Carmelite Customs

[Chiquitunga]

I've seen a few close up pictures from Buffalo and Alexandria (besides the above, I saw a private picture from the family of a nun there) and it's definitely gathered like the original (Spain) Spanish day veil, (although perhaps slightly not as much). I would assume Brooklyn is this way too. Dallas definitely does too. Maybe the JMJ Carmels have them gathered slightly less. It's just kind of an effect that happens when it's sewn down, not necessarily done on purpose I think :like:

[graciandelamadrededios]

I was in a Carmel with Spanish customs and we didn't wear our day veils with the gathered look. I was wondering then if this isn't done in the Spanish custom Carmels in the US? I have visited two other Carmels with Spanish customs and haven't seen this either. Maybe some do though?

 

Thank you in advance! :) There's always more to learn about Carmel.

 

Chiqui once mentioned to me that there is one Carmel in the USA with Spanish/Mexican customs whose veils were no longer sewn "shirred" or "gathered" type.  Instead, the pinned it like French Carmels does but retained the toque - spanish style - longer at the back.

 

Also, I have noticed that even French origin Carmels have gathered look - like NZ Carmels since it was the Custom of their founding Carmel - a French Carmel.  Also, I read a portion of a letter from a French-Canadian Discalced Carmelite Nun who founded one Carmel in the Philippines which she described that in one American Carmel she visited, their night veil is similar to their (Montreal Carmel) day veil, which is "shirred" or "gathered."

 

I have also seen Discalced Carmelite Nuns in the Philippines wearing the "gathered" day veil but none of the Carmels here is from Spanish Origin.  Carmels in the Philippines were founded by the French, American, and Canadian Nuns.

[Chiquitunga]

p.s. the only US Spanish day veil that I've noticed that has absolutely no gathering at all is New Caney, http://carmelnewcaney.com/about/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acoPRvHIqcA

Edited October 29, 2013 by Chiquitunga

[graciandelamadrededios]

I've seen a few close up pictures from Buffalo and Alexandria (besides the above, I saw a private picture from the family of a nun there) and it's definitely gathered like the original (Spain) Spanish day veil, (although perhaps slightly not as much). I would assume Brooklyn is this way too. Dallas definitely does too. Maybe the JMJ Carmels have them gathered slightly less. It's just kind of an effect that happens when it's sewn down, not necessarily done on purpose I think :like:

 

Hi Chiqui,

 

I think it was really done in purpose, since if its by accident or due to sewing machine malfunction, their toque, robe, etc will be "gathered" as well but they only do in on the forehead area - this is what i think.

[Chiquitunga]

Well, but I wonder if it's because they have to sew it onto the toque/toqua and then take it apart twice a week. This is how they do it in Dallas Carmel at least. It's not done with a sewing machine as the rest of the habit is, for the most part. Each nun handstitches it herself in her cell.

 

By the way, this may seem rather tedious to be doing twice a week, but one of the nuns in Dallas Carmel has mentioned that it makes putting the toque and day veil on in the morning so much faster than having to pin it. I would love to ask them though if the gathered look is done on purpose. Maybe St. Teresa did that so it wouldn't look very fancy/neat or something ...

Edited October 29, 2013 by Chiquitunga

[graciandelamadrededios]

p.s. the only US Spanish day veil that I've noticed that has absolutely no gathering at all is New Caney, http://carmelnewcaney.com/about/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acoPRvHIqcA

 

Yes, I saw that as well and thanks for sharing this since I completely forgot which Carmel is that.

 

They actually arranged their veils similar to how the O. Carm. Nuns wears their veils now.  The O. Carm. Nuns in the Philippines were founded by Spanish Carmels and when the Spanish Carmels adapted their veils to the signs of times, the Spanish Mothers and Filipina Sisters did the same thing.  

[Chiquitunga]

I was in a Carmel with Spanish customs and we didn't wear our day veils with the gathered look. I was wondering then if this isn't done in the Spanish custom Carmels in the US? I have visited two other Carmels with Spanish customs and haven't seen this either. Maybe some do though?

 

Thank you in advance! :) There's always more to learn about Carmel.

 

I think it really is gathered a lot less in some US Spanish Carmels than for instance Sr. Magdalena's here.

