Lay Carmelites

Many people are not familiar with the Carmelite's Third Order. The call to Carmel is a vocation - from friars and monks, religious sisters and cloistered nuns, to lay Carmelites or the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS)!

The Lay Carmelites or the Third Order Carmelites (TOC) are lay people who are over 17 years of age and who are Catholics and who are in full communion with the Church. Lay Carmelites are an integral part of the Carmelite family, along with the First Order friars and the Second Order cloistered nuns.

A Lay Carmelite is called to the Family of Carmel to be deeply involved in the mission of the Church, to contribute to the transformation of the secular world.

Lay Carmelites are neither a prayer nor a social group. It is a vocation. It is a call to learn and live a way of life that is dedicated to prayer, community-building and service of others.

As Members of the Third Order, or 'tertiaries', we live the Carmelite charism and practice the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience according to our Rule.

We are also called the Secular Carmelites and come from all walks of life – we are men and women, business owners, retirees, students, married and single, young and old.

As Lay Carmelites we seek to follow Christ and minister to his Church by the witness of our life as done throughout our 800 year heritage.

What is unique about the vocation of a Secular is that we live the Carmelite charism not in a monastic community but in the world.

As OCDS members we respond to a special call of God and participate in many ministries in the Church.

Ours is an association of people who wish to share in the life and spirit of the Carmelite Order.

A Lay Carmelite has been described as “a Carmelite who works from home” living in allegiance to Jesus Christ who loves us.

I am so happy to be an OCDS member of the St. Elizabeth of the Trinity community in St. Joseph church, Mira Road.

 

John Soreth

Blessed John Soreth was born near Caen in Normandy in 1394 and entered the Carmelite house there. He was ordained priest around 1417 and was a Prior General who dramatically changed Carmelite life for the better. He studied Doctor of Theology in Paris in 1438.

On 28 July (Discalced Carmelites) and 24 July (O.Carm) the Carmelite family celebrates the feast of Blessed John Soreth (c.1395 – 1471), Prior General and reformer of the Carmelite Order.  He is especially important for Carmelite nuns since he was responsible for first admitting women to the Order and encouraging the creation of Carmelite communities for women.

In 1452, Blessed John Soreth was authorized by the papal bull Cum Nulla to establish Carmelite communities of women. These monasteries spread quickly.

Blessed John Soreth also obtained papal approval for the Carmelite third order. In addition to the Second Order, Blessed John Soreth also began the Third Order of Carmel, now known as Secular Carmelites, and wrote their first Rule.

In the spring of 1451, John Soreth was vicar general of the Carmelite Order, having been appointed the previous year by Pope Nicholas V.