Carmelite Spirit: A Radical Life

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns belong to the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and live the Primitive Rule restored by St. Teresa of Avila. Withdrawal from the world and seclusion in the cloister are the characteristics proper to Carmel. It is a life of prayer, penance, solitude, silence, manual labor, and a joyous family spirit in community - all at the service of God and His Church.

It is a life that most people today would consider radical. However, although we are cloistered we are not withdrawn from those who live, work and suffer in the world. Indeed it is our purpose and our joy to offer our lives in intercession to God for the life of every soul! We believe fervently in the power of intercessory prayer and sacrificial penance for the salvation of souls. This is our form of service in the Church.

†   The Carmelite life is a joyful oblation of self, offering praise and adoration to the Most Holy
     Trinity for the good of the Church.

†   The Carmelite life is one of intimate union and friendship with Christ, our Bridegroom. With
     childlike trust in the love of the Father, we seek to surrender our will to His will at every
     moment, in a spirit of joyful simplicity.

†   The Carmelite life is ascetical, set free from the confines of the world by the full observance
     of the Evangelical Counsels: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

†   The Carmelite life is one of reparation, a life of penance for the sanctification of souls, with a special      emphasis on praying for priests.

†   The Carmelite life is a total consecration to Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel. Carmel is
     all Mary’s. A true Carmelite is also devoted to her protector and guardian, St. Joseph.

†   The Carmelite life is fidelity to and love of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

“In a world that is losing the sense of the divine, and overestimating material things, you are living witnesses of supernatural values from within your cloisters. Instill a new breath of life into the church and into modern man.”
John Paul II