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The Discalced Carmelites are a sixteenth century
reform of the Carmelite Order, which was founded in the late twelfth century by
a group of hermits who were living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. Their life
was characterised by an intense following of Jesus Christ who called them personally
to live with him and seek him through prayer in silence and solitude.
For a Carmelite, prayer is deeply theological. It is guided by the teachings
and experience of Saint Teresa of Avila
and Saint John of the Cross, as well as
the saints who have followed in their steps, like St Thérèse of the Child
Jesus, St Elizabeth of the Trinity, St Therese of the Andes, and martyrs
like those of Compiegne, St Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
and Pére Jacques.
Each day is marked by silence to create an environment
for a house of prayer. In addition to the daily celebration of the full
Liturgy of the Hours, two hours are set aside for uninterrupted silent
prayer. The life is well balanced: community life is marked by much laughter
around the meal table and during recreation. Communities are kept fairly
small to nourish an atmosphere of genuine brotherhood and sharing.
While the sisters live an enclosed life, the friars live a life that
is both contemplative and apostolic, in imitation of Jesus who lived both
the prayer in the desert and the ministry of compassion with the multitudes.
Our life of contemplation is primarily a service designed for the whole
Church. The life is also marked by a serious commitment to a broadly based
and thorough discipline of study to more fully develop a knowledge of
the human heart that is marked by great personal sensitivity.
About the carmelite.com website - a brief history |
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Contact Information:
Discalced Carmelite Friars
@ Box Hill - Victoria - Australia
Telephone
61 3 9890 1101
Facsimile
61 3 9898 8392
Postal address
St John of the Cross Priory,
96 Albion Road,
Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
Other Australian addresses
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