Custom Books of Discalced Carmelite Nuns / Origin of French Toque

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

 

Our Sisters from Georgetown Carmel write:

 

You asked about customs. So we began by questioning: what are customs? We found that in general, customs (not just religious ones) are defined as: “Various traditions or social mores. Customs compose the very special infrastructure for human actions and interaction by which we live our lives and decide what is important in them. Over the years, customs will evolve and change. This is how societies progress and reshape themselves over time.” This also rings true in the Church and in Carmel.

 

Does anyone know how many differing Discalced Carmelite custom books exist in the Order today, four centuries after the death of our Holy Mother Saint Teresa? Perusing a number of them, one discovers their richness, as well as the need for some revision. The customs of the first Teresian foundation at San Jose, Avila, differ in their simplicity from any others we have seen. How enriching might it not be were we able to recapture that simplicity! How much was added on as our nuns journeyed forward in time through various countries and cultures. How many saints were among them. What holy and inspiring lives they lived. They have left us a patrimony that we all deeply cherish.

 

The Church has directed us all to return to the Gospel and the charism of our Holy Mother St. Teresa. So to open the “Forum” discussion in the “AMIGAS” newsletter with the topic of Customs, presents a most spiritually enriching task, with a wide scope for dialogue with our Holy Mother, and a way to deepen – with her – our embrace of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Master.

 

Regarding the custom of the design of the Teresian toque, one researcher reports that when the first Spanish Mothers settled in France, the Superior there asked them to eliminate a good portion of the toque material, which the nuns did. So then Carmelite nuns wore two different styles of toques. Was this an insignificant custom change? Perhaps, in the broad view. However, it is known that Our Lord Himself revealed the design of the first toques to be worn by the first nuns at San Jose in Avila. We have a copy of the pattern. You, too, may have one. Nonetheless, in our Sacramento tradition, our toques are closer to the French design.

 

Now, here’s a reflection on one of our customs: have you heard that the nuns should not speak in community about their dreams? Allegedly our Holy Mother stated that we should not do this. Well, we decided in the light of our discussion about customs, to ask Mother Julia, the prioress at San Jose in Avila, where we might find the original statement about this. She answered us that this custom is not known to be a prohibition of our Holy Mother nor from her times, and is not known in Spain.

 

We have learned of a number of beautiful, soul-stirring customs from Spain and France which we believe have helped us to grow in the spirituality of Carmel. The customs of our own house have helped us to do the same. Many, of course, have been simplified.

 

Our Sisters who entered Carmel from the 1980’s and up til now, found the reading of the “Paper of Exactions” to be a rich source for grasping the spirituality of our customs. Each and every one of us found it interiorly stimulating. Enough for now! Otherwise one might go on endlessly with the topic.

 

Note on the Toque: Through my own research, I read somewhere that indeed, the French Superiors asked the Spanish Mothers to trip down the toque since the "look" is very Spanish and not suitable to the French style of religious habit of that time.  I suspect one of the Superiors is Cardinal Berulle.

Related to this is the differences of Cornette of the Daughters of Charity - The Original French Cornetter is different from the Spanish Cornette.