Mount Carmel, viewed as a holy place by Jews, Christians and Muslims, is where the prophet Elijah is venerated. For many centuries hermits have followed his example and monks regard him as their Father. During the crusades, around 1200 A.D., a small group of hermits settled around the spring of Elijah to lead a contemplative life there in silence and solitude. To the first Carmelites this geographic location was a mystical space in which to live in the presence of God alone. Albert, patriarch of Jerusalem, gave them a life rule (1206-1214) which, at the time of their expulsion by the Saracens in 1247, was adapted to new circumstances by pope Innocent IV. In consequence, the mystical space of Carmel with its contemplative life is experienced wherever they are given a place and God calls them. The commentary presents the Carmel as a spiritual model which is ideally suited as accompaniment on the spiritual journey of all who know themselves called to a life in God's presence in the desert of their life.
Thoroughly contemporary and pragmatic, this collection of essays provides a clear picture of Carmelite teaching while encouraging a journey of discovery and faith.
Mary the Perfect Contemplative is a fresh and beautiful portrait of the Mother of God. From her immaculate conception to her bodily assumption into heaven, Mary was set apart by God as the vessel of humanity’s redemption. Thrice favored as daughter of the Father, mother of the Son, and spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary was endowed with supernatural gifts that enabled a contemplative life of grace. Unlike us, she was conceived without sin. Yet her reliance on faith, without the full vision of God’s plan of salvation during her earthly life, makes her for us the perfect model of faith. Pondering in her heart the mysteries she encountered throughout her life, she is the perfect contemplative. Author Barbara Hughes, O.C.D.S., looks to Sacred Scripture as the primary and essential reference for her portrait of our Lady. For colorful detail she draws on two thousand years of Sacred Tradition, sourced in the writings of the church fathers, saints, and theologians. Finally, Hughes finds further depth and exquisite details of Mary’s interior life in the mystical writings of the Carmelite saints and Doctors of the Church. The saints of Carmel—the canonized brothers and sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel—are invaluable guides that help us navigate the mystical waters of contemplation and union with God, which Mary exemplifies. Saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus teach us the importance of living by faith, especially when God appears to be absent or when his plans are veiled to the eyes of even the holiest people such as Mary. This book is for all of Mary’s beloved children—to offer them an intimate portrait of their Blessed Mother.
Studying with Husserl in Göttingen, becoming a Carmelite nun, and finally meeting her death in Auschwitz, the multifaceted life of Edith Stein (1891-1942) is well known. But what about her writing? Have the different aspects of her scholarship received sufficient attention? Peter Tyler thinks not, and by drawing on previously untranslated and neglected sources, he reveals how Stein's work lies at the interface of philosophy, psychology, and theology. Bringing Stein into conversation with a range of scholars and traditions, this book investigates two core elements of her thinking. From Nietzsche to Aquinas, psychoanalysis to the philosophy of the soul, and even the striking parallels between Stein's thought and Buddhist teaching, Tyler first unveils the interdisciplinary nature of what he terms her 'spiritual anthropology'. Second, he also explores her symbolic mentality. Articulating its poetic roots with the help of English poetry and medieval theology, he introduces Stein's self-named 'philosophy of life'. Considered in the context of her own times, The Living Philosophy of Edith Stein unearths Stein's valuable contributions to numerous subjects that are still of great importance today, including not only the philosophies of mind and religion, but also social and political thought and the role of women in society. By examining the richness of her thinking, informed by three disciplines and the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century, Tyler shows us how Edith Stein is the guide we all need, as we seek to develop our own philosophy for life in the contemporary world.