 

Spanish "gathered" style of veil:

 

 

 

 

 

Actually I learned that Buffalo does not sew them down, although they still have a bit of a gathered look, but they have their own way of tying them in the back. I heard this from the Prioress in Dallas, who learned it from someone else. All very interesting. Each Carmel adapts to what works best for them :like:

Edited October 29, 2013 by Chiquitunga

[graciandelamadrededios]

Well, but I wonder if it's because they have to sew it onto the toque/toqua and then take it apart twice a week. This is how they do it in Dallas Carmel at least. It's not done with a sewing machine as the rest of the habit is, for the most part. Each nun handstitches it herself in her cell.

 

By the way, this may seem rather tedious to be doing twice a week, but one of the nuns in Dallas Carmel has mentioned that it makes putting the toque and day veil on in the morning so much faster than having to pin it. I would love to ask them though if the gathered look is done on purpose. Maybe St. Teresa did that so it wouldn't look very fancy/neat or something ...

 

Oh, I get it!

 

Well, I agree, sewing is very tedious but they can do simple stitch and and not produce "gathered" effect on the forehead part.  I really think is customary.  If it was done the way St. Teresa did so the Nuns continued the custom until this day.

 

This is probably why the most French Carmels uses the pins.  When I was speaking to Mother Prioress of Baguio Carmel in the parlor of Manila Carmel where she was visiting, I cant help but notice the pins on her veil - the veil pinned to the toque was very neat.

Edited October 29, 2013 by graciandelamadrededios

[graciandelamadrededios]

I think it really is gathered a lot less is some US Spanish Carmels than for instance Sr. Magdalena's here.

 

 

 

Actually I learned that Buffalo actually does not sew them down, although they still have a bit of a gathered look, but they have their own way of tying them in the back. I heard this from the Prioress in Dallas, who learned it from someone else. All very interesting. Each Carmel adapts to what works best for them :like:

 

This is true - adaptation is the key without losing the spirit of Carmel.  

 

The Polish Carmels "gathers" them more and I actually love their style.  Poland's Carmel are multiplying and they are founding here and there.  God is good!

[graciandelamadrededios]

...and Chiqui, remember the photos I sent you via email? The Novice and Nun from a certain Carmel in the USA - head to foot view?  Their veils are positively more "gathered."  Too bad we cant post it here.

 

[Chiquitunga]

going back to something you mentioned a few posts up

 

Chiqui once mentioned to me that there is one Carmel in the USA with Spanish/Mexican customs whose veils were no longer sewn "shirred" or "gathered" type.  Instead, the pinned it like French Carmels does but retained the toque - spanish style - longer at the back.

 

that's Traverse City :like: http://carmeloftraversecity.org/

 

Traditional Customary of Carmel - Kissing the Scapular of the Mother Prioress:

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

going back to something you mentioned a few posts up

 

 

that's Traverse City :like: http://carmeloftraversecity.org/

 

 

 

Oh yes!  I am getting old! Becoming so forgetful!

[graciandelamadrededios]

Photo from http://carmeloftraversecity.org/:

 

 

 

I love this photo

[Chiquitunga]

...and Chiqui, remember the photos I sent you via email? The Novice and Nun from a certain Carmel in the USA - head to foot view?  Their veils are positively more "gathered."  Too bad we cant post it here.

 

Oh yes, I remember. Yes, it did look a lot more gathered than other US Spanish Carmels.

 

I do seriously wonder if it was something St. Teresa wanted for humility's sake... to be different than the nuns at the Incarnation.. to just have it simply stitched/loosely around the forehead.. instead of cutting it so it would fit smoothly. and then it just became a custom to have that gathered look. It would be interesting to ask about this... not that it's extremely important, etc. 

 

I wonder about this with putting the scapular over the day veil too.. that she did that to be different, and maybe to look more eremitical... almost like the hoods the Desert Fathers might have worn, rather than always have like an elegant looking flowing veil that could become a source of vanity.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Chiquitunga

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

PAPER OF EXACTIONS

OF THE

Discalced Carmelite Nuns

OF THE ORDER OF

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

taken from

the traditions of our Spanish Mothers and Foundresses.

 

In addition to a written Rule and Constitutions every Order has its traditions, which become the authentic interpretation of the Constitutions and set forth the Spirit of the Order in a vivid manner. The traditions of the Order, reformed and established by St. Teresa, have long since been committed to writing. They were drawn up by the first Spanish daughters of the Saint, who thus handed on in its detail and its fullness the daily life and spirit as they were established and nurtured by the Saint. They supplement the Constitutions and form an exact portraiture of a genuine Teresian Convent. These traditions or Exactions, as they have been called, have been sanctioned and recommended by authority every time they have been reprinted. This first English translation, which is a faithful rendering from an authentic copy, is hereby recognized, approved, and the usual Imprimatur is hereby given.

