St. Raphael Kalinowski and the Carmelite Secular Order 1 The ...
St. Raphael Kalinowski and the Carmelite Secular Order 1 The ...
St. Raphael Kalinowski and the Carmelite Secular Order 1 The ...
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<strong>Carmelite</strong> Friars to Engl<strong>and</strong>, he had this to say; `I appeal to all who have any devotion to<br />
Our Blessed Lady , but especially to those who wear her scapular, to assist her sons.`8<br />
It is true of course also that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Carmelite</strong> <strong>Order</strong> would have been known through <strong>the</strong><br />
presence of <strong>the</strong> sisters in Engl<strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> preceding centuries , but inevitably <strong>the</strong>ir hidden<br />
contemplative life would have placed limits on how well <strong>the</strong> <strong>Order</strong> was known.<br />
Secondly, interest springs from a former religious culture itself <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> desire people<br />
traditionally have had to identify with <strong>the</strong> spirit or charism of a particular <strong>Order</strong>: to that<br />
extent <strong>the</strong> faithful wished to be closely connected with religious <strong>Order</strong>s which were - in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
opinion - <strong>the</strong> most certain way to salvation. People often wished to wear a symbol of <strong>the</strong><br />
particular <strong>Order</strong> such as a medal or scapular, <strong>and</strong> to follow <strong>the</strong> <strong>Order</strong>s' spiritual practices,<br />
as well as to be buried in <strong>the</strong> habit of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Order</strong> . <strong>The</strong> latter was quite common in countries<br />
like Irel<strong>and</strong> up to <strong>the</strong> recent past.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a widespread revival of this wish to find support <strong>and</strong> guidance for a life of prayer<br />
on <strong>the</strong> part of many people towards <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> nineteenth century. This development led<br />
to a growth in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Carmelite</strong> <strong>Secular</strong> <strong>Order</strong>.<br />
<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Raphael</strong> <strong>Kalinowski</strong>, was a restorer of <strong>Carmelite</strong> life in Pol<strong>and</strong> for Friars <strong>and</strong> nuns as we<br />
saw. He was also instrumental in renewing <strong>the</strong> Third or <strong>Secular</strong> <strong>Order</strong> of Carmel.He was<br />
sensitive to <strong>the</strong> needs of <strong>the</strong> faithful <strong>and</strong> he devoted himself fully to <strong>the</strong>m , spending a lot of<br />
time celebrating <strong>the</strong> Sacrament of Penance <strong>and</strong> opening to <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> treasures of <strong>Carmelite</strong><br />
spirituality . He could be said to have brought <strong>Carmelite</strong> spirituality closer to lay people in<br />
many different ways - publishing various leaflets, books, giving talks, promoting <strong>the</strong> Brown<br />
Scapular, writing letters to people in a number of surrounding countries, such as Russia,<br />
Hungary <strong>and</strong> Romania.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Secular</strong> <strong>Carmelite</strong> <strong>Order</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Confraternity of <strong>the</strong> Brown Scapular.<br />
In 1902 <strong>Kalinowski</strong> established, a scapular Confraternity in Sulina, Romania, through his<br />
friend Teresa Moruzi, a member of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Secular</strong> <strong>Order</strong> , <strong>and</strong> he tried to obtain for it<br />
canonical recognition from <strong>the</strong> General of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Order</strong> by sending him <strong>the</strong> necessary<br />
application forms . He encouraged Jesuits working in a place called Jassy 9 to propagate<br />
8 Letter of Thomas Walmesly in <strong>Carmelite</strong> Archives in Kensington , London.<br />
9 <strong>The</strong> second most populous city in Romania, also known as Lassey <strong>and</strong> Lasi.It is an important cultural center.<br />
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