Carmelite Customs

[Pia Jesu]

Hope you feel better soon, +Indwelling!

[brandelynmarie]

Thank you all for such beautiful photos & posts :blush:

Pia & Indwelling, many prayers for your respective journeys...may you both have His Peace...

Edited January 17, 2014 by brandelynmarie

[graciandelamadrededios]

Thank you all for such beautiful photos & posts :blush:

Pia & Indwelling, many prayers for your respective journeys...may you both have His Peace...

 

I am glad  you liked them!

 

Carmels in Poland and other cloistered communities is Poland are thriving!

Edited January 21, 2014 by graciandelamadrededios

[graciandelamadrededios]

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

My dear friend Chiqui

 

I hope you like the photo below, knowing how much you love the Spanish Style Habit of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns and I think they are wearing wool too!

 

Gracian

 

[vee]

those pins look like they could keep the scapular on in a hurricane...

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

those pins look like they could keep the scapular on in a hurricane...

 

VEE!!!!

 

I've missed you so much and I've tried to contact you. I think about you often and have been praying for you and all you are going through.

[vee]

IGGY!

 

I pm'ed you :P

[cmaD2006]

:) Vee8 ... nice to see you on the phorum! :)

[graciandelamadrededios]

I have recently received a 320 pages book published by OCD Friars of Warsaw Province to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Discalced Carmelite Nuns' Monastery in Poland, the title of which is:

 

Zajęte wychwalaniem Boga

400 lat Karmelitanek Bosych w Polsce 1612-2012

 

 

• Louvain, Brussels, and Mons Carmel helped with the foundation of Krakow Carmel in 1612
• Liege Cornillon Carmel founded Poznan Carmel in 1867
• These two Carmel became parents to daughter Carmels in Poland.
• In turn Polish Carmels gave birth to Carmels outside Poland.
• Elblag Carmel founded Hafnafjordur Carmel in Iceland in 1984 - this Carmel founded Tromso Carmel in Norway in 1990
• Dys Carmel founded Charkow Carmel in 1995 and Kijow Carmel in 1991 - both in Ukraine
• Poznan Carmel founded Oziornoje Carmel in Kazachstan in 2007
• Tryszczyn Carmel founded Karaganda Carmel in Kazachstan in 1998
• Zakopane Carmel founded Koszyce Carmel in Slovakia in 1995 - this Carmel founded Detva Carmel in 2007, also in Slovakia
• Kalisz Carmel founded Usole Carmel in Russia in 2002
• Krakow Wesola Carmel retained the Pre-Vatican II spikes attached to their Choir Grilles
• The youngest Carmel in Poland was founded in Sucha Huta in 2009, a daughterhouse of Gdynia Carmel.
• This is an amazing book, though, I cannot understand the language since its written in Polish.
• So far, USA, Poland, India and the Philippines are the only country that published books about the origin and history of all Carmelite Monasteries in their respective countries. 
• The photos are amazing, one photo shows a white veiled nun wearing a very large and long white veil that reaches the floor!  I have seen this custom in some (not all) Carmels during profession that Nuns wear a "special large veil."

 

 

Edited February 26, 2014 by graciandelamadrededios

[Carla]

Thank you all for such beautiful photos and posts.Carmelite nuns are so special to me.

[graciandelamadrededios]

Thank you all for such beautiful photos and posts.Carmelite nuns are so special to me.

 

You are most welcome, my dear! :saint2: 

 

There are Carmelite Monasteries in Croatia.  Did you visit and discern with them?

[graciandelamadrededios]

The Mantuan Congregation

 

In the first decadce of the 15^th Century, a movement of reform originated in the Tuscan province.  Originator of the reform of Jacobo di Alberto, prior of the convent of Le Selve near Florence, first mentioned as “a house of observance” at the provincial chapter of 1413, which confirmed its special constitutions.  Jacobo’s successor as Bl. Angelus Mazzinghi (d. 1438), who was also the first to make profession in the reform.  Mantual and Geronde in Switzerland were added to the observance, when the Breton, Thomas Connecte, visited Italy with his followers, who likewise joined the reform.

 

In 1442, Eugene IV, constituted these three convents a Congregation under the immediate jurisdiction of the prior general, whose powers, for that matter, were strictly limited.

 

The reform stressed silence and cloister and the common life.  The mitigation of Eugene IV regarding abstinence was not accepted.  The Mantuan Friars wore a habit of rough undyed wool.

 

In the Lower German province, John Ubach was not alone in renouncing all privileges of life (1435).  The prior of Enghien, John Inguen, did the same, “from a motive of holy reformation.”  Mors was a reformed house, probably since its foundation.  Priors and members of both houses were to play important roles in the reform the prior general, John Soreth, was soon to inaugurate. 

