Stained Glass Scapulars-Reflections on the Secular Carmelite Rule

From the Constitutions-#19

Occupying a privileged place in nourishing the prayer life of Carmelite Seculars will be the study and spiritual reading of Scripture and the writings of our Saints, particularly those who are Doctors of the Church: St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The Church's documents are also food and inspiration for a commitment to follow Jesus.

This point of our Constitution may be one that is a little neglected. We may follow the other points of the Rule by attending Mass and and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, but how are we doing when it comes to spiritual reading, and not only reading, but studying Scripture and the writings of our Carmelite Doctors? Yes, we know it does take reading and re-reading and study to understand the works of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, that is why our formation in Carmel never ends.  The study of Scripture and Carmelite writings is a life-long journey.  We stress this to new members who may be discouraged at first by those who have been in Carmel a long time and have a deep knowledge of Carmelite writings.  Everyone has to begin at the beginning!

You may ask why do we need to study? Why can't we just read and pray?  Well, let's go back to the Constitutions to point no. 18:

Prayer, a dialogue of friendship with God, ought to be nourished by His Word so that this dialogue becomes that, "we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine word". God's Word will nourish the contemplative experience of Carmelite Seculars and their mission in the world...

So here we are to the heart of the matter and the reason for study: to deepen our friendship with God. We are called to imitate the Virgin Mary who pondered the Word in her heart. The Word, must take root in our heart, so that we can give this fruit of our prayer to others-our mission in the world. Are we overflowing with the fruit of the Word? Does Scripture flow easily from our mind, to our heart, to our lips?

St. Therese is only one of the many Carmelite saints we can look to for an example of the living Word of God that takes root in the heart.  Her writings and her life are an open book of the Gospel.  We know that God sealed upon her heart the Word of love, and we are still reaping the fruit of her intimate prayer life with God by reading her works and following her example.

Let us be faithful to our commitment of mental prayer and spiritual reading and study.  If we want to get to know someone we must spend time with them. Let us spend time with the One whom we know loves us. Let us spend time nourishing our spiritual lives with the Word of God.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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