My 4 Day Visit With The Carmelite Nuns Of Philly, Pa

[Laudem Gloriae]

For any Carmelite vocations out there, these nuns are FANTASTIC! They are beautiful, holy, traditional, sweet and loving and their monastery is beautiful and old, over 100 yrs. Definitely go and see them! Their usual age limit is 35, but they seriously DO make exceptions. I am 49 and Mother will let me know what their decision is soon.

They wear the full, traditional Carmelite habit. They are one of the 3 Carmels that founded the St. Joseph Association of 1990 Carmels association and website.

As they have no website, here are some links to them:

Philly Carmel links:

Philly Carmel Tridentine Mass on YouTube: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsZEOZrXvI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsZEOZrXvI[/url]

This is only Part 5! I wish this poster had put up the other parts! Oh now I am "home sick"! The door/entrance on the right where those alter boys/men went thru is where I used to get in and out of the chapel without going outside as I'd have to keep ringing the buzzer to be let in and bug the nuns. The people/choir singing is the lay people and they are up in the balcony w/the organ behind the camera person.

During the mass, those two grilled, stained glass windowed doors are open that go to the nun's choir. This may have been a special mass for the laity or something as these grilled doors are closed.

[url="http://home.att.net/~chorus/page5.html"]http://home.att.net/~chorus/page5.html[/url]
[url="http://home.att.net/~chorus/page4.html"]http://home.att.net/~chorus/page4.html[/url]
[url="http://www.pjmorgans.com/HTML/projects/mechanical_opus/opus37_carmelite_nuns.html"]http://www.pjmorgans.com/HTML/projects/mec...elite_nuns.html[/url]
[url="http://www.carmelitenunsstjoseph.org/Phil.htm"]http://www.carmelitenunsstjoseph.org/Phil.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley/416984853/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley/416984853/[/url]
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley/416984808/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley...in/photostream/[/url]
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley/416984761/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley...in/photostream/[/url]
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley/416984718/in/photostream/"]http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_kelley...in/photostream/[/url]
[url="http://martinsisters.org/Carmel_pa.html"]http://martinsisters.org/Carmel_pa.html[/url]
[url="http://www.jp2cc.org/discover/StTherese.asp"]http://www.jp2cc.org/discover/StTherese.asp[/url] - the big painting that Sr. Genevieve (Celine Martin, St. There's sister) painted and sent the Philly Carmel a long time ago and then they donated to the this place.
[url="http://www.apoba.com/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=459"]http://www.apoba.com/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=459[/url]
[url="http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuMTQwMCs2NnRoK2F2ZW51ZSUyYytwaGlsYWRlbHBoaWElMmMrUEErMTkxMjYlN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI9NDIuOTUwMzMwMzUwMjExMSU3ZS03OC44MzUzMTIxNjUwNDQ2JTdlNDIuOTQ5MTMwNTYxMzQwMSU3ZS03OC44MzcwNTk0MTM1NjU0"]http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuMTQwMCs2...zcwNTk0MTM1NjU0[/url]
- good site that gives a "bird's eye view" of locations - the orange arrow is the Philly Carmel


My visit - now I originally wrote this for friends and some personal stuff has been edited out so I hope it is at least fairly readable!

---------
I know I have forgotten some and worse can't describe or explain well what I DO remember! It was too wonderful for words!

The Philly Carmel has an extra hour in solitude in their cell for prayer or spiritual reading me. As I was there for Pentecost Sunday, Mother Barbara told me about the old practice they have of the sisters either picking or being given a piece of paper with one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit on it to cultivate in themselves. And then another practice is that every year a sister picks one male and one female saint to read about, use as patrons and to imitate them - besides Our Lady, Jesus, St. T of Avila of course! Their Divine Office for the Sat Evening Prayer I and then all day Sunday for Pentecost was beautiful, solemn and had longer readings, etc.

My room was a former extern's so it had that trestle bed and "nun mattress"! I don't think it was straw as is Sheffield though. My room was definitely Carmelite like! Very plain, that had all white sheets, a crucifix on the wall a desk and chair, one picture of our Lady and a wooden sign with a quote of St. T or St. John on it.

