← [[appendix-g-f1b|Excerpts from Foundations — On the First Friars]] | [[formation-I-b-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[appendix-i-f1b|A Touch of OCDS History (Paragraphs 7–15)]] → # The Reform — Journey to Carith 7\. Toward the end of the 17th century, the Third Order began to grow in the Low Countries, then France, and finally into Italy. In 1699, a book offering a short rule appeared in Belgium and was approved for that province. In 1708, a rule, ceremonial, and directory were published in France. This rule gave a specific title of “Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Teresa” for the members and included a statement that the third order was present in many cities and villages in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Belgium. The preface indicates the book was meant to put an end to “great confusion” about the third order since different people were doing different things. 8\. This 1708 rule called for daily mass, reciting the Little Office, one hour of mental prayer (half in the morning, half in the evening), fasting and works of charity. The novitiate was one year and then members were admitted to the profession of charity and obedience to God, to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, to St Teresa, and to the Superior General and his successor.i 9\. Other rules for tertiaries came out in 1848 and 1857. In 1883, the Definitory General approved a revision of the 1848 rule and imposed it on all Congregations of the Third Secular Order. This remained the legislation for tertiaries until 1912. 10\. In 1912, an official Manual of the Third Secular Order was published in Rome. It had been written by Fr. Elia of St. Ambrose and received approval by the Definitory General in 1911. In 1921, the Holy See approved it after some revision to bring the legislation in line with the 1918 Code of Canon Law. This Manual was the guiding legislation until Vatican II.ii 11\. Vatican II called all religious orders to renewal and the third order was included in this. Our own Fr Sam Anthony Morello, along with Fr Adrian Cooney in the East and Fr Bonaventure Galvin in the West, each appointed a lay person and called a meeting at Marylake (Little Rock, Arkansas). It is hard to ascertain exactly when this meeting took place but it appears to have happened around 1967. This was the beginning of what is now the National Secretariat. The lay members were Bernard Zinc of Sacramento, Doris Hadden of Boonton, NJ, and Esther Perry of Sacramento as Secretary. The identity of the representative for the Central Province remains a mystery. What little paperwork there is about this meeting does not include a name. Fr. Sam Anthony thinks it may have been either Azile Wrape or Ann Raney (both of Little Rock) but does not remember for sure. They “discussed and harangued”, consulted communities and forwarded results to Rome for consideration regarding what the new Rule should contain.. (On a side note, the Father General Michael Angel of St. Joseph made a visitation to Marylake at this same time and the Seculars there cooked breakfast for him one morning).iii iv 12\. A trial version of the Rule was received in Oct 1970 for a five-year trial period. Fr. Finian Monahan, then Father General, called together a commission of “experts from all regions” to write this Rule. 70 01.24 1-24-2024Appendix I This commission consisted of six or seven friars, including Fr. Sam Anthony. The original draft was in Italian.v vi The final version of the Rule was approved in 1979 but it was not until 1982 that it was printed in English.vii This new Rule more fully emphasized the lay charism and also saw the introduction of First Promises. Prior to the 1979 Rule, vows of chastity and obedience were made after one year of novitiate.viii 13\. Since that Rule was written we’ve had a new Code of Canon Law, the Synod on the Laity, and other Church documents pertaining to the laity that were not taken into account when the Rule was written. In 1996, an international Congress of OCDS was held in Rome. This was the first such congress and one of the things that came out of that congress was a sense that our Rule needed to be updated. 14\. In 2000, a second congress was held in Guadalajara, Mexico to specifically talk about revising the Rule of Life. Each province throughout the world was asked to send two delegates. Others able to make the trip also attended the congress. The two representatives for the Central Province were Mati Martinez, then of the Austin, TX community, now with the Killeen, TX study group, and Nancy Thompson of the Cedar Rapids, IA study group. Fr. John Michael Payne attended as our Provincial Delegate. As a result of that congress, 10 OCDS from around the world were appointed to write what are now our Constitutions. Pedro J. Gonzalez of the Bradenton, FL community was chosen as the representative from the US. They worked via email and met in Rome a few times. 15\. In spring 2002, a draft of the constitutions was released. Fr Aloysius Deeney, our Secretary General (and from our province) posted them on the web and immediately received lots of feedback from those of us online. Feedback also came through the slower channels after the draft was distributed via the Flos Carmeli and other provincial newsletters. In September of that year, Fr. Aloysius presented a revision to the General Definitory which approved it. The new Constitutions were then forwarded to the appropriate office in Rome for approval for a five-year experimental period. On June 19th, the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life approved the Constitutions definitely, not experimentally. However, Fr. Aloysius does plan to receive feedback over the next five years and then ask for amendments/revision. i Rodriguez, pg 52-53. ii Rodriguez, pg. 54. manuscript, pg. 4. iv Morello, Sam Anthony, private email communication. v Morello, Sam Anthony, private email communication. vi Unknown author, pg. 5. vii Morello, Sam Anthony, private email communication. viii Rodriguez, pg.54. iii Unknown author, The Development of the Rule of Life of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, unpublished --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation I Year B: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life* (US National Formation Program, 2024).