Carmelite Spirituality
Living a Life of Prayer and Apostolic Activity
The core of Carmelite spirituality is a journey of the Heart.
The Carmelite way of life is a prophetic vocation, which, in the light of the prophet Elijah’s example (1Kings 19), means living in the presence of God and bearing witness to him. It is a combination of a life of union with God and a life of apostolic activity. In addition, Carmel belongs totally to Mary: Devotion to Mary as Mother and as a “sister in the faith” is characteristic of Carmelites.
"Communing with God in prayer is the direct path to holiness" according to St. Teresa of Avila, a reformer of the Discalced Carmelite Religious Order and Doctor of the Church. She speaks in her autobiography about this interior relationship with Christ, "That no one ever took Him for His friend that was not amply rewarded; for mental prayer is nothing else, in my opinion, but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him Who we know loves us."
Through divine communication with Our Lord and His Blessed Mother in personal prayer, the soul becomes more like them by the graces they give when communing with them. Over a life time of mental prayer, the soul is conformed more and more to God by its divine interactions with God.
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Progress in Union with God is proved by virtue and love for one's neighbor. St. Teresa explains, "The best sign that any one has made progress is that she (Carmelites can be women or men) thinks herself the last of all and proves it by her behavior, and that she aims at the well being of others in all that she does. This is the true test - not sweetness in prayer." Perfect conformity to God is about perfect love of God and of neighbor, and the proof of this love is in the love a soul has for others". (An excerpt from https://www.carmelitemonks.org/
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The intent of this website is not to encourage individuals to become monastics unless that is their calling. It's to encourage living in a Carmelite way, through the heart of Jesus, by employing a daily prayer/meditation practice that opens their hearts to Jesus and living from that in the world.
For religious sisters who are cloistered that means in their work and apostolic activities within their monastic community. Lay/single and married individuals may make promises in the Secular Discalced Carmelite Order (OCDS) committing to prayerful lives with hearts open to Jesus within families, businesses, schools, parishes, etc. One may choose to do that without joining OCDS.
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Below are images of key figures who dedicated themselves and lived the Carmelite Way as monastics, spiritual leaders, reformers, mystics, writers, and doctors of the church.
Carmelite Prophet, Founder, and Saints
Hover over each image and select Learn More to gain access to videos.
St. Elijah the Prophet
Considered the spiritual father of the Carmelite Order, Elijah lived in zeal for the living God on Mount Carmel. His life of solitude, prayer, and prophetic courage became the model for later Carmelites. The cry of his heart — “I have been zealous for the Lord God of hosts” (1 Kings 19:10) — echoes in every Carmelite vocation as a call to contemplative union and prophetic witness.
St. Albert of Jerusalem
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and former Bishop of Vercelli, St. Albert composed the Rule of Life for the hermits dwelling on Mount Carmel. His Rule, brief yet profound, united a life of prayer, community, and service under the Gospel. He is honored as the Lawgiver of Carmel and the one who gave structure to the Carmelite way.
St. Teresa of Avila
A Spanish mystic, reformer, and Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa founded the Discalced Carmelites to restore the original spirit of prayer, poverty, and community life. Her major works — The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection — map the soul’s journey toward union with God through contemplative prayer. She is known as the “Mother of the Carmel” and a guide of deep interior prayer.
St. John of the Cross
A Spanish mystic, poet, and reformer, he worked with St. Teresa of Ávila to renew the Carmelite Order. His writings — The Dark Night of the Soul and The Ascent of Mount Carmel — describe the soul’s purification and mystical union with God. He is known for his profound theology of divine love and for revealing the transforming power of suffering in the spiritual life.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
A French Discalced Carmelite known as “The Little Flower,” Thérèse lived a hidden life of love and simplicity in the Lisieux Carmel. Her “Little Way” — doing small things with great love — has touched millions. Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, reveals a path of childlike trust, humility, and total surrender to God’s merciful love.
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
A French Discalced Carmelite nun from Dijon, Elizabeth lived a hidden, contemplative life. Her writings center on the mystery of the indwelling Trinity, calling souls to live as “a praise of glory” within God’s presence. She is known for her spirituality of interior silence and for helping others realize God’s dwelling within the soul.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
German Jewish philosopher and convert, inspired by the writings of St. Teresa of Ávila. As a Carmelite nun, she united brilliant intellect with deep faith, giving her life in witness to Christ at Auschwitz. Canonized as a martyr, she is patroness of Europe and a bridge between faith and reason.
Sr. Ruth Burrows - Contemporary Mystic
English Discalced Carmelite (born Mary Burrows) of Quidenham Carmel. Through her contemporary