 

Archbishop's House of Westminster, Octave of the Assumption B. V.M., 1898.

 

Jesus + MARIA

The souls whom God calls to serve Him in our holy Order should understand that their first and principal obligation, as Carmelites, is to honor with a special care the most Blessed Virgin Mary, first in her supreme dignity of Mother of God, in all the privileges and grandeurs which flow from this dignity, and in the universal sovereignty which it gives her over heaven and earth: and secondly, in the excess of goodness and of humility which has induced this most Blessed Virgin to become the Mother and the Patron of this Order.

In order to fulfill this duty, each one will be careful to receive Holy Communion at least once a month in honor of our Blessed Lady, for the accomplishment of her designs upon earth, for the increase of her honor in the souls of men, and to obtain from her that each member of her Order may love, honor, serve, and belong to her, to the full extent of the merciful designs of her Divine Son and of her own desires for each.

Secondly, they should have ever present the end for which our holy Mother Saint Teresa instituted our Reform. She did so that we might by prayer, zeal, and holiness of life employ ourselves con­tinually in the service of Jesus Christ, and of His Church in all her needs.

They are also strictly obliged to pray for their own Monastery and for all the other Monasteries of the Order; for those who direct and those who assist them.

In the third place, they must remember that, in this Order, we make profession not only of being Nuns but also of being Hermits, after the example of the ancient Fathers of the desert, in so far as this is possible living as we do in Community; this is what our holy Mother expressly tells us in the Way of Perfection and elsewhere; she teaches us that what Carmelites should always desire is to be alone with God alone, that in this solitude they may enjoy their Divine Spouse, Who has led them hither in order to speak to their hearts, as He Himself says; and in her other works this great Saint never wearies of exhorting her daughters to this retired and solitary life occupied with God alone.                    

 

For the morning.

When the sisters awake they will be careful to offer their first thought to God by an act of adora­tion, giving and offering themselves to the Most Holy Trinity as to their first principle and last end.

As soon as they hear the signal for rising,” as if they heard the voice of God saying to them," You have rested enough," they must rise promptly and kneeling on their bed, make the sign of the cross and then put on their cotte saying: my God I awake at dawn of day to think of Thee, to love Thee, to serve Thee and to fulfill in all things Thy Holy Will. They must then get up with courage, calling to mind the great love with which the Son of God came from the bosom of His Father at the moment of His Incarnation to descend upon this earth subjecting himself to all our miseries.

 As soon as they are up, they should prostrate themselves to adore God and to render homage to His Sovereign Majesty; they should also ask for the blessing of our Lord and of His Holy Mother, beseeching them for grace to honor them during the day; this must be done in the space of a Pater         Noster. Then they must dress quickly and with a great desire to go to converse with God in prayer. Each one should strive to be one of the first to reach the Choir to receive the blessing of the Guardian Angel of the Community. On coming into Choir they should make the three Acts of Religion; they can then say their morning prayers, or anything else according to their devotion.

When the Angelus bell has been rung, the Vent Sancte Spiritus is said in Choir and after the collects the Sanctissima that we may give ourselves to the Blessed Virgin, and through her to her Divine Son.  According to the recommendation of our ancient Mothers, in order to draw full fruit from this hour of prayer, we should say the Veni Sancte Spiritus and the Sanctissima with much devotion, and afterwards be careful not to make any noise which might in any way distract those who are near to us. At the end of the hour of prayer 'the Sub tuum, versicle and collects are said as marked in the Ceremonial.

If any sisters leave the Choir between the two bells, they may begin to do their cells; but they must return punctually to the Choir as soon as they hear the bell begin to toll, in order to be present at the beginning of Prime. The sign for beginning the Hours is given immediately after the last stroke of the bell.  At the end of the Hours, each one will visit the hermitage of our Lady to offer herself to her from the early morning and to implore her protection upon all the actions of the day.  Each sister should visit two Hermitages every day; on Sundays and Feasts all the Hermitages may be visited according to each one's devotion.

 If a sister has anything to say to the Mother Prioress, or a novice to her Mistress, she should try to do so before Mass, so as to avoid having to speak during the Holy Sacrifice and in order to keep the silence which should be observed in Choir. On Communion days no one will fail to wash her hands again before Mass if she has touched any­thing dirty.            

