Discovering Carmel Certificate

This module explores the very beginnings of the Carmelite order providing learners with an understanding of the nature of the call to the desert and the life of the desert, as well as the historical situation in which Carmel developed and the life and spirituality of the first Carmelites.

This module is a brief introduction to The Rule of St. Albert, which is the foundational document of the Carmelite Order. It has been a guide to all those seeking to live the Carmelite Way since it was first written in the early 13th Century. It is the Rule followed by all branches of the Carmelite Family today. The module considers the Rule so that learners gain some understanding of the historical context within it was written, a sense of the core values expressed in it and ideas of how we might live out this Rule in today’s world.

This module explores the development of the Teresian-Carmelite Charism in the 20th century, providing an understanding of Teresian-Carmelite spirituality as the unifying element of all aspects of Teresian-Carmelite life. Learners will also develop an understanding of its different expressions in the lives of friars, nuns and lay people and read some thoughts about the relationship of Teresian-Carmelite tradition to its task in the modern world.

This module provides an overview of the history of Carmelite women and provides a background for more detailed studies of particular women, in separate modules. The module covers the origins of Carmelite life for women and the ways in which this life has developed over time. It also provides an understanding of some of the key figures in Carmelite life for women.

Currently Carmelites use the term 'Carmelite family' to give expression to the idea that while the Carmelite calling may be lived out in a variety of ways, by people in all walks of life, we all belong to one family. The module covers what it means to describe Carmel as a “family” and explores the development of the life of the friars in the 14th century. It looks at keywords in describing different ways of being associated with Carmel and includes a case study on the ways in which people were associated with the friars’ house, the Carmine, in Florence.

This module is an introduction to what is known about the early Carmelite history of Britain and Ireland, from the first foundations up until the early-nineteenth century.  It traces the story of the foundation and development of the Carmelite Order in Britain and Ireland, the decline and dissolution of the Order following the Protestant Reformation, and the re-establishment of the Order, and its missionary endeavour, during the early-nineteenth century. 

This module outlines the history of the Carmelite Order in Zimbabwe, beginning the situation in what was then called Southern Rhodesia before the arrival of the first Irish Carmelites in 1946 (unit 1). Units 2, 3 and 4 trace the development of the mission of those Carmelites between 1946 and the establishment of an independent Zimbabwe in 1980. Unit 5 sketches some of the more recent developments in the Commissariat of Zimbabwe since 1980.

This module introduces the origins, different forms, and development of female contemplative life in the Western Church. It considers early forms of religious life for women and the different forms of female contemplative religious life in the Church (monasticism; Canons Regular; mendicants). Learners will also gain some knowledge and understanding of developments since the Council of Trent and an appreciation of the understanding of cloistered religious life for women that has emerged after Vatican II.

This module introduces learners to the historical controversy about whether or not the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, founded the Carmelites. The controversy began in the 1280s and continued right down to the 1970s, when it became more generally accepted that the Formula of Life by St. Albert of Jerusalem was the original founding document of the Carmelite Order.

This module outlines the different ways in which Carmelites have been affected by and tried to respond to some of the epidemics that have marked the eight hundred years or so of their history. It begins with an outline of the Biblical Theology of epidemics, and of the theology of divine providence in relation to such evils. It then covers some specific historical situations: the ‘Black Death’ in Paris, the pastoral strategy in response to the plague on Cyprus in 1362-63, the responses of four Carmelites to some later and more localised epidemics and the response of the Zimbabwean Commissariat of the Carmelite Order to the AIDS pandemic. Finally, the module outlines the emergence of the pandemic known as Covid 19.

This module focuses on a number of aspects of Elijah’s call, witness and importance for Carmelites. It considers Elijah’s vocation, his opposition to idols and his prayer.

This module is a brief introduction to the theme of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Carmelite Order which from earliest times has been known as Marian. This module explores what learners already know about Mary, and perhaps finds a new perspective. It describes how the Marian tradition of the Carmelite Order evolved and explains the Carmelites’ vision of Mary and their experience of her protection.

