Discalced Carmelite Nun Communities

[graciandelamadrededios]

A novice with crown of flowers from Santa Fe Carmel - notice the gathered/shirred veil

 

[DominicanHeart]

Carmelites! I'm so excited!

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

A Carmelite Nun in her cell, before Vatican II

 

[Chiquitunga]

https://m.facebook.com/218532718163204/photos/a.218574538159022.70954.218532718163204/1401249876558143/?type=3

[DominicanHeart]

14 hours ago, Chiquitunga said:

https://m.facebook.com/218532718163204/photos/a.218574538159022.70954.218532718163204/1401249876558143/?type=3

I think that's the only picture of Dallas Carmel anyone has ever seen

[Chiquitunga]

There are a few others here and there. Maybe at some point I'll go find them up

here's something for now from PA

https://www.hbgdiocese.org/2016/06/27/carmelites-break-ground-for-new-monastery-in-fairfield/

[DominicanHeart]

That is so exciting!!!

[Makarioi]

On July 12, 2016 at 6:02 PM, graciandelamadrededios said:

A novice with crown of flowers from Santa Fe Carmel - notice the gathered/shirred veil

 

Carmelite habits seem to be quite involved! What is the significance of the shirred /gathered veil? 

[graciandelamadrededios]

The gathered/shirred veils are common among Spanish Nuns since I saw the same technique on the veils of Spanish Augustinian Nuns who founded convents in Manila.  Its probably a cultural thing.  

[graciandelamadrededios]

Carmelite Nun of St. Louis Carmel with a beautiful crownof flowers

 

 

On 6/23/2016 at 0:03 PM, graciandelamadrededios said:

Profession, Traverse City Carmel

 

 

Profession, Santa Fe Carmel

 

Is she wearing a ring?  Wedding ring, Chiqui?

[truthfinder]

1 hour ago, graciandelamadrededios said:

 

 

Is she wearing a ring?  Wedding ring, Chiqui?

Gracian - I just watched their video on their website, and it does indeed look like at least some of the professed wear wedding rings. 

[graciandelamadrededios]

Oh? Its probably optional for each sister since its not customary for Carmelite to wear wedding rings.  The visible sign of their solemn perpetual vows is their black veil.  This is the reason why the black veil is only given during final profession.  At least, this is the explanation I got from a Prioress during our interview.

[truthfinder]

1 hour ago, graciandelamadrededios said:

Oh? Its probably optional for each sister since its not customary for Carmelite to wear wedding rings.  The visible sign of their solemn perpetual vows is their black veil.  This is the reason why the black veil is only given during final profession.  At least, this is the explanation I got from a Prioress during our interview.

I believe Terre Haute also wears wedding rings. I'm guessing it's a local peculiarity - possibly with an interesting back story?

[graciandelamadrededios]

13 hours ago, truthfinder said:

I believe Terre Haute also wears wedding rings. I'm guessing it's a local peculiarity - possibly with an interesting back story?

I think so too, and Port Tobacco but I am sure that I did not encounter anything about rings on the OCD custom books, ceremonial or on their manuals published before Vatican II

[Chiquitunga]

On 7/25/2016 at 1:29 PM, graciandelamadrededios said:

The gathered/shirred veils are common among Spanish Nuns since I saw the same technique on the veils of Spanish Augustinian Nuns who founded convents in Manila.  Its probably a cultural thing.  

I wonder, I'm thinking it may really be for practical reasons that Spanish nuns starting sewing their veils like that, to fit the material across and around the face, without having to cut it in a special way, I don't know.

On 7/24/2016 at 7:17 AM, Makarioi said:

Carmelite habits seem to be quite involved! What is the significance of the shirred /gathered veil? 

