Thread by @carmelitequotes

THREAD Turkish occupation of Haifa, Mount Carmel and its effect on the Discalced Carmelites
1. Forced Exile 1914
The nuns learn 4 November that their fate is no longer in the hands of their long-time benefactor, the French consul 🇫🇷 but now they answer to the USA vice-consul 🇺🇸

2. Forced Exile: When an impatient Turkish soldier forced his way onto the property for an inspection on the eve of the nuns' departure, he investigated the Hermitage of Elijah. A snake emerged from the darkness and nearly struck the Turk. He fled in haste, the nuns rejoiced.

3. Forced Exile: The Carmelite nuns dreamed of martyrdom on Mt Carmel like their 13th c. hermit ancestors. The USA consulate would not permit that. 30 November 1914 the nuns departed for France by way of Rome - taking a long way around because of mines in the water
📷@I_W_M

4. Forced Exile: was spent at Manissy (Gard), most likely in the current-day Chateau de Manissy. The nuns were the guests of Mme. Louise de Talade du Grail, the older sister of the prioress, who was a member of the wealthy LaFarge family from Avignon.
tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Rev…

5. Forced Exile: the Carmelites from Haifa maintained monastic observance in a tiny chapel; vocations knocked at their door, so they improvised a novitiate. The war dragged on; they had concrete survival needs, too. When they prayed for milk, someone donated a cow & calf!
@I_W_M

6. Battle of Haifa: 23 September 1918, in one day the British Empire with the Indian States were able to seize & maintain control of Haifa and Acre and the crucial Port of Haifa to enable the British to land supplies closer to their front line.

Read more en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of…

7. Armistice: 11.11.1918 the end of exile is in sight. In the spring of 1919, they receive permission to return; in the midst of their preparations, a promising postulant is introduced to them: Marie-Joseph Garcin, sent by the Carmel of Avignon. They decide to take her along.

8. Carmelite Nuns Return: 14 May 1919 the nuns arrive in the port of Haifa and go immediately to their monastery. Chapel & its paintings intact!! The Carmelites of Nazareth, also in exile, traveled with them; they initially sheltered with the nuns in Haifa upon the return. BUT...

9. Turkish Destruction in Haifa: The Carmelite nuns' vineyard totally destroyed; another 1200 trees cut down; Way of the Cross destroyed & Christ mutilated; library, furniture, everything destroyed or stolen. Yet, the nuns had successfully hidden the sacred vessels & archives!

10. Restoration of the Carmelite Cloister in Haifa: The nuns recovered some of their furnishings in local pawn shops thanks to the British. It took 3 solid months of hard work to restore the property for monastic observance. On 13 Aug 1919 strict enclosure was restored
@ocdcuria

@ocdcuria @JaimeNelsonW @CatholicForLife @CarmelLizzy @jshocds @carmelnunsgb 11. Epilogue: What about that promising postulant, Marie-Joseph Garcin? Yes, they decided to take her along on their return to Haifa. Her vocation as a Discalced Carmelite did not disappoint, and her virtues were rare. Sr. Jeanne-Marie-Ange died in 1921
carmelitequotes.blog/2019/10/24/quo…

@threadreaderapp unroll