The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today's Pilgrim

Excellent book for those on an advanced Spiritual Journey in the likes of The Discalced Carmelites and Contemplative Prayer. Begins with a descriptive history of the beginnings of this order. Very well written.

This is one of the best books for a novice and review for older Carmelites. This has helped me immensely.

If you have ever opened a door for the first time and been blown away by the vista that presented itself to your vision, then you will begin to understand what it is like to read The Carmelite Way by John Welch.Welch manages to present an amazing overview of the history of the Carmelite order. In this book, modern Christians are confronted by a form of Christianity that is altogether different from what we see in most of the traditions that are prevalent in today's world.The Carmelite story is rich and colorful. It is a story of a spirituality with roots that come from a fountain on a mountain (Mt Carmel) in the desert-and the saints that first sojourned there. It is a song that sings beautifully of the themes of failure and renewal.Welch gives not only a great overview of the history of the Carmelites; he also delves into the riches of Carmelite teachings and thought; outlining a path for the modern pilgrim.I know of no better introduction to the Carmelite tradition. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the life of and through the Spirit.

Welch may, as one reviewer has noted, used sources about some of Christianity's more sectarian battles (i.e., the reformations & counter-reformations within Western Christianity in the 16th and 17th century CE), but this should not bias a potential reader against this book! Guilt by association has done in more than one Carmelite (i.e., Brother Lawerence of the Resurrection and subject of "Practice the Presence of God" who was guilty of being liked by Quietists in 17th century CE France even though he wasn't one). So I counsel to not judge this book by its cover or sources!I personally use this book as a devotional piece by reading a chapter or a smaller portion each day (or so). In this book, Welch takes an aspect of Carmelite spirituality and uses it as "grist for the mill" in processing a larger point within the tradition thus exposing the deeper issues. For example, in his chapter about the incensed general of the order writing "The Flaming Arrow," the general's critique had little to do with the ministry performed by the Carmelites, but rather there abandonment of their first calling - contemplative prayer. Sometimes what a group fights about can reveal the deeper loves and drives of this population than anything they more explicitly and formally state.Welch does a good job of bringing these processing issues to the fore which an uninformed reader of the primary Carmelite source material might miss. That is (one of) the great strengths of this book.

This book is good in the first half, presenting history, characters and texts; but to my mind it veers off at a tangent in the second half when he moves into the 'theory' of spiritual practices. This is theory, rather than theology, Jungian rather than biblical, reading back into the authors views they couldn't possibly have held about gender roles, animas, ego/persona tensions, etc. It becomes a view on personal growth and transendance of self, rather than a biblical anthropology of sin and sanctification. However, the first half gives plenty of leads to follow on writers and history to look further into.

Very interesting