Prayer Request
Carmel is the only Order which represents the unity of the old and new Alliance under the symbol of Prophet Elijah. One of the most beautiful and famous examples of contemplative tradition is the figure of Prophet Elijah. The central precept of the rule of Carmel shows us the true contemplative ideal to be lived out. “Each one shall remain in his cell or near it meditating upon the law of the Lord day and night and watching in prayer unless otherwise justly employed”. This text is the soul and life of the Rule; if these words are suppressed, the entire Rule becomes meaningless. Its spiritual significance vanishes, its organizational wisdom crumples, its admirable psychological balance is lost, to say nothing of the fact, that its interior originality is made completely void. For this reason the whole spiritual tradition of the Order has always seen in this text the centre and fundamental nucleus of the”propositum” or “way of life” of Carmel. This precept in its exterior form exacts continuous prayer, pointing it out to the religious as the specific occupation their lives. Perpetual meditation and prayer are the profession of the Carmelite.
Lord said to Elijah: ”depart from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there”. The prophet obeyed the word of the Lord. This episode can be connected with the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity which are the sources of contemplation. The prophet obeyed by his departure - that is faith. Hid by brook Cherith - that is charity. Fed himself by the ravens - that is lived by total trust in God – poverty of spirit – the virtue of hope. The mystical function of faith and the transforming force of charity, joined with the perpetual meditation and prayer of the Rule, become immediately effective and it is very significant. Faith as a fountain of divine favours, hope as a sure support upon our Lord Jesus Christ, charity as a loving tribute of justice effect in the soul its spiritual ascent, putting to flight all the enemies along its way.
Carmelite Rule expressly assigns to the religious only the work of meditation and prayer that is to say, those elements which create in Carmel the contemplative ideal. Speaking of this ideal in a juridical sense let us note that the force of the text of the rule: “each on shall remain in his cell or near it, meditating day and night on the Law of the Lord and watching in prayer is of such magnitude that it causes a Carmelite, completely torn away from all external activity, to be perfectly in her state of life provided that she lives really occupied in constant meditation and prayer. The interior eremitism and contemplation is a specific end of the life of Carmel. The substance of Carmelite life is contemplation of divine things and union with God. In view of this objective, the Rule obliges the religious to keep a law permeated with solitude, prayer, silence, penance and whole-hearted asceticism making him a true contemplative Carmelite.
