The O.C.D.S. Community of Divine Mercy and St. Therese of the Holy Face
Steubenville, Ohio
About Us
Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
The Call to Holiness
All are called to share in charity, the holiness, which belongs to God alone. “You must therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt. 5:48) This call to follow Christ can take different forms: some are called to the ministerial priesthood, others to the religious life. The vast majority of the faithful is called to holiness, the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity, as lay men and women, married or single, living out their vocation in the midst of the world.
What is a Secular Order?
To find assistance in the pursuit of holiness while living in the world, lay men and women have been drawn to associate themselves with one of the religious orders, such as the Franciscans, the Dominicans or the Carmelite order. Thus over the course of the centuries have come into existence the so-called “third” or “secular” orders, whose lay members develop their spiritual life by a close association with the religious order, to whose charism they feel called. The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites is one of these.
A Brief History of the Carmelite Order
At the origin of the Carmelite Order stands the prophet Elijah, (1 Kings 18) who represents the prophetic tradition of Carmel, as an inspiration to live in the presence of God, seeking him in solitude and silence, with zeal for God’s Glory. The order developed from a single community of hermits, living on Mount Carmel after the example of Elijah, calling themselves the brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. In 1210 St. Albert, the Patriarch of Jerusalem gave the Community their first rule, now called the rule of St. Albert, which remains valid today. In 1238 Carmelite hermits brought the order to Europe. In 1562, St. Teresa of Avila, with the assistance of St. John of the Cross, founded a new (reformed) branch of the Order. These great saints and Doctors of the Church have left in their writings a rich spiritual heritage.
The Discalced Carmelite Secular Order
Carmelite Seculars, together with the Friars and Nuns, are the sons and daughters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila). They share the same charism with the religious, the call to intense prayer in the spirit of Carmel, each according to their state in life. (Con. I 1) The origins of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites go back about 600 years to the relationship established between the laity and the order. This gradually took on an official character, expressed in the revised and approved Constitutions of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order.
Carmelite Spirituality
The spiritual life of the Secular Carmelite follows its Constitutions, which provide for living the gospel in the spirit of the Beatitudes, dedicated to prayer and the practice of living in the presence of God. Carmelite Seculars study the writings of the Carmelite saints to develop an interior life of prayer, meditation and contemplation, in accordance with their duties and state in life. In their mission to know and love God, and to make Him known and loved, they pray for the needs of the Church and the world, in particular for priest. Their life of prayer bears fruit in an increase of virtue and a deepening love of neighbor. In the spirit of Elijah, Secular Carmelites express their deep devotion to Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer, by wearing the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, her mantle and the habit of the Order.
Daily Life and Commitments
Secular Carmelites develop their spiritual life by fostering a life of prayer. They practice solitary (mental) prayer for at least 30 Minutes a day. They draw strength from the liturgical life of the Church, especially by attending Mass daily (if possible), and by reciting morning and evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office). They express their devotion to Mary, by daily prayer to her, such as the Rosary. They belong to a local community, which meets once a month. The monthly meetings include prayer, spiritual formation and fellowship among the member of the community on their journey to union with God. The classes provide information on the spiritual life, methods of prayer, especially the study of Carmelite spirituality from writings of St. Teresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux and others.
Membership
Those members of the Church who are called by God and conscientiously accept this special vocation can be admitted to the Order. After sufficient contact the candidate is accepted for one year of initial formation before receiving the brown scapular. He or she is then admitted to a formation period of 2 years, after which the candidate can take the “temporary” promise. This is followed by three more years of formation. The candidate can then take the “definitive” promise. The promise to live the gospel in the spirit of the Beatitudes according to the Constitutions is made to the superiors of the Order and to the local community. Through the promise the new Carmelite becomes a member of the Order, and shares fully in the graces and the support of the Discalced Carmelite Order.
