The AWOC Order of Carmelites
of the Apostolic Western Orthodox Church
A Modern Carmelite Rule
A revised and updated version of the Carmelite Rule
+Michael Callahan, D.D., OCR, OC
Prior General, CCIA Order of Carmelites
© 2017. Rev: 2023
Introduction:
For the better part of the past thirty plus years, I have been on a path towards the contemplative life, and during that journey, I’ve been particularly drawn to contemplative spirituality and more particularly that of the order of Carmelites and Sts Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
As a bishop in an autocephalous Catholic jurisdiction I’ve had it on my heart to form a religious order for our people who are likewise drawn to the contemplative life, yet remain active witnesses within our modern world, like St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, creating a spiritual discipline where friends may be drawn together with a singular focus.
As a religious order placed amidst the business and messiness of the 21st century, it is becoming increasingly important to move towards what I’m calling both an “Authentic Faith,” and a “Radical Transformation.” A Christian faith that is authentic is one that is transformative – an ever-evolving journey to be more Christ-like – being transformed into the “Imago Dei,” the image of God. This becomes truly radical because a movement towards God necessitates a moving away from the norms of the secular world.
Last year I wrote a book, Authentic Faith, Radical Transformation and Contemplative prayer. In this book I take the reader through spiritual basic training, or a refresher course depending on their catechetical level. In taking the reader back to the basics we have an opportunity to discover the true focus of our faith. In order for us to transform into something different than what the world expects, we need to understand what God expects. In this basic training we learn that contemplative prayer is simply our door to intimacy with God – externally focused to our creator. This prayer is not at all connected to “eastern mysticism” or other occult spiritualities, such as crystals or chakras.
The focus for the Apostolic Western Orthodox Church Order of Carmelites will be discovering ways to worship God in Spirit and Truth amidst our busy lives, and the mixed messages of modernism. These mixed messages are abundant in both the secular world and many modern, liberal churches.
As the Apostolic Western Orthodox Church is consecrated to Our Lady of the Americas. So, to will we as a Carmelite Order seek Our Ladies’ guidance and protection.
A Modern Carmelite Rule
Adapted for Our times from the Original Carmelite Rule of St Albert.
Greeting
Saint Albert was called by God’s favor to be patriarch of the church of Jerusalem, bids health in the Lord and the blessing of the Holy Spirit to his beloved sons in Christ, and the other hermits under obedience to him, who lived near the spring on Mount Carmel.
Prologue: The Following of Christ and the Purpose of the faithful brothers and sisters.
Many and varied are the ways in which our saintly forefathers laid down how everyone, whatever his station or the kind of religious observance he has chosen, should live a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ — how, pure in heart and stout in conscience, he must be unswerving in the service of his Master.
It is to me, however, that you have come for a rule of life in keeping with your avowed purpose, a rule you may hold fast to henceforward; and therefore:
Article 1.
The Prior: His Election
The first thing we require is for you to have a prior, one of yourselves, who is to be chosen for the office by common consent, or that of the bishop over your region.
Profession
Each of the others must promise him obedience — of which, once promised, he must try to make his deeds the true reflection — and chastity and the renunciation of ownership.
Article 2.
To the beloved sons and daughters in Christ of the Apostolic Western Orthodox Church, in the world and the other contemplatives living in obedience God; grace and peace, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Article 3
Many times and in different ways the holy Fathers have laid down that everyone—whatever be their state in life or the religious life chosen by them—should live in allegiance to Jesus Christ and serve him zealously with a pure heart and a good conscience.
In that spirit, it is our intention to present a formula of life and devotion, which will guide us in our spiritual journey together.
Article 4
The first thing we lay down is that each congregation of group of religious shall have a prior, one of yourselves, chosen by the unanimous consent of all, or of the greater and more mature part. All the others shall promise him obedience fulfilling it by deeds, as well as chastity and Christian love. All those joining with us, purpose to live in Christian charity, compassion and love. Those of the order living in community vow to live with all things in common, working together for the common good, and charitable outreach to the secular community.
Article 5.
The Carmelite order of the Apostolic Western Orthodox Church will consist of both men and women dedicated to living a life of contemplative prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on a spiritual journey towards authentic faith – sanctification.
Article 6.
Our entire focus will be towards deepening our relationship with God the Father, through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ – working towards personal sanctification and a truly Authentic Faith through conversion of mind, body and spirit to the will of the Father.
Article 7.
In addition to being a contemplative order of Christians, we will also be about God’s work of charity and compassion, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need.
Article 8.
We are an order of compassion, not of poverty. However, we do reject the secular notion that riches equal happiness. We do admonish our members to a life of minimalism and compassion, giving back to God and his people generously from the blessings he bestows upon us. In this focus we will become a living witness to the goodness of God.
Article 9.
We will be considered what has traditionally become known as a third order community of Carmelites where both men and women are permitted to be either married or single and celibate, according to their calling in life. All members of the Order are admonished to be chaste and sober with a fidelity to their marital state and vows.
Article 10.
As one body, we are committed to living in the world, but not being of this world. In this we will strive to maintain fidelity to the ancient teachings of the Church in regard to faith and morals.
Article 11.
With only one exception, social activism among our members will be limited to: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, etc. We will also be a voice of reason in the public square when it comes to issues regarding faith and morals.
