Carmelite History

Officially called "The Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel", the Carmelites were founded in the late 12th century on Mount Carmel in Israel. The original group seems to be men of the Third Crusade, who were disillusioned with war and the world. Rather than returning to Europe, they settled in caves in the Wadi ein Siah on Mount Carmel. Listening to the ancient voice of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, they sought intimacy with God in the life of solitude and prayer. They sought light amid the darkness of their lives.

Eventually, these hermits gathered to pray together in mutual support. In the 1180's, they build a small chapel or oratory and named it for "The Lady of the Place". Aware that Nazareth was on the other side of the Jezriel valley and that Mary was the human openness who allowed God to become human in the Holy Land, they believed that she would open them to the presence of God.

Eventually they became a community of hermits, struggling with the tension of solitary prayer with God and community support and dependence. They offered hospitality to pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem. They organized themselves into a religious community and eventually had a Rule of Life approved by the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1221.

The Carmelites have no official founder. They have their spiritual roots and inspiration in Elijah, the Old Testament prophet of intimacy with God and the justice of God's Reign, and Mary, the Lady who opens us to God.

With the Islamic re-conquest of the Holy Land, the Carmelites left their place of origin about 1291, gradually migrating to Europe. The Lady of that place and their mountain was still their patroness, inspiration and protector. Eventually they began to call her "Our Lady of Mount Carmel", which title is still used today. She is their Sister in Faith who opens them to God's presence in every situation and person of their lives.

As a religious community within the Church, they responded to the needs of the times and became one of the mendicant orders. These mendicant orders (the most famous being St. Francis) were close to the people and live among them, and were even dependent on their charity and generosity. As mendicants, they served the needs of the emerging cities and Church in Europe, through education, parishes, universities and a variety of ministries to serve the spiritual and human needs of the poor and emerging working class.

The Brown Scapular became their symbol. It was a sign of dedication to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and an affiliation with the Carmelite spirituality of living in God's presence.

Fraternity, prayer and service are the Carmelite values. They strive to see and reveal the presence of the living God in each person, event and experience of the human journey. Their mountain symbol of Carmel speaks of the solid presence of the Eternal God in each place, as well as the upward and inward pilgrimage to the deeper human life of faith.

Like all human institutions, they had their ebbs and flows. Carmelites became huge and prosperous throughout Europe. Different reform movements called them back to their primitive life of faith and focus on God. The most famous is the Discalced Reform of the 16th century, energized by St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

This 800-year tradition has produced many saints. Besides Teresa and John, are included St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, St. Edith Stein and Blessed Titus Brandsma. Three of the 33 Doctors of the Church are Carmelites.

Begun in the Holy Land, Carmelites seek to reveal the holiness of all land where God's people live. The Order of Carmelites has contributed a unique language of interiority to the Church: a language of the soul. Elijah, the Whisper of God, Mary, Carmel, Dark Nights, Interior Castle, Living Flame and the Little Way are among the Carmelite images which evoke a land where the divine and human meet. Carmelites are rooted in the Incarnation and therefore believe that everything is holy. St. Therese best expressed it when she taught: "Everything is Grace!"

The Carmelite motto is the cry of Elijah: "I am filled with a jealous zeal for God." The fire of God's love is to be re-ignited among God's people and their passion renewed.

Like other religious orders, Carmelites do not do one thing in ministry. Carmelites are flexible and adapt to the various needs of the pilgrim Church as she journeys through time. Anywhere the Carmelites can proclaim God's saving and uplifting presence is where you will find them. The Carmelites of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary today number about 280 Priests and Brothers in 19 States, Canada, Mexico and Peru. They serve in high schools, colleges, parishes, retreat houses and so many other ministries. Throughout the world, the Carmelites serve in 26 countries, many in the emerging Third World.