Home > Secular Carmelites (OCDS)

Testing and Discerning a Vocation to the Secular Carmelite Order (OCDS)

1. Participating Fully in the Eucharist

"Practising member of the Catholic Church." By this I mean Roman Catholic, which refers to the unity under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The majority of Roman Catholics belong to the Latin Rite. There are, however, other rites within the Roman Catholic Church, Maronite, Malabar, Melkite, Ukrainian, etc. There are Secular Order communities in each of these rites. The entire OCDS community of Lebanon belongs to the Maronite Rite. The word "practising" specifies something about the person who can be a member of the Secular Order. As a basic litmus test of "practising" the Catholic faith I suggest the capacity to participate fully in the Eucharist with a clear conscience. The Eucharist is the summit of Catholic life and identity. It is the meeting point of heaven and earth. So, if one is free to participate in the summit, then the lesser points of participation are certainly permitted.

For most cases in the past this was rather simple to determine. People who came to the Secular Order came from parishes where the friars were present, or through contact with friars or nuns who recommended them to the Secular Order. Divorce was not a major factor in Catholic life. Most situations were clear.

It is not so today. Things are not always clear. It is precisely here where the Spiritual Assistant can be of most help to the Council of a community of the Secular Order in the screening of candidates. I give an example. A woman approaches a community of the Secular Order. The woman is known by some of the Council. They know that this is her second marriage. They also know that she regularly goes to Mass and participates in the sacraments. The Council would like clarity before admitting this person to formation.

There are a few possibilities with this case. The Church annulled the first marriage. Or, by arrangement with her confessor, she and her husband are living in such a way as to participate in the sacraments of the Church. An interview with the Spiritual Assistant would clarify the answers. Without necessity of too much explanation to respect the right to privacy and a good name that every member of the Church enjoys, he could give the word to the Council that would allow this person to enter the Secular Order.

The Secular Order is a juridical part of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. It is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church and subject to the laws of the Church. The Sacred Congregation must approve its own legislation. Therefore, someone who does not belong to the Catholic Church may not be a member of the Secular Order. Non-catholic people with interest in the spirituality of Carmel are certainly welcome to participate in whatever way a community might invite them, but they cannot be members of the Secular Order.

Here we have the first element of the identity of a Secular Order member-a person who participates in the life of the Catholic Church. There is, of course, more, because there are millions of people who participate in the life of the Catholic Church who have not the slightest interest in Carmel.

[next]

OCDS (Secular Carmelites) - home
Constitutions of the Secular Order NEW!

Six Elements of discernment:
1. "Practising member of the Catholic Church."
2. "Under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel."
3. Inspired by St Teresa of Jesus
4. Commitment to Carmel as an Ecclesial event
5. Seeking the Face of God
6. "for the sake of the Church and the world."

Discerning a Vocation - Acrobat PDF format (48k)

Page last modified: Thursday, 27 March, 2003
Document path: http://carmelite.com/ocds/discern1.shtml