In considering what spirituality is, this module covers five areas. The first surveys the spiritual landscape today, looking at the context within which we live our lives. the second considers, in a general way, the basic teaching of the Bible as God’s passionate care for his people. The third deals with some of the central themes of Christian spirituality – Creation, Incarnation, Trinity, Spirit, Vocation/Call, Body of Christ/Church, Eucharist. The fourth provides an overview (necessarily brief) of the history of spirituality. The final area is an attempt to describe what Christian spirituality is.

This module is a brief introduction to the Carmelite school, or rather tradition, of spirituality from the O.Carm perspective. It looks at how Carmelites have lived the Gospel at different times and places, how they have lived in allegiance to Jesus Christ prompted by the Holy Spirit and within the Christian family. The module will help the learner journey from the Order’s beginnings in Carmel to its life today in the 21st century. It describes how men and women have lived the Rule, and how that Rule and symbolic figures of Mary and Elijah have shaped the Carmelite Imagination. It also recounts the importance of the Order’s origins on Mount Carmel. 

This module is an outline by two Secular Discalced Carmelites of what they see as distinctive in the Discalced/Teresian approach to Carmelite spirituality. Inevitably, therefore, it is focused on the two foundation stones of the Order, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. As a detailed introduction to these great Carmelites is given in other modules, this module draws out themes and perspectives in their lives and teachings which give the Teresian Carmel its particular flavour.

This module looks at the influence of the Scriptures on the Carmelite Rule, and on the writings of some of our Carmelite Saints. It also glances at the Book of Psalms which Carmelites  (along with other Religious) use every day in their prayers. The module will increase learners awareness of the potential pitfalls in reading the Bible, and help cope with them. It identifies the pervading influence of the Bible on Carmelite Life and describes how Carmelite Saints used the Bible.

This module looks at prayer in the Carmelite tradition and at what the saints of Carmel can teach us about the experience of prayer. It explores the development of a persons special relationship with God in prayer. Whether or not learners regularly practice prayer, learners will already be, in some way, relating to God, and the module will connect with each persons own experience. The module explains the rich variety of expressions that relationship with God can have and considers the connection between committed Christian living and a personal relationship with God. It also explores the normal stages of growth in prayer as outlined in Carmelite literature and helps to make sense of some of the more confusing aspects of prayer.

One of the enduring themes of the Carmelite tradition over the centuries has been the notion of living in the presence of God. This module presents this popular theme of Carmelite spirituality with reference to some of the main texts, personalities and ideas of our Family’s tradition. It’s an obvious point, but one we feel we should be explicit about from the start, that the fundamental notion underpinning this module is the belief that God exists, that God is truly present in the world.

This module looks at St. Teresa as a writer and includes an introduction to St. Teresa’s teaching on prayer. It also considers her thoughts on asceticism, the importance of the humanity of Jesus for her and her concern for the Church in her day. The module discusses the challenges and difficulties that St. Teresa met in her writings, as well as an appreciation of her understanding of contemplative prayer.

This module considers the way four Carmelite women (Teresa, Thérèse, Elizabeth and Edith) lived out their vocation in their own particular way. They have all left us insights into ways to grow in prayer not only through their writings but also by the way they embodied their prayer in their lives.

This module offers an introduction to Liturgy. It covers Liturgy itself, participation in liturgy, the Eucharist as the high point and the art of celebrating the Liturgy.

This module gives a brief outline of the life and poems of the American poet, Jessica Powers, who became a Discalced Carmelite in 1941 and was known as Sr. Miriam of the Holy Spirit. Tracing the origins of her call to Carmel as reflected in her early poems, and her growing emphasis on the process of interior transformation that results from the human spirit's encounter with God. The module also outlines her life in Carmel.

The poetry of St. Thérèse is an important part of her writings, though perhaps not very well known. This module refers frequently to Story of a Soul as well as other authors' writings about her. St. Thérèse did not begin to write poetry until 1893, four years before she died of tuberculosis. The module looks at some recurring themes used by St. Thérèse in her writings, and will familiarise learners with her poetry. It also provides a good understanding of her life and unique spirituality.

