Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm.
The liturgical devotion to Mary among the Carmelites affected how they understood their vocation. In 1287 at the General Chapter held in Montpellier, France, it was decided that the cloak which the Carmelites wore be changed from the original striped mantle to a pure white cloak. This was understood as a symbol of the virginity of Mary. One of the favourite titles for Mary among medieval Carmelites was "Most Pure Virgin". Mary's virginity was seen as a symbol of her total dedication to God with a pure heart. She was understood to epitomise the beatitude - "Blessed are the pure in heart". Carmelites, who had their roots in the eremitical tradition, sought this same total dedication and they saw in Mary all that they were striving to be.
Another major aspect of Mary that fascinated medieval Carmelites was the divine maternity. The Carmelites, as an Order with a strong contemplative thrust, sought union with God and no closer union could be thought of than Mary carrying the divine child in her womb. Although they were an Order with many active apostolates, the Carmelites never forgot their roots as hermits on Mount Carmel. The primary aspect of their vocation was often said to be contemplation, understood as the search for an intimate relationship of union with God. They sought the presence of God within them and in the midst of their activity. Mary was an inspiration for them since she showed that close union with God was possible for a human being. She was called mother of Carmel in the sense that she nurtured the divine life within those who sought her aid. The Carmelites also thought of her as a sister because she had shared our life on earth and knew its ups and downs."
The English Carmelite theologian, John Baconthorpe (d. 1348) tried to show that the Carmelite way of life was patterned on that of Mary. He said that the Order was founded for the purpose of venerating her and he pointed out that the highest form of veneration is imitation.
One of the strongest formative influences on Carmelites from the 14th century until relatively recently was a collection of books edited by the Spanish Carmelite, Philip Ribot in 1370. This purports to be a collection of very early texts although at least some of them seem to have been written by Ribot himself. One of these books, entitled, "The Institution of the First Monks",was thought at one time to pre-date the Rule written by Albert.
According to the times in which this book was written, the interpretation of Scripture was allegorical. The cloud, which the prophet Elijah saw (1 Kings 18, 41-46), was interpreted as a symbol of Mary immaculately conceived and bearing the saviour while remaining a virgin. Mary was understood to embody what every Carmelite strives for - to remove all trace of actual sin and to be transparent in order to allow God who dwells within to shine forth.
A more modern Carmelite, Blessed Titus Brandsma, killed in Dachau in 1942 for openly opposing the Nazis, said that all Christians and especially Carmelites should be "other Marys" in the sense that just as Christ grew in her and came to birth, so must we allow the love of God to grow in us. Just as she was the "God-bearer" for the world, we too must bring God into every situation and be able to perceive the presence of God that is so often hidden by external realities. He also said that Carmelites are to prolong in the Church what God had worked in Mary. She was God's masterpiece. She had co-operated fully with God and therefore has given us an example of how to respond when God approaches - "Let it be done to me according to your word. (Lk 1, 38)24
Despite the fact that Our Lady is unlike us in that she was completely sinless and had a unique relationship with God, nevertheless Carmelites saw in her the fullest expression of what they aspired to be. They never saw her as distant or untouchable because of her privileges; instead, because of their traditional understanding of Our Lady as their Patroness, Mother and Sister, Carmelites always tended to have a close and intimate relationship with her.
