St. Basil's Wisdom & Purported Carmelite Connections

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!


Two summers ago, I was blessed enough to visit Turkey for three weeks. I was enchanted by the beauty of this ancient crossroads between East and West, and its beautiful landscape, architecture, history, and culture. When visiting Cappadocia, I was further mesmerized by the churches hewn out of rocks located within a series of cave structures, where the early Christians escaping from oppression, and persecutions between 4th and 13th centuries worshiped and lived in community. St. Basil was the bishop of Kayseri at that time who taught and influenced his flock, and the Church beyond. He created a rule of life, now known as the Rule of St. Basil that guided those living in his monasteries in this region of Turkey.  A chapel was even built in his name which can now be seen and explored in the Goreme Open Air Museum.   



Why do I mention St. Basil 24 hours following his Feast Day [and that of St. Gregory of Nazianzus] whom he shares this day with? Namely, because many early Carmelites believed that the original rule of the Carmelite Order was taken from the Rule of St. Basil, before being adopted and tweaked by St. Albert. In addition, many insist that St. Basil lived on Mt. Carmel and was among the early Carmelites who prayed in the spirit of Elijah. 'pondering the law of the Lord day and night', and who greatly honored Our Lady.   

Ordained a bishop in 370, he enabled the reform of priests and other religious, insisting on a commitment to orthodoxy and a strong religious discipline among the clergy. He was responsible for the promulgation of the Nicene Creed to the faithful and the defeat of Arianism at the Council of Constantinople. He also practiced great acts of mercy and charity including work with the poor, sick, hungry, and homeless.

Perhaps one of the most important documents we can study by St. Basil the Great is "On the Holy Spirit", which gives us a road map in our spiritual life and can help us especially as we kick off the new year and continue to seek to live the call to practice mercy ever more deeply in this Jubilee year. He wisely proclaimed, 

The titles given to the Holy Spirit must surely stir the soul of anyone who hears them, and make him realise that they speak of nothing less than the supreme Being. Is he not called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, the steadfast Spirit, the guiding Spirit? But his principal and most personal title is the Holy Spirit. To the Spirit all creatures turn in their need for sanctification; all living things seek him according to their ability. His breath empowers each to achieve its own natural end. The Spirit is the source of holiness, a spiritual light, and he offers his own light to every mind to help it in its search for truth. By nature the Spirit is beyond the reach of our mind, but we can know him by his goodness. The power of the Spirit fills the whole universe, but he gives himself only to those who are worthy, acting in each according to the measure of his faith. Simple in himself, the Spirit is manifold in his mighty works. The whole of his being is present to each individual; the whole of his being is present everywhere. Though shared in by many, he remains unchanged; his self giving is no loss to himself. Like the sunshine, which permeates all the atmosphere, spreading over land and sea, and yet is enjoyed by each person as though it were for him alone, so the Spirit pours forth his grace in full measure, sufficient for all, and yet is present as though exclusively to everyone who can receive him. To all creatures that share in him he gives a delight limited only by their own nature, not by his ability to give. The Spirit raises our hearts to heaven, guides the steps of the weak, and brings to perfection those who are making progress. He enlightens those who have been cleansed from every stain of sin and makes them spiritual by communion with himself. As clear, transparent substances become very bright when sunlight falls on them and shine with a new radiance, so also souls in whom the Spirit, become spiritual themselves and a source of grace for others. From the Spirit comes foreknowledge of the future, understanding of the mysteries of faith, insight into the hidden meaning of Scripture, and other special gifts. Through the Spirit we become citizens of heaven, we enter into eternal happiness, and abide in God. Through the Spirit we acquire a likeness to God; indeed, we attain what is beyond our most sublime aspirations - we become God. Let us stay close to the Holy Spirit to discern what God's Will is in this new year, and then to have the strength and courage to give our fiat and do it! St. Basil the Great, pray for us! Amen.