The Carmelites
The roots of the Order are traced to the 12th
century (after the third crusade)
when a group of hermits began practicing their Christianity on Mt.
Carmel by following the ways of the Prophet Elijah.
They lived in caves on Mt, Carmel for about a
century, when they were forced to leave, in 1235, due to persecution
by the Saracens. At the time they did not view anyone in particular
as their founder but saw Elijah as one of the founders of monastic life.
At their request, the Patriarch of Jerusalem,
Albert Avogadro wrote a formula of life (between 1206-1214) for the
lay hermits to follow. This formula of life was approved by various
Popes until the group was transformed into a Religious Order, when in
1247 Pope Innocent IV approved the text as a Rule.
There are really two branches of Carmelites: the
Ancient Observance" or "Calced" Carmelites, and the
"Discalced Carmelites" or "Teresians"
(established in 1592 in Spain) who followed the ways of their founder
and reformer, St. Teresa of Avila. St. Teresa believed that the Order
should be dedicated to poverty, so the Discalced Order (Discalced
indicates a reformed religious order) became known as Discalced (or
shoeless) Order of Carmelites. Today, the difference between the two
Orders is insignificant, according to Fr. Anthony Cilia, Director of
the International Carmelite Information Center, Carmelite General
Curia.
Sources: Copyright Text � 2000 Gems
in Israel All rights reserved. Reprinted
with Permission. |