The Daily Life of a Secular Carmelite

The Secular Carmelite is one who remains faithful to our Lord’s invitation and to His example of praying without ceasing, and also to the Carmelite’s central command “to meditate on God’s law day and night and to watch in prayer.” The Carmelite prefers before all else to remain in the presence of God, continually fulfilling His holy will.

In order to fulfill this vocation of contemplative prayer in the contemporary secular world, the Secular Carmelite endeavors to:

• Devote time each day to mental prayer,

  • including meditation and private prayer;

• Recite Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours,

  • and if possible, Night Prayer before retiring;

• Assist at daily mass, if possible;

• Do spiritual reading each day,

  • including the reading of Scripture;

• Receive the Sacrament of Penance frequently

  • and participate in the penitential life of the Church to the greatest extent possible;

• Seek regular spiritual direction,

  • from a priestly director, if possible, or confessor;

• Participate in monthly community meetings of the Secular Order;

• Participate in annual retreats, individually or in community;

• Cultivate a devotion to Mary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

  • Signified by Brown Scapular