Was thinking today about some words Fr. Deeney mentions in his book "Welcome to the Secular Order...". Candidates seeking to enter the Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) will usually read this book as part of their curriculum their first or second year.
In one of the early chapters, Father talks about the qualities that are desirable for individuals seeking to enter Carmel as secular members. Fr. Deeney remarks (rather forcefully) that one's love and honor for the Blessed Mother in and of itself does not a good Carmelite make.
A person comes to the community, a person with a great love of the Blessed Mother, who wants to wear the scapular in honor of Mary as a sign of dedication to her service...
There are so many committed Catholics who are devoted to Mary and even experts in Saint Teresa, Saint John of the Cross, or one of our saints who do not have the vocation to the Secular Order... All the other aspects of Marian life and devotion can be present, devotion to the scapular, the rosary, and other things...
It is not the spirituality, nor the study, nor the devotion to Mary...
A very frequent experience of many groups is to have a person approach the Secular Order to become a member, . . . (someone) who is very devoted to Mary, a person who has been on many pilgrimages to Marian shrines throughout the world, a person who is very familiar with many of the apparitions and messages attributed to Mary, a real authority on current Marian movements...
There are other Marian groups and movements that might be the home for this person, but it is not the Secular Order.
Fr. P. Aloysius Deeney, OCD
Thank you Fr. Deeney. Of course this is true.
But I might add for those of us who have made a commitment to Carmel, that our love for Our Blessed Mother is now rooted and anchored. We have a strong desire to continue to know and learn more about this Lady and Mother.
Indeed, our devotion for her can only increase over the years -- against a backdrop of the new Carmelite way of life.
Carmel (of course) should mean a continued growth in Marian life and devotion...
