Study Outline for Aspirancy
OCDS Legislation (Rule of
St. Albert, Constitutions, and Statutes)
The outline represents study of OCDS Legislation (Rule of Albert, Constitutions with its footnotes and Provincial Statutes). The objective is to facilitate integration of the Carmelite way of life within the context of Baptism and the universal call to holiness.
Overview of Carmelite spirituality and charism
Nature of OCDS vocation
Discernment Process
Overview of Carmelite Prayer
Liturgy of the Hours Instruction
Organization of the Order/ OCDS Legislations
Spiritual reading/ Scripture/ Church documents
History of the Order
Saints of the Order
The Ecclesial Dimension: The Teresian Carmel With the Church
As a candidate completes Aspirancy, s/he must write a letter requesting to move on to the next stage of formation and be interviewed by at least two Council members.
The Council must then decide whether to admit the candidate to the next period of formation. If the decision is made to move forward, the Council will then invite the candidate to participate in the Rite of Admission to Formation and to receive the ceremonial Brown Scapular.
The outline represents study of OCDS Legislation (Rule of Albert, Constitutions with its footnotes and Provincial Statutes). The objective is to facilitate integration of the Carmelite way of life within the context of Baptism and the universal call to holiness.
Overview of Carmelite spirituality and charism
- Description of Carmelite Charism
- Inspired by the teachings of St. Teresa of Jesus
- Introduce centrality of the practice of mental prayer
Nature of OCDS vocation
- Daily life
- Community life
- Identity of Secular Carmelite
- Role of Mary
- Apostolate
Discernment Process
- Mutual discernment - individual and community
- Explanation of discernment process
- Length of process (6 years discernment in total until Definitive Promise)
Overview of Carmelite Prayer
- Vocal prayer
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Mental prayer/ meditation/ discursive prayer
- Contemplation as understood in the Teresian Carmel
Liturgy of the Hours Instruction
- History of the Liturgy of the Hours
- Nomenclature
- Practice of the Liturgy of the Hours
Organization of the Order/ OCDS Legislations
- Organization of the Order
- Rule of St. Albert
- OCDS Constitutions
- OCDS Provincial Statutes of the Washington Province
Spiritual reading/ Scripture/ Church documents
- Scripture
- Writings of the Carmelite Saints
- Church documents
History of the Order
- The Carmelite Order
- The Teresian Carmel
- The Secular Order
Saints of the Order
- Doctors of the Church
- Other saints of the Order
The Ecclesial Dimension: The Teresian Carmel With the Church
- Carmel is a call within the Christian life
- The call to all to live of holiness according to the Gospel
- The call to some to follow a specific vocation within the Church (clergy, religious or laity)
- The call to some of the laity to follow a vocation within a particular Order (such as the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites) - Carmel's mission in the Universal Church (Const. 26)
- Apostolic activity is the fruit of prayer
As a candidate completes Aspirancy, s/he must write a letter requesting to move on to the next stage of formation and be interviewed by at least two Council members.
The Council must then decide whether to admit the candidate to the next period of formation. If the decision is made to move forward, the Council will then invite the candidate to participate in the Rite of Admission to Formation and to receive the ceremonial Brown Scapular.
