| Even if not asked, the above question is often on the minds of those interested in our Order. "What makes the Carmelites different from other communities?" Why should I apply?" "How do I know if Carmel is really for me?" The questions are many but often the answers are slow in coming! Making a choice is the goal of vocational discernment. Knowing oneself and being in tune with God's presence are essential. Equally important is the knowledge of the lay community one is considering. But the actual decision often hinges on an intangible but very personal quality. The Carmelites have a very unique background. Unlike most Religious Orders, we have no founder. Earliest historical accounts find the first Carmelites already settled as hermits on Mt. Carmel a little more than 800 years ago, living near the fountain of the prophet Elijah. The chapel which stood in the midst of their cells was dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Being without a founder, the Carmelites have continually looked to Elijah and Mary for inspiration. Throughout our history, these key figures have helped us clarify our identity and renew our spirit. They provide a wonderful integration of the two streams of the Carmelite tradition - contemplative and active; prayerful and prophetic; reflective and apostolic. As human models, Elijah and Mary provide Carmelites with an example to imitate. Not unlike Carmelites of any era, they struggled with fear, stood in the face of very difficult questions, and felt deeply the pains of human life. Being human, they appear like us, as fragile and vulnerable. Yet, they were filled with a deep conviction. It is a conviction that lies at the heart of the Carmelite spirit: "God is alive! God is present! God is with us!" Between the years 1206 and 1214, the community on Mt. Carmel petitioned Albert, the Patriarch of Jerusalem for a Rule of Life. His response became the "formula for living" that Carmelites follow to this day. Hospitality was no doubt one of the original values for the early Carmelites. Mt. Carmel served as a place of rest for pilgrims in the Holy Land. Some of them were so impressed by the beauty of Carmel and the simple lifestyle of the community of hermits who lived there that they stayed. Soon after they received Albert's Rule, the Carmelites were forced to leave the known slopes of Carmel and settle throughout Europe. Adaptation and flexibility were demanded as the Carmelites not only changed their place of residence but also modified their style of life - from desert to city, from hermit to friar. Assuming the mendicant tradition, Carmelites went wherever they were needed serving God's people and sharing the spirit of Carmel. Prayer is at the core of the Carmelite spirit. To grow in friendship with God, to experience God's love, to ponder the mystery and wonder of life, to search for meaning - all encompass the contemplative dimension of Carmelite life. In the solitude of prayer, we experience the compassion of God which enables us to live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. This experience makes ministry possible. It empowers us to "suffer with" and respond to those in need. It also enables us to be patient with and forgiving towards each other. How Lay Carmelites serve is not set in stone. We respond to the needs of the Church in a variety of ways. Today, we can be found in parishes, schools, retreat houses, on campuses, in hospitals, in prisons, in both rural and urban settings. What we do today, we may not have done in the past. The same holds true for the future. Depending on the need, Lay Carmelites will respond as best we can. Lay Carmelites are ordinary people who witness an extraordinary reality - the abiding presence of God. To live in the presence of God gives the ordinary things we do great meaning. It was the motivating force for Elijah whose spirit continues - "the Lord lives in whose presence I stand" and "with zeal, have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts." It was in the spirit of the prophet Elijah that our foundress and three others formed the Lay Carmelite Community of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on July 16, 1992. They started our community at St. Gerard Mejella parish in Markham, Illinois. They ministered through contemplative prayer for preist and religous and various active ministers. In addition, several members began "Our Father's House" a home for batter women in the old convent until it was converted into the current rectory. Over the years, Lay Carmelites of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary continue to minister to the needs of God's people. We have members serving in many ministries as religous education teachers, helpers in schools, hospitals, retreat directors and spritual drectors. Depending on our unique talent and training and the needs of a particular time and place, we, Lay Carmelites, can be found in a variety of settings. Like Elijah the prophet and the founders of our community, we remain ordinary people witnessing to an extraordinary reality - God's abiding presence and God's love for every human person! |
| February 15, 2002 |
| Why the Lay Carmelites |
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