Lay Carmelites: A Source of Strength for My Vocation in Carmel 

Great video, Father! My father was a tertiary Carmelite :)

I finished my year of Aspirancy and received my beautiful big Scapular on Oct. 16, 2022. Sept. 2024, God willing, I will make temporary promise and Sept 2027 lifelong promise! So blessed!!🕊🕊

My grandmother on my Mom's side was a Third Order Carmelite in the Philippines. My Mom told me my grandma "sponsored" many of the postulants/novices of the local cloister. When my grandma died, she was dressed by the sisters in a full habit.

Being an extended member OCDS is a true blessing as well as calling.

I am a Carmelite Tertiary ,in my Third Year of Formation, at St.Elias, In Middletown NY. I love it. It really is a Family. I never really realized how active a contemplative life is. Thank you for this video Father. God Bless you Father, and I Hope to see you at St.Alberts.

I am a Secular Carmelite (about 10 yrs now) or OCDS. Love my vocation, dedicated to Our Lady and all Carmelite Saints! We have a wonderful community of seculars near Seattle area. We meet in a monastery with about 12 beautiful nuns. ✝️❤️

...what a great gift from God our Father to be part of The Lay Carmelites of the Province of Saint Elias - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel intercede for the Church, its growth, its holiness, its clergy and its many Lay Apostolates; especially the Lay Carmelites of the Province of Saint Elias...

As a lay Carmelite in Canada, I thank you for the inspiring talk on the beauty of the Carmelite life, in allegiance to Jesus Christ. God bless you in your ministry!

I just went to my first meeting. I am excited about my new journey.

Love what you mentioned about removing the pedestal mindset in regards to the priests/religious- I was just having a conversation with someone about this

Thank you for this. Truly appreciated. I was just accepted into formation after my year of Aspirancy. God Bless you!!!

Thank you Father. I'm considering looking into the Lay Carmelite order myself next month. God bless you. 🙏

Don’t forget the Order of Carmelite Discalced Seculars, Father. We, also have 6 years of Formation. I love that all Carmelites are united as family, both Ancient and Discalced. This year our formation is interrupted d/t COVID-19, until we can meet in person. But is it really an interruption? We will be studying and growing toward sainthood, always. I enjoy that we meet on Zoom for our classes, in the meantime. I love that you love us, Father. I love your service to the Catholic Church.

Lovely video. It explained what I wanted to know and more!

This video is exactly what I was looking for, thank you! A friend just invited me to pray about her 3rd Order group. I have always felt like I should be a Carmelite. I discerned a religious vocation as a Carmelite years and years ago. I never lost that feeling even though I now have a wonderful husband and three sons. Glory be to God! He is good.

Thank you Father.

Great video Father Love it

Thank you for this video! I’m in my discernment year for the Lay Carmelites. The pandemic has put a pause on our formation meetings, but I’m really looking forward to being received into the order in a few months (God willing). I’m so excited to find your channel.

Just listened to u speak fr , u done great , will u say a prayer for me fr , suffer with depression and my spine , thank u fr , very grateful , thanks ,

That would be great.

I read the blogs by Connie Rossini/Contemplative Homeschool. She is a lay Carmelite, and has written some books with Dan Burke, and guest appearances on EWTN. Connie's specialty is writing about the Carmelite Saints (especially St Teresa of Avila) and their form of Mental (St Therese of Lisieux) or Contemplative prayer. Connie does well in writing against Centering prayer, in a way that is understandable for the average person. After learning some about St Teresa of Avila, I listened to "The Way of Perfection" and "Interior Castle" on Audiobook. I had already become quite familiar with St Edith Stein and knew that her final decision to become a Catholic was after a night of reading a book about St Teresa of Avila. I recently learned that Edith's sister Rosa who became a lay Carmelite was living at the Convent with Edith when she decided they should try to go to Switzerland. It was trying to get a passport for Rosa that tied them up, as Edith had already been issued a passport but would not leave without her sister. I have no problem identifying with St John of the Cross and the dark night of the soul. But I could never, and not many people can live up to the standards of mortification practices of John, St Francis, St Clare of Assissi etc.......

I would love to be a Lay Carmelite. I truly feel called to this vocation. But I’m 74 years old. Am I too old to start this journey of formation?

Beautiful talk, Father. I am an OCDS and I belong to the Community of Mary Immaculate, Sydney. How I wished more Priests become contemplatives like the Carmelites, Benedictines and Cistercians to have more holy priests. Secular priests are too much into this world that although they are priests, they have lost their sense of being quiet and still, always going to and fro, getting busy and fatigued for worldly things.

I want to join

I have two questions Fr.: When you see older photos of Carmelites, the habit seems to be heavier, maybe a woollen material, however nowadays the habit seems very light and most carmelites I see wear shirts and pants underneath (when they are actually wearing the habit) which makes the habit seem less like clothing and more like a kind of afterthought. Do you have any thoughts on this? And secondly, do Carmelite friars do Eucharistic Adoration? I heard they do not, so just curious. Thanks. :)

Is it possible to add this specific talk to lay Carmelite websites?

Early this year my heart says you must wear a scapular,i bought it and let the Father blessed it.I never take it off since i have it Except go for a Shower..what that sign mean?

Hi Father. Can you explain contemplative prayer to me or refer me to any video you have made to help me. Is it possible to have contemplative prayer when your heart feels empty? Maybe I shouldn’t have posted my question on this video but I need to know the answer. Thanks. Keep up the great work.

Pls help I’m in Hinton Alberta Canada_Its been my dream to become a third order lay carmelite, but I don’t know where to get in touch with

I wonder if God wants me to be a lay Carmelite