This newest volume of Carmelite Studies reflects the remarkable resurgence in Carmelite scholarship, especially throughout the English-speaking world, in recent decades. Several authors in the present volume are among the pioneers who made the latest in Carmelite scholarship available to an ever wider audience. Their voices are joined by those of other recognized scholars and theologians who continue to mine the rich heritage of this ancient tradition. These twelve essays particularly focus on wisdom, hope, and prophecy, especially as understood and practiced in the Carmelite tradition. Weaving rich insights from the theme throughout these essays, the authors show the honored place of wisdom and prophetic hope and action from the Order’s origins on Mount Carmel and the Rule in the 12th century, to the teachings of the saints and Doctors of the Church Teresa of Ávila and John of Cross in the 16th, to the 21st century where Carmelite wisdom speaks prophetically and challenges Carmelites and all women and men of prayer in ever new ways. This volume, tracing the contribution of Carmel’s richness from the hermit life at the prophet Elijah’s wadi to the challenges and invitations of the contemporary world, is an excellent resource for personal study as well as an invaluable tool for Carmelite formation, study groups, and anyone wanting to explore the intersection of Carmelite spirituality, biblical Wisdom, contemplation and prophetic action. Includes a helpful introduction outlining each essay’s focus, notes for each essay, biographical sketches of the contributors, and a comprehensive index. MORE INFORMATION: A strength of Carmel is its extensive literary tradition, providing rich material for study, reflection, prayer, and apostolic action. From 1983 to 2013, a group of Carmelite and Discalced Carmelite men and women gathered to study their shared tradition. This Carmelite Forum sponsored annual summer seminars in Carmelite spirituality at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. The seminars’ talks and workshops utilized past and present scholarship on the tradition. The title of this newest Carmelite Studies volume is based on the theme of the 2009 Carmelite spirituality seminar, “Carmel’s Search for Wisdom: Prayer and Contemplation.” The study of Wisdom, identified by Christians with the Son of God, confirms Carmel’s perennial commitment to the following of Jesus Christ and demonstrates the centrality of the humanity of Jesus in Carmelite spirituality. Carmelite Wisdom and Prophetic Hope also shows how in recent decades Carmel has become more aware of its prophetic inheritance. The figure of the prophet Elijah, for example, has emerged as a balance to Carmel’s interiority and to an individualized spirituality. Following the church’s own clearer expression of justice as integral to the Gospel, Carmel has become more available and responsive to our contemporary world’s hunger for community, justice, and depth of meaning. Carmelite wisdom recognizes that contemplation is never for its own sake, but should be the deepest source of compassion for our world. The contributors and their respective essays are: PART I: Orientations to Wisdom and Prophetic Hope, Ancient and New * Mary Frohlich, RSCJ, “Contemplative Wisdom for An Axial Age: The Carmelite Tradition” * Keith J. Egan, T.OCarm., “Wisdom: A Many-Splendored Tradition” * Constance Fitzgerald, OCD, “From Impasse to Prophetic Hope: Crisis of Memory” * Kees Waaijman, OCarm, “The Wisdom of Work in the Carmelite Rule” PART II: Wisdom and Prophetic Hope in John of the Cross * Daniel Chowning, OCD, “John of the Cross: A Spirituality of Wisdom” * Vilma Seelaus, OCD, “Carmelite Mysticism as Theology: John of the Cross’s Theology of the Human Person” * Kevin Culligan, OCD, “The Wisdom of Emptiness” * Edward Howells, “O Guiding Night! The Psychology of Hope in John of the Cross’s Dark Night” Part III: Prophetic Intimations from Teresa of Ávila * Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM, “The Jesus Mysticism of Teresa of Avila: Its Importance for Theology and Contemporary Spirituality” * Mary Frohlich, RSCJ, “How Love Transforms: Teresa and the Impact of Sanctity” * Tara Soughers, “Seeking Wisdom in Common Vocal Prayers: Teresa of Ávila’s Response to the Banning of Vernacular Books on Prayer” *Gillian T. W. Ahlgren, “The Prophetic Charism of the Mystical Life: The Model of Teresa of Jesus”
This textbook is a systematic guide to the extensive field of spirituality. Kees Waaijman charts the multiform phenomenon of spirituality: the spirituality of ordinary people, the great spiritual traditions and the force of counter-movements. From the foundation of this survey he answers questions like: What exactly is spirituality? What forms can a scholarly approach take? Finally, the book provides methodic access to the study of spirituality, focusing on the following questions: Which are the different forms of spirituality and how can we describe them? How can spiritual texts be given a reliable reading? Which themes can be distinguished in the field of spirituality and what would be a meaningful way to address them? What do we mean by spiritual guidance and what can we learn from it? This textbook has no equal. It is indispensable to scholars wishing to study the subject, but also to others who want to learn about spirituality.
