Secular Discalced Carmelite Community of Blessed Miriam of Jesus Crucified

FORMATION

Formation in this secular order, which includes laypersons and secular priests, resembles formation in religious orders.  It may not be as rigorous, but may be more difficult, since the person does not have the helpful structure of a convent, and has to cope with all the demands and distractions of the outside world, while making spiritual progress.  Of course, our community is there for mutual support, and we keep in contact between monthly meetings.

We feel we do not need to take on great penances, but rather deal well with the little and sometimes great penances God allows in our daily lives, learning to trust in God's providence with a peaceful heart.  A well-formed Secular Carmelite, having been with our OCDS community for many years, should be as holy, prayerful, and detached from selfish clingings as a well-formed cloistered nun or monk.  We ourselves are not there yet, but are striving to be.  Through our ongoing formation we Carmelites seek a humble life of union with God through prayer and the goodness that flows from that.  The process starts with a person becoming an aspirant.

ASPIRANT (one year): 

• The aspirant comes to our monthly meetings and begins to discern whether he/she feels attracted to Teresan Carmelite spirituality, and feels called to pursue it as a means to holiness and a closer union with God.  See our page on vocation for indications of a vocation.
• Regular attendance, except for extreme emergency, is required to be admitted to formation as a novice, the next step.
• If one is married, he/she will need permission from his/her spouse and family to join OCDS.

NOVICE (2 or more years):

• Upon the petition of the aspirant and the positive decision of our council, an aspirant will be admitted to formation as a novice.
• The novice receives the brown scapular and the Constitution of OCDS.
• The novice fulfills the Order's requirements:
  • regular attendance at our meetings (except for emergencies or other good cause)
  • praying Morning and Evening Prayer in the breviary
  • daily mental prayer for 30 minutes (or 15 minute periods)
  • spiritual reading (Bible, works of saints, writings about saints, etc.)
  • a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Carmel (e.g.,  the rosary)
  • frequent confessions and daily Eucharist (if possible)
  • making our yearly retreat (see Meetings/Events)
  • service to one's family, our OCDS group and Order, one's church, and the larger community.
• The novice and council (informally and through interviews) continue to discern whether novice has a calling and is meeting OCDS requirements.

TEMPORARY PROMISES (3 years):

• Upon the petition of the novice and the positive decision of our council, after two years the novice may make Temporary Promises for three years and become "temporarily professed."
• This includes various promises, including a promise of "chastity according to one's state in life"; this means sexual abstinence for those not married, and sexual fidelity to one's spouse for those who are married.
• The temporarily professed member continues to fulfill the Order's requirements (see above) and advance in prayer and holiness.

DEFINITIVE PROMISES:

• Upon the petition of the temporarily professed member and the positive decision of our council, three years after the Temporary Promises, the member may make Definitive Promises and become "definitively professed" (for life).
• The definitively professed member continues to fulfill the Order's requirements (see above) and advance in prayer and holiness.

VOWS:

• After years of being a definitively professed, a member may feel called to the more serious step of making vows and becoming "professed with vows."  This involves the same promises, but is a stronger commitment.  Vows are not simply "the next step," and are not an obligation.  Only a strong call and much discernment can help the member decide whether or not to petition to make vows.