[graciandelamadrededios]

Oh yes, I remember. Yes, it did look a lot more gathered than other US Spanish Carmels.

 

I do seriously wonder if it was something St. Teresa wanted for humility's sake... to be different than the nuns at the Incarnation.. to just have it simply stitched/loosely around the forehead.. instead of cutting it so it would fit smoothly. and then it just became a custom to have that gathered look. It would be interesting to ask about this... not that it's extremely important, etc. 

 

I wonder about this with putting the scapular over the day veil too.. that she did that to be different, and maybe to look more eremitical... almost like the hoods the Desert Fathers might have worn, rather than always have like an elegant looking flowing veil that could become a source of vanity.

 

Gosh!  Remember the wooden cross outside the scapular?  We never really got an answer.

 

I am inclined to think the same.  Everything St. Teresa did was a "reaction" of her experience in Incarnation.  Hence she trimmed the veils and had chosen hemp sandals and woolen frieze.

 

Long time ago, I noticed the tucked veil under the scapular and it seriously look like a hood than a veil unless the Nun or Novice pinned the communion veil or enclosure veil.  I had the same thought - it looks a the hood of a hermit.

[Chiquitunga]

One more post for now...This is not a real nun, but a sister of one :hehe: (read the posts on the bottom) http://peony78.blogspot.com/2009/10/st-therese-little-late.html  

 

Click on the first picture, and then open it in a new tab. You should be able to see it very large. You can see some gathering there :like:

[graciandelamadrededios]

Yup! It looks "gathered"

[graciandelamadrededios]

One day St. Teresa was coming down the steps of her convent when she saw a beautiful young boy.

 

The child spoke to her and said:

 

"Who are you?"

 

Teresa answered:

"I am Teresa of Jesus, who are you?"

 

The child answered:

 

"I am Jesus of Teresa."

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

PAPER OF EXACTIONS

OF THE

Discalced Carmelite Nuns

OF THE ORDER OF

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

taken from

the traditions of our Spanish Mothers and Foundresses.

 

Modesty and religious behaviour.

 

The Religious Habit requires, of those who have the honor of wearing it, great modesty shining forth at all times and in all places, especially in Choir, in Chapter, in the Refectory, and in walking through the House.

 

The sisters should be careful to regulate and compose their movements to the best of their power, in honor of the outward bearing of Our Lord and of His Blessed Mother. They should hold themselves upright whether speaking or walking, taking care to walk as quietly as they can. They should be modest and recollected when going about the house, keeping their hands under their Scapular unless they have something to carry. They should avoid turning their head or raising their eyes to look at anything out of curiosity or levity; thus their mortification will show how watchful they are to keep themselves occupied with the thought of the Presence of God. Our Spanish Mothers used sometimes to raise the Scapular of the sisters whom they met, particularly of the Novices, to see if they were holding their Rosary.

 

They should let no hurry or precipitation be seen in their actions, accustoming themselves to walk at a measured pace, but without being too slow; taking care not to drag their feet, and to make so little noise in walking as not to be heard. Our first Spanish Mothers were most exact in this practice, and strongly recommended it; they used to say that a Carmelite should be seen before she is heard.

 

When the sisters are sitting in their cells or in their offices, although no one sees them, they should not lie down, nor hold themselves badly. They should not stretch out their feet; but let their attitude be always full of modesty, without any desire to make themselves too comfortable since we ought always to observe a religious mortifica­tion.

 

Whilst hearing a Sermon, whether in the Choir or in the parlor, still greater care should be taken to be seated in a religious manner, without moving more than can be helped and without turning one's head; bowing when the preacher addresses himself to the Community, and when he pronounces the holy names of Jesus and Mary, and that of our holy Mother St. Teresa. If anyone were asleep, the sister nearest to her should awake her; it has been thus ordained from time immemorial.

 

They should never complain of little discomforts, such as cold, heat, fatigue, or infirmities, nor of anything disagreeable and mortifying which they may meet with amongst the things given to them for food, clothing, and other necessaries of life. They should be careful not to wear anything that is not clean and in good order.

 

The Professed sisters should never be without their upper veil, excepting when sweeping or work­ing in the laundry. In a word the mortification of Jesus Christ should at all times regulate and hold in subjection all their senses and all their move­ments both interior and exterior, and this, in all places, and in all their occupations, even the most laborious.            

 

 

Edited November 19, 2013 by graciandelamadrededios