The 17th century was a rich time in terms of holiness. The Ancient Observance of Carmel counted more than 500 individuals to whom a scent of holiness was attributed. Many of their life stories – an initial inventory already yielded about 200 – can be found in famous historiographies and other collections. These vitae provide interesting material for examining the characteristics and values of Carmelite holiness in the 17th century. The purpose of the project is to examine holiness in the life stories of Carmelite men and women who died in ‘fragrance of holiness’ during the seventeenth century and to compare their vitae. In this way we hope to gain insight into which values were central in Carmel and to answer questions such as: are these values found throughout Europe? If not, what differences appear? What similarities are there? Was there one and the same Carmelite spirituality? If not, which emphasis was placed in which culture? This research is done using topoi. The Greek word topos means place. As a literary term, topos stands for a motif that remains almost the same throughout time. The focus of a topos is on the value that is communicated. This method can be used to identify what meaning is given to the life of a holy person.
The participants in the project choose – in consultation with the coordinator of the project – a vita of a saintly friar, brother, nun, sister or lay-person who died in the seventeenth century. The selection of a saintly person already requires some study because their vita will have to meet three criteria: availability, readability and length. About three or four working groups will be formed, which are based on four models of holiness: ‘simple brothers and sisters’, ‘hermits’; ‘itinerants/missionaries /martyrs’, and ‘viri illustri’. In these groups, the chosen saintly persons are presented and discussed with a view on the topoi of the above-mentioned holiness-models. Each participant prepares a presentation of about half an hour, in which the saintly person and the results of the analysis of the topoi are presented. Then the similarities and
differences of the topoi are discussed.
The exchange between the members will be digital. The working language is English unless the participants decide otherwise. The number of group meetings depends on the number of participants and will probably be four or five times. Each participant is expected to make a written contribution about the person studied. All Carmelite Institutes are invited to participate in the project.
Schedule
2025
October 31, 2025: Deadline for applications
November: Evaluation of proposals
December: Composition of working groups
2026
January: Time for study and making an analysis of the topoi
February – June: Digital group meetings
June – December: Writing contributions
2027
finalizing the project.
For more information or to receive a registration form, please contact the coordinator.
Coordinator
Sr. Dr. Esther van de Vate, associated researcher of the Institutum Carmelitanum
and of Radboud University
P.O. Box 9103
6525 HT Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 24 3616017
E-mail: esther.vandevate@ru.nl
