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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Carmel,
1. A year into Fr Joseph
Chalmers' second term leading the Order of
Carmelites and only a few months from the
end of Fr Camilo Maccise's period of service
as Superior General of the Teresian
Carmelites, we would both like to send you
this letter to celebrate and to thank God
for the journey our two General Councils
have made together in the search for
dialogue and co-operation and also to
reflect on this process.
Co-operation
Requested by the Church
2. Vita Consecrata,
following the line of Vatican II,
(1) invites the superiors of
Religious Institutes to engage in a constant
dialogue "in order to promote mutual
understanding, which is the necessary
precondition for effective cooperation,
especially in pastoral matters."
(2) At the same time this
encourages "fraternal spiritual relations
and mutual cooperation among different
Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies
of Apostolic Life" starting with fidelity to
their own charism. (3)
Guided by these teachings of the Church and
conscious that inter-congregational dialogue
and cooperation are signs of the times, we
have tried to be open to the ways of the
Spirit. A further reason is our common roots:
"fix your eyes always on the ancestry from
which we come, those holy prophets."
(4) "Let us keep before us our
true founders, those holy fathers from whom
we descend, for we know that by means of
that path of poverty and humility they now
enjoy God."
(5)
Origins and
Development
After various preliminary
discussions, the first meeting of the two
General Councils took place on 6th
December 1991. This was a truly historic
date. It was a fraternal and simple meeting.
In the first part of our combined meeting,
there were presentations on both sides of
personnel and of their activities at the
service of their respective orders. Then
there was an exchange of experiences in the
fields of vocations, formation, the 'new
evangelisation' and the commitment to peace
and justice. The meal that followed with the
whole Curia community of the Discalced
furthered the fraternal atmosphere that had
been created. It was decided to continue
these contacts in order to have a deeper
appreciation of the various common concerns
and to create better channels of cooperation
and exchange, always respecting the identity
and autonomy of each order. Finally, it was
also agreed to hold two meetings a year: in
May in the O.Carm. Curia and in December in
the O.C.D. Curia.
So began this journey of
growing closer and cooperating which already
existed between orders and religious
congregations of different origins, but now
nourished by sharing the same roots and
sustained by a common trunk, such as the
orders of the Franciscan family. We have
persevered on this journey for eleven years,
despite some occasional difficulties. In
drawing up a balance sheet of what we have
achieved, we would like to give you some
idea of what we have shared together and
indicate to you some ways forward for our
future relations and common efforts.
I
REJOICE IN YOUR HOPE
(Rm 12:12)
The Work of
Charity
4. Before the beginning of
dialogue and cooperation at the level of the
General Councils, in various parts of the
world, such as Spain, the United States and
the Philippines, there had already been
common initiatives and good fraternal
relations at a local or provincial level. In
other regions, by contrast, mutual
prejudices made the task of coming together
and exchanging ideas all the harder. Now
even these problems have been overcome and
the positive aspects of our relations have
increased.
5. In our exchanges and
dialogues we have always set out from the
conviction that we are different Orders but
that we have common roots at Elijah's spring
on Mount Carmel. Ever since the beginning of
the Teresian re-foundation we have travelled
by different roads but always trying to live
the values of Carmelite spirituality. Our
intention was always to deepen what we hold
in common and to respect that which
distinguishes us.
As we said in our joint
letter Passing through the Holy Door,
written to mark the Great Jubilee of the
year 2000:
"There are doors through which we cannot
pass with complete liberty and sincerity:
they constitute our history, the past and
the present relationship between Carmelites
of the Ancient Observance and Teresian
Carmelites. Cultural and national
sensitivity can influence relationships
between provinces; differing spiritual
traditions and ascetic sensitivities can
temper relations between groups of
monasteries; sometimes simple prejudices and
shut minds can affect the way individuals
feel towards each other. We must engage in a
liberating re-evaluation of certian tense
historical moments and episodes that
displayed little authenticity or communion.
