Daily Life of a Secular Carmelite
Elijah
This website contains information for the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS), under the guidance of the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars. To go to the 'Main Office', please go to ocdswashprov.org
Secular Carmelites are called to community to seek a transforming union with God by living a life of prayer; Christian love, sacrifice, and holiness; and service to our families, our Carmelite community, our church, and the larger community.
According to the OCDS Constitutions and Provincial Statutes, a Secular Carmelite endeavors:
1. To devote a minimum of a half-hour each day to mental prayer or dedication.
2. To recite Morning and Evening Prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours, and, if possible, Night Prayer before retiring.
3. To wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as a sign of one's devotion to Mary and her Order.
4. To attend daily Mass if possible.
5. Honor Mary by some particular act of devotion. The Rosary is highly recommended.
6. Members should have an esteem for the Sacrament of Penance and receive the Sacrament frequently.
7. Members should have an active apostolate.
8. In addition to the days of fasting and abstinence proper to the Church in the USA and responding to the encouragement of our bishops "to prepare fore each Church festival by a day of particular self-denial, penitential prayer and fasting" (NCCB Pastoral Statement "Penitent-Discipline" to the US, Washington, DC, 1966) and to our Carmelite traditions, unless excused by illness or age, we observe the following:
St. Joseph the Worker (May 1)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel ( July 16)
The Prophet Elijah ( July 20)
St. Therese (October 1)
Holy Mother St Teresa of Jesus (October 15)
All Carmelite Saints (November 14)
Holy Father St. John of the Cross (December 14)
The fast follows the usual rules of the Church: one full meal, although two smaller additional meals (whose combined amount is less than the full meal) may be had.
Note: If the fast day should fall on a Sunday, no fast is observed.
Secular Carmelites are called to community to seek a transforming union with God by living a life of prayer; Christian love, sacrifice, and holiness; and service to our families, our Carmelite community, our church, and the larger community.
According to the OCDS Constitutions and Provincial Statutes, a Secular Carmelite endeavors:
1. To devote a minimum of a half-hour each day to mental prayer or dedication.
2. To recite Morning and Evening Prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours, and, if possible, Night Prayer before retiring.
3. To wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as a sign of one's devotion to Mary and her Order.
4. To attend daily Mass if possible.
5. Honor Mary by some particular act of devotion. The Rosary is highly recommended.
6. Members should have an esteem for the Sacrament of Penance and receive the Sacrament frequently.
7. Members should have an active apostolate.
8. In addition to the days of fasting and abstinence proper to the Church in the USA and responding to the encouragement of our bishops "to prepare fore each Church festival by a day of particular self-denial, penitential prayer and fasting" (NCCB Pastoral Statement "Penitent-Discipline" to the US, Washington, DC, 1966) and to our Carmelite traditions, unless excused by illness or age, we observe the following:
St. Joseph the Worker (May 1)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel ( July 16)
The Prophet Elijah ( July 20)
St. Therese (October 1)
Holy Mother St Teresa of Jesus (October 15)
All Carmelite Saints (November 14)
Holy Father St. John of the Cross (December 14)
The fast follows the usual rules of the Church: one full meal, although two smaller additional meals (whose combined amount is less than the full meal) may be had.
Note: If the fast day should fall on a Sunday, no fast is observed.
