Divisions cast aside

Sydney
10 August 2003

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Divisions cast aside

Carmelites at the Rule of Carmel seminar in the Mt Carmel Retreat Centre at Varroville

The shadow of 500-year-old divisions was cast aside when more than 50 Carmelite friars and nuns from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea gathered at the Mt Carmel Retreat Centre at Varroville, NSW.

The meeting was part of a seminar and workshop on the Rule of Carmel, which is shared by the Carmelite friars and the Discalced Carmelite friars and nuns.

The Discalced Carmelite Order is the result of a 16th century reform of the Carmelite Order by Sts Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.

Fr Greg Burke, the Varroville community’s retreat director, says that the different traditions have sometimes been marked by misunderstandings and divisions, “so it was wonderful then to see the spirit of joy and peace that united all (at our gathering)”.

Carmelite priests Fr Paul Chandler from Melbourne and Fr Patrick McMahon from Washington led the participants in an exploration of the spiritual and historical significance of the Rule.

The Rule, written by St Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, between 1206 and 1214, is a short, simple but profound letter written for a group of pilgrim-hermits living lives of prayer and penance on Mt Carmel in the Holy Land.

It has since been the guide for all Carmelites, including the Discalced Carmelite founders and St Therese of Lisieux.

The gathering was followed by a retreat on the Rule for Carmelite laity and secular order members.

Fr Greg said that it would be the first of many meetings and congresses for Carmelite religious and laity to further develop unity through friendships and collaboration.