How do I discern a vocation to Third Order of Carmelites?

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I am currently discerning this as well. I’m attending my first meeting in late August. Very excited!
 
Heather914 said:
I am currently discerning this as well. I’m attending my first meeting in late August. Very excited!
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I pray you find great blessing and many helps for your spiritual life in this path. God bless you.
 
asia53 said:
You’ve received some excellent guidance from Don Ruggero and the other posters. May I present a prespective from a Received O. Carm, who will be making her Temporary Profession this September? In other words, I’m finishing my 3rd year of Formation.

I had prayed for a long time for guidance. I wanted to grow closer to our Lord, but kept floundering. I was doing the 5 First Saturdays. I read another parish (not my own) had Confession, Saturday morning Mass, specifically for First Saturdays. While in the Communion line, I noticed I knew the EMHC. We worked at the same place, but I hadn’t seen her for a number of years. We talked briefly after Mass. The next month, we talked a little more. During our conversation, she looked at me, and asked, “Have you ever thought of becoming a Lay Carmelite?” My friend and I have talked about this since then, she has no idea why she asked me this.

Nope, I didn’t even know about the Third Orders. I went home, did some research, and attended the next Community meeting. I went to 5 Community monthly meetings, before I decided to join. Of course, I prayed, prayed, and prayed.

What I found was a group of people dedicated to prayer, learning about Carmelite spirituality, as a another poster wrote, I found a family. Our community has just finished reading The Way of Perfection, Study Edition. Now, we are reading The Practice in the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Critical Edition. We study our Laws, St. Albert’s Rule, and LOTH, and more.

We also do Ongoing Formation, aside from our monthly meetings, open to anyone in the Community. This is the Formation for the 3rd - 6th year people or the people who have taken their Final Vows. We’re reading The Essence of Prayer by Ruth Burrows.

As you can see, it’s learning, we never stop learning. Actually, let me amend that, we never stop growing.

My Carmelite group was an answer to my prayers. It’s Spiritual Direction, it’s learning, it’s growing, and it’s done with a great bunch of people.

God bless you. I hope and pray you find what you are looking for.
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Best wishes for your pending temporary profession. I assure you of my prayers. May the charisms of Carmel enrich you ever more and more and may its Rule continue to guide and help you in your spiritual growth.
 
The OCDS needs to be the only thing you get involved with, aside from parish support ministries.

I am working with an OCDS who was reprimanded for having a St John of the Cross study group without the Provincial knowing about it. She is also founding a secular institute, and has to give up the OCDS to do so.

So make sure you either do nothing but the OCDS or develop an attitude of transparency with the Provincial.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
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