(Prepared by P. Gorazd, O.Carm.)
In 1997, Carmel commemorated the 750th anniversary of the adjustment and confirmation of the Carmelite Rule by Pope Innocent IV (1247). Over the last few decades, the Carmelites have begun to engage much more intensively in the study of the text of the Rule as well as the historical background of its writing. They responded to the call of the Second Vatican Council directed to all religious communities:
“It is beneficial to the Church that (religious) societies have their own distinctive character and mission. Therefore, it is necessary to faithfully understand and preserve both the spirit of the founders and their intentions, as well as healthy traditions; all of this together constitutes the family heritage of each society” (PC 2).
Moreover, in recent years, the Order of Carmelites and the Order of Discalced Carmelites have significantly drawn closer to each other through meetings and collaboration of their respective superiors and their advisory councils. One of the several documents that both general superiors have already issued together also pertains to the Rule of Carmel.
In light of this entire development, on January 30, 1999, the general superiors of both orders, together with their advisory bodies, approved a new method of organizing the text of the Carmel Rule and designating the individual chapters.
From now on, we should therefore use this new designation, which, unlike the previous practice, will be common to both orders. We now present this text to you in this arrangement, and in the Czech translation that is currently commonly used in the communities of the Carmelite brothers here. By this, we do not wish to represent this form of Czech translation as the "official" Czech translation for Carmel here. We are well aware that Discalced Carmelite nuns and Discalced Carmelites use other or older translations as well. At this moment, it is only about the new division of the text and about universal orientation in any of its translations or in the Latin original itself. The current numbering of chapters, as used by the original observance of Carmel (O.Carm.), can be found for comparison provided at the margin. In the Terezian Carmel, the numbering varied, but the text of the Rule was often printed even without chapter numbers, only with their headings.
The new arrangement no longer divides the text of the Rule into an introduction, individual chapters, and a conclusion, but only into chapters numbered continuously. Deliberately, the insertion of headings for individual chapters has also been abandoned. The original text does not contain them, and without them, it can speak authentically by itself, without additional highlighting of any content element.
For all those interested in a deeper acquaintance with the Rule, we are also preparing a translation of the commentary on the Rule, which was prepared by Dutch Carmelites in 1979. It will be published only as material for the internal needs of the family of Carmel, similarly to the previously published notebooks “World History of Carmel” and “Czech History of Carmel.” You will then be able to obtain it either from someone of the Carmelite brothers or at the monastery in Kostelní Vydří.
The first issue of the journal Carmel in the year of the Great Jubilee presents an excellent opportunity to present the text of the Carmelite Rule with its new division to as wide an audience of the family of Carmel here as possible.
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RULE
Of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel,
given by St. Albert of Jerusalem
and adjusted and confirmed in 1247 by Innocent IV.old chapter numbering O.Carm. OCD 1. Albert, called by the grace of God to be the patriarch of the Church of Jerusalem, to the beloved sons in Christ B. and the other hermits who dwell under his guidance by the spring on Mount Carmel: greetings in the Lord and blessing of the Holy Spirit. (Prologue) [1] 2. Many times and in many ways, the holy fathers have laid down how one who will be in any state of life or who chooses any way of life dedicated to God should live in obedience to Jesus Christ and serve Him faithfully with a pure heart and a good conscience. [2] 3. However, since you ask us to give you the rules for life that you should observe in the future according to your intention: 4. Therefore, we first establish that you should have one of you as prior, who will be elected to this service by the unanimous consent of all or the greater and wiser part. Each of the other brothers should promise him obedience, and when he promises it, he should strive to keep it alongside purity and renunciation of ownership. (1) [3] 5. You can have places in solitude or wherever they are granted to you, suitable and applicable for your way of religious life, according to what the prior and the other brothers deem appropriate. (2) [4] 6. Moreover, according to the arrangement of the place where you decide to dwell, let each of you have a separate cell assigned to him by the personal decision of the prior with the consent of the other brothers or the wiser part. (3) [5] 7. However, what is presented to you, eat together in the common refectory and listen to some reading from the Holy Scripture, where it can be easily preserved. (4) [6] 8. None of the brothers may, without permission from the prior who will be in that time, change the place assigned to him or exchange it with another. (5) [7] 9. The prior's cell should be close to the entrance so that he can meet the newcomers first, and according to his decision and order, let everything that is necessary be done. (6) 10. All should remain in their cells or near them, day and night contemplating the law of the Lord and being alert in prayers unless