We are called to give witness to a dialogue
of peace and mutual, humble, sincere pardon;
we are called to give witness to a new
season of fraternity accepting our
differences and living together. The various
forms of dialogue, sharing and planning
which we have experienced together over the
last ten years must continue, and yield more
fruit; it must involve all our people and
all our institutions. Greater dialogue and
sharing will always begin at the level of
fraternal life in the local community. It
can and should involve those lay people who
wish to share the spirituality and mission
of Carmel in a deeper manner"
(6).
Forward in Faith
and Trust
6. Despite some difficulties,
with resolution we decided to continue on
the journey begun. Enlightened by experience
and the teachings of Saint Paul in relation
to his ministry, we accepted responsibility
for this mission in these earthen vessels
and, with the help of God and each other's
support, we tried not to be discouraged but
to live by what the Apostle says when he
exhorts the community in Rome: "Do not let
your love be a pretence, but sincerely
prefer good to evil. Love each other as much
as brothers should, and have a profound
respect for each other. Work for the Lord
with untiring effort and with great
earnestness of spirit. If you have hope this
will make you cheerful. Do not give up if
trials come; and keep on praying"
(Rm 12: 9-12).
We were also encouraged by the widespread
support for our common efforts from the
majority of the members of both our orders.
Occasions for
Cooperation
7. We 'rejoiced in our hope'
in an active and responsible way. For this
reason, from the beginning, we tried to
create at least some occasions for
cooperation and exchange. Two mixed O.Carm.
and O.C.D. commissions were appointed. One
was for spirituality and the other dealt
with formation. We decided to exchange
programmes and initiatives and to invite
each other to the International Congresses
organised by the two orders. In this way the
forthcoming Carmelite Dictionary
came about. Meetings of formators and those
in formation were also arranged by the two
orders. An international Mariological
Meeting has just been held and an
O.Carm-O.C.D. Psychology Seminar to examine
together the relationship between psychology
and spirituality. In all the International
Meetings of one order there has always been
the presence of the other branch. The two
General Councils decided that for Latin
America there should be a joint theological
commission (seven members from each order)
to reflect on Carmelite spirituality topics
of relevance to Latin America. The
commission has met annually for the last
eight years and has published several books
as a result of their reflection on how to
incarnate Carmel's spirituality in Latin
America and how to present our saints in a
language that would be intelligible in the
social, cultural and ecclesial framework of
these countries.
To mark various celebrations
and anniversaries in one or other of the
orders, we have published joint letters
prepared with the assistance of the two
Councils and signed by the two Generals. The
two Generals have also invited each other to
take part for one day in their respective
General Chapters by giving a reflection and
presiding at the celebration of the
Eucharist. Similarly, on more than one
occasion, one or other of the Superiors has
led a course or given a conference at an
Extraordinary Definitory or various regional
meetings.
II
REMEMBER THE LONG WAY GOD LED YOU
(Dt
8:2)
8. In the last three years we
have held two important meetings: the first
on Mount Carmel (1999) and the second in
Aylesford (England, 2001). On both occasions
the two General Councils lived together for
a week. We reflected together and became
aware of our origins, the role of Mary in
Carmel and the various ways in which the two
branches live these elements of Carmelite
spirituality.
Recalling the
History of our Origins
9. The meeting on Mount
Carmel took place at the end of the O.C.D.
Extraordinary Definitory in October 1999.
For a week we prayed together, we visited
biblical sites guided by a book written by
four Teresian Carmelites: Praying in the
Holy Land. We also reflected on the
origins of the Order and its Rule. We
recalled Elijah, the model who inspired the
first Carmelites who in the twelfth century
began to live in this place and who received
from Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, the
Rule or formula vitae. We visited
the ruins of Wadi-es-Siah and we recalled
the eremitic/cenobitic lifestyle of "those
holy fathers". We meditated on the
fundamental values of the Rule,
seen as they are today from various social,
cultural and ecclesial perspectives. They
are like different windows helping us
discover in all their entirety the
Rule's richness and relevance in
meeting the new challenges to the
inculturation of our Carmelite lifestyle. In
this way, we discovered the value and
significance of the experiences of those who
had gone before us.
