Third Way - Constitutions of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns

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This compromise legislation is a hybrid meaning this third type has the following as its heading: MONASTERIES THAT HAVE CHOSE THE 1990 CONSTUTIONS but have obtained from the Apostolic See the faculty to follow the 1991 Constitutions in all points that refer to the Superior General.

Georgetown Carmel, 2 Carmels in Taiwan, Buffalo Carmel, one Carmel in Poland are following the "Third Way"

Mother Miriam of Buffalo wrote to the association that they finally petitioned the Holy See in order to follow this.

If you know of other Carmels following the Third Way, please post them here.

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Update: Rochester and Flemington Carmel follows the Third Way as well

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Now for the many other good things we have to share! First, we want to share a special message from the Carmel of Buffalo. After much prayer, reflection and discernment, Mother Miriam and our Sisters of the Carmel of Buffalo have decided to enter into the “Third Way” placing them in greater unity with our Father General and with the Fathers of our Order. As a witness to this unity, Mother Miriam shares with us some reflections:

 

“At your request, dear Mother, I gladly write a few words stating why the Carmel of Buffalo decided to appeal to the Sacred Congregation for permission to adopt the ‘Third Way’, re-establishing our bond with the Fathers. It was never our intention to separate ourselves from the moral unity with the Order when we chose the 1990 Constitutions. We regret all the disunity and hard feelings that resulted from that action, which at the time appeared to us to be the only way to hold fast to our Holy Mother’s charism. Now we have been encouraged through the beautiful writings of our Father General, and enlightened to see that there is another way, one of unity and charity in truth under his spiritual direction. As daughters of our Holy Mother, we don’t want to be left behind to fend for ourselves, so to speak, but we want to move forward with the whole Order of Discalced Carmelites striving to live out in our day, the spirit that St. Teresa planted in her Carmels.  We humbly request the help of our Fathers, whom we now perceive as being authentic interpreters of her spirit.

 

We have, so far, received a favorable report from the Generalate. We are most grateful to you dear Mother, for all the help you gave us in processing this petition and supplying us with Father General’s talks. It is a joy knowing that you are all there, holding up the fort.”

 

United in prayer, in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and Joseph,

 

Mother Miriam of Jesus, O.C.D.

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QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS

What is presented here are the more important questions that were asked of the Fathers as well as their answers during the Encounter of the Federations of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns from Spain with Fr. General and various Definitors in Avila together with various monasteries online.

A portion of Q and A pertaining to two set of the Constitutions and the Third Way

Question: In his conference, Fr. Rafal stated that it is not the 1990’s and 1991’s that are so much a dividing group in the Order today. Can he tell us which are the groups that exist now?

 

Fr. Rafal: We have the reality of two texts of Constitutions. Right now there are 750 monasteries with 1991 text and 140 with the 1990 text. This is not such a grave difficulty (the existence of two texts) for in the past we have had different Constitutions. The difficulty comes from removing in the 1990 text, the reference to Fr. General and to the friars. Why is this important? Because the Fr. General is the expression of unity in the Order, to remove this is to remove this symbol, figure and dimension of unity. So there is a problem which does need a solution. If we are going to speak of all the nuns in the Order, we have to resolve this. The monasteries of the 1990’s have to resolve this. Now, however, we recognize that there has been a change in that there are some monasteries who want to have the 1990 text but who do not want to be without Fr. General and have, in fact, good relations with him. They cannot imagine their life without the friars and particularly, Fr. General. This is a difficult paradox because in their Constitutions this is lacking but in their life it exists and strongly so.

And there exists a group of monasteries, especially in the United States, -we have to give them credit- who strongly promote the unity of the Order. One of the juridical solutions is known as the “Third Way”. It is a small group of monasteries worldwide who have this, maybe 12 monasteries, but it is symbolic of a path that has been initiated, even juridically. The “Third Way” means replacing some of the numbers of the 90’s with those of the 91’s, so as to have reference to Fr. General. Thus we see, that when something wants to be done, it can be done.

However, what I meant in my conference, is that what worries me is that among the 91’s, those who make reference to Fr. General, there exists not only legitimate differences but there are positions of being closed to or of rejecting other nuns who live differently, especially on the ideological level. What is worrisome is when these difficulties place barriers and the nuns become closed to others, to the point that they say, well if someone doesn’t live this way they should go. Of course, we have to have a balance, we cannot put every difference into a single bag and say that it is all good. But the value of unity of a family that shares a charism, a Constitution, a path is so great, that to throw away or reject some communities is very strong and very painful. To me this is very sad. Not that there cannot be a union among nuns who think the same. There are some Associations who have united, not by region, but through similar ideas, especially in the United States. This is alright. The problem however is when we say no to another monastery and do not even want to talk to them. Because dialogue is always possible and will always enrich both.

 

 

 

 

 

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Updated list of Monasteries following the Third Way Constitutions

Benevides, Brazil
Buffalo, NY
Chiung Lin, Taiwan
Flemington, NJ
Georgetown, CA
Itajai, Brazil
Morristown, NJ
Pittsford, NY
Shen Keng, Taiwan
Tarnow, Poland
Wloclawek, Poland
Lodz, Poland