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The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) is a religious association of the Roman Catholic Church composed primarily of lay persons and ordained diocesan priests or deacons. Members must be over the age of 18 and Catholics in good standing.

Commonly known as Carmelite Seculars, they are an integral part of the Discalced Carmelite Order, juridically dependent upon the Discalced Carmelite Friars, and in fraternal communion with them and the cloistered Nuns of the Order. They share the same charism with the Friars and Nuns, each according to his or her particular state of life, forming a single family with the same spirituality, and called by God to holiness and apostolic mission.

There are around 40,000 Discalced Carmelite Seculars worldwide, with more than 6,000 located in the U.S. They gather in canonically erected communities or communities-in-formation under the guidance and leadership of the Order.

Life as a Carmelite Secular

Living the Vocation

The Seculars’ vocation is to live the Carmelite spirituality as Seculars and not as mere imitators of Carmelite monastic life. They profess a promise to the Order patterned on the monastic vows and this promise guides their life.

The primary, daily obligations of the Seculars are to engage in silent, contemplative prayer or recollection, to pray Morning and Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, and to attend daily Mass and pray Night Prayer when possible. Lectio Divina and spiritual retreats are also highly encouraged.

Seculars study the writings and imitate the lives of the many saints of the Discalced Carmelite Order, especially doctors of the Church St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (Lisieux). They attend the monthly meetings of the local communities of which they are members, and it is in these communities that the Seculars find the fraternity necessary to advance in the spiritual life.

The intense prayer life of Seculars is intended to flow over into many varied apostolic endeavors, demonstrating how it is possible to seek intimate union with God even in the midst of worldly duties and concerns.

The primary community apostolate of Carmelites is to share Carmelite spirituality with others.

Formation

The Elements of Formation

The purpose of formation is the preparation of individuals inspired by the Holy Spirit to live a spiritual life according to the principles of Discalced Carmelite spirituality.

The period of introduction to the life of the Secular Carmel is generally six years in duration. As described in the Constitutions of the Order, this process is gradual: in addition to flexibility on the part of both the beginner and the community, both must be patient with the process and do things step-by-step.

ASPIRANCY

Aspirancy begins when the local Council invites an individual to enter into an introductory study of the Carmelite Secular charism in order to discern whether there is a call to the Carmelite Secular Order. This period of formation lasts a minimum of 12 months.

FORMATION I

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 his or her First Promise. At this time the person fully becomes a member of the Order. The baptismal name is retained and a devotional title may be added. The First Promise lasts for a period of three years.

FORMATION II

Formation II lasts a minimum of three years. During this time the person lives as a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites and continues to discern, together with the Council, the vocation to the Order. Formation II may be extended for up to two years. The Definitive Promise is the same as the First (or Temporary) Promise, but instead of three years, the promise is made for the rest of the person’s life.

ONGOING FORMATION

This begins once the Definitive Promise is made. It is essential in enabling the Definitively Professed to live out their life-long commitment and responsibilities as Secular members of the Carmelite Community. Through it, members are being continuously transformed and prepared to live a life of deeper union with Christ for the good of the community, the Church, and the world.

The Promise

I, N., inspired by the Holy Spirit, in response to God’s call, sincerely promise to the Superiors of the Order of the Teresian Carmel and to you, my brothers and sisters [of the community], to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, for the rest of my life.

I confidently entrust this, my Promise, to the Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel.

Entrance Process

Admission and Discernment

The call to Carmel is two-way: while an aspirant will discern a call to Carmel and the local community, the community in turn must discern whether or not to confirm the individual’s calling as a member of the group.

Carmel is a lifetime commitment to community and to community meetings!

Our Entrance Process

PRE-ASPIRANCY TO ASPIRANCY

Potential aspirants should contact either the President or the Director of Formation for an introductory discussion about OCDS: member requirements, the stages of formation and the time involved, daily and community life, etc.

After this initial discussion, the community will mail/email an information packet to the potential aspirant with more information about the life of a Carmelite Secular.

The individual is asked to spend a minimum of one week in prayer and reflection over the material received and if they wish to continue the discernment process, to contact the community to arrange for an interview with another member of the local Council.

After the second interview, the local Council will determine whether or not the candidate should be invited to enter Aspirancy.

Aspirancy formation begins in January.

Come and See

If you think you might have a vocation to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Aspirancy formation begins in January.

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