Stained Glass Scapulars-Reflections on the Secular Carmelite Rule

One finds in the ecclesial charisms of the religious life an inspiration to holiness, a call to heavenly realities, a light and a support on the road to the perfection of charity.
From the Forward to the Rule of Life

This beautifully written phrase from the Forward of the Rule says a lot in a short sentence.  As Carmelites, do we see our gift or charism of quiet prayer as a light that leads us to union with God? Of course, when prayer is sweet and delightful we can respond with an emphatic, "Yes!" But, when we suffer dryness and perhaps even feelings of abandonment by God for lengthy periods of time, perhaps even years, can we say that we are experiencing prayer as a light? 

Let us look to the writings and teaching of our Holy Father, St. John of the Cross, for his example to see the dark night of faith as "light."  

We can examine our own reasons of why we were led to Carmel. Maybe we were inspired by a certain saint of Carmel. Perhaps it was a certain spirituality of a particular saint, for example, St. Therese's Little Way of Spiritual Childhood. Or, perhaps, we were drawn in by St. Teresa and St. John because of their mystical teachings on prayer. Whatever our reason for asking to be clothed in the habit of Carmel, we should ask ourselves each day, Why am I here? Why did I come to Carmel? Is it because of a desire to experience "heavenly realities" as the sentence above states?  Did I choose Carmel because of a desire for holiness of life-a burning  desire to be a saint?

The quote from the Foreward above ends with the goal of any religious vocation: the perfection of charity.  Yes, this is the highest calling and gift we can aspire to.  St. Therese found this calling early in her religious vocation when she stated,  "In the heart of the Church, I will be love."

Again, this short sentence gives us three shining jewels that are the gifts of the religious vocation:

*Inspiration to holiness
*Call to heavenly realities
*Perfection of charity

We also have three shining jewels that help us on the road to holiness in our Secular Carmelite vocation:



*Poverty
*Chastity
*Obedience

Let us place our vocation in the hands of Our Lady. We can give her our sincere desire for holiness, our desire to see God face-to-face, our desire to be one with Him and our neighbor.  She can help us perfect our desire by obtaining for us the purity of heart that is necessary for union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three precious jewels of the Most Holy Trinity.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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