Their chapel is a 100 times more beautiful in person than those pictures! They have several relics of St. Padre Pio in a glass case in the chapel and in their entrance by the turn. A sister in there knew him personally! Off the small kitchen I used near the main entrance and kitchen turn, was a small room with a bigger table, chairs, religious pictures and then a beautiful wall crucifix with a sign below it saying it was a crucifix held and kissed by St. Padre Pio! So as it was within reach so just had to kiss it too!

They have the typical bells to call the sisters to prayer, work, etc. and a buzzer to call me if needed! Which only happened once the first day to call me to get my late lunch. They are very good cooks! Nothing fancy, baked/breaded fish, potatoes, various veggie dishes seasoned deliciously. Then in the kitchen for breakfast was milk, juice, butter, bread, 4 boxes of different kinds of cereal, etc. They had coffee and tea but as I don't like either of them I didn't drink them! I might have to start if it is part of their meals!

As I was leaving, Mother B gave me a newly released hardcover book of Brother Lawrence's "Practice of the Presence of God"! and the turn sister gave me a prayer card with a relic in it from the 3 Kings as they are patrons of travelers and other things! Their bookstore is heaven for a bookworm like me! I didn't know what to buy! I bought a bio on "Mariam the Little Arab", a Palestinian Carmelite nun who had the stigma and many other graces like bi-location etc, a relic card of St. Maravillas, "Saint Teresa of Avila" bio by Marcelle Auclair and spiritual conferences/talks by Pere Jacques a French Carmelite priest who lived during WWII and helped Jewish students and was sent off to the camps too. Fantastic books! I also got a prayer card of Sr. Mary of St. Peter, the Carmelite nun from the Carmel of Tours in France, whose book is the "The Golden Arrow" about her relevations from God for the Holy Face devotion. Also a small, fat book called, The Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" by Fr. Peter J. Arnoudt, SJ published by Tan which is great too! And a full color pictured pamphlet on their monaster chapel detailing, and explaining each statue, corner, special parts of the chapel - who donated, made, ete each piece and the explaining of the arch of the sanctuary, the meaning of the that huge crucifix hanging from the sancturary ceiling (see pictures) and how it is a practice of the old churches in Europe and where it came from, the info on the stained glass windows of the Carmelites saints and who they are, and a special bronze statue of St. Therese in a side alter - her holding a cap (with a latin name for someone who has given a doctorate's degree), the child Jesus playing at her feet and the Holy Face on her chest - I think? I have to see the picture again! And an old original copy of the Holy Face from the one in Lisieux or from the Carmel of Tours - replica of Veronica's veil or Turin - forget too! And about the statues of the Infant of Prague & it's story, the alters of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph and so much more!

There are 9 sisters there I believe or 8 - now I can't remember! There is one nun who is 97 and in the infirmary.

I have a bunch of notes I took (after I left the parlor!) but there was so much remember, I didn't get it them all! They have 3 turns - one in their kitchen where I got my tray of food for lunch and dinner, one in the main entrance and one off the rooms where the priest dresses (and I was allowed to pass through to get to the chapel without having to go outside and for day and night use for prayer). You don't see the nuns at the turn when you speak to them except for a bit at mass when they open the grille doors but it is hard to see them even then as there are 3 marble steps up to the sanctuary so the public's pews are a bit below the floor level of the sanctuary and the nun's choir. So you barely see a head or a bit of one even if you are standing. They have a communion rail and 2 gates that shut off the sanctuary from the public. The priest says the mass with with his back to the public - old marble alter. The grilles in the 2 speakrooms - small one is St. Anne's Speakroom, the bigger where I always went was St. Joseph's Speakroom. There are one full set of grilles and then another with a 2 bars and then they close this off when there are no visitors with louvered doors so you can't see thru. They have grilles in the chapel with beautiful stained glass windows in them so you can't see them - as they are closed - for the Divine Office and other prayers in choir and only open for mass.

