A small portion of the brief history of the Traverse City foundation of Carmel as written in their flyer publicizing the upcoming renovations:
”Courageous women brought the Carmelite Reform [from Spain] to Mexico in the 1600’s. Seven U. S. Carmels trace their origin to a Mexican nun’s desperate prayer when she faced a firing squad during religious persecution in 1914. [apologies for my error in a comment made on Acción Litúrgica where I said “the persecutions of the 1920’s”]
Mother Mary Elias miraculously escaped death, and went on to bring her community safely to Grand Rapids, Michigan. “
There she founded the Carmel of Our Lady of Guadalupe where Mother Mary Elias died in 1943. In 1950, eight Sisters from that community headed north to start a new foundation, the Carmel of the Infant of Prague in Traverse City. It’s foundress, Mother Teresa Margaret, “is the only nun still alive today [and still residing at the monastery] who made her novitiate under Mother Elias’ direction.”
The video (from CATOLICIDAD) below, is a tribute to Mother Mary Elias for her manly courage and heroic determination to keep the Faith! For those who do not understand Spanish, the title says it all: “Catholic, Defend your Faith!”