10. We also became aware that
the proposal to live the evangelical life,
presented quite simply and coherently in the
Rule, is centred on Jesus Christ
and on ecclesial communion. We saw how it
offers a way of life structured around the
person: God (prayer), others (communal acts)
and self (an interior life of personal
prayer). We noted that each of the two
orders has a particular approach to the
Rule based on various experiences of
their vocation over the centuries. For
example, the experiences of Saint Teresa and
Saint John of the Cross and the manner in
which they interpreted the Rule are
necessarily taken for granted by the
Teresian Carmelites in a special way. In the
spirit of a plurality of readings and
re-readings of the Rule, Teresa and
John are welcomed and have an influence on
all Carmelites, who see in these figures the
mature fruit of Carmel. These were days of
grace when we also looked realistically at
the circumstances and some of the practical
details of our relationship.
11. We recalled the order's
passage from the East to the West and its
capacity to adapt to a mendicant style,
without forgetting its original
contemplative and eremitical values. We also
discovered in our past a certain falling
away, continual reform movements before and
after Teresa and John, and finally the
'refoundation' accomplished by them. This
was in creative fidelity to the roots of
Carmel, but opening them up to new horizons
to meet the challenges of their day. They
began with an experience and expressed it in
their writings which enlightened this new
path. Their influence was not confined to
the new order but also extended to the
ancient branch and to the whole of Christian
spirituality.
With Mary, the
Mother of Jesus
12. A year and a half later
the two councils came together for another
week-long meeting. This time it was in
Aylesford (England), a place linked with the
event of the Carmelite scapular. There the
experience of living together was centred,
above all, on the preparation of a joint
letter from the two Superiors General,
With Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to mark
the seven hundred and fiftieth anniversary
of the Scapular. The deep Marian devotion
among Carmelites appeared as a strong common
element between the two orders. We tried to
open a dialogue between our Marian heritage
and the challenges presented by today's
Church and world. We emphasised that Mary is
seen in Carmel as Mother, Patron, Sister and
Model. We presented the Scapular as a sign
of commitment and we invited all the members
of the two orders, friars, nuns, sisters,
laity and associated Congregations, to
continue celebrating the Carmelite Marian
year, which ended in St Peter's Square on 12th
September 2001 when the Pope crowned the
statue of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel.
These two meetings helped us
to remember what God has done for Carmel
throughout its history and they spur us on
to proclaim our common historical 'credo',
much in the same way as the people of Israel
proclaimed their beliefs (See Dt 26:5-9).
III
FORGETTING THE THINGS OF THE PAST LET
US LOOK AHEAD
(See Ph
3:13)
A Positive
Overall Result
13. In the most recent
meeting between the two Councils held in
2002, we looked at the overall outcome of
the journey we had undertaken together in
our dialogue and cooperation. We looked at
what had been achieved so far and that which
remains to be done. A year ago a new
six-year term began for the Carmelite Order;
in a few months a six-year term will be
ending for the Teresian Carmel.
Faced with these various
perspectives, we reaffirm in as much as it
depends on us, that we wish to continue on
ahead, deepening our fraternity and
cooperation. The conflicts and tensions of
history must be left behind in order to open
us to the future "where the Spirit is
sending you in order to do even greater
things."
(7)
In this examination of what
has been accomplished, it is clear that we
have increased the levels of communication
and cooperation. Furthermore, in both orders
there has been a decrease in prejudice and
an increase in national and regional
cooperation. We undertake to promote this
increase in common initiatives, such as the
Carmelite Institute in the United States and
others which have grown up here and there.
New Challenges
14. Along with the Church and
consecrated life in general, we have to face
up to the challenges presented by a changing
reality. For this reason, in the near future
there will have to be more space given to
enquiry and reflection at the level of the
General Councils. We have to ask ourselves
how today we can live and pass on the great
values we hold in common in both orders:
meditating 'day and night' on the word of
God; living in obsequio Jesu Christi;
witnessing to and handing on a solid
spirituality with biblical roots; renewing
and making relevant Marian devotion so that
it is more biblical, more anthropological,
more liturgical and more ecumenical.