In these four talks, Peter Tyler explores the factors that contributed to the rise of mystical writing in 16th Century Spain. He traces the particular history of the Peninsula that shaped the milieu within which mysticism flourished at this time. One of the most popular and approachable Christian saints of all time, St Teresa of Avila (1515 – 1582) is justly celebrated as one of the key writers in the Christian mystical tradition. Yet her popularity belies the struggles she had to overcome in her own lifetime, to have her mystical approaches accepted by the wider church. Peter looks at how her life and struggles influenced her mystical teaching, especially as found in The Book of the Life and The Interior Castle. Peter explores the author of the ‘Dark Night of the Soul’, St John of the Cross’s (1542 – 1591). His teachings on the spiritual life are remarkably light and beautiful. Peter places John’s life and teaching within the context of 16thCentury Spain and explores questions such as: ‘How can God be known in this life?’ and ‘How far does knowledge of God lead to annihilation of the individual personality?’
Two towering figures thread their way through this book: St Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century Spanish Carmelite saint, writer and reformer and C. G. Jung, the founder of modern depth psychology. Through sharing fifteen key papers, chapters and talks written over nearly twenty-five years, the author draws on their writings to focus on, and explore, the interface and relationship between the Christian mystical tradition and Jungian, depth psychology. Jung saw the human psyche as ‘by nature religious’ and made this insight a principal focus of his explorations. In this regard, the book aims to explore an essentially depth approach to spirituality and numinosity relevant for todays’ largely post-religious situation. Jungian depth psychology, with all its own richness, can serve as an essential psychological foundation for, and bridge to, the Christian mystical tradition. Over the past 1500 years, the Christian tradition of theologia mystica, or mystical theology, has flourished in particular communities and individuals with great transformative beauty, vitality and strength - like a mysterious, hidden river of Love overflowing into society, such as in sixteenth century Spain. Key to understanding the transmission of this tradition down the centuries has been the sixth century writings known as the Dionysian Corpus, written by Pseudo Dionysius the Areopagite. These writings have evolved over more than 1000 years of interpretation and translation, being closely identified with the tradition of theologia mystica. The author looks forward with enthusiasm, hope and optimism to renewed, creative and invigorated approaches to understanding the nature of our inner life that characterize the essential writings of St Teresa of Avila and C.G. Jung. St Teresa of Avila’s writings assure us our life journey can be graced by divine presence – describing various stages of transformation of the soul, in God’s Love, in her classic book on prayer, the ‘Interior Castle’. Living symbols were a major preoccupation in the life and writings of C.G. Jung, where he explored the psychological foundation of religion, particularly the Christian tradition - what he termed the path of individuation. The author believes, under different guises, we are in the midst of another flowering of theologia mystica in our own secular time. The unprecedented spiritual longing and emergency of our own times is fuelling a strong need for the depth psychological tradition of Jungian psychology and the ancient tradition of theologia mystica to become more widely known, understood, practiced and lived. There is a wider evolutionary shift happening in our times - in the diamond heart of individuals, groups, nations and the global community. Something new and unprecedented is being born in our world today - we are not only in a new time, but a new era.
Vatican II initiated lively conversations about the identity of religious orders and congregations when the council pointed out that these religious communities are divine gifts in and to the church. Keith Egan examines the nature of these charisms including, not only the original or founders’ charism, but how charisms evolve over the centuries. Special theological attention to these charisms show that they are not something but, in fact, are the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit. This volume offers a case study the original charism of the Carmelites. The first Carmelites originated when various hermits were displaced by the armies of Saladin. These dislodged hermits sought refuge on Mount Carmel in a ravine facing the Mediterranean Sea. There, these hermits, now Carmelites, sought from Saint Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, a description of their life of solitude. Albert’s Formula of Life describes the original Carmelite charism as a life of prayer and contemplation. This Formula eventually became a Rule that made possible a transformation of hermits into friars. Egan is at work on a sequel that examines this radical transformation.
