Our Life

"Pondering the Lord's law day and night,

and keeping watch at his prayers." Primitive Rule

The community daily renews its life and vocation by celebrating the Eucharist, proclaiming the word and singing the praises of God. The praise and gratitude, the remembrance of the mysteries of salvation and the pre-taste of the heavenly meal celebrated in the Mass are extended through the day by the Divine Office.

The life of Carmel is a balanced Christian and human life. As known for its joyful laughter as for its profound silence. St. Teresa wanted her communities to be joyful because Christ is present in his family gathered together in love. There is time each day for the sisters to have recreation together.

The Rule of Carmel is short and simple, biblically based and centred on Christ. Its spirit is that of the desert: silence, solitude, simplicity and unceasing prayer. It was originally written for a group of hermits of Mt. Carmel in Israel, between 1206 and 1214. Since then it has inspired Carmelites to a way of life in which one is free to ponder the word of the Lord and to grow in union with him. St. Teresa of Jesus founded her first Convent, St. Joseph's in her hometown of Avila in 1562. Her vision and spirit created a new family in Carmel where in joyful love her followers could grow in friendship with Christ and be wholly dedicated to the Mission of the Church. Since then the Teresian Carmelites have been contemplative at the heart of the Church. United with St. Teresa in her lifetime, St. John of the Cross, gives us with her the spiritual foundation of our family in the Church. Carmel has been blessed with many great spiritual guides and Saints including St. Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity and Edith Stein, who show the power of the Teresian spirit up to our own day.

What is prayer,

it is nothing else,

it is an intimate

sharing

between friends,

a frequent lingering

in solitude,

with him (God)

who we know loves us.

St. Teresa of Avila

Our sisters are enclosed and follow the directives of the Holy See regarding the separation from the world. The purpose of enclosure is that the sisters might be free from distraction and anxiety so they can give themselves totally to the Lord. Their way of life is a hidden one of prayer and self-giving. Those, the Lord calls to Carmel know the blessings of his peace and the freedom He alone gives.

Each Carmelite community supports itself by its own work. Our sisters in Gelorup make altar breads and Vestments to earn their living.

The offices and duties that are necessary for life together are also shared, so that sisters work in the sacristy, kitchen, laundry and garden.

Priority is therefore given in the community timetable as well as to personal silent prayer such as Eucharistic Liturgy, Liturgy of the hours in common, two hours of personal prayer, Spiritual reading and community works, etc.

Prayer is central to the identity of a Carmelite, whose life is witnesses to what prayer really means. For St. Teresa, prayer is a love and growing relationship with Christ. To create a spirit of prayer throughout the day silence is generally observed. It provides opportunities for coming into frequent contact with God. Silence, solitary prayer is essential whole meaning of Carmelite life. As it was said by Pope Leo XIII, "The Spirit of Prayer - to attain this end - three things are necessary: Silence, Retirement, Mortification without them no prayer and without prayer, Carmel is nothing more."

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the ideal of our life in Carmel by following her who both kept the word of God in her heart and worked for him. We, Carmelite follow her footstep in serving God. Mary's presence among us as we are her daughters and sisters pervades our entire Carmelite vocation. It imparts a special Marian tone to our contemplation, sisterhood, evangelical self-denial, and apostolic spirit.