Carmelites

Jul 112009

[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]
Formally the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. An ancient order which venerates as its founder Elijah the Prophet, who lived nine centuries before Our Lord Jesus Christ. Its Elian traditions, though contested by several modern critics, have nevertheless been approved by the Church, who in the Office for his a feast has allowed the Order to call him its founder, and has placed his statue in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, Italy, among those of the founders of Religious Orders, with the following inscription

Universus Ordo Carmelitarum Fundatori Suo San Elire
( = The Entire Order of Carmel to its Founder, Saint Elias)

This religious family, thus founded under the Old Law, continued to exist under the New, and eventually spread from Asia into Europe. Established historical records of the Order date back to the 12th century; the Rule it now observes is that given by Saint Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 1206, to the Hermits of Mount Carmel in Palestine. In 1432 this same Rule was mitigated by Pope Eugenius IV. The 16th century is memorable for the great reformation introduced into this Order by the Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint John of the Cross. Since that time the Order has been divided into two branches

Calced Carmelites, who observe the Rule as mitigated by Pope Eugenius IV
Discalced Carmelites, who keep the Primitive Rule of Saint Albert of Jerusalem, without any mitigation