Discalced Carmelites

"O.C.D." redirects here. For other uses, see OCD (disambiguation).

See also: Carmelites

Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

Ordo Fratrum Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo
Coat of arms of the order
Abbreviation	OCD
Formation	1562 (1562)
Founder	Teresa of Ávila John of the Cross
Type	Mendicant Order of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Legal status	Institute of Consecrated Life
Headquarters	Casa Generalizia dei Carmelitani Scalzi, Corso d’Italia 38, 00198 Rome, Italy
Membership	3,978 members (includes 2,897 priests) (in 2022)
Superior General	Miguel Márquez
Affiliations	Catholic Church
Website	carmelitaniscalzi.com

The Discalced Carmelites, known officially as the Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (Latin: Ordo Fratrum Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo) or the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Latin: Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum; abbrev.: OCD; sometimes called in earlier times, Latin: Ordo Carmelitarum Excalceatorum), is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers. The order was established in the 16th century, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order by two Spanish saints, Teresa of Ávila (foundress) and John of the Cross (co-founder). Discalced is derived from Latin, meaning "without shoes".

The Carmelite Order, from which the Discalced Carmelites branched off, is also referred to as the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance to distinguish them from their discalced offshoot. The third order affiliated to the Discalced Carmelites is the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.

Background

The Discalced Carmelites are friars and nuns who dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. The Carmelite nuns live in cloistered (enclosed) monasteries and follow a completely contemplative life. The Carmelite friars, while following a contemplative life, also engage in the promotion of spirituality through their retreat centres, parishes and churches. Lay people, known as the Secular Order, follow their contemplative call in their everyday activities. Devotion to the Virgin Mary is a characteristic of Carmelites and is symbolised by wearing the brown scapular.

Carmelites trace their roots and their name to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. There, in the 13th century, a band of European men gathered together to live a simple life of prayer. Their first chapel was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and they called themselves the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

The Muhraka monastery on the top of Mount Carmel near Haifa in Israel is a historic Carmelite monastery. The monastery stands on the place where the prophet Elijah is said to have lived and fought the prophets of Baal.

The first Carmelites were pilgrims to Mount Carmel who settled there in solitude. These early hermits were mostly laity, who lived a life of poverty, penance and prayer. Between 1206 and 1214, Albert Avogadro, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, brought the hermits on Mount Carmel together into community. At their request he wrote them a rule, which expressed their own intention and reflected the spirit of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and of the early community of Jerusalem. They were also inspired by the prophet Elijah, who had been associated with Mount Carmel. The words of Elijah, "With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts" (IKg 19:10) appear on the Carmelite crest. Around 1238, within fifty years of receiving their rule, the Carmelite hermits were forced by the Saracens to leave Mount Carmel and to settle in Europe.

Founding

Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), Doctor of the Church and co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites.

A combination of political and social conditions that prevailed in Europe in the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries – the Hundred Years' War, Black Plague, the Reformation and the Humanist revival – adversely affected the Order. Many Carmelites and even whole communities succumbed to contemporary attitudes and conditions diametrically opposed to their original vocation. To meet this situation the rule was "mitigated" several times. Consequently, the Carmelites bore less and less resemblance to the first hermits of Mount Carmel.

Teresa of Avila considered the surest way to prayer to be a return to Carmel's authentic vocation. A group of nuns assembled in her cell one September evening in 1560, taking their inspiration from the primitive tradition of Carmel and the discalced reform of Peter of Alcantara, a controversial movement within Spanish Franciscanism, proposed to found a monastery of an eremitical kind.

With few resources and often bitter opposition, Teresa succeeded in 1562 in establishing a small monastery with the austerity of desert solitude within the heart of the city of Ávila, Spain, combining eremitical and community life. On 24 August 1562, the new Convent of St. Joseph was founded. Teresa's rule, which retained a distinctively Marian character, contained exacting prescriptions for a life of continual prayer, safeguarded by strict enclosure and sustained by the asceticism of solitude, manual labor, perpetual abstinence, fasting, and fraternal charity. In addition to this, Teresa envisioned an order fully dedicated to poverty.

Working in close collaboration with Teresa was John of the Cross, who with Anthony of Jesus founded the first convent of Discalced Carmelite friars in Duruelo, Spain on 28 November 1568.

The Discalced Carmelites were established as a separate province of the Carmelite Order by the decree Pia consideratione of Pope Gregory XIII on 22 June 1580. By this decree the Discalced Carmelites were still subject to the Prior General of the Carmelite Order in Rome, but were otherwise distinct from the Carmelites in that they could elect their own superiors and author their own constitutions for their common life. The following Discalced Carmelite Chapter at Alcala de Henares, Spain in March 1581 established the constitutions of the Discalced Carmelites and elected the first provincial of the Discalced Carmelites, Jerome Gratian. This office was later translated into that of Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites.

