Carmelite Gothic Monastery Architecture
The three aspects of good architecture are functionality, durability and beauty. Architecture must have a practical function, must last for generations and have a beauty that moves the souls of people. We have designed the Carmelite Gothic Monastery to fulfil these three main aspects of architecture.
The beauty and durability of our architecture are straight forward. The Gothic style architecture supports the moving of the soul upwards to God. The large windows, the pointed arches and the vaulting raise the heart and the mind to higher focus and purpose. The decoration of the beautifully designed carvings form the heart in searching for the all-good God whom all beauty reflects.
Our monastery is built in the most durable techniques of modern construction united with the durability of structural stone. We only wanted to build this monastery once with the intention of it being here in a thousand years. With the walls of the common buildings being nearly two feet thick, the durability of the monastery is guaranteed.
The Functionality of the Monastery
The monastery is functionally laid out to facilitate one specific purpose, to immerse our monks in an environment that is conducive to union with God and the spiritual, contemplative apostolate. The apostolate of the Carmelite Monks is to strive for holiness and union with God. It is by dwelling in God’s presence that the monks are transformed and become channels of grace for the Church and the world. What drives the Carmelite Monks is love for God and the salvation of souls.
Carefully designed to serve this purpose, the Carmelite Gothic Monastery has a layout similar to the Discalced Desert Houses. In the monastery everything is subordinated to the divine, the visible to the invisible, and action to contemplation. There is a hierarchy in the monastic architecture. The places of worship, the Church and the Chapter House, are magnificent and beautifully decorated, raising the hearts of the monks to God in prayer. The hermitages are simple and austere, in keeping with monastic poverty. Everything is built in a durable and lasting manner, stone upon stone, as a testament to the stability of the monastic life and a reminder to each monk of the enduring work at hand, something so much greater than himself.
The structures support the solitary life of the Carmelite Monks
The Carmelite Monks’ monastery imitates the ancient eremitical monasteries of the Carmelite Order. Our monastery layout and site plan have been based on a hidden contemplative life that reflects the hidden life of the original hermits on Mt. Carmel.
Vatican II in Perfectae Caritatis explained the importance of returning to the spirit of the original founders. The Council said,
“The adaptation and renewal of the religious life includes both the constant return to the sources of all Christian life and to the original spirit of the institutes and their adaptation to the changed conditions of our time… It redounds to the good of the Church that institutes have their own particular characteristics and work. Therefore, let their founders’ spirit and special aims they set before them as well as their sound traditions-all of which make up the patrimony of each institute-be faithfully held in honor.”
As an eremitical monastery, the Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel appreciate the vocations of the friars and active sisters in Carmel. We see this as an important aspect of Carmel and offer our prayerful support. At the same time our own charism is to be a hidden leaven within the Order. The solitary life is an important aspect of the functionality of the monastery.
The Church today recognizes the importance of contemplative monasteries. Pope Francis wrote,
“From the origins of the life of special consecration in the Church, men and women called by God and in love with him have devoted their lives exclusively to seeking his face, longing to find and contemplate God in the heart of the world. The presence of communities set like cities on a hill or lamps on a stand (Mt 5:14-15), despite their simplicity of life, visibly represent the goal towards which the entire ecclesial community journeys. For the Church “advances down the paths of time with her eyes fixed on the future restoration of all things in Christ, thus announcing in advance the glory of heaven.” Vultum Dei Querere 2
Architecture of the monastery that support solitude
It is for the sake of solitude that the monastery is in the mountains. The mountains provide beauty and raise the hearts of the monks to God. But also, the mountains provide functionality in providing a wilderness wherein the monks can be away from society and alone with God.
It is for the reason also that the monks have a Porter’s Lodge where guests can meet the monks and speak to them in speak rooms. These areas are like an in between space that protects the monks’ solitude and yet provides the opportunity for visits from the outside world and family.
The Monastery Buildings must support the common life
The Carmelite monks live a strong common life. That is one of the ingenious moves by St. Teresa of Avila. She had a keen insight into religious living in solitude, that they needed a strong community life to foster virtue and holiness. Our monastery buildings facilitate the function of a strong community life. The hermitages are placed around a grand cloister, where each hermitage is separate but centered around a common layout and purpose. Our monks are not just alone, but alone within a supportive community that lies a fervent observance together.
We have a common chapel for worship together. We eat in a Refectory in silence together. We recreate at specific times in our recreation room. We process together chanting Latin through our cloister walks. The buildings provide the necessary means to live the common contemplative life.
The Carmelite Monks Monastery is based on the Carmelite Rule
Our monastery was designed with every aspect of the Carmelite Rule in mind. The monks’ greatest desire is to live the Carmelite Rule in its fullness. For this reason, we have been very careful to lay out our monastery in such a way as to enable the living of the Carmelite Rule.
Here are some of the parts of the Carmelite Rule that have influenced our monastery design:
“Brocard and the other hermits under obedience to him, who live near the spring on Mount Carmel.” – We chose mountain property that has a beautiful creek running through it year-round. The sound of the water echoes through the monastery. It reminds us of our baptism. It makes us grateful for the blessings God daily bestows on us.
“You may have foundations in solitary places, or where you are given a site that is suitable and appropriate for your religious observance.” – The mountains in Wyoming are very suitable for our solitary life. They provide a wilderness wherein we can be hidden to find God in our hearts.
“Next, each one of you is to have an individual separate cell, situated as the lie of the land you propose to occupy may dictate.” – We have built 24 hermitages that are spaced out from each other to provide solitude. The hermitage is a sacred place for the monk to be alone with God and transformed in grace.
“However, you are to eat whatever may have been given you in a common refectory, listening together meanwhile to a reading from Holy Scripture.” – We have a common Refectory building and room where we eat together. There we are silent and listen to a reading from scripture.
“The Prior’s cell should stand near the entrance to your property, so that he may be the first to meet those who approach.” – The first cell near the common buildings is the prior’s hermitage. He can thus fulfil his role of inviting people and taking care of their needs.
“An oratory should be built as conveniently as possible among the cells, where, if it can be done without difficulty, you are to gather each morning to have solemn Mass.” – We are building a church in the midst of our cells where we will have a chanted solemn mass each day. We use our library for now as a chapel and eventually will move into the Chapter House when it is finished.
“On Sundays too, or other days if necessary, you should discuss matters of discipline and your spiritual welfare; and on this occasion the indiscretions and failings of the brothers, if any be found at fault, should be lovingly corrected.” – The Chapter House is where we discuss the observance of the rule, where our monks are clothed in the habit and make their vows. It is not open to the public since it is the center of community observance for the monks.
“You must give yourselves to work of some kind, so that the devil may always find you busy.” – It is for our manual labor that we have a coffee roasting shop. We also have a barn for horses and cattle and a stone carving shop for our construction. We do manual labor during our allotted time in our Horarium.
“The Apostle would have us keep silence, for in silence he tells us to work.” – The silence is helped by the cloister wall that we have built. Also to keep silence we try to have separate work room for monks in so far as possible.
Conclusion
The Gothic Carmelite Monastery has been designed for functionality, durability and beauty. With the eremitical and communal life of the monks in mind, the monastery fulfils its purpose of providing an environment conducive to union with God.