One thing that human beings have in common is that we all belong to some sort of community. Community is described as, “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.” There are many expressions of community from the gigantic global community to the smaller family community. Community is one of the core values of society and is particularly important in the living out of the religious life. Community can be said to be one of the three essential characteristics of the Carmelite charism along with Prayer and Service.
Being an essential characteristic, much has been written over the years to help us, as Carmelites, to live a life in community to the full. But I want to focus on one section of the most recent Carmelite Constitutions, 2019, which takes its inspiration from various paragraphs from the Carmelite Rule of St Albert. In paragraph 35, we are told that, “communal life must tend toward deeper union, in mutual knowledge and love,“ and goes on to describe the moments of particular intensity and importance which nourish our communal life together.
Community for the Carmelite is living a life focussed on certain daily activities which contribute to the flourishing of each community member, these include the shared participation in the Eucharist. The constitutions say of this, that through this action the members become one body. This is the source and summit of our lives and therefore the sacrament of ‘brotherhood’. Another series of key moments is when the community gather for the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours, and both of these include an active listening to the Word of God, which nourishes our personal and community life, especially when reflecting on the lives of the early Christian communities which are the source and pattern of our own communal life. Community meetings help the communal life flourish and grow, it is these moments, the community can reflect on their lives together, celebrate and plan for the future with hope.
Outside the more formal times of prayerful gathering, time spent for the community just to ‘be’ is essential, this takes the shape of different activities, particularly sharing meals and recreating together. What’s really important is that a community life well lived enables the member to share their joys, anxieties and friendships, in a safe environment, which greatly contributes to the wellbeing of every member who fully participates.
Community is of vital importance, for me, to live my Carmelite Religious life to the full. When I became interested in the Carmelites, as a way to live out my call to the religious life, what really impressed me was that whatever community I visited, whether it be a retreat house/shrine, parish or chaplaincy, there was a clear sign of a group of people trying to live a good life together. Although there was a difference in the number of members, the type of building or the geographical location, the feeling of being ‘at home’ was a common thread that ran through each individual house I had the privilege of visiting. I could see myself comfortably living, working and praying with these people and that contentment helped in the discerning of my vocation.
As I’ve said, community in life takes many forms right from the family, which begins many peoples experience, through to parish, school, university and work. What is constant is that community in its many forms works, if those participating have a common purpose, but that purpose needs to be collectively worked at. The Carmelite way of life offers a life worth living and this is first and foremost supported by living in community, whether that is in a local house or identifying with a province, at a regional level or the Order as a whole at the global level. All members are guided by a wealth of experience, which includes its members young and old and all the many writings and documents which are available to help and guide.
My understanding of Carmelite community life may have changed and developed over the last eighteen years but what hasn’t changed is that a full and active participation in community underpins everything I do in my life as a Carmelite.
Gerard Walsh, O.Carm.