The Carmelite charism

Discalced Carmelites from Argentina

Discalced Carmelite and novice outside their convent in Zarautz, the Basque Country (Spain)

Monastery of Discalced Carmelites in Czerna, Poland

Stella Maris Monastery in Mount Carmel, Haifa

The heart of the Carmelite charism is prayer and contemplation. The quality of prayer determines the quality of the community life and the quality of the service which is offered to others. Prayer and contemplation for the Carmelite are not private matters between the individual and God but are to be shared with others since the charism is given for the whole world. Therefore, there is an emphasis in the order on the ministry of teaching prayer and giving spiritual direction.

For a Carmelite, prayer is guided by the teachings and experience of Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, as well as the saints who have followed in their steps, such as Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes , and martyrs such as Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Père Jacques and the sixteen Martyrs of Compiegne. Fraternity, service, and contemplation are essential values for all Carmelites.

When the Carmelites were forced to leave Mount Carmel, they changed their practice from being hermits to friars. The major difference is that friars are called to serve the People of God in some active apostolate. Some congregations were founded for a specific work, but the Carmelite Order tries to respond to what it sees as the needs of the church and the world - which differ according to time and place. Many friars work in such institutions as parishes, schools, universities, retreat centres, prisons and hospitals. Each individual friar will serve in roles depending on the perceived needs of the people with whom he lives and his own particular talents.

Each day is marked by silence for prayer. In addition to the daily celebration of the full Liturgy of the Hours, two hours (one in the morning, one in the evening) are set aside for silent prayer. Communities should not have more than 21 members. The friars practice a broadly-based discipline of study.

Bishops

Living bishops (4 archbishops, 18 bishops)

Current bishops	Former and actual episcopal see or assignment	Current residency	Date of birth (current age)	Appointed to episcopacy
Anders Arborelius	Bishop of Stockholm (1998–Incumbent) President of Scandinavian Bishops Conference (2005–2015) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria degli Angeli (2017-Incumbent)	Stockholm, Sweden	(1949-09-24) 24 September 1949	17 November 1998 Pope John Paul II
Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez	Bishop of Trujillo (2012–Incumbent) Auxiliary Bishop of Maracaibo (2007–2012)	Trujillo, Venezuela	(1951-10-19) 19 October 1951	30 June 2007 Pope Benedict XVI
Silvio José Báez Ortega	Auxiliary Bishop of Managua (2009–Incumbent)	Managua, Nicaragua	(1958-04-28) 28 April 1958	9 April 2009 Pope Benedict XVI
Philip Boyce	Bishop of Raphoe (1995–2017)	Letterkenny, Ireland	(1940-01-25) 25 January 1940	29 June 1995 Pope John Paul II
Peter Chung Soon-taick	Metropolitan Archbishop of Seoul (2021–Incumbent)	Seoul, South Korea	(1961-08-02) 2 August 1961	30 December 2013 Pope Francis
Paul Dahdah	Archbishop-Vicar Apostolic of Beirut (1999–Incumbent) Archbishop of Baghdad (1983–1999)	Beirut, Lebanon	(1941-06-08) 8 June 1941	30 May 1983 Pope John Paul II
Brig. Gen. Gonzalo de Jesús María del Castillo Crespo	Military Bishop Emeritus of Bolivia (2012–Incumbent) Military Bishop of Bolivia (2000–2012) Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz (1983–2000)	La Paz, Bolivia	(1936-09-20) 20 September 1936	3 November 1983 Pope John Paul II
Amancio Escapa Aparicio	Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo (1996–2016)	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	(1938-03-30) 30 March 1938	31 May 1996 Pope John Paul II
Guy Étienne Germain Gaucher	Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Bayeux-Lisieux (2005–Incumbent) Auxiliary Bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux (1987–2005) Bishop of Meaux (1986–1987)	Venasque, France	(1930-03-05) 5 March 1930	27 August 1986 Pope John Paul II
Gustavo Girón Higuita	Bishop of Tumaco (1999–Incumbent) Vicar Apostolic of Tumaco (1990–1999)	Tumaco, Colombia	(1940-05-20) 20 May 1940	8 February 1990 Pope John Paul II
Greg Homeming	Bishop of Lismore (2017-Incumbent)	Australia	(1958-05-30) 30 May 1958	22 February 2017 Pope Francis
Zdenko Križić	Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Gospić-Senj (2016-Incumbent)	Croatia	(1953-02-02) 2 February 1953	25 May 2016 Pope Francis
Gonzalo López Marañon	Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of San Miguel de Sucumbíos (2010–Incumbent) Vicar Apostolic of San Miguel de Sucumbíos (1984–2010) Apostolic prefect of San Miguel de Sucumbíos (1970–1984)	Nueva Loja, Ecuador	(1933-10-03) 3 October 1933	2 July 1984 Pope John Paul II
Luis Alberto Luna Tobar	Archbishop Emeritus of Cuenca (2000–Incumbent) Metropolitan Archbishop of Cuenca (1981–2000) Auxiliary Bishop of Quito (1977–1981)	Cuenca, Ecuador	(1923-12-15) 15 December 1923	17 August 1977 Pope Paul VI
Aníbal Nieto Guerra	Bishop of San Jacinto de Yaguachi (2009–Incumbent) Auxiliary Bishop of Guayaquil (2006–2009)	Yaguachi, Ecuador	(1949-02-23) 23 February 1949	10 June 2006 Pope Benedict XVI
Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina	Bishop of Morondava (2010–Incumbent)	Morondava, Madagascar	(1968-01-20) 20 January 1968	26 February 2010 Pope Benedict XVI
Braulio Sáez Garcia	Auxiliary Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2003–Incumbent) Bishop of Oruro (1991–2003) Auxiliary Bishop of Oruro (1987–1991)	Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia	(1942-03-23) 23 March 1942	18 February 1987 Pope John Paul II
Rubens Sevilha	Auxiliary Bishop of Vitória (2011–Incumbent)	Vitória, Brazil	(1959-09-29) 29 September 1959	21 December 1987 Pope Benedict XVI
Jean Benjamin Sleiman	Archbishop of Baghdad (2001–Incumbent)	Baghdad, Iraq	(1946-06-30) 30 June 1946	29 November 2000 Pope John Paul II
Jusztin Nándor Takács	Bishop Emeritus of Székesfehérvár (2003–Incumbent) Bishop of Székesfehérvár (1991–2003) Coadjutor Bishop of Székesfehérvár (1990–1991) Auxiliary Bishop of Székesfehérvár (1988–1990)	Székesfehérvár, Hungary	(1927-01-15) 15 January 1927	23 December 1988 Pope John Paul II
Rolando Joven Tria Tirona	Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres (2012–Incumbent) Territorial Prelate of Infanta (2003–2012) Bishop of Malolos (1996–2003) Auxiliary Bishop of Manila (1994–1996)	Naga, Philippines	(1946-07-22) 22 July 1946	15 November 1994 Pope John Paul II

