Birkenhead Carmel in UK Goes TLM

Status
Not open for further replies.
Cloisters

Cloisters

Well-known member
The Birkenhead Carmel in Liverpool, UK, has gone TLM. They follow the 1990 Constitutions.


Perhaps they will have the same success as the JMJ Carmels in the US, who have already made three new foundations. One of their houses has 12 white veils! (I’m wanting to say that Carmel retains the white veil through final profession, when the black veil is received, like the Visitation does).

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
@Cloisters, if you don’t mind me asking, what does the future of Carmel look like? What do you think will happen to the “Spirit” or message of Carmel over time, will their charism and spirituality not only survive but be able to thrive by being able to be spread not only among all Catholics but all peoples?
 
The Second Vatican Council said for all persons to follow both Salesian and Discalced Carmelite writings. I would add to that the writings of the French School of Spirituality, which got its start from a cleric who had taken instruction from St. Francis de Sales himself. Hence, the French School is, essentially, Salesian.

Teresa and John’s writings are for everyone, too. I’ve interacted with so many who say, “Carmelite spirituality is for me because I can so relate to what Teresa writes.” That’s because God used Teresa to explain interiority. Even our new congregation’s novices will enhance their “intense” years with Teresa’s writings.

If I had to design a Catholic school curriculum, de Sales and Avila would definitely be part of it.

“Carmel is all Mary’s,” is an indulgenced phrase. The Carmelites are Mary’s own order, so, despite the devil rolling disabled sisters through the hallway at great speeds in their wheelchairs, they will survive.

I pray for both branches of Carmel every Thursday during the Luminous Mysteries. The first Luminous Mystery of the Brigittine/Carmelite six-decade rosary is the Hidden Life at Nazareth. Since my main apostolate is that of promoting the cloisters, I pray the Cloisterite rosary after the Divine Mercy chaplet. The Vincentian rosary is spread throughout the day, as per St. Louise de Marillac’s usage.
 
Actually, the JMJ Carmels have made more than 3 foundations. Here is a listing:

Valparaiso, NE
Elysburg, PA
Fairfield, PA
Pennsylvania, PA (actually, a refounding)
Post Falls, ID

and in just a few days… Australia. Everyone is invited to the Solemn High Mass on March 23. If anyone is interested, I’ll post more info.

Also, Kensington, CA is a foundation of the JMJ Carmels, though they have the Ordinary Form as their usual Mass and are just not quite like the other JMJ Carmels.

I hope the Birkenhead Carmels successfully make this transition.

It seems to me that the Carmels are attracting a lot of young people right now, and I don’t mean just the EF Carmels. Many of them seem to be doing quite well and attracting numbers that are healthy. They may not be attracting as many as the JMJ Carmels, but for Carmel, a lot of applicants can be its own problem.
 
Cloisters said:
The Vincentian rosary is spread throughout the day, as per St. Louise de Marillac’s usage.
Click to expand...
Would you explain what you mean by this line? I am familiar with the VIncentian rosary, and I am familiar with St. Louise’s practice of saying 5 decades while meditating on only one mystery, but I don’t know what you mean by spread throughout the day.
 
Wonderful news. We need contemplatives praying for the Church so badly these days, and I have to admit to being partial to the old mass, so this is doubly good news!

And don’t forget the writings of Saint John: a few months ago I finished The Spiritual Canticle for the first time, and it rocked my world. Love the Carmelites!
 
Last edited:
The “original” rule of St. Louise mandated that the first four decades of a six-decade rosary be prayed during morning prayers. They didn’t pray the LOTH back then. After lunch, they were to pray the fifth decade. After supper, the sixth. This can be found in the publication our group refers to as the ‘grey book’: https://www.amazon.com/Vincent-Paul-Louise-Marillac-Spirituality/dp/0809135647

We are also replicating the DC rosary colors as much as possible.

The prayer book that I have is 20th Century, and we are using it in its entirety.

I had never heard of St. Louise praying five decades while meditating on one mystery. The DCs always used a six decade rosary. The sixth decade is what I term a “floater” because the DCs aren’t the only ones to use it for a special intention.

The six decade rosary is originally Brigittine, and they honor Mary Mediatrix of Graces on theirs. St. Teresa of Avila adapted this rosary for her Discalced reform, and they honor Our Lady of Mt Carmel. The LaSallians pray for their own order “which I love so much,” on theirs. The DCs honor Jesus going to Heaven, and ask Him to take them, too. The DCs also have a special intention mentioned before each Ave.
 
Thank you for your explanation. I do have the book you call the Grey book.

I see the mention of the rosary through out the day in chapter nine of the rule for the DC. I also see an accompanying footnote (57) where SVdP says one decade after morning prayer, two before the start of mass or before the gospel reading, one after the noon angelus, and one after the evening angelus.

Thank you for mentioning this I had not read through the rule.
 
Our new congregation’s lay associates read the grey book a little at a time through the first year.
 
Do you know if the nuns are using the Extraordinary Form of the Mass or does the article mean they will also be using the Extraordinary Form of the Divine Office as well?

Don’t the Carmelites have their own rite? Are they going to be using the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite or the Carmelite Rite?
 
The only group that I’m aware of using the Carmelite Rite are the hermits in Texas.

I believe the article states they are using the MEF/TLM. I don’t think anyone has revealed what kind of Office they will be using.
 
Only Carmelites of the Ancient Observance can use the Carmelite Rite. If any other Carmelites want to use it, they must request permission from the O. Carm. Generalate in Rome. The Carmelite Monks in WY use it w/permission. The Ocds never used it because St. Teresa wished to follow the TLM approved by the Council of Trent that had just taken place when she began her nuns. The nuns is TX are O, Carms.
 
JMJTh said:
The Ocds never used it because St. Teresa wished to follow the TLM approved by the Council of Trent that had just taken place when she began her nuns.
Click to expand...
So, this Carmel and the JMJ Carmels, are actually living the life as she intended it?
 
Yes, I’ll be going to the Mass on the 23rd of March! I’m very much looking forward to it. God bless you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top