 

In the Upper German province, Heilbronn was founded under the aegis of reform (1451).

 

 

 The Carmelite Women

 

Another important feature of Soreth’s reform was the institutions of cloistered Carmelite nuns.

 

From the earliest times, in Italy especially, women associated themselves with the Order in varying degreed.  The conversae professed wthe three vows taken by the friars and submitted to the superiors of the Order.  One authority, Fr. Claudio Catena, holds that the vows were solemn, and the conversae were nuns in the modern sense of the word.  Other women took only one or other of the vows or simple vows and sometimes formed communities without cloister.  They were various called mantellates, pinzocchere (Italy), and beatas (Spain).  Confraternity members participated in the spiritual benefits of the Order in echange for material ones.

 

Bl. Joan of Toulouse, an anchoress attached to the Carmelite church there early in the 15^th century, may probably be classed as a conversa.

 

In 1452, by the bull Cum Nulla, Nicholas V bestowed papal authorization for receiving women into the Carmelite Order.  It was actually the prior of Florence, Batholomew Masi, who fetched the bull from Rome on behalf of the pinzocchere aggregated to the convent, but he is not to be personally credited with the bull; only the prior general could have obtained a privilege applicable to the whole Order. 

 

Soreht was personally involved in the foundation of several cloistered monasteries in Low Countries.  His friend, Bld Frances d’Amboise, the duchess of Britanny, introduced his nuns into her domains and herself joined them.

 

The monastery of St. Mary of the Angels in Florence, Italy, was founded in 1454, but only later accepted cloister and the obligation of the choral office.  Besides Florence, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Brescia, Mantua, Ferrera numbered monasteries under the care of the Mantuan Congregation.  Examples of saintly nuns are Bl. Archagela Girlani and Bl. Joan Scopelli.

 

Bl. John Soreth never personally visited Spain and his reforming efforts did not extend there.  After 1452, a number of communities were formed, not all of them cloistered.  The beaterio of Avila, fomous for its most illustrious member, Teresa de Ahumada y Cepeda, was founded in 1479.

 

What is written above was copied from “The Mirror of Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Order by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.”

 

 

Commentary on:

 

1. The Various Reform within the Carmelite Order

 

The Carmelite Order hosted various reforms throughout its migration to the West:

 

Mantuan Reform

Reform of Touraine

Stricter Observance of Aquitaine, Narbonne, and Francia

Stricter Observance of Provence, Toulouse and Gascony

Stricter Observance of Belgium and Germany

Reform of Monte Santo

The Observance of Santa Maria della Vita

Reform of Piedmont

The Second Reform of Piedmont

The “Recollect” Houses of Colares

The Reform of the Vicariate of Brazil

The Reformed Province of Pernambuco

 

Just by reading the list, the order had plenty of reform after another.  None of these reforms survived except the Discalced Reform initiated by St. Teresa of Jesus.  Those reform houses either died a natural death – the mitigation started to creep in and observances was mitigated or it was incorporated back into the Order.

 

2. The Carmelite Nuns of the Mantuan Reform

 

The following were monasteries of Nuns under the Mantuan Congregation:

 

1. Bergamo

2. Bologna “Convertite”

3. Ronciglione

4. Parma

5. Reggio

6. Emilia

7. Brescia

8. Ferrera (San Gabriele)

9. Mantua

10. Trino

11. Florence

12. Sutri

13. Vinovo

14. Alhino

15. Ferrera “Convertite”

16. Ferrara (Santa Lucia)

 

Converitite are a group of “reformed women” who converted and adapted the Carmelite Rule and further embraced the Mantuan Reform. 

 

These houses who embraced the reform lived very similar to the Nuns of the Discalced Reform except that they can have as many members are they can accommodate.  St. Teresa limited the membership of her monasteries to maximum of 21 nuns per house.

 

3. The Carmelite Nuns and its Origin

 

Conversae or Oblates – they were the forerunners of the cloistered nuns, they took the same vows like the Carmelite Friars but they don’t live in a convent.  These women are subject to the prior of the convent where they made their oblation and a member of his community.

 

Conversae took the vows to the Carmelite community and bestows her goods to the community – though they can’t live inside the convent of the friars – they lived on their own houses.  They are, though, considered solemnly professed Nuns in their time since they fulfilled the fundamental requirements of the Canon Law of that period namely – a document, spontaneous profession, or reception of the habit of the professed.  As per Nicolo de Tudeschi – when “women professesing the rule of men” make their vows in their hands, they are considered “true religious”, even though they do not enter a monastery of nuns but remain in their respective homes.  All vows are solemn at that time.  It was only during the Council of Trent that Solemn vows requires cloister or enclosure of nuns.

