Being a Lay Carmelite is not simply a devotion added to life; it is a way of life, a vocation. By entering the Order, the Lay Carmelite takes upon him/herself the Carmelite charism of prayer, community, and service to others.
People who are seeking to deepen their Baptismal Promises by following the Carmelite way of life begin the process by attending formation classes offered by their local Lay Carmelite Community. The call to Carmel is fundamentallly a call to seek God’s will in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. This call roots Lay Carmelites in a love of those with whom they live and work, in the recognition of God’s presence in all circumstances, and in solidarity with God’s People everywhere. Above all, it calls Lay Carmelites to a life of prayer...prayer in the heart of the Church.
A candidate must be a Catholic fully participating in the sacramental life of the Church, who feels called by God to live more deeply one’s baptismal vocation as a member of the Carmelite Family. A candidate must be at least 18 years of age when seeking entry to the formation program.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is Patroness, Sister, and Mother to all Carmelites. Lay Carmelites live this relationship by imitating her virtues and by pondering the Word of God in and through daily life. Saint Elijah is an example of the prophetic life spent in service of God, a service that finds its source in a profound experience of God in prayer. These two models serve as our guides and inspiration.
A person is admitted to Initial Formation through an existing Lay Carmelite community. Initial Formation is a time of discernment, divided into three specific periods, followed by Ongoing Formation after final profession.
During Phase I, which is approximately 12 months, a candidate will attend a separate class examining an overview of the History of the Order, the Carmelite Rule, the Local Provincial Statutes, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Elijah our spiritual founders, and other Saints of the Order as well as some Carmelite prayer forms - in particular the Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio Divina. At the end of this stage of Initial Formation if the person feels called and ready they may ask to be Received into the Carmelite Order and be given their Ceremonial Scapular which is the outward symbol of lay membership. More info
Formation now continues for approximately 2 years with more in-depth study of our roots and traditions within Carmelite spirituality, our responsibilities as a Lay Carmelite to the community, and to our daily prayer life. When this is completed, a member can request Temporary Profession. If the community council agrees that a person is being called by God to continue on in this vocation they can make a Profession of Promises for three years. More info
During the third stage of Initial Formation the person will live the life of a Professed Lay Carmelite for three years. They attend all community meetings, Days of Recollection and other opportunities to grow in their Carmelite life. As were Phases 1 and 2, this is also a period of discernment. After a period of three years the person may ask to make their Final Profession as a Lay Carmelite for life. More info
Ongoing Formation. This begins after Final Profession and continues for the life of the Carmelite. Ongoing formation entails a continual exploration and study of the varied aspects of life in Carmel including, but not limited to, the life of prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Saints and Blesseds, and apostolic ministry. Ongoing Formation is part of each community’s monthly meeting but can reach far beyond the meetings to their personal spiritual reading and study. Ongoing Formation becomes a pattern for a life lived in allegiance to Jesus Christ. More info
SOURCE: Descriptions of the three stages of Initial Formation are based on information from Lay Carmelites, Province of Saint Elias
ILLUSTRATIONS: Mary — Detail from “Madonna with Child” by Pietro Lorenzetti (Public Domain); Elijah — Detail from Andrea di Bonaiuto’s “Madonna and Child with Saints” (Public Domain)
...you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens
with the holy ones and members
of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19
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