This module introduces a remarkable Carmelite woman who is little known outside the French-speaking world but deserves wider recognition. She enables us to appreciate further the diversity of expressions of the Carmelite charism while reflecting on her life encourages us to look at our own.

This module is an introduction to the life and spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), a prolific writer and one of the most loyal and inspirational daughters that the Church has ever known. It outlines her life-story and introduces her written works, which are spiritual classics.

This module is an introduction to the life and times of Bl. John Soreth, O.Carm., one of the great reformers of the Carmelite Order. It presents the reform that Bl. John introduced into the Order, the circumstances that made that reform necessary, and his foundation of both the female-branch of the Carmelites and of the lay and Third-Order Carmelites. It concludes by considering the legacy of Bl. John Soreth.

This module is an introduction to the saintly John of Saint-Samson (or Jean du Saint-Samson as he is known in French) who is the object of increasing attention in the twenty-first century. John was born into the well-established Du Moulin family in 1571 at Sens in the French duchy of Burgundy. John’s life and writings are best appreciated in the light of the time in which he lived, and in the context of the nation whose son he was.

This module studies the life and spirituality of a nineteenth-century Polish Carmelite, St. Raphael (Joseph) Kalinowski (1835-1907). It considers how Raphael Kalinowski, who spent 10 years in Siberian exile, lived his life of discipleship, which was finally recognised by the Church as a life of holiness. In his native country, he is regarded as one of the most influential spiritual writers, though his spirituality has been known mostly from his private letters in which he shows that the path of Christian discipleship and holiness is all about meeting God in love for others.

This module studies the life and spiritual witness of Lucien Bunel, Père Jacques OCD, a French Carmelite who was imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II for hiding three Jewish boys in the school of which he was headmaster, in Avon, on the outskirts of Paris. This part of his story is told in the film directed by Louis Malle, Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987).

This module in an introduction to the life, thoughts and writings of Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection. His writings and message are very simple but they are valued by many because of the way in which they help us to come into closer contact with God. 

This module is an introduction to the life and spirituality of the French Carmelite, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, O.C.D. She was only seven years younger than St Thérèse of Lisieux, whom she loved and admired, but whereas Thérèse became famous almost immediately, Elizabeth is still relatively unknown. The module outlines her early life, her life in Carmel and the influences on, and characteristics of, her spirituality.

This module introduces the Second World War martyr, St. Titus Brandsma OCarm, and explores the way in which his opposition to Nazism led to his martyrdom. It also sketches his early life and Carmelite vocation, his work as a philosopher, his opposition to the Nazi regime in Holland, and his arrest, imprisonment and death in Dachau.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is probably one of the best-known saints. She was described by Pope Pius X as the “greatest saint of modern times” and he motto was: To do ordinary things with extraordinary love.” The module sketches the historical and family background to the life and times of St. Thérèse, and outlines her spirituality and message.

This module studies the life of St. Teresa of the Andes, O.C.D. Born Juanita Fernandez Solar in Santiago, Chile, in 1900, she was only eleven months in the convent when she died in 1920. Although short, her life, was filled love. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II, in her native Santiago, on April 3,1987, and she was canonised, in Rome, on March 21, 1993.

This module presents some aspects of Carmelite spirituality of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O.C.D., also known as Edith Stein, outlining her life and thought, and her spiritual journey from Judaism, to agnosticism, to faith in Jesus Christ, and, finally, to the Carmelite Order. It also considers her impact of her life and writings on Christian spirituality “after Auschwitz.” 

This module introduces St. John of the Cross, O.C.D., and his life and writings. It outlines the progress of his cause for Beatification and Canonisation and the developments which led to him being declared a Doctor of the Church. It also considers the influence of St. John of the Cross on some well-known people from the late nineteenth century down to the present day.

This module introduces Bl. Isidore Bakanja, sometimes called the martyr of the Brown Scapular, who had become a significant figure in the Carmelite Order and in the Congolese church. Sketching the life and heroism of this African Lay Carmelite, it also describes his beatification, in Rome, during the first African synod in 1994.