Actually compared to some of the other cloistered nuns' habits/veils, they are really simple. I'm sure gracian could provide more details examples, but for instances for Poor Clares, Dominicans, Carthusians, they have a few more pieces to the full habit.. (giumpe, coiffe, forehead piece, etc. I don't know all the specifics, but a friend of mine who was a Poor Clare told me a little) Whereas Discalced Carmelites just had/have the toque and day veil most of the time (outer veil for specific times) The shirring/sewing part is basically what keeps those two pieces together. In French Carmels it is just pinned to the top (and on the sides, also Spanish Carmels will use pins on the sides too, anyway ^_^)

p.s. I think the most complicated for cloistered nuns is probably the Visitandine

[Chiquitunga]

was about to edit.. actually I think Carthusian Nuns have it pretty simple as well, Domincans too. The Poor Clares, and this is the PCCs, have a few more parts to the veil, although the habit overall is simple. The PCPAs have a lot more to their veils as well.

[Chiquitunga]

On 7/23/2016 at 6:05 AM, DominicanHeart said:

I think that's the only picture of Dallas Carmel anyone has ever seen

 

On 7/23/2016 at 10:49 PM, Chiquitunga said:

There are a few others here and there. Maybe at some point I'll go find them up

https://irl.solutiosoftware.com/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/profile&Itemid=195&_qf_Search_display=true&qfKey=00dcfb4dcf5e18986f70d3dde530e05f_2248 (super tiny, they just became an IRL affiliate)

http://religiouslife.com/profile-view?id=1445

http://veneremurcernui.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/img_59261.jpeg

last but not least, http://myyearwithgmh.blogspot.com/2012/03/saturday-night-with-carmelites-blog-for.html

I'm really putting off getting to sleep (where's the blush emoticon?) Goodnight!! 

 

[Nunsuch]

If you are interested in another "take" on Carmelite life and spirituality in the post-Vatican II era, you may be interested in this book: 

https://www.amazon.com/Cloister-Community-within-Carmelite-Monastery/dp/0253341841/

[graciandelamadrededios]

On 7/30/2016 at 3:19 AM, Chiquitunga said:

I wonder, I'm thinking it may really be for practical reasons that Spanish nuns starting sewing their veils like that, to fit the material across and around the face, without having to cut it in a special way, I don't know.

Actually compared to some of the other cloistered nuns' habits/veils, they are really simple. I'm sure gracian could provide more details examples, but for instances for Poor Clares, Dominicans, Carthusians, they have a few more pieces to the full habit.. (giumpe, coiffe, forehead piece, etc. I don't know all the specifics, but a friend of mine who was a Poor Clare told me a little) Whereas Discalced Carmelites just had/have the toque and day veil most of the time (outer veil for specific times) The shirring/sewing part is basically what keeps those two pieces together. In French Carmels it is just pinned to the top (and on the sides, also Spanish Carmels will use pins on the sides too, anyway ^_^)

p.s. I think the most complicated for cloistered nuns is probably the Visitandine

Hi Chiqui

I am not sure what you mean by this = I'm sure gracian could provide more details examples

[Chiquitunga]

5 hours ago, graciandelamadrededios said:

Hi Chiqui

I am not sure what you mean by this = I'm sure gracian could provide more details examples

I mean regarding all the pieces other contemplative nuns veils involve. You probably are more familiar with the different terms. Wouldn't you agree that the discalced Carmelite veil with just two pieces, a toque and day veil (besides the larger outer veil worn on certain occasions) is pretty simple compared to other full veils of contemplative religious? I was replying to someone's comment that Carmelite veils are quite involved, regarding the shirring with the Spanish veils. My guess is that this started for a practical reason, a way to sew down the material of the veil without having to cut it in a particular way to fit around the forehead - also to not sew it flat on so there's a bunch of material left on the sides (I have noticed some of the Argentinian Carmels do this though)

another thing I feel like that makes Discalces Carmelite veils pretty simple and overall hassle free is how the toque is mostly covered by/sits underneath the large brown scapular, so it's not like there's too much of a need to keep it totally wrinkle free, etc. one Carmelite explained to me that it originates from an apron a Jewish woman would have worn at the time of Our Lord, which Our Lady wore around the house at Nazareth - and then she gave this to St. Simon Stock of course. It's the yoke of Our Lord, as the ceremonial calls it.

anyway, but yeah, the point I'm trying to get across is the simplicity of the discalced Carmelite veil compared to some of the other contemplative communities, which you may know more details about. it would seem odd for the discalced veil to be complicated/especially involved, which was the opposite of what St. Teresa was going for, getting away from which she experienced at the Incarnation.