Researching Carmelite Religous Communities (Any Reccomendations?)

[Gabriel_Syme]

I have been in discernment for some time now, I feel called to look towards the Carmelites at this time, I want to be able to have a few places I can look at and research and I am in need of help. does anyone know of any communities of friars or monks they may recommend? I am primarily beginning research within a sphere of reasonable travel distance, so any located in the southeastern united states would be very helpful to start. Thanks in advance.

 

[zab]

carmelitemonks.org/

 

[Gabriel_Syme]

thank you for your swift response. I do already know of the Carmelite monks in Wyoming, as I am sure many others do as well. I would like to also visit other communities too. any and all suggestions welcome.

 

[Ocarm]

I have been in discernment for some time now, I feel called to look towards the Carmelites at this time, I want to be able to have a few places I can look at and research and I am in need of help.

The following are web addresses for provinces of both the Order of Carmelites and Order of Discalced Carmelites in the USA. They contain information both on vocations and the location of communities in the US.

carmelitefriars.org/

carmelites.net/

ocdfriarsvocation.org/

discalcedcarmelites.com/

carmelitesok.org/vocations.htm

If you contact the vocations director of an appropriate province, they may be able to offer you further help with discernment as well as visits and appropriate spiritual direction.

Hope this helps.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The following are web addresses for provinces of both the Order of Carmelites and Order of Discalced Carmelites in the USA. They contain information both on vocations and the location of communities in the US.

carmelitefriars.org/

carmelites.net/

ocdfriarsvocation.org/

discalcedcarmelites.com/

carmelitesok.org/vocations.htm

If you contact the vocations director of an appropriate province, they may be able to offer you further help with discernment as well as visits and appropriate spiritual direction.

Hope this helps.

All of these are Carmelites, that is all of the are provinces of the two Carmelite Orders in the United States. The first two are the Order of Carmelites (O.Carm.), the last three are of the Discalced Carmelite Order (O.C.D.). By the way, the second one, www.carmelites.net is my province.

carmelitemonks.org/

This group is not affiliated with either the O,Carm. or the O.C.D., they under the local bishop of the diocese that they are in, they do not follow either Carmelite Constitution.

The O.Carm have two groups of hermits within the United States.

Hermits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Lake Elmo, MN
Hermits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel in Christoval, TX

 

[Gabriel_Syme]

Thank you ByzCath and Ocarm for your information, If possible are there any good books you could recommend as well? With Regards to Carmelites in particular I already have dark night of the soul, interior castle, the way of perfection, and story of a soul (St. Therese has been a great influence on my discernment), but I am looking to expand my research material. thanks!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Thank you ByzCath and Ocarm for your information, If possible are there any good books you could recommend as well? With Regards to Carmelites in particular I already have dark night of the soul, interior castle, the way of perfection, and story of a soul (St. Therese has been a great influence on my discernment), but I am looking to expand my research material. thanks!

For me, the greatest help during my discernment was *At the Fountain of Elijah: The Carmelite Tradition *by Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm., my vocations director gave me this book.

But I think I would be remiss if I did not mention *The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today’s Pilgrim *by Jack Welch, O.Carm. (he is my prior provincial (superior)).

Both can be found easily on the internet.

 

[Ocarm]

Thank you ByzCath and Ocarm for your information, If possible are there any good books you could recommend as well? With Regards to Carmelites in particular I already have dark night of the soul, interior castle, the way of perfection, and story of a soul (St. Therese has been a great influence on my discernment), but I am looking to expand my research material. thanks!

I would definitely endorse Brother David’s recommendations (by coincidence, Wilfrid McGreal is my own provincial). For accounts of Carmelite witness in the modern world, I would also recommend:

Edith Stein: Selected Writings (edited by her niece, Susanne Batzdorff) ISBN 978-0872431898

Essays on Titus Brandsma: Carmelite Educator, Journalist, Martyr (edited by Redemptus Maria Valabek) ISBN 978-8872880005

Nothing Can Stop God From Reaching Us by Raphael Tijhuis ISBN 978-8872880944

And a great personal favourite which I always buy for people interested in Carmelite spirituality:

Land of Carmel by Elizabeth Ruth Obbard ISBN978-0852445044

Best wishes, and may Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s prayers be with you.