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The Discalced Carmelite Order
It is a Roman Catholic Religious
Order founded by St. Teresa of
Avila. Her great work of reform began with herself. She made a vow
always to follow the most perfect course, and resolved to keep the
rule as perfectly as she could. A group of nuns assembled in her
cell one September evening in 1560, taking their inspiration from
the primitive tradition of Carmel and the discalced reform of St.
Peter of Alcantara, proposed the foundation of a monastery of an
eremitical type. On August 24 1562, the new monastery dedicated to
St. Joseph was founded. Then in Duruelo, with St. John of the Cross
and Anthony of Jesus founded the first convent of Discalced Brethren
in November 1568. For more information on the order please click on
the following link
http://www.ocd.pcn.net/index_en.htm |
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The Discalced Carmelite order in
Caravaca de la Cruz
Although the founder/reformer
of the order St. Teresa of Avila never came to Caravaca de la Cruz
she is reported to have held her convent here, the convent of St.
Joseph, very close to her heart and she is said to have carried the
Caravaca cross on her person up until her death in 1582.
“Even though
she never saw it, the convent at Caravaca had a special place in her
heart. For the rest of her life she carried a reproduction of the
Caravaca cross, said to contain relics of the true cross. Her love
for the cross was not a blind fetishism or undiscriminated faith in
relics…………For such a thinker the Caravaca cross was a tangible
reminder of the mystery of the crucifixion.”
Above extract
taken from Teresa of Avila – An Extraordinary Life (1991) Shirley du
Boulay
Teresa’s
faithful colleague and fellow Doctor of the church and mystic, St.
John of the Cross, visited Caravaca on at least seven occasions and
inaugurated both the Convent of St. Joseph in 1576 and the Carmelite
Friary in 1587.
Today, although
the convent is still there, it is unused. However, the Friary is
still a working friary and has recently been refurbished part of it
being converted into a hotel. |
The Carmelite Friary Hotel
The hotel is ideally
positioned within the centre of Caravaca,
opposite St. John of the Cross square and statue. It has 27 twin/double
rooms, 7 single, all air conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, a large
communal eating area (serving English and Spanish food). There are several
small chapels for moments of prayer and contemplation. The hotel has
disabled access and private, secure parking. By the side of the friary is
the beautiful church dedicated to the Virgin of Mount Carmel.
This accommodation is
ideal for large groups or people who want to spend time in a tranquil
religious setting.
Please contact Cruz
Tours if you would like to book this accommodation
cruztours@yahoo.co.uk or call 08701 417 167 or 0034 6666 19904 |
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