Carmelite Spirituality Course Online

3 September: The Rule of St Albert

22 October: Elijah in the Carmelite Tradition

  In association with CIBI (Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland)

The Carmelite Centre Melbourne (TCCM) in association with Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland(CIBI) is offering an online course in Carmelite Spirituality. We have new modules beginning September and October. The modules takes 7 weeks to complete (including assessment) Contact us for a registration form on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3 September – The Rule of St Albert (completed by 15 October)

22 October – Elijah in the Carmelite Tradition (completed by 3 December)

This course will be undertaken by distance learning and is part of an Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies

The Adult Education diploma in Carmelite Studies is a programme of 32 modules, covering various aspects of Carmelite interest. The programme is designed for those who have no previous expierence in the area and no previous qualification is required to enroll. To be awarded the Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies a student must complete and submit assignment for all 32 modules. But students may also study the modules without submitting assessment, which will be unaccredited. Each module is divided into 5 units of input and, at the end of which students who wish to have their work accessed must, complete a Questionnaire. Students will receive a comment on each of their assigments from their tutor. This Programme of distance learning is delivered via the internet.

Tutor: Joseph Mothersill OCarm

This module is a brief introduction to The Rule of St. Albert. The Rule of St. Albert is the foundational document of the Carmelite Order and has been a guide to all those seeking to live the Carmelite Way since it was first written in the early 13th Century. It is the Rule followed by all branches of the Carmelite Family today.  In this module we will consider the Rule under five headings:

• How St. Albert came to write the ‘way of life’.
• The ‘way of life’ proposed by St. Albert.
• How the ‘way of life’ became a Mendicant Rule.
• The spirituality of the Rule.
• Living the Rule today.

This module is one of the 32 modules of the CIBI Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies. Students may study to gain the Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies by submitting their work for assessment or study for their own interest with out assessment. Students choosing to have their work assessed will receive a comment from their tutor for each module that they submit an assignment.  

Recommended Reading:
Our basic text for this module is of course The Rule of St. Albert itself. It is a very short document but there is great depth to it and it repays frequent study and reflection. In recent years there have been a number of excellent studies on The Rule of St. Albert. For the purposes of this module there are two books I would recommend. These are: Griffin, Eltin O.Carm. (Ed.), Ascending the Mountain: The Carmelite Rule Today, (The Columba Press, Dublin 2004). The Rule of Carmel, Conferences on Mt. Carmel (Haifa), 4th – 14th October 1999, (Rome: Editrice “Il Calamo”, 2000).

2.   AED03-00: Elijah in the Carmelite Tradition. Míceál O'Neill OCarm (22 October - 3 December)

This online module is an introduction to the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, and to the important role he has played in the Carmelite tradition. In this module we will look at the following aspects of Elijah’s call, witness and importance for Carmelites:

1. Elijah’s vocation: prophet, contemplative, servant of the Lord.
2. Elijah’s opposition to idols.
3. Elijah’s prayer.
4. Elijah, man of the people.
5. The succession: Elijah the founder, the spirit of Elijah.

The course is divided into 5 units of input and, at the end, you may complete a Questionnaire, write a Learning Journal, or write an Essay.

This module is one of the 32 modules of the CIBI Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies. Students may study to gain the Adult Education Diploma in Carmelite Studies by submitting their work for assessment or study for their own interest with out assessment. Students choosing to have their work assessed will receive a comment from their tutor for each module that they submit an assignment.

Recommended Reading.
You are not expected to read all of these but it would be worthwhile reading one or two of the following:-

Healy, K., Prophet of Fire, Rome: Carmel in the World Publications, 1990.

McCaffrey, J., The Carmelite Charism, Exploring the Biblical Roots, Dublin: Veritas, 2004.

Slattery, P., The Springs of Carmel, New York: Alba House, 1991.

Welch, J., The Carmelite Way, Herefordshire: Gracewing, 1996. 

This module will commence October 22nd 2012, when the first unit will be available, the subsequent 4 units will be available on October 29^th, November 5^th, 12^th, 19th. Once the units are available on the CIBI website, they will be available for the student to access until December 3rd 2012.

An online forum will also be offered by the Carmelite Centre for students to request and share information with each other on all aspects of this course. If there is interest there will also be opportunity for students to meet during the module and discuss their learning.

On completion of the module, there will be a simple assessment in order to receive a certificate of completion. Usually this takes the form of completing a Questionnaire, writing a learning journal or writing a short Essay. This module forms part of an Adult Education Diploma.

This module is a forerunner to the rest of the course.

Please contact the Carmelite Centre office on 03 9690 5430 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   if you have any questions

 Please contact us on 03 9690 5430 or e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions.