Discalced Carmelites

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The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Roman Catholic mendicant order. It was created in 1593, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order by two Spanish saints, St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross.

The Discalced Carmelite order is now known by the initials "O.C.D." (The older branch of the order, Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, has the initials "O. Carm."). The secular branch of the order (also known as the 'Third Order') has the initials "O.C.D.S".

[edit] History

In the 16th century, St Teresa of Ávila's work of reform, began with herself. She made a vow always to follow the most perfect course, and resolved to keep the rule as perfectly as she could. A group of nuns assembled in her cell one September evening in 1560, taking their inspiration from the primitive tradition of Carmel and the discalced reform of St Peter of Alcantara, proposed the foundation of a monastery of an eremitical type. On August 24, 1562, the new monastery dedicated to St Joseph was founded. Then in Duruelo, with John of the Cross and Anthony of Jesus, they founded the first convent of Discalced Brethren in November 1568.

For a Carmelite, prayer is deeply theological. It is guided by the teachings and experience of St Teresa of Ávila and St John of the Cross, as well as the saints who have followed in their steps, such as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, St Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Therese of the Andes, and martyrs like those of Compiègne, Edith Stein (St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) and Père Jacques.

Each day is marked by silence to create an environment for a house of prayer. In addition to the daily celebration of the full Liturgy of the Hours, two hours are set aside for uninterrupted silent prayer. The life is well balanced: community life is marked by much laughter around the meal table and during recreation. Communities are kept fairly small to nourish an atmosphere of genuine brotherhood and sharing.

While the sisters live an enclosed life, the friars live a life that is both contemplative and apostolic, in imitation of Jesus who lived both the prayer in the desert and the ministry of compassion with the multitudes. Their life of contemplation is primarily a service designed for the whole Church. The life is also marked by a serious commitment to a broadly based and thorough discipline of study to more fully develop a knowledge of the human heart that is marked by great personal sensitivity.