discalcedcarmelites1990: 3. The Carmelite Nuns

Federations/Associations

Federations/Associations among cloistered contemplative communities have been recommended by the Church, as a means of providing mutual support in areas such as financial needs and formation. It is a practice of many such associations and federations of cloistered contemplatives to have meetings every so many years. These meetings, although common are not required and such meetings in no way go against the observance of Papal Enclosure.

However, St. Teresa of Avila explicitly desired for her nuns to observe strict enclosure, only to leave the walls of the cloister in case of a severe emergency or situation or the forming of a new foundation. In this spirit, Discalced Carmelite monasteries which follow the 1990 Constitutions do not attend federation/association meetings.

There are two associations which include 1990 OCD monasteries in the United States. These associations do not have meetings.

St. Joseph Association
Los Palomarcitos de la Virgen

"The decision to belong or not to such bodies depends on each community, whose freedom must be respected." - Verbi Sponsa, Part IV

All other 1990 Carmelite monasteries in the United States have chosen - as they have the right to do - to not join an association.

The Association of Los Palomarcitos de la Virgen is an international association of 1990 Discalced Carmelite monasteries, that, at the time of the choosing of Constitutions, were given the privilege to be both 1990 Carmels and under the Discalced Carmelite Friars. Otherwise, 1990 Discalced Carmelite nuns are directly under the Holy Father rather then the Friars.

S
ince 1400, some pious women, looking for a deeper spirituality, wanted to adapt the spirit and rule of Carmel, under the guidance of the Carmelite friars. So, in 1452 the first Carmelite monastery of nuns was born in Florence, Italy. The monastery took the title “Our Lady of the Angels.” (Providence would have it that St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi would enter that very monastery years later)
The life of the nuns would be devoted absolutely to meditation, the Divine Office, work and penance. Carmel spread rapidly, particularly in France where Bl. Frances d’Amboise and Bl. John Soreth founded numerous Carmelite monasteries.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE DE PAZZI

“Our prayer must be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and deeply reverent, for we must reflect that we are in the presence of a God and speaking with a Lord before Whom the Angels tremble out of respect and fear.” – St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

“To suffer, not to die!” St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

Monasteries

Federations/Associations

3. The Carmelite Nuns