Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
An ancient order which venerates as its founder the Prophet Elias, who lived nine centuries before Our Lord Jesus Christ. Its Elian traditions, though contested by several modern critics, have nevertheless been approved by the Church, who in the Office for his feast has allowed the Order to call him its founder, and has placed his statue in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, among those of the founders of Religious Orders, with the foUowing inscription: “Universus Ordo Carmelitarum Fundatori Suo San Elire.” (The Entire Order of Carmel to its Founder, Saint Elias). This religious family, thus founded under the Old Law, continued to exist under the New, and eventually spread from Asia into Europe. Established historical records of the Order date back to the 12th century; the Rule it now observes is that given by Saint Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 1206, to the Hermits of Mount Carmel in Palestine. In 1432 this same Rule was mitigated by Pope Eugenius IV. The 16th century is memorable for the great reformation introduced into this Order by the Virgin of Avila, Saint Teresa of Jesus, and Saint John of the Cross. Since that time the Order has been divided into two branches, namely, that of the Calced Carmelites , who observe the Rule as mitigated by Pope Eugenius IV, and that of the Discalced Carmelites , who keep the Primitive Rule of Saint Albert, without any mitigation.
Carmelite saints include
Albert of Jerusalem
Albert of Sicily
Andrew Corsini
Angelus of Jerusalem
Anne of Saint Bartholomew
Cyril of Constantinople
Denis of the Nativity
Elizabeth of the Trinity
Jacobinus de Canepaci
Jane of Toulouse
Joaquina Vedruna de Mas
John Baptist Spagnuolo
John of the Cross
John Soreth
Maria Lopez of Jesus
Marie of the Incarnation
Mary Fontanella
Mary Magdalen of Pazzi
Nuno Alveres Pereira
Peter Thomas
Raphael Kalinowski
Redemptorus of the Cross
Romeo of Limoges
Rose Chretien
Simon Stock
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Teresa Margaret Redi
Teresa Maria of the Cross
Teresa of Avila
Teresa of the Andes
Theresa of Lisieux
New Catholic Dictionary