The vocation of the Discalced Carmelite Nun is a vocation to a life of prayer, to a life of intimacy with God for the good of the Church, especially for priests.
The prayer of a Carmelite embraces the world and every soul in it. Our Holy Mother Saint Teresa of Avila founded the first Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in 1562 in Spain and since then, Carmel has spread throughout the world, dotting the globe with houses of burning love and prayer.
“In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love!” said St. Therese of Lisieux, and every Carmelite desires to echo those words in her own heart.
“By choosing the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother and Patroness, the Carmelite Order places itself under her protection, and it takes the mystery of her life and her union with Christ as its ideal model of consecration.” (Constitutions)
“Mary’s presence among her daughters and sisters pervades the entire Carmelite vocation. It imparts a special Marian tone to their contemplation, sisterhood, evangelical self-denial, and apostolic spirit.” (Constitutions)
“Representing the prayerful face of the Church, a Monastery makes the Church’s presence more complete and meaningful in the local community.” (Verbi Sponsa, 8)
“A Religious vocation is a gift! It is a profound expression of the love of God for you. To discover this call is to realize that Christ is looking on you and inviting you to give yourself totally in love.” (St. Pope John Paul II)
“Embrace the marvelous adventure of following Christ more closely!” (Pope Leo XIV)
“God shows the soul His infinite goodness which has spared nothing for love of her. In responding to His call, she finds in Christ ‘the infinite beauty which alone can fully satisfy the human heart’ and chooses Him as the one thing necessary.” (Vita Consecrata, 16)
“Never was the contemplative vocation more precious or more relevant than in our modern restless world” (St. Pope John Paul II)
“They are especially united to the ‘unceasing praise and supplication which Christ offers to the Father for the salvation of the whole world’ by their daily participation in His Holy Sacrifice, and in particular by the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours which truly sanctifies every moment of the day, by prolonging and renewing the memorial of the mysteries of our salvation.” (Constitutions)
“Jesus seeks but one single soul that will receive Him with affection and bear Him loving company. Let this soul be yours!” (St. Teresa of Avila, Way of Perfection, Ch. 35)