I have been a member of the Third Order of the Brethren of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for over 30 years. All that time, I have been an Isolate. Whilst I have many Carmelite friends of the First and Third Orders on-line, I have only met one other Carmelite in real life, a Priest of the First Order in a Carmelite Parish I once visited.
My vows were received by a Diocesan Priest who had been given faculties by my Superiors to hear them. Tertiaries (and I assume, members of the First and Second Orders) are expected to renew their vows twice a year, on Epiphany, which is today, and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14 September, for which we can receive a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions. As an Isolate, following the Old Rule by permission of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, I have always renewed them privately, after receiving Holy Communion.
Tonight, however, I decided to ask my Pastor if he would hear my renewal. I brought both my copies of the Rule and Ritual to Mass. I have two copies because I once mislaid my copy. I then ordered a new one, and as is usual in such cases, I found the old one!
So, after Mass I asked Father, and he agreed. My friend, Josh, and I knelt in the front pew, whilst Father knelt on the floor in front of us. For the first time in over 30 years, I was able to actually renew my vows according to the Ritual! Deo gratias!
I then prayed for the intentions of our Holy Father and for the infidel, which are the conditions required for the indulgence.
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