What is the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order?
Discalced Carmelite Seculars are members of the Carmelite family of the 16th century reform of St. Teresa of Jesus. Discalced means "shoeless". St Teresa's followers wore sandals rather than shoes, a practice which distinguished them from the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance. These followers are present in the modern world as friars, enclosed nuns and Seculars.
Discalced Carmelite Seculars come from all walks of life, from every level of education and every type of work. They are Catholic laypersons over the age of 18, married or unmarried, or ordained priests or deacons.
There are more than 45,000 Discalced Carmelite Seculars worldwide and more than 5000 in the United States. They gather in canonically erected communities or recognized study groups under the guidance and leadership of the order.
What is the foundation of Carmelite life?
The following principles of the Rule of Saint Albert, written for the hermits on Mount Carmel in the 13th century, guide Carmelite life today:
- Living in allegiance to Jesus Christ
- Being diligent in meditating on the law of the Lord
- Giving time to spiritual reading
- Participating in the liturgy of the Church, both the
- Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours
- Arming themselves with the practice of the virtues
- Seeking interior silence and solitude
- Using prudent discretion in all that they do
(from Constitutions of the Secular Order of the Teresian Carmel, 2003)
What is required of Discalced Carmelite Seculars?
The entire period of formation commonly requires about six years.
Aspirancy
Attendance at twelve monthly meetings of the community is required, so the Aspirant may be supported by its members as he or she learns more about Secular life and discerns whether he or she has a vocation to the order.
First period of formation
A minimum of two years is required for study and growth in prayer, the apostolate and community life. At the end of this time, the council of the community may invite the candidate to make a Temporary Promise of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the order.
Second period of formation
At least three years precedes the Definitive Promise. Either period of formation may be extended if the council and the individual in formation agree that doing so is in the best interest of the candidate.
Discalced Carmelite's List of Books
St. Teresa of Avila, OCD: "The Interior Castle" "The Way of Perfection"
St John of the Cross, OCD "Ascent of Mount Carmel" "Dark Knight of the Soul"
St Teresa of the Child Jesus, OCD "The Story of a Soul"
St Teresa of the Andes, OCD "God the Joy of My Life'
St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD "The Hidden Life" "The Science of the Cross"
