Being "willing to be transformed" by the love of Christ: "this is the basic choice which every Christian has to face": these are the words that Benedict XVI said to Father Joseph Chalmers, prior general of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, which this month celebrates its General Chapter on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the time Saint Albert, patriarch of Jerusalem, gave the "formula vitæ" which inspired the Latin hermits who settled "near the Spring on Mount Carmel". "However added the Pope it is not easy at all to live according to such call. Somehow, one needs to protect oneself with some armour from the snares of the world", and this is also recalled by the Carmelite Rule which invites one "to wear the cuirass of justice, so that you can love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and all your strength, and your neighbours as you love yourselves". "Many men and women commented the Pope have achieved holiness by living the values of the Carmelite Rule with creative faithfulness". Nowadays, the Order of the Carmelites is composed of 19 Provinces, 3 General Committees, 3 General delegations, 2 communities of hermits and one associate community, for a total number of about 2,100 priests. (continued)