Deceased Bishops (7 cardinals, 14 archbishops, 52 bishops)

Name	Episcopal see or assignment	Date of birth and death	Appointed to bishopric
Francis George Adeodatus Micallef	Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Kuwait (2005–Incumbent) Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (1981–2005)	(1928-12-17)17 December 1928 – 3 January 2018(2018-01-03) (aged 89)	5 November 1981 Pope John Paul II
Anastasio Alberto Ballestrero	Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Turin (1989–1998) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (1979–1998) President of Italian Episcopal Conference (1979–1985) Metropolitan Archbishop of Turin (1977–1989) Metropolitan Archbishop of Bari-Canosa (1973–1977)	(1913-10-03)3 October 1913 – 21 June 1998(1998-06-21) (aged 84)	21 December 1973 Pope Paul VI
Girolamo Maria Gotti	Prefect of Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith (1902–1916) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Scala pro hac vice Title (1895–1916) Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars (1899–1902) Prefect of Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Sacred Relics (1896–1899) Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1896–1897) Apostolic Internuncio of Brazil (1892–1895)	(1834-03-29)29 March 1834 – 19 March 1916(1916-03-19) (aged 81)	22 March 1892 Pope Leo XIII
Giovanni Antonio Guadagni (Nephew of pope Pope Clement XII)	Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome (1732–1759) Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1743–1759) Cardinal Vice-Dean of Sacred College of Cardinals (1756–1759) Cardinal-Bishop of Porto-Santa Rufina (1756–1759) Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (1750–1756) Cardinal-Priest of San Martino ai Monti (1731–1750) Bishop of Arezzo (1896–1897)	(1674-09-14)14 September 1674 – 15 January 1759(1759-01-15) (aged 84)	20 December 1724 Pope Benedict XIII
Daniel Acharuparambil	Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly (1996–2009) Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Cochin (2008–2009)	(1939-05-12)12 May 1939 – 26 October 2009(2009-10-26) (aged 70)	14 June 1996 Pope John Paul II
Antônio do Carmo Cheuiche	Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Porto Alegre (2001–2009) Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre (1971–2001) Auxiliary Bishop of Santa Maria (1969–1971)	(1927-06-13)13 June 1927 – 14 October 2009(2009-10-14) (aged 82)	2 April 1969 Pope Paul VI
Paul Bassim	Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Beirut (1999–2012) Vicar Apostolic of Beirut (1974–1999)	(1922-11-14)14 November 1922 – 21 August 2012(2012-08-21) (aged 89)	8 September 1974 Pope Paul VI

Communities of Discalced Carmelite tradition

• Byzantine Discalced Carmelites
• Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
• Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
• Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
• Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel
• Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa

See also

• Book of the First Monks
• Constitutions of the Carmelite Order

External links

• Official website
• No Greater Love, a 2009 documentary about the nuns at the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, in London's Notting Hill