In last week’s blog, I stated that there is a great problem today, in the Church, because we have pre-Vatican II and post-Vatican II understandings clashing. (paraphrased) This is particularly relevant when addressing the various monastic orders. There are a number of orders, but, the one that is of concern to me, is the Discalced Carmelites.

The Discalced Carmelites have a long history, having roots on Mount Carmel, outside of Jerusalem. Their history winds through various people and places. They are not organized as a religious order until they are in Europe in and around the thirteenth ^{century. St. Teresa of Avila is the first woman religious to create a female, Carmelite monastery in Spain, in the sixteenth century. The Carmelite monasteries of today, generally, remain very close to Avila’s creation in all of their rule and form.}

Did the Carmelites hear about Vatican II? I would think so, but, they have remained resistant to any substantial change. One of the most progressive monasteries, that I learned of, was the Carmelite Monastery of the Resurrection, in the United States. They had modified their dress and appeared to update some other aspects of Carmelite life.

The Discalced Carmelites are enclosed or cloistered for life. There are other Carmelite orders which do not follow strict enclosure. One such place was begun by a former priest, named Father McNamara. He had started the Spiritual Life Institute which was supposed to take the Carmelite spirituality to the desert, He developed hermitages in the States around 1960.

No matter the structure that is created around Carmelite spirituality, I wonder what if any of it is necessary for the post-Vatican II Church. Essentially, Carmelite spirituality is built on the experience of having a mystical espousal relationship with Jesus Christ. This mystical union is the core and it is from that center, that a person lives their life with Christ, and builds the Kingdom of God.

Living one’s life in isolation with this spirituality no longer seems appropriate for the Vatican II Church. One of the traditional charisms of Carmel is the reform of the Church, therefore, it is my contention that a Carmelite, who would in days gone by been cloistered, now, needs to be among the people. What ought they to be doing? I would say, they need to be supporting the laity and Vatican II. This is particularly true, I think, of the Institute developed by Father McNamara.

The Carmelites of todays’ Church ought rightly to be called, "Contemplatives in Action" and should be called upon to participate in forming lay ministers, and in teaching scripture, as well as, creating small Christian communities.

Perhaps, more to the point, todays’ Carmelites should be prophets, mystics, and evangelists. No longer should the women Carmelites be shut out of learning theology and applying it to teaching and preaching. They ought also to be prophets, challenging the wrong doing within the Church and they ought to remain mystics, true disciples of Christ, who by their intimate union with Him, continue to teach us about the Lord.

If the Carmelites are to remain relevant, they must be NEW WINE, or they will die. As I say, they have been extremely resistant to change and Vatican II. May they be visited by Jesus and Mary to redirect and bring them to new life, if that is, what God wants.

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