They use the bell, clapper and a buzzer. The bells call the sisters to prayer, work, etc. and truly felt like God's voice calling them and me! Such a beautiful sound! You awake to them and go to bed with them at night! The first and last thing you hear.

The have the typical monastic meals of a small breakfast, a bigger meal at 11:30 am and a small collation/meal at 6 or so.

They each have one hermit day a week.


They have a small room called "St. Teresa of Avila's Book Store" and it is CRAMMED full of great books on Carmel, it's saints and other and medals, statues, videos, audios, rosaries, chaplets, etc.

They are of the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Anne. The Chapel is The Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

Besides the 2 hrs of mental prayer, they also have one hr in their cell for additional prayer or spiritual reading. they say all 7 divine office hours (of course!), the daily rosary, thanksgiving after mass for 10-15 min, 10-15 examination of conscience before Compline followed by the Office of Readings.

A sister plays the organ for some parts of the office - they chant parts and recite the others (like Sheffield). There is a lot Latin in their mass. They said they want to go the Latin mass by sometime in June. On Sundays they have a lay choir that sings beautiful, old traditional hymns up in the balcony where that huge pipe organ is.

The extern part of the monastery where I stayed was beautiful! The monastery and chapel is over 100 yrs old and well kept with the stone, wood floors and other old type of fixtures, etc. The monastery, my quarters and chapel were very cool and even cold! As the stone holds in the cool. They have no AC (but really don’t seem to need it!) and heat though this isn't super great in the winter.

They have a local good, catholic doctor who makes house-calls to them and in fact came on Sunday afternoon so I didn't see Mother for about 3-4 hours as of course the doctor saw her and then would need to be there with her nuns for their visits. They have many wonderful Lay Carmelite seculars who do the shopping and extern type jobs - including Anne a young mother who picked me up at the airport - to help them.

They were all so joyful, peaceful, serene, loving, warm, kind, loving, funny, open, receptive, etc. to talk to and all concerned with me, my stay was I warm enough, cool enough, needed more food, etc.!

It's hard to write a second by second account but if I could I would! It's hard to capture what you see, think, feel, experience with any good degree - at least it is for ME!

I will send updates if I remember for and definitely when I hear from Mother Barbara - the good, the bad or the ugly of her answer!

Edited June 8, 2009 by Laudem Gloriae

[InHisLove726]

Wow, Laudem! It sounds like you had a wonderful time! If I ever get to Philadelphia (which I've always wanted to visit because of the history), this monastery will be included! I would love to go there for Sunday Mass if I stayed the weekend. Thanks for sharing.

Let us know what the decision is! I'll be praying for you.

[TotusTuusMaria]

How beautiful!!! Thank you so much for posting.

So, they want to have Mass in the EF only, starting in June?

Many prayers!

[Laudem Gloriae]

That's what Mother Barbara told me so this Tridentine Mass must have been for a special occasion. A friend found and sent me this YouTube link last night.

Their Sunday Mass has A LOT in Latin - like the responses, the "I confess to almight God", the Gloria, etc. and the priest sung/chanted the Gospel reading (sounde like the "tune" of the 'Through Him, with Him, in Him' when it is sung/chanted - at least in any mass I've heard).

[puellapaschalis]

Wonderful to hear your news, Laudem

[Marieteresa]

I have always wondered....How come they have a choir? They are the first camelite monastery that I have ever heard of that has a choir. Just wondering, also did you get a chance to look at their 100th anniversary book? I have a copy and its very beautiful....Anyway, sounds like you had a wonderful visit please keep us posted on how things come out.

[laetitia crucis]

How beautiful!!! Thank you so much for posting of your visit!

I shall definitely be keeping you and the sisters in my prayers!

[the lords sheep]

Thanks for sharing so much of your visit! It sounds wonderful!!!

[In The Arms of The Lord]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think that this could be where Our Lord is calling you?

