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THE CHARISM OF THE TERESIAN CARMEL
(Fr General, Luis Arostegui Gamboa, was asked to give a brief address on the
Charism of the Teresian Carmel. He wrote the following synthesis on the theme.)
In the history of what is called Carmel (taken from the mount of this name in
former Palestine) there has flowed over the years personalities whom, we can
say, had an influence beyond Carmel. There is in Carmel a theological and
biblical path to the depths of theology, represented by St. Teresa of Jesus and
St. John of the Cross, and other Carmelite figures, such as Therese of Lisieux
or Edith Stein (and, of course, Jerome Gracian, and others, including those who
have not been canonized). Their authentic spirituality in and for the Church
shows us that our charism has not been fixed forever, set in concrete, so to
speak, for all time, only to be reproduced in the same way. But these Carmelite
men and women have forged a path to the centre and origin of Christianity, "to
the deepest centre", "we enter more into the inner depths". Without ever
intending to be, they became the criteria of a charism and a source of
inspiration.
This Carmel always keeps safe in its heart the jewel of solitude and silence,
but above all contemplation, that loving gaze into the depths of the human
condition, in to the light of God (in which consists the depths). But this
Carmel is also itinerant, it lives in the midst of people, in towns and cities.
It is in sharing the knowledge of the theological desert that is the world, that
the desert has become, above all, something spiritual, and the pain of this
knowledge is converted into prayer. This spiritual desert is also called "night"
in the experience of Carmel which has gone to the centre of this night, which
was what it wanted and for which it searched. Our Holy Parents discovered, in
this solitude with nature, the transparency of the divine beauty, footprints and
reminders of He who, "pouring out a thousand graces, he passed these groves in
haste".
Teresa of Jesus underlined how we are descended "from these our holy Fathers,
who in the profoundest solitude searched for this treasure, this pearl beyond
price". Having praised these men she, in fact, founded her Carmels in such a way
that there was great togetherness and recreation, in simplicity, with common
sense, joy and naturalness. She asked the Friars to be well educated and work
fervently in serving the Church, according to its needs. But in their
togetherness and community life and joy etc., they were to transport in their
hearts the desert or the "night", "longed for more than the dawn", searching for
the "pearl beyond price" of contemplation (that finally, for Teresa of Jesus,
found its truth in the love of God and ones' neighbour; a love manifested by
deeds).
The Carmel of Teresa of Jesus was the basis of her spirituality, (as it was for
other true witnesses who followed her), in other words, it was a living intimate
friendship, trusting in Jesus. Her Carmel existed only for the Church and for
humanity. All the striving, hopes, and sufferings of this humanity were embraced
(contemplation) as hers, in an active and committed way, without limitations.
It is true to say that this Carmel can be reborn again today, because it does
not depend so much on its past as on its "deepest centre" of what is human and
evangelical.
Luis Arostegui Gamboa, ocd, Superior General
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