No. We aren’t founded to become a social justice activist order. However, as stated above, we see the issue of abortion as an exception to the rule regarding activism. The evils of Abortion are such that we view that practice as a selfish, self-serving act of intrinsic moral evil; being the murder of innocent pre-born human lives, which are helpless souls who’re unable to defend themselves.
Article I2.
For those living in the secular world, you can rent or own a residence suitable and convenient for your observance in the judgment of the prior and the brothers. However, the accumulation of worldly goods should be minimalistic, focusing rather on spiritual blessings rather than temporal wealth and accumulation of goods.
Article 13.
Moreover, those living in community, taking account of the site you propose to occupy, all of you are to have separate rooms; these are to be assigned by the prior himself with the agreement of the other brothers and sisters, especially the more mature of them.
Article 14.
Living in community, you are to eat in a common kitchen as family, what may have been given to you, listening together to a reading from Holy Scripture, if this can conveniently be done.
The prior’s room should be nearest the entrance to the place so that he may first meet those who come to the place and everything afterwards may be done as he wills and decides.
Article 15.
In the ancient custom, all were to remain in their cells or near them, meditating day and night on the law of the Lord and being vigilant in prayers, unless otherwise lawfully occupied or employed. In our day, we will make time available, three times per day for the daily office according to the practice of the holy Fathers and the approved custom of the Church, as well as making the effort to “Pray Without Ceasing,” utilizing either the “Jesus Prayer” or the Rosary.
Article 16.
None of the brothers or sisters living in community is to claim something as his own; everything is to be in common and is to be distributed to each one by the Prior—that is, the brother deputed by him to this office— having regard to the age and needs of each one.
Article 17.
You may have transportation according to your needs and some provision of food and clothing.
Article 18.
An oratory or chapel is to be established as conveniently as possible in the midst of the priory; you are to gather daily in the morning for Mass, where this is convenient.
Article 19
On Sundays, or other days if necessary, you shall discuss the welfare of the group and the salvation of souls; at this time excesses and faults of the brothers, if such come to light, are to be corrected in the middle way of charity.
Article 20.
You are to fast every day except Sundays from the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross until Easter Sunday, unless illness or bodily weakness, or other just cause counsels a lifting of the fast, since necessity has no law.
Article 21.
Since human life on earth is a trial and all who want to live devotedly in Christ suffer persecution; your enemy the devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. You must then with all diligence put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand up to the ambushes of the enemy.
Article 22.
Your loins are to be girded with the belt of chastity; your breast is to be protected by holy thoughts, for the Scripture says, holy thoughts will save you. Put on the breastplate of justice, so that you may love the Lord your God from your whole heart, your whole soul and your whole strength, and your neighbor as yourselves. In all things take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the darts of the evil one; without faith, indeed, it is impossible to please God. The helmet of salvation is to be placed on your head, so that you may hope for salvation from the one Savior, who saves his people from their sins. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is to dwell abundantly in your mouths and hearts. So whatever you have to do, is to be done in the word of the Lord.
Article 23.
All members of the order are expected to work to provide for the financial needs of the community. It is preferable that each priory be formed around a common business so that each brother or sister can work in common, together under the supervision of the prior. As the original Rule stated: You should do some work; so that the devil will always find you occupied and he may not through your idleness find some entrance to your souls. In this matter you have both the teaching and the example of Blessed Paul the Apostle; Christ spoke through his mouth; he has been set up and given by God as a preacher and teacher of the nations in faith and truth; in following him you cannot go wrong. In work and weariness, he said, we have been with you, working day and night so as not to be a burden to you; it was not as though we had no right, but we wished to give ourselves as a model for imitation. For when we were with you, we gave this precept: whoever is unwilling to work shall not eat. We have heard that there are restless people going around who do nothing. We condemn such people and implore them in the Lord Jesus Christ that working in silence they should earn their bread. This is a good and holy way: follow it.
Article 24.
Though silence is not to be so strictly observed, you are to be diligent in avoiding much talking, since scripture states and experience likewise teaches, sin is not absent where there is much talking; also, he who is careless in speech will experience evil, and the one who uses many words harms his soul. Again, the Lord says in the gospel: an account will have to given on the Day of Judgment for every vain word. Each of you is to weigh his words and have a proper restraint for his mouth, so that he may not stumble and fall through speech and his fall be irreparable and fatal. He is with the prophet to guard his ways so that he does not offend through the tongue. Silence, which is the promotion of justice, is to be carefully observed.
Article 25.
You, Brother, and whoever is appointed Prior after you, shall always keep in mind and practice what the Lord said in the Gospel: Whoever wishes to be greater among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first must be your slave.
Article 26.
And you too, the other brothers are humbly to honor your prior, and rather than thinking about him, you are to look to Christ who set him as head over you; he said to the leaders of the Church, whoever hears you hears me, and whoever despises you despises me. Thus, you will not judged guilty of contempt, but through obedience you will merit the reward of eternal life.
Article 27.
As is well attested to in contemplative tradition, all that we hear in prayer is not necessarily holy and correct. Your prior or someone he delegates will serve as spiritual director, guiding the faithful brothers and sisters in spiritual matters – testing all things.
Article 28.
These rules have been written with the goal of establishing a way of life for you, according to which you are to conduct yourselves. If anyone does more the Lord himself when he comes again will repay him. You are, however, to use discretion, which is the moderator of virtue.
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