#SSPX CARMELITES SERIES#

They then returned to Europe where they spread this new monastic order. Elisabeth Steinmann considers it probable that the hermits of Mount Carmel also settled in some cities of Palestine ( Acre, Israel, Tire, Tripoli, Beaulieu in Lebanon), but after a few decades, these hermits began to leave the Holy Land as a result of the insecurity linked to the Muslim reconquests which marked the end of the Crusades. The first act of the Order of Brothers of The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel was to dedicate a chapel to the Virgin Mary under the title of Mary, Star of the Sea (in Latin: Stella Maris). This rule, dated 1209, is centered on prayer and defined the way of life of hermits. Tradition has established that it was Brocard, second prior general of the order, who asked the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Albert, to provide the group of hermits with a written rule of life. In the Carmelite rule, reference is made only to 'Brother B.' (in the introductory sentence of the rule) who asked the patriarch for a rule of life for hermits. This first monastery was located in the east–west facing valley located 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of the current monastery, and east of the 'Haifa Sde Yehoshua Cemetery'.Īt the beginning of 13th century, their leader was supposed to be Brocard, although written evidence is lacking.

During the Third Crusade, a group of hermits led by Berthold of Calabria began to inhabit the caves of Mount Carmel following the prophet Elijah. The oldest (and most reliable) written accounts of the presence of Latin hermits on Mount Carmel date back to 1220 and another text from 1263 (See Steinmann 1963, p. 24 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFSteinmann1963 ( help)). Tradition indicates that the order was founded in 1185, but that is based on the story of a pilgrim in the Holy Land, the interpretation of which remains questionable. Ruins of the first church on the slopes of Mount Carmel Hermit and monastic life on Mount Carmel Very quickly, the spirituality of the order turned to Mary who became the queen and mistress of Carmel. The first chapel built within the hermitages and bringing together this community is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This is how the first Christian hermits (at the origin of the founding of the order), settled in the caves of Mount Carmel to pray to God. These caves of Mount Carmel have nevertheless, as archaeological data attest, served as a place of habitat and worship in many eras, without guaranteeing historical continuity, especially in a specific cult.

#SSPX CARMELITES SERIES#

Tradition indicates the presence on Mount Carmel of a series of Jewish and then Christian hermits who lived, prayed and taught in the caves used by Elijah and Elisha. The Carmelite Order is one of the few, if not the only, monastic orders not to refer to a charismatic founder, but to a prophet of the Old Testament: Elijah and his disciple Elisha are considered by the Carmelites as the spiritual fathers of the order. 1.3 Foundation of the Order on Mount Carmel.1.2 Hermit and monastic life on Mount Carmel.

Sspx carmelites