Pretty much every Catholic who grew up in a devout home was exposed to the Little Flower at some point because of her reputation for being a powerful intercessor in heaven. I found an old yellowed, dog-eared copy of The Story of a Soul (St. Therese’s autobiography) in a box of books that had been sitting in the ‘junk’ room of our farm house when I was in high school and was intrigued enough to read through it. Because of that exposure, when I found myself discerning a contemplative religious vocation, it was natural to think of Carmelites first. (I had not even heard of St. Benedict at that time) Considering there is a Benedictine Convent in a city close to where I grew up and that I was born in a Benedictine-run hospital, I must have not been paying attention when I was younger!
So, I visited a place called Port Tobacco, MD. I had a lovely drive through the countryside of southern Maryland to get to what was the first Carmelite community established in the U.S. I drove up to a structure that had a WALL stretching as far as I could see. I went into the little house that had a sign “Guests” and entered a small room without a door but with a ‘round thing’ jutting out of the wall. There was a door bell to ring, so I did, and a voice from the other side of the wall said, “Praise be to Jesus” and asked me what I wanted. I told the voice I was there to visit with Sr. so-and-so. Then the ‘round thing’ jutting out of the wall began to turn. “Take this key and let yourself into the the visitor’s parlor next door” the voice called out. Sure enough, there was a key there lying in the ‘round thing’ which I now know is called ‘The TURN.’ I thought to myself, “this is a little spooky...if I just got in my car and left right now, they would never know who I was...”
But I didn’t...
I bravely went next door, let myself in to the visitor’s parlor and sat down in a room divided in half by a ‘grille’ consisting of a wall about waist high with widely spaced bars on top of the wall going up to the ceiling. I was soon joined by 2 brown-clad Carmelite nuns. I had a delightful conversation with both of them that afternoon as they explained what their community was like and I told them a little about myself. They gave me a video to bring home that was a documentary on their life style and showed what their place beyond the WALL looked like. So I drove home, watched it, was fascinated and attracted by what I saw......but never went back to continue discernment with them.
I guess it just wasn’t my call...
I still continue to appreciate the works of St. Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross and other Carmelite writings. They do feed my contemplative soul.
Fast-forward to the year 2013. We had been in contact with a Carmelite community in Jefferson City, MO over the years because they were in the altar bread production business to support themselves just as we are. In the past few years their community had dwindled down to just three members and it was clear that they could not continue to live in their now too-big monastery. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the idea was put forth that perhaps they could somehow share in our life up here in Clyde, MO. The more we prayed and discerned, the more it just seemed like the right thing to do.
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| We greet the arriving Carmelite sisters at the front entrance to our monastery |
So we were pleased to welcome into our midst on December 2nd, three Carmelites from southern Missouri who have turned one of our guest houses into the newly re-located Carmel of the Sacred Heart and St. Joseph.
Hugs were given all around as the Carmelites stepped out of their vehicle.
There is no intention to become Benedilites or Carmedictines...
But we do look forward to sharing our distinct contemplative lifestyles and traditions in order to make this corner of northwest Missouri even more of a power house of prayer!
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