Called to Carmel, Called to Community: Reflections on the Carmelite Rule, Secular Constitutions, and Statutes

by Tim Bete

Tim Bete, a Discalced Carmelite Secular who has served as a Formator, Council member, and as Community President, shares his reflections on the Carmelite Rule, OCDS Constitutions, and Statutes. The book brings the governing documents to life and connects them to the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and other Carmelite Saints. Bete emphasizes the power of Secular Carmelite communities and how the community helps form us in holiness. If you are called to Carmel, you are called to community!

The book is broken into 11 chapters, perfect for community formation classes or individual reading. The book is excellent supplementary reading for Formation I, Year History & Charism (in the United States) and for visitors to your community. Each chapter includes reflection questions at the end.

Chapters
Chapter 1: Beginnings (Carmelite Rule of St Albert)
Chapter 2: Our Identity, Values, and Commitment (Const. 1-9)
Chapter 3: Following Jesus in the Teresian Secular Carmel (Const. 10-16)
Chapter 4: Witnesses to the Experience of God (Const. 17-23)
Chapter 5: Fraternal Communion (Const. 24)
Chapter 6: Serving God’s Plan (Const. 25-28)
Chapter 7: With Mary, The Mother of Jesus (Const. 29-31)
Chapter 8: Formation in the School of Carmel (Const. 32-36)
Chapter 9: Organization and Government (Const. 37-60)
Chapter 10: Provincial Rules (Reflections on the Statutes)
Chapter 11: For the Rest of Our Lives

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2024

About the author

Tim Bete is a Discalced Carmelite Secular and a member of the Community of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Beavercreek, Ohio, where he has served as a Formator, on Council, and as President. His writing has appeared in media outlets and anthologies, including Amazing Grace for the Catholic Heart, Catholic Philly, Catholic Exchange, Integrated Catholic Life, Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry, Apostolate of the Little Flower magazine, and The Carmel Clarion. He served on the faculty at the Catholic Imagination Conference and appears on the Carmelite Conversations Podcast, which he also helps produce. Tim has published five books, including Called to Carmel, Called to Community; The Raw Stillness of Heaven; and Wanderings of an Ordinary Pilgrim.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent fleshing out of the Rule, Constitutions and Statutes for Secular Carmelites. Not being what the author calls 'tight' when it comes to rules, I have grown up with them as a cradle Catholic and even sought them out as a military officer and now member of the religious order. Mr. Bete says we come to Carmel, because we need Carmel, to be healed, not because we have some special talent which qualifies us for it. Well that certainly describes me and explains these usually dry (for me anyway!) areas in a lively and interesting way.

Great book which I will reread before I do a more detailed review. Raced through it this first time, but almost all Carmelite books are meant to be read and reread and reread ... as affirmed by the author. This would make an excellent book for formation.