aspirancy

Aspirancy Syllabus

Print

Goals during Aspirancy (one year) shall be:

 

a. Prayer

i. Learn to pray Morning and Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours

ii. Begin to work at least 15 minutes of mental prayer into daily schedule

iii. Attend daily Mass as far as possible

iv. Learn to examine conscience (the examen)

v. Understand the teachings of the Church and the Discalced Carmelite Order regarding the Scapular

Primary Sources:

  • General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Lectio Divina by Fr. Sam Anthony Morello
  • Catechesis and Ritual for the Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

 

b. Community

i. Attend Meetings

ii. Be compatible with the other members

iii. Understand the communal dimension of the call**

Primary Sources:

  • *The New OCDS Legislation & the Vocation to Carmel by Fr. Aloysius Deeney

 

c. Apostolate

i. Become aware of the mission of the laity in the Church

ii. Understand the compatibility of duties of state of life with Carmelite way of life

iii. Develop a basic understanding of the OCDS vocation and our call to holiness

Primary Sources:

  • Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
  • OCDS Provincial Statutes for the Oklahoma Province
  • Cathechism of the Catholic Church (# 738–780)
  • Lumen Gentium (Ch. 5)

 

d. Study

i. Receive an introduction to the history of the Discalced Carmelite Order and its saints

ii. Receive an introduction to the Discalced Carmelite charism

iii. Receive an introduction to the OCDS legislation

Primary Sources:

  • Rule of St Albert
  • Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
  • OCDS Provincial Statutes for the Oklahoma Province
  • OCDS Ritual
  • *Profile of an OCDS by Fr. Aloysius Deeney
  • Carmelite Spirituality in the Teresian Carmel by Paul Marie of the Cross
  • *A Touch of OCDS History by Elizabeth M. Korves

 

* Should any of the required books go out of print, the Provincial Council will recommend a substitute. The Provincial Council may update articles (designated with * ) every 5 years to keep formation materials current. Updates will be distributed to all Local Councils at that time.

** An understanding of the ecclesial nature and the communal dimension of the call to the Secular Order: an understanding that the calling has both an interior and exterior voice. An understanding of the difference between the Secular Order and other church organizations/groups. It requires the invitation of the community through its council. (Art. 26, 38)