The Carmelite life
Carmelite inspiration
“The message of our Carmelite saints has been the realisation that God loves us first, as we are.”
Carmelite life is a response to the experience of God’s love in our lives, through the faithful following of God’s son, Jesus Christ.
As Carmelites we look to the examples of Elijah and Mary. Elijah was the prophet who thirsted for God, and found God’s presence in the silence on Mount Horeb. We see his passionate zeal for God and seek to make that part of our own lives. At the same time, we see Mary, the woman who learnt to ponder the ways of God in the life of her son, Jesus.
Through our lives as Carmelites, we seek to be transformed in our innermost selves. This means becoming closer to God and learning to see reality the way that God does: to see with God’s eyes. Through this we come to see the loving presence and activity of God in our own lives and in those around us. This inspires us in our service of other people.
The search for God in Carmel always ends in the realisation that God was searching for us first.
Carmelite life
“A prayerful community, living simply,
cannot help but produce life around it.”
As Carmelite friars, we seek to form praying communities, which are in the midst of the people. We live as brothers, in a freely given mutual service which provides the fundamental element of our lives. As communities we seek to help one another to grow in love of God and of neighbour, supporting one another in our common journey of faith.
We also seek to serve the people that we live amongst, walking alongside them and accompanying them along their own path towards God. Through this we not only help them to become closer to God and to discern God’s presence in their own lives, but we ourselves learn to find the image of God in each person that we encounter.
All Carmelite friars take vows of obedience, poverty and chastity. The vow of obedience to God involves setting aside our own ideas and priorities and learning to follow Christ in bringing about God’s kingdom. The vow of poverty calls us to live simply, holding our possessions in common, identifying with the poor and giving up the idea of ruling over other people. The vow of chastity frees us to live authentic lives, oriented towards God, and to relate to other people with a love that is never possessive.
Carmelite discernment
“Consider what it is God wants, and then do it.”
We are convinced that every person is called to a life of love and relationship with God. This can take many different forms, and for some people it is not obvious which way of life God is drawing them towards. Our response to God’s call is never a question of choosing which lifestyle best fits our own inclinations and human priorities. Instead it involves the discernment of where it is that our life and service fits within God’s will, and the place where we will most effectively be guided towards the transformation in Christ that is the ultimate goal of our lives.
This is not a decision that we make on our own. As part of the church we seek to listen to where God is speaking within our lives through prayer, through Lectio divina and through service of others. As individuals we talk to our loved ones, those who have been important on our journeys of faith and especially those who live the life that seems to be stirring something within us.
Through all this, we are searching for God’s will in our lives, asking questions like: What do I want from life? What are my hopes and dreams? What are my gifts and talents? Discerning a vocation requires deep knowledge of ourselves and who we are, as well as knowing the community that we may feel called to be a part of.
Growing in Carmel
“The Carmelite journey is one towards transformation.”
If you feel attracted to the Carmelite life and ideals, you might consider reading more about the Carmelite saints and holy people. Even if you are unsure what way of life God is calling you towards, please get in touch with our vocations team who will accompany you along your path of discernment.
Those who feel a deep call towards the life of a Carmelite friar embark on a long journey of formation. This is the word that we use to describe the lifelong experience of growing in our knowledge and experience of the Carmelite charism.
The initial stages of formation involve learning to live in community with other Carmelites and about our history and our charism. This usually begins with a period of pre-novitiate, getting used to community life, and learning about the Order and the Province that you feel called to be a part of. After this there is a one-year novitiate, an intensive period of prayer and study of the Carmelite tradition alongside other people who are at the same stage in their vocational journey. Following this, you may choose to take vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, initially for a three year period. During this time, those who also feel called to the priesthood will begin academic studies of philosophy and theology. Finally, after a suitable period of discernment you may choose to make a lifelong commitment to the Order.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about the Carmelite friar’s way of life, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our vocations coordinator is available to accompany you in your prayerful discernment. His role is not about recruitment, but to help and walk with those who wish to invite God into the decision about their future.
Fr. Ged Walsh, O.Carm.
Vocations Coordinator
The Friars
Aylesford, Kent
ME20 7BX
Email: vocation@carmelite.org
Message one of our team at GB Carmelite WhatsApp:
+44 7552834019