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='Marieteresa' post='1886613' date='Jun 8 2009, 05:51 PM']I have always wondered....How come they have a choir? They are the first camelite monastery that I have ever heard of that has a choir. Just wondering, also did you get a chance to look at their 100th anniversary book? I have a copy and its very beautiful....Anyway, sounds like you had a wonderful visit please keep us posted on how things come out.[/quote]



The choir at this monastery are the lay people and they only sing on Sunday's. The sisters sing during the week. Like I said this, I don't know much about this video and what the occasion was as Mother told me they were going to have a Tridentine Mass starting sometime in June.

At the weekend day mass, on my last day there (a Monday) I was the only person in the public side of the chapel (besides the altar server - a man - and the priest) and then there were the sisters! There are more at the Saturday mass and then often twice as much at the Sunday or special masses like Easter, Christmas, etc. The mass times were at 8 am so perhaps the people who would attend can't due to their work hours.

Here's a page on the monastery choir - [url="http://home.att.net/~chorus/index.html"]http://home.att.net/~chorus/index.html[/url]

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='In The Arms of The Lord' post='1886751' date='Jun 8 2009, 09:15 PM']Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you think that this could be where Our Lord is calling you?[/quote]



I have been looking at the Sheffield Carmel in England for a year now and plan to visit at the end of July. I'll have teo see where God wants me, there or here in Philly - or maybe a unexpected place! God can be funny sometimes!

[DameAgnes]

Laudem, you sound SO excited, I am SO happy for you! If a page can be luminous, you are that!

I will continue to pray for your intention.

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='DameAgnes' post='1886896' date='Jun 8 2009, 11:50 PM']Laudem, you sound SO excited, I am SO happy for you! If a page can be luminous, you are that!

I will continue to pray for your intention.[/quote]


Yes, Dame Agnes, I am at that! These nuns were so wonderful! I did feel at home and at peace there! At the our last meeting when Mother grabbed my hands through the grille bars, she said, "You do have a Carmelite vocation and I feel God is in you and working very strongly in you" - ! Which nearly floored me! She said they would have a prayer to the Holy Spirit - which they had started on Pentecost Sunday as I was there then so I should hear soon. I was SO sorry and sorrowful to leave!

If it is a "no", yes I will be sad, perhaps heart broken in a way but it will mean I wasn't meant for this Carmel so I will continue onto Sheffield - which I have had a strong attraction to even before I wrote them early last year so who knows - perhaps one day soon Annie/nunsense/Sr. Michael Maria and I will be "2 postulants giggling in the corner of the novitiate" one day (quote from a friend of mine!). Annie and I did hope and think it would be great to enter the same Carmel one day as we were always writing to the same ones! - like "holy coincidence! She'd write or call me saying "I just wrote the so-and-so Carmel" and I'd say, "No way, I JUST did too!" So one never knows! (Sorry, by that "no way" does NOT mean I am a 'Valley Girl'! lol! Anyone remember THEM! I grew up in that era but I wasn't one! Err...but I just wrote like one though...ewww! ha!)


***More remembered info on these Philly Carmelites: They have adoration for certain times of the year, season, etc. including on Pentecost Sunday - but only on their side of the monastery. Mother mentioned the other days/seasons, feasts and I forgot them! I guess I SHOULD have sat at their grille with a notepad like a reporter after all!

Their little bookstore is small but PACKED with great books on Carmel, it's saints, other saints, church document's, Pope Benedict's and JPII's writings, on prayer, and so much more I could never begin to mention them all!

They have wonderful Lay Carmelites who help them also and attend the mass.

My first visit with Mother (after I arrived), was funny as she was so pleased and delighted when after her "Praise be Jesus Christ" thru the closed louvered doors (just before she opened them), I answered with "Now and forever Mother!" as she didn't think I knew of this Carmelite greeting! I guess she was going to teach me it! Everytime her or another sister came to the grille, I heard this beautiful greeting thru the closed doors and grilles!

[WisdomSeeker]

[size=3]Thank you so much for sharing I will hold you in my prayers.[/size]

[Paladin D]

Thank you for sharing, and God bless you on your journey.

Where in Philly are the Carmelite Nuns located?