The Eremetic Era
The Rule of St. Albert - A Community of Hermits
In the early twelfth century, a band of hermits living on Mount Carmel asked their bishop for a rule governing their way of life. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, St. Albert, acquiesced, some time between the years 1206 and 1214. The rule was simple and short, it established a community of hermits who lived separately, but gathered for Mass each day, and for a communal meeting each Sunday, They were to be dedicated to prayer, with emphasis on solitude and silence; they were to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience to a Prior elected from their number. In a spirit of penance they were to fast much of the year, and continually abstain from meat. The brothers would support themselves by manual labor, as befitting men of poverty.
The Rule of St. Albert, as it has come to be known, also has special importance for Carmelites today. It is still the Rule of all Carmelites in the religious life, including both Discalced and Calced orders, although modern constitutions for the several orders interpret how the Rule is to be lived.
The Rule of St. Albert, as we have noted, is for a community of hermits. It is known as an eremitical rule ( that is, related to the rule of life of a hermit), in contrast to other ancient rules, which were canonical or monastic (stressing community life). The emphasis in Albert's rule is on providing a communal structure, where the hermit could be free of certain concerns that might be present if he lived outside the community. In community the hermit could more easily live up to this central provision of the Rule. "Each one of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering on the Lord's law day and night and keeping watch at his prayers unless attending to some other duty." Silence is also emphasized, "the apostle would have us keep silence, for in silence he tells us to work." and for those times when a strict silence is not called for, "be careful not to indulge in a great deal of talk."
A few decades later in 1247, when the political situation was forcing the hermits to seek permission for new foundations outside the desert of Mount Carmel, Pope Innocent IV himself issued the Rule of St. Albert, with a few modifications aimed at these new communities. Meals were to be eaten in a common refectory, accompanied by biblical readings. The Divine Office was to be recited in common. This rule has come to be known as Innocentian Rule, and is of great importance to the Carmelite Order. The Innocentian Rule moved our Order further in the direction of communal life, without diluting its eremitical character.
As the Order moved from its beginnings on Mount Carmel to establishment in Europe, the character of the order shifted. In 1326 the Carmelite order was granted complete mendicant status, that is, it was granted the same privileges as orders such as the Dominicans and Franciscans, which forbade the ownership of property, in contrast to the monastic orders. These orders were dedicated to the apostolic work, flowing from a contemplative life. In one century, the shift from eremitical to mendicant status had occurred. With this status, the Carmelite Order became subject to all the weaknesses of the other mendicant orders of this time. However, the Innocentian Rule still remained as the Rule of Carmel.
In its first three centuries, the Carmelite Order was granted certain mitigations of the Rule (for lesser strictness). Most of these mitigations had a deleterious affect on the Order, bringing it further from its original spirit. However, there were also attempts at renewal of the Order from time to time. One of the great reformers was a General of the Order, Blessed John Soreth, who issued new Constitutions in 1456. It was at this time that communities of nuns were instituted.
By the time of the Council; of Trent, Carmelite life was far from the way envisioned by St. Albert. Much visiting went on at the convents; nuns left the convent to stay with relatives, fast and abstinence were not strictly required. It is in this situation that we find St, Teresa of Avila establishing a reformed convent where the Primitive Rule (the Innocentian Rule) could be followed closely. Four years later, in 1566, she was inspired to found more reformed convents, in 1568 she helped in the first foundation of friars with St. John of the Cross. Teresa wished each of these foundations to be "a retreat where ....this Rule of our Lady and Empress shall be kept in its original perfection." She calls upon the Discalced to look to "our holy Fathers of past days, the hermits whose lives we attempt to imitate"....let us not wrong her (Mary), or our holy Fathers of past days, by failing to live as they did." Teresa sought to bring back the eremitical spirit to these reformed communities, while retaining communal structure in order to facilitate this spirit.
The last sentence of the Rule of St. Albert states, "see that the bounds of common sense are not exceeded, however, for common sense is the guide to virtue." St. Teresa, in her Reform, used eminent common sense to bring back the Primitive Rule to our Order. Each Carmelite needs a share of her spirit to bring the Rule's spirit into the life of our Order today. Those in the First and Second Order are called to live this Rule in a complete manner.
See the Rule of St. Albert, by Bede Edwards, OCD
From "Welcome to Carmel"
Teresian Charism Press
1525 Carmel Rd
Hubertus, WI 53033
