The Unselfconscious Medieval Carmelites, Part II
The medieval Carmelites offer the Christian of the 21st century a way of life full of promise – promise at least for one who desires freedom from the tyranny of self so characteristic today. Burning themselves out in prayer and praise for the glory of God and the honor of His Immaculate Mother, these Carmelites of old can teach us a great deal. But just two aspects of the Carmelite way of life must suffice here, both of which pulse throughout that life and without which that life is unthinkable: the Word of God and Blessed Mary Ever Virgin.
The Word of God saturates the medieval Carmelite tradition, especially in the ancient form of Lectio Divina. Altogether different from modern Bible study, the ancient art of Lectio Divina does not get lost in subjective interpretation of the Word; exploration of personal thoughts or feelings in regard to it; or projection of one’s own idea or experience onto the text. The ancient tradition rather allows the text, the Word of God Himself, to speak for itself. God Himself is permitted to speak. Jesus Christ Himself speaks. The reader sits at the feet of Another, of Our Lord, and listens to Him.
This requires faith, belief in the One, True God who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Therefore, His Word can be taken at face value. In the ancient art of Lectio Divina, there are no word games, there is no getting lost in peripheral details. The human heart bares itself to the Truth which comes not from within itself but from Another, the Other; God Himself speaks, and the heart is pierced with contrition. And then freed, transformed.
Mary Ever Virgin, who more than anyone teaches Carmelites how to listen to and ponder the Word of God, is herself the heart and soul of the medieval Carmelite tradition. She listens to God speak. She knows what He has said and never wavers in her faith: “He shall be great…He shall be called Son of God (Cf. Luke 1:32).” All through the vicissitudes of His public life, the antagonism of the religious leaders, the fickleness of the crowds, the incomprehension and pusillanimity of the apostles, she forgets herself and remembers only God’s words, His promises. Even at the foot of the cross, she is not caught up in her own ideas and emotions or in the shifting of loyalties of others. Free to let God work His redemption as He wishes to work it, she stands firm in faith beneath her dying Son: He is great...He is Son of God.
Mary teaches her Carmelites to see things from God’s perspective rather than man’s. Thus, the medieval Carmelite also saw Mary from God’s perspective, and so loved her and honored her as the Son of God Himself would do. Her Carmelites of today – all her children living in a self-referential world – may also learn this art of unselfconsciousness, that is, God-consciousness.
Next Month: Carmelites at the Foot of the Cross
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