This module introduces the Italian Canon Regular, Bishop and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Albert degli Avogadri, who drew up the Formula of Life for the First Carmelites. It outlines Albert’s early years, his vocation to the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Mortara, his time as Bishop of Vercelli, and his activities in the Holy Land as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (1205-14). It concludes by outlining his likely contribution to the Formula of Life that he drew up for the first Carmelites.

This module is an introduction to the life and death of the Carmelite Priest and Martyr, Hilary Januszewski. He was Prior of the Carmelite monastery in Crakow, Poland, during the Second World War, and was sent to Dachau concentration camp by the Nazis. Knowing that he would probably contract the disease by doing so, and that he was unlikely to survive, Hilary was one of those who volunteered to look after the prisoners in the camp who were suffering from typhoid, and who had been isolated in one of the camp's buildings, where he died on 25 March, 1945. He was beatified in 1999.

This module is an introduction to Formation within the Carmelite Family. Generally, the word formation implies something more than acquiring certain skills or certain knowledge – formation is a more holistic concept and refers not only to knowledge and skills but a person’s attitudes and character. This module explains what formation means and provides some sense of the importance of formation within the Carmelite Family. It also outlines the different formation processes within the Carmelite Family.

This module is an introduction to the topic of interfaith dialogue and will deepen the learners knowledge and understanding of what dialogue is and the Church’s teaching about the importance of interfaith dialogue for today’s world. It explores how the Carmelite tradition helps us in the building of relationships between people of different faith traditions and considers the essential beliefs and practices of the majority faith traditions found in Britain and Ireland today and how Carmelites might promote dialogue with people of these faiths focusing especially on the other Abrahamic faiths of Judaism and Islam but also considering Hinduism and Buddhism and, briefly, some of the other world faiths. 

This module considers how the Carmelite tradition can be made relevant to contemporary psychological understandings of the self. It aims to deepen your appreciation of the Carmelite writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross from a contemporary psychological perspective whilst retaining the spiritual integrity of these works.

This module looks at the charism of the Order of Carmelites as it was understood by the members of the Order in the years following the Second Vatican Council. It considers some of the important events and writings which gave rise to the Order’s understanding of its charism, and then focuses on the three aspects of the charism, namely contemplation, fraternity and service in the midst of the people.

This module explores the development of the Teresian-Carmelite Charism in the 20th century, providing an understanding of Teresian-Carmelite spirituality as the unifying element of all aspects of Teresian-Carmelite life and its different expressions in the lives of friars, nuns and lay people. It also considers the relationship of Teresian-Carmelite tradition to its task in the modern world.

This module focuses on the branches of the Carmelite Family known as the Third and Secular Orders – numerically the largest group of professed members of the Order – and their development within the last century. The scope of the module is primarily the Third/Secular Orders in a global context, with a particular (though not exclusive) focus on Britain and Ireland. It provides an overview of the historical development and spirituality of the Third/Secular Orders within Carmel and explains how Vatican II influenced the development of the Third/Secular Orders in the twentieth century.

This module aims to give an understanding of the Church’s commitment to justice and peace, and of the Carmelite commitment as part of that, and as an expression of the values of its own tradition. It covers the meaning of justice itself, the nature of the Carmelite charism, and the activities in which Carmelites are engaged in the pursuit of justice, peace and the integrity of Creation. It explores this new dimension of Carmelite life, how it came about, what are its reasons for continuing and developing, what is its link with the Carmelite tradition, and what concrete actions does it involve? The relevance of this material may be understood in the context of the new call that Pope Francis has made, especially in his two encyclicals, Evangelii gaudium and Laudato si, to care for our common home, to always think about the poor and to put an end to the many injustices afflicting the world.

This module is about the way Religious Life and other kinds of Consecrated Life have come to be understood in the Church since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). It outlines the re-discovery of charisms in the Roman Catholic Church in the period leading up to Vatican II and then the teaching of Vatican II’s Lumen gentium on charisms. It continues with the understanding of Religious Life in the period leading up to the Council and describes the development of the teaching of the Church on the relationship between charisms and the Consecrated Life in the period 1965 to 2014.