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Home , Carmelites, Lay Carmelites, Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Who are the

Lay ? For more information, call: Many people are not familiar with the Lay Carmelite Community #578 Carmelite's Third Order. The call to Carmel is a Angelica Carson, Regional Coordinator vocation, from and , religious sisters 530-672-8595 and cloistered , to lay people who want to follow the path of Carmel. Third Order Lay Desi Byerley, Regional Formation Coordinator Carmelites are neither a nor a social 707-426-0314 group. It is a vocation. It is a call to learn and live a way of life that is dedicated to prayer, Teresa Smith, Community Director community and ministry. All Carmelites seek to 707-421-1491 live in allegiance to Christ. Melody McCloskey, Formation Director are men and women who have 415-377-1139 heard and answered the call of God to live more deeply their Baptismal promises. Carmel's or spirituality is but one path to God. Our path is not for everyone. But for those who are called to this Visit the Lay Carmelite website at: way of life, it becomes a comfort, guide and http://www.laycarmelitespcm.org beautiful source of spiritual strength.

To become a Lay Carmelite, one must be:

* A practicing in good standing, registered with a ; Carmel's Call is a call to seek the face of God in prayer, to find Christ in Community, and service * If recently confirmed, a practicing Catholic for one year, in good standing and registered with in ministry to brothers and sisters in need. a parish;

* Between 18 and 69 years, and in good Our Lady of health; * One who is searching for a deeper spiritual guidance in Christian living; and Rev: 1/17/15 * One who has a special devotion to the Blessed Fairfield, CA 94533 Mother, .

Formation and Profession What is Carmel? What are the Practices of a Formation is divided into three specific periods: Third Order Lay Carmelite? The Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, also Phase I ~ preparation for Reception known as the O. Carms., is a of Phase II ~ preparation for Temporary Profession Lay Carmelites wear the Brown of Our the Catholic Church that is now more than 800 On-going ~ preparation for Final Profession. Lady of Mount Carmel as a witness of the years old. commitment made in Carmel. Phase I & II Formation meetings are two hours in duration, usually held on the 3rd Saturday of every During and following the in the early month. 11th and 12th centuries, monks and pilgrims, † As much as possible, attend daily Mass and tired of war, gathered on Mount Carmel to live a Eucharist Phase I candidates prepare for reception. This initial life of prayer in communion with God. They phase lasts 12 months, but may be extended to 24 took up the life of and chose as † Daily Prayer, including Morning and Evening months if necessary. When the candidate has their Spiritual Founder. Mary became their Prayer from the (which is completed all lessons and homework, a period of patroness, mother, sister and model in the official prayer of the Church), discernment follows. Through discernment, both obedience. They formed a loosely knit and praying the . candidate and Council will determine if the candidate community as they lived in their solitary cells, is ready to be received. If all is in order, the but gathered for prayer and support in their † Frequent reading of Sacred Scripture for candidate makes their Reception. quest for a closer relationship with God. a deeper knowledge of God and a greater understanding of Carmelite charism. Phase II members receive a course of instruction that Sometime between 1206 and 1214, Albert of deepens their prayer life, their sense of community † Participation in the Day of Recollection, our Jerusalem responded to their request for a way and their call to ministry. There are 24 lessons in annual weekend retreat, and the Community’s of life, Curriculum Vitae, which now is known as Phase II, lasting a minimum of 2 years. July is strongly encouraged. The Rule of St. Albert. At the end of 2 years, with approval of Council, the member may make their Temporary Profession to Gradually, and because of continuing wars and † Regular attendance at monthly meetings and observe the Carmelite Way of Life as a Lay Carmelite strife, the hermits started migration from Mount on-going formation classes, with studies for a discernment period of 3 years.

Carmel to European cities around 1238 where focused on the history of Carmel, its spirituality Temporary members participate in on-going formation they became mendicant friars. The Order was and lives of its Carmelite . with the whole community. With Council's approval, finally recognized as a Religious Rule in 1247 by (after the above 3 years) Final Profession is made Innocent IV. promising to God, and to the Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel, and to the Most Reverend It is from these beginnings that the Carmelite General of the Order of the Brothers and Sisters of the Order has grown. The history of this order is a same Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, and to his stirring story of humankind's quest for Divine successors, to observe the Carmelite Way of Life as a Intimacy with God. Lay Carmelite until death.

Rev: 1/17/15