www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology EastCarm: How Carmelites Pray

To My Brothers Alex and James and all souls who feel called to the mystical prayer life of Carmel:

May the Glorious Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel entreat her divine Spouse to infuse us body, soul, mind and will with His Spirit, and teach us to seek the Face of the Holy, Mighty, Imortal One through the practice of living in His Presence.

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Thank you very much for your posting. A cradle Irish Catholic, I learned about St. Therese, the Little Flower a few years ago, and recently was introduced to Our Lady of Mt Carmel. I have now been introduced to the Byzantine Catholic Church.

Not being able to improve on your posting, please let me repeat part of it:

May the Glorious Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel entreat her divine Spouse to infuse us body, soul, mind and will with His Spirit, and teach us to seek the Face of the Holy, Mighty, Imortal One through the practice of living in His Presence.

JP

Blessings in Carmel JP,
Thank you for your prayer and devotion to the glorious Thotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and welcome!

This thread is brand new but the Internet Carmelite Community on the Byzantine Forum (ICCBF) isn't.

If you feel called to Carmel I hope we are able to help you answer.
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Dear Friends in Mt Carmel,

It was our Lord Himself Who taught us to contemplate His Divinizing Face on another mountain, Tabor, during the Transfiguration!

I have read that this is the Christian feast of "Tabernacles" as Judaism calls it because St Peter wanted to place three tents etc.

What is rich in spiritual meaning for me at this moment is the idea that "It is good for us to be here" and one can apply this to Mount Carmel - It is good for us to be here indeed!

The notion of tents could, I'm thinking out loud, signify the idea of monastic cells in a spiritual sense for our souls so that, having come aside from the world, we may contemplate the Face of Christ and experience His Theosis.

Alex ICCBF

To all called souls and ICC members:
This is just as good as it was before so I brought it along. My friend and Brother Alex types better and is more succinct than I.


I would suggest that membership in our Internet Carmelite Community (ICC?) would be open to Catholics and Orthodox alike.

The Scapular would be the outward sign of our commitment to the spirituality of Mt Carmel with an emphasis on its Eastern well-springs especially!

Anyone who is not a member of our Carmelite community here may, of course, participate in the discussions and offer their own perspectives on matters, such as Photius has (and he is, of course, always welcome to join it, if he would like).

Our focus would be on the Mother of God of Mt Carmel, on her who pondered on the Word of God, keeping all these things in her heart, on liturgical prayer of the Divine Liturgy and the Hours (each according to one's own tradition), on the Psalter, on the Jesus Prayer and the Rule of the Theotokos and all manner of prayer, as time and circumstances permit, especially intercessory prayer (and intercession for the intentions of the Prayer section here).

Then there is spiritual reading and learning more about the Way of the Lord from others here, following suggestions for spiritual reading and sharing difficulties we have in the spiritual life (without compromising our privacy etc.).

Alex
ICCBF (Internet Carmelite Community of the Byzantine Forum

To called souls:
I have posted this letter from our brother Alex onto this Forum so that all souls interested in the Internet Carmelite Community on the Byzantine Forum (ICCBF) can see our purpose and basic requirements to bring Glory to the Holy Imortal One, and honor to the Theotokos under her prerogative of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Pray without ceasing...Michael ICCBF

Dear Photius,

For purposes of our enlightenment, could you explain the significance of the monastic "polystavrion" in Orthodox monasticism?

Also, the rite of monastic tonsure in Orthodoxy where a paraman and a prayer rope is given?

Alex, ICCBF

The "Practice of the Presence of God" is a charism distinctly characteristic of Carmelite prayer. Some thoughts by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection a 17th century Lay Brother:

"For me the time of action does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are together calling for as many different things, I posess God in as great tranquility as when upon my knees as (sic) the Blessed Sacrament."

When asked if he wasn't constantly bothered by distractions, he said:

"You tell me nothing new; you are not the only one that is bothered by wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving; but, as the will is mistriss of all our faculties, she must recall them, and carry them to God as their last end."

And:
"One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer..... is not to let it wander too far at other times .... you should keep it strictly in the Presence of God."

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Brother Lawrence was a man who was totally in love with God. He was always aware of God's presence and talked lovingly to God almost constantly. What a state to aspire to! It's beyond me at the moment but is definitely a worthy goal.

Good to read you again. Yes, definitely a worthy goal; perhaps the only worth one. You have probably read the little book about him, but if you haven't read the book you should know he also had some difficulty at the beginning. His "metanoia" was almost instantanious but he still had problems for a time.
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Welcome Novice,
We are here to help and guide if at all possible.
Don't be shy.

Since you are already practicing all the requirements of membership. you may, if you choose to join the ICCBF, us the initials of the Internet Carmelite Community on the Byzantine Forum (ICCBF).

When you post be sure to check the box at the bottom of the page to receive notice of posts to this thread.
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Hi Carmelitanum!

In regard to your previous post at the ICCBF, I believe not all are called to become a Lay/Secular Carmelite because it is a vocation. But those who are not being called to this vocation, there are other ways in wich one can share with the spiritual goods of the Order and that is through the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular. Here in my country, the confraternity is a ministry of Carmelite tertiaries. Through this, we spread the charism of the Order and through this venue we also get members who are being called to a vocation to the TOC. It is like hitting two birds in one stone. We, Lay Carmelites, also look to the spiritual growth of the Confraternity members by inviting them to attend retreats and recollections.

As for the membership dues, the practice in our community is that when there are members who cannot regularly fulfill their monthly dues, members who are well-off donate in their behalf and we also ask the poor members that if they cannot pay their dues just tell the prior/prioress/president of the community and the community will look into ways to rectify it. Through this, there is a sense of "community" in the community.

Hello My Fellow Carmelite,
With respect, I don't believe I claimed all were called to the Third Order. The question isn't if all are called, but how to best help those who are called.
Pray without ceasing...MichaelICCBF

Our new friend has asked this question in PM:

Quote

Who is Theotokos?

Who would like to answer first.
Novice, please don't be afraid to come on board.
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

do you mean the e-mail notification at the bottom?

yes