The Discalced Carmelites, Christian Formation on understanding our role as after the example of its Founders, enhances our: Seculars in the apostolate of the has its own formation program. It *capability to receive the necessary Order. has its own style, based on persons theological foundation by means of who were so mature in their faith as the Catechism of the Catholic Basic Resources for a Program of to be saints and authorities for the Church and Church Documents formation: whole Church: the Doctors, Teresa *appreciation of our baptismal 1. The Holy Scriptures of Jesus, John of the Cross and consecration 2. The Liturgy of the Hours Thérèse of Lisieux. The tradition *zeal for conversion, Christian 3. Catechism of the Catholic Church began as a result of the lived commitment and holiness of life 4. Dogmatic Constitution on the experience of Saint Teresa and Saint *fervor to live the demands of Church Lumen Gentium John of the Cross constitutes the following Jesus by taking part in His 5. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine formative patrimony which pervades saving mission in unfolding our Revelation Dei Verbum Carmel. Today the task of the Order prophetic, kingly and priestly 6. Dogmatic Constitution of the is that of continuing the calling. Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium uninterrupted line of educators who 7. Decree on the Apostolate of the prepare the men and women of our Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem time for the Church and Order, just Carmelite Formation 8. John Paul II, Apostolic as Elizabeth of the Trinity, Edith confirms our Carmelite identity in Exhortation on the Vocation and the Stein and Raphael Kalinowski were. the: Mission of the Lay Faithful in the * study and spiritual reading of the Church and in the World ESSENTIALS OF FORMATION Scriptures and in the practice of Christifideles Laici 9. Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus Human Formation Lectio Divina 10. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter develops our: *importance of the liturgy of the on the Blessed Virgin Mary *ability for interpersonal dialogue, Church, especially the Eucharist and Redemptoris Mater mutual respect and tolerance the Liturgy of the Hours 11. General Instructions on The *readiness to the possibility of being *Spirituality of Carmel, its history, Liturgy of the Hours corrected and to correct others with the writings of the Order’s saints. 12. The Rule of St. Albert serenity. *formation in prayer and meditation 13. The OCDS Constitutions *capacity to persevere in our *formation for the apostolate based 14. The Provincial Statutes commitments. on the teaching of the Church and 15. Rituals for Promises and vows At the level of Christian life: ESSENTIALS OF 16. Ratio Institutionis of OCDS • a willingness to cooperate with 17. The Works of Saint Teresa of God, in a spirit of faith FORMATION IN THE Jesus • dedication to prayer SECULAR ORDER OF 18. The Works of Saint John of the • love of the Scriptures Cross • commitment to the Church and DISCALCED 19. The Works of Saint Therese of involvement in the local parish CARMELITES the Child Jesus community 20. The Works of Edith Stein • a compassionate and active love; 21. The Works of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity At the level of the Teresian charism: Divine call is always a mysterious • a taste for prayer and grace that cannot be reduced to a list • a desire to establish a personal and of qualities. But there are certain friendly relationship with God qualities that indicate that a person • a contemplative and active spirit is essentially suited to the vocation • a love for the Church of a Secular Carmelite. Among these • a desire to familiarize oneself with are: Carmelite spirituality. At the human level: The purpose of the formation • a stable personality Initial and ongoing formation in the program in the Secular Order of • common sense Secular Order of Carmel strive to Discalced Carmelite is not to • emotional maturity assist its members reach both human produce experts in Carmelite • ability to trust and be open and Christian maturity in their spirituality, nor to obtain a • readiness to cooperate apostolic lives according to the spirit university degree in spirituality or • realism, tolerance and flexibility and charism of Carmel under the spiritual theology. The purpose of • a certain self knowledge guidance of the Holy Spirit. formation is to prepare the person to • fidelity to principles; live the spirituality of Carmel. Ratio Institutionis of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites Ratio Institutionis of OCDS Sept. 17, 2009 Sept. 17, 2009