Carmelites

Carmelites are members of the Catholic religious orders and families whose origins lie with a community of hermits on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the 12th century. They pursued a life of prayer and contemplation under a common rule and later spread to Europe. The Carmelites are traditionally associated with devotion to Mary, particularly under the title Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Two main branches now form the Carmelite family. The Carmelite Order (often called the Ancient Observance) and the Discalced Carmelites, a reform movement established in the 16th century by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross to restore stricter observance and deeper contemplation. The Carmelite family also includes Carmelite nuns and lay members of the Third Order who share in Carmelite spirituality.

Spiritual life centers on contemplative prayer, community living, and liturgical prayer. The order emphasizes simplicity, study, and service. A prominent devotional practice is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, regarded in Catholic tradition as a sign of Mary’s protection. Members take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to their branch.

Prominent Carmelites include saints Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, as well as Therese of Lisieux and Edith Stein, whose writings have influenced Catholic spirituality. Today Carmelite communities exist worldwide, ranging from cloistered monasteries to active parishes and missions, maintaining a balance between contemplative life and various forms of apostolic work.