otherwise engaged for just reasons. (7) [8] 11. Those who can pray the canonical hours with the clerics should pray them according to the established teaching of the holy fathers and the approved custom of the Church. Those who cannot, should pray the Our Father twenty-five times at night vigils, except on Sundays and feast days, when the number is to be doubled, so that the Our Father is prayed fifty times. Seven times this prayer should then be recited instead of the morning praises. Instead of the other hours, similarly seven times except for the Compline, when it should be prayed fifteen times. (8) [9] 12. Let no brother say of anything that it is his own, but may you all have everything in common. This let the prior, i.e. the brother entrusted with this service by him, distribute according to age and needs of individuals, as it is necessary for each. (9) [10] 13. If necessary, you may have donkeys or mules and some useful animals or a small number of poultry. [11] 14. If it can be easily arranged, let a chapel be established in the midst of the cells, where you will gather every morning to celebrate the Eucharist, if it can be made without difficulties. (10) [12] 15. Discuss matters pertaining to the salvation of souls and the observance of all that pertains to your state of life on Sundays or as necessary on other days; let the brothers who have been observed committing any offense or wrongdoing be admonished with impartial love. (11) [13] 16. Keep the fast from the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross until Easter Sunday, except on Sundays daily, unless illness or bodily weakness or another just reason interrupts it, for necessity does not know law. (12) [14] 17. Refrain from consuming meat unless it is used as medicine in sickness or weakness. And since on the roads you must often beg, you may eat cooked food with meat outside your homes so that you do not trouble your hosts; you may also eat meat at sea. (13) [15] 18. Since the life of man on earth is a trial and all who desire to live devoutly in Christ will suffer persecution, and moreover your adversary the devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, strive with all diligence to put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy. (14) [16] 19. Let your loins be girded with the belt of purity; let your chest be armored with holy thoughts, for it is written: Holy thought keeps you. It is necessary to put on the breastplate of righteousness, that you may love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength and your neighbor as yourself. At every opportunity, take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of that wicked one; for without faith it is impossible to please God. Also put on the helmet of salvation, that you may hope for salvation from the Savior Himself, who will save His people from their sins. Let the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, dwell richly in your mouths and hearts, and whatever you do, let it be done according to the word of the Lord. 20. Engage in some work, that the devil may always find you occupied and may not find access to your soul through your idleness. Let Saint Paul serve as your teacher and example: Christ spoke through his mouth; he was appointed and given by God to the nations as a herald and teacher of faith and truth. If you hold to him, you cannot go astray. He himself says: We worked day and night among you so as not to be a burden to any of you. Not that we do not have the right to this; but to give you ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For when we were with you, we admonished you: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly, and do not work at all. To such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. This is the holy and good way: follow it! (15) [17] 21. The apostle recommends silence when in it he enjoins to work. And as the prophet testifies: Silence is the effort for justice. And again: In silence and hope shall your strength be. Therefore, we establish that after Compline, you should maintain silence until the next day’s Prime. During other times, even though silence does not bind you so strictly, still be very diligent to avoid much talk, for as it is written and as experience teaches, in much talking one cannot avoid sin. And whoever is rash in speaking, will experience misfortune. Likewise, whoever uses many words harms his soul. And the Lord says in the Gospel: For every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Therefore, let each weigh his words and firmly restrain his mouth, lest perhaps he stumble and the fall of his tongue be incurable unto death. Let him guard his ways with the prophet, that he may not offend with his tongue, and let him be diligent and careful to observe silence, which is the effort for justice. (16) [18] 22. You then, brother B., and whoever will be established upon you as prior, always keep in mind and in practice what the Lord says in the Gospel: Whoever wishes to be great among you, let him be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you, let him be your slave. (17) [19] 23. And you, the other brothers, keep your prior in humble reverence. Rather than think of him alone, think of Christ, who has placed him over your heads and who says to the leaders of the Church: Who hears you, hears me; who despises you, despises me, so that you may not come before judgment for your contempt, but deserve the reward of eternal life through obedience. (18) [20] 24. We have briefly written to you and thus established the rules of your community, according to which you are to live. If anyone wishes to do more, the Lord Himself will reward him when He comes. But let him discern rightly, for discernment directs virtues. (Epilogue) [21]