Together we can discern paths for
inter-religious dialogue and for giving a
response from our spirituality to the search
for the sacred and to the nostalgia there is
for God. In line with Our Lord Jesus
Christ's experience of God, we too are
called to make a commitment to justice and
to peace arising from a preferential option
for the poor, as "a seal of Gospel
authenticity and a catalyst for permanent
conversion in the consecrated life"
(8). We will have to examine the
possibility of general initiatives in the
future with cooperation and mutual respect
for our respective identities. An openness
to cooperation with the wider Carmelite
family around the world: friars, nuns, laity
and affiliated institutes will have an
ever-increasing effect on placing at the
service of evangelisation our Carmelite
charism and spirituality, which God has
given for the benefit of all our brothers
and sisters. This must be done at all
levels: from that of popular piety to
theological and inter-disciplinary
reflection, as well as from the mission
field to the lecture room.
Unity in
Diversity
15. In finishing this
reflection we have shared with you, dear
brothers and sisters, we would like to note
what has been clear to both General Councils
from the beginning, but which many have not
understood or have not wanted to understand.
We are referring to certain necessary
presuppositions for our dialogue and
cooperation to have a solid basis and for
the proper identity of each order to be
maintained.
We have never desired, nor
even discussed, the juridical amalgamation
of the two orders. We believe that diversity
is a great treasure for the two orders. With
esteem for our respective independence and
areas of activity, without confusion or
ambiguities, we have only desired to be open
to the call of the Spirit as seen in the
signs of the times and in the invitation of
the Church to communion and cooperation
between the two institutes: "Fraternal
spiritual relations and mutual cooperation
among different Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic Life are
sustained and nourished by the sense of
ecclesial communion. Those who are united by
a common commitment to the following of
Christ and are inspired by the same Spirit
cannot fail to manifest visibly, as branches
of the one Vine, the fullness of the Gospel
of love."
(9)
In their recent instruction,
the Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life makes the same call to communion,
inviting all the orders in the Church to
discover their common Gospel roots, striving
for the greater gift, charity.
(10) This is even more important
when the two Institutes in question have
common roots, as in our case.
Conclusion: Open
to the Spirit
In the Discernment of the Faith
16. Brothers and sisters,
before the General Chapter of the Teresian
Carmelites, we wanted to share with you the
experience of this journey we have made over
the last eleven years. If communion and
fraternity are signs of the Spirit's
presence, we can assure you that He has been
present among us. Where the Spirit will take
us from now on we know not, but we are sure
that He will be leading the way. "The wind
blows where it will, you hear its voice, but
you know not whence it comes nor where it
goes. So too everything born of the Spirit"
(Jn 3:8).
We have a firm hope that the
dialogue begun between the two orders will
continue at all levels. This will help all
Carmelites to deepen their knowledge of our
history and spirituality for the benefit of
the whole Church. We have tried to respond
to the challenges of the present moment. It
will fall to new generations to discern the
direction of the Spirit in faith.
In his Apostolic Letter at
the end of the Jubilee Year, John Paul II
encouraged living a spirit of communion in
the Church and indicated some strategies
that might help:
"A spirituality of communion implies also
the ability to see what is positive in
others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift
from God: not only as a gift for the brother
or sister who has received it directly, but
also as a 'gift for me'. A spirituality of
communion means, finally, to know how to 'make
room' for our brothers and sisters, bearing
'each other's burdens' (Ga 6:2)"
(11).
May the "grace of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all"
(See 2Co 13:13).
Rome, Christmas 2002 - New
Year 2003
Fr Joseph Chalmers,
O.Carm. (Prior General) - Fr
Camilo Maccise O.C.D.
(Superior General)
___________
1. See PC 23
2. Vita Consecrata
50
3. Ib. 52
4. Foundations
29:33
5. Id 14:4
6. Passing through
the Holy Door: 31; See Vita
Consecrata: 54
7. Vita Consecrata:
110
8. Vita Consecrata:
82
9. Vita Consecrata:
52
10. Starting afresh
from Christ: 30
11. Novo Millennio
Ineunte: 43
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