these tensions resulted in nine months of imprisonment in the Carmelite convent in Toledo.
It was with the reform that a distinction was made between Calced and Discalced Carmelites. This reform did not satisfy all the brothers of the Order. The issue was eventually resolved with the establishment of a separate province with its own government.
Today, there are more than 4,000 Discalced Carmelite friars and 12,000 sisters worldwide.
