History and Charism
 St. Teresa Of Avila
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The Order of Discalced Carmelites was founded in Spain in 1562 by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross. The new order incorporated a renewed form of the ancient Order of Carmel while retaining fidelity to the spirit and traditions of Carmel. | |
 St John of the Cross
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The Discalced Carmelite Friars belong to a Religious Order endowed with its own special charism in God’s people, and called to fulfill a specific role in the Church. The aim of Carmel is to provide the Church with a multi-faceted service of prayer and apostolic ministry. | |
 St. Teresa Benedicta Of the Cross |
The Discalced Carmelites are committed to a consecrated life of allegiance to Jesus Christ. In this they are sustained by the companionship, the example and protection of our Lady, Mother and Patroness of the Order. Their dedication to her is expressed in a particular way through the wearing of the Brown Scapular. The Prophet Elijah is the source of inspiration for all, as he contemplates the living God and burns with zeal for His glory. Following in the teaching of our founders, other great teachers of the spiritual life have borne the fruit of Carmel: St Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. Teresa of the Andes, Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Raphael Kalinowski, Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection, Fr. Herman Cohen, and Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen. | |
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The Discalced Carmelite Order is a family totally committed to prayer,a family that strives to live in depth the mystery of christian prayer and be, as it were, its living witness. Prayer is not considered as a mere devotion, but as a way life that unites us with the will of God the Father in a dialogue of friendship with Him whom we know loves us. In this way prayer becomes a genuine expression of an intimate relationship with God and the lifespring of one’s service within the Church. Through it one comes more deeply involved in the life of the Church and of the world we live in. Thus, as Carmelites, prayer nourishes and enriches all apostolic efforts, and apostolic activity leads to and is imbued with a spirit of prayer.
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| At the present time there are about 4,000 Discalced Carmelite Friars and Brothers around the world. About one third of them are in third world countries. They run churches, Houses of Prayer, Desert Houses, Retreat Centers, parishes, missions, and other centers according to the needs of the Church. Contemplative prayer for us is apostolic in itself and makes us more aware of the needs of others, not less so. Such is the witness of the 30,000 Discalced Carmelite Sisters, the over 60 Institutes aggregated to the Order, the Secular Institutes and over 62,000 members of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order.
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image of St Teresa of Avila courtesy of Fr Martin Borg, OCD images of St John of the Cross and St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross courtesy of Teresa Satola, OCDS |
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