THE PURPOSE OF FORMATION

The purpose of formation is to prepare individuals inspired by the Holy Spirit to live a spiritual life according to the charism and principles of Discalced Carmelite spirituality. Intimately united with the action of the Holy Spirit is that of the Virgin Mary. 

Mother of Christ and our Mother, she is involved in the spiritual life of everyone, especially in one called to life in Carmel.  Under her protection, expressed in Carmel by the scapular, all those in formation in the Order are spiritually protected and formed.

Mary, the Mother of believers, is for us a model of committed and prophetic contemplation. She welcomed the Good News with enlightened discernment and promptly undertook its demands. She treasured the Word, pondering on it prayerfully in her heart, and proclaimed it freely and courageously in the Magnificat. This contemplative-apostolic example of hers is stressed in formation to help us understand and practice what it really means to follow Christ. Mary is the perfect model of a disciple of the Lord. 

The Discalced Carmel, after the example of its Founders, has its own formation program and style, based on Discalced Carmelite saints and authorities for the whole Church - the Doctors: Teresa of Jesus, John of the Cross and Therese of Lisieux. 

The period of introduction to the life of the Secular Carmelite is a process of at least six years duration.

At each step of formation, the local council, by a majority vote, will discern if the candidate has a vocation to Carmel and invite him or her to receive the Scapular or make Temporary or Definitive Promise. An interview with the Council of the community and a letter of intent is required at each stage of Formation. 

Mary, the Mother of believers, is for us a model of committed and prophetic contemplation.