 

Another class of women associated with Carmel was the sisters or sorelle, various called as vestite, mantellate, pinzocchere.  These women took all or some of the three vows – poverty, chastity, and obedience, but not according to the rule of the order, hence making their vows simple.  Unlike conversae, they tend to organize and form into associations.

 

There are also Carmelite Recluses, who may have been conversae who are attached to a Carmelite church.

 

Some of the uncloistered Sisters wore white veils – collectively called “White Ladies” and when they accept the cloister, they are given black veil – sign of obligation to recite the divine office in choir and capitular rights.

 

4. The Color of the Carmelite Habit

 

Since the beginning, the Carmelites wore a habit of undyed wool which seem to have a shade of grayish brown.  In the 14^th century, a finer wool cloth dyed in black was introduced in the Order.  Undyed wool was normally favored by the reform and Soreth himself wore one.

 

6. The Carmelite Nuns in 1600

 

Many monasteries catered to the nobility and wealthy bourgeouis while girls from humble origins are accepted as lay sisters.  Recruitment often happens at a very young age and some are forced to enter by their parents.

 

7. Conservatory

 

In Italy during the 1600 century, some monasteries developed into a peculiar Italian institution, the convervatorio – these are houses of religious women without cloister or fowms which provide education of girls, especially with a view of recruiting them for religious life.  Some Carmelite monasteries started this way and later applied for cloister.

 

Sources:

 

Cloistered Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Nuns by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.

The Mirror of Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Order by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.

 

Edited February 26, 2014 by graciandelamadrededios

[graciandelamadrededios]

The Mantuan Congregation

 

In the first decadce of the 15^th Century, a movement of reform originated in the Tuscan province.  Originator of the reform of Jacobo di Alberto, prior of the convent of Le Selve near Florence, first mentioned as “a house of observance” at the provincial chapter of 1413, which confirmed its special constitutions.  Jacobo’s successor as Bl. Angelus Mazzinghi (d. 1438), who was also the first to make profession in the reform.  Mantual and Geronde in Switzerland were added to the observance, when the Breton, Thomas Connecte, visited Italy with his followers, who likewise joined the reform.

 

In 1442, Eugene IV, constituted these three convents a Congregation under the immediate jurisdiction of the prior general, whose powers, for that matter, were strictly limited.

 

The reform stressed silence and cloister and the common life.  The mitigation of Eugene IV regarding abstinence was not accepted.  The Mantuan Friars wore a habit of rough undyed wool.

 

In the Lower German province, John Ubach was not alone in renouncing all privileges of life (1435).  The prior of Enghien, John Inguen, did the same, “from a motive of holy reformation.”  Mors was a reformed house, probably since its foundation.  Priors and members of both houses were to play important roles in the reform the prior general, John Soreth, was soon to inaugurate. 

 

In the Upper German province, Heilbronn was founded under the aegis of reform (1451).

 

 

 The Carmelite Women

 

Another important feature of Soreth’s reform was the institutions of cloistered Carmelite nuns.

 

From the earliest times, in Italy especially, women associated themselves with the Order in varying degreed.  The conversae professed wthe three vows taken by the friars and submitted to the superiors of the Order.  One authority, Fr. Claudio Catena, holds that the vows were solemn, and the conversae were nuns in the modern sense of the word.  Other women took only one or other of the vows or simple vows and sometimes formed communities without cloister.  They were various called mantellates, pinzocchere (Italy), and beatas (Spain).  Confraternity members participated in the spiritual benefits of the Order in echange for material ones.

 

Bl. Joan of Toulouse, an anchoress attached to the Carmelite church there early in the 15^th century, may probably be classed as a conversa.

 

In 1452, by the bull Cum Nulla, Nicholas V bestowed papal authorization for receiving women into the Carmelite Order.  It was actually the prior of Florence, Batholomew Masi, who fetched the bull from Rome on behalf of the pinzocchere aggregated to the convent, but he is not to be personally credited with the bull; only the prior general could have obtained a privilege applicable to the whole Order. 

 

Soreht was personally involved in the foundation of several cloistered monasteries in Low Countries.  His friend, Bld Frances d’Amboise, the duchess of Britanny, introduced his nuns into her domains and herself joined them.

 

The monastery of St. Mary of the Angels in Florence, Italy, was founded in 1454, but only later accepted cloister and the obligation of the choral office.  Besides Florence, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Brescia, Mantua, Ferrera numbered monasteries under the care of the Mantuan Congregation.  Examples of saintly nuns are Bl. Archagela Girlani and Bl. Joan Scopelli.

 

Bl. John Soreth never personally visited Spain and his reforming efforts did not extend there.  After 1452, a number of communities were formed, not all of them cloistered.  The beaterio of Avila, fomous for its most illustrious member, Teresa de Ahumada y Cepeda, was founded in 1479.

 

What is written above was copied from “The Mirror of Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Order by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.”

 

 

Commentary on:

 

1. The Various Reform within the Carmelite Order

 

The Carmelite Order hosted various reforms throughout its migration to the West:

 

Mantuan Reform

Reform of Touraine

Stricter Observance of Aquitaine, Narbonne, and Francia

Stricter Observance of Provence, Toulouse and Gascony

Stricter Observance of Belgium and Germany

Reform of Monte Santo

The Observance of Santa Maria della Vita

Reform of Piedmont

The Second Reform of Piedmont

The “Recollect” Houses of Colares

The Reform of the Vicariate of Brazil

The Reformed Province of Pernambuco

 

Just by reading the list, the order had plenty of reform after another.  None of these reforms survived except the Discalced Reform initiated by St. Teresa of Jesus.  Those reform houses either died a natural death – the mitigation started to creep in and observances was mitigated or it was incorporated back into the Order.

 

2. The Carmelite Nuns of the Mantuan Reform

 

The following were monasteries of Nuns under the Mantuan Congregation:

 

1. Bergamo

2. Bologna “Convertite”

3. Ronciglione

4. Parma

5. Reggio

6. Emilia

7. Brescia

8. Ferrera (San Gabriele)

9. Mantua

10. Trino

11. Florence

12. Sutri

13. Vinovo

14. Alhino

15. Ferrera “Convertite”

16. Ferrara (Santa Lucia)

 

Converitite are a group of “reformed women” who converted and adapted the Carmelite Rule and further embraced the Mantuan Reform. 

 

These houses who embraced the reform lived very similar to the Nuns of the Discalced Reform except that they can have as many members are they can accommodate.  St. Teresa limited the membership of her monasteries to maximum of 21 nuns per house.

 

3. The Carmelite Nuns and its Origin

 

Conversae or Oblates – they were the forerunners of the cloistered nuns, they took the same vows like the Carmelite Friars but they don’t live in a convent.  These women are subject to the prior of the convent where they made their oblation and a member of his community.

 

Conversae took the vows to the Carmelite community and bestows her goods to the community – though they can’t live inside the convent of the friars – they lived on their own houses.  They are, though, considered solemnly professed Nuns in their time since they fulfilled the fundamental requirements of the Canon Law of that period namely – a document, spontaneous profession, or reception of the habit of the professed.  As per Nicolo de Tudeschi – when “women professesing the rule of men” make their vows in their hands, they are considered “true religious”, even though they do not enter a monastery of nuns but remain in their respective homes.  All vows are solemn at that time.  It was only during the Council of Trent that Solemn vows requires cloister or enclosure of nuns.

 

Another class of women associated with Carmel was the sisters or sorelle, various called as vestite, mantellate, pinzocchere.  These women took all or some of the three vows – poverty, chastity, and obedience, but not according to the rule of the order, hence making their vows simple.  Unlike conversae, they tend to organize and form into associations.

 

There are also Carmelite Recluses, who may have been conversae who are attached to a Carmelite church.

 

Some of the uncloistered Sisters wore white veils – collectively called “White Ladies” and when they accept the cloister, they are given black veil – sign of obligation to recite the divine office in choir and capitular rights.

 

4. The Color of the Carmelite Habit

 

Since the beginning, the Carmelites wore a habit of undyed wool which seem to have a shade of grayish brown.  In the 14^th century, a finer wool cloth dyed in black was introduced in the Order.  Undyed wool was normally favored by the reform and Soreth himself wore one.

 

6. The Carmelite Nuns in 1600

 

Many monasteries catered to the nobility and wealthy bourgeouis while girls from humble origins are accepted as lay sisters.  Recruitment often happens at a very young age and some are forced to enter by their parents.

 

7. Conservatory

 

In Italy during the 1600 century, some monasteries developed into a peculiar Italian institution, the convervatorio – these are houses of religious women without cloister or vows which provide education of girls, especially with a view of recruiting them for religious life.  Some Carmelite monasteries started this way and later applied for cloister.

 

Sources:

 

Cloistered Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Nuns by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.

The Mirror of Carmel, A Brief History of the Carmelite Order by Joachim Semt, O. Carm.

 

[Carla]

You are most welcome, my dear! :saint2: 

 

There are Carmelite Monasteries in Croatia.  Did you visit and discern with them?

 

Yes one of the monastery is 30 km from my home house.I have not been there for some time now.Last time i have been sisters just finished with building new monastery.It is build in the middle of old oak forest near a beautiful lake.It is amazing place:) For sure i will visit sisters is my vocation process.

 

God bless you