Carmelites in the Crosshairs

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TRANSCRIPT

The Carmelites are one of the few religious orders whose vows of corporate and personal poverty make it necessary to beg for alms. A monastery of discalced Carmelite nuns in Brooklyn, New York has been forced to do just that. 

The Discalced Carmelite sisters in Brooklyn are being forced out of their cloister and are asking for donations to build a new one.

In their brochure, the 10 sisters explain how the borough, suffering from "defund-the-police" efforts, necessitates the move.

The cloister is now surrounded by "gangs blasting horrendous music" as well as "carousing," "drinking and drugs" and "satanic rituals” at all hours of the night.

Sr. Maria Luz, OCD: "This is so important for us. We need to go as soon as possible. ... This is really for the Church, for the people. The sisters never forget. ... Even when they die, and people forget about them, the sisters will still be praying."

Donors have already stepped forward, giving the sisters countryside property in Pennsylvania and blueprints for a new monastery based on the Spanish Carmels.

Now the sisters need to build a structure itself, where they can safely welcome new members and continue their life of prayer and poverty.

Sr. Maria Luz, OCD: "May God reward you for helping us to fulfill our vocation in the Church. Know that on Carmel’s heights, by day and night, someone prays for you!"

Current anti-police and anti-religious policies in blue states are clashing with God’s eternal plans. To help the sisters stay the course, go to pleasantmountcarmel.org to donate.

The Carmelites trace their tradition back to the 1100s when hermits following the example of the Old Testament prophet Elijah fasted and prayed on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land and built a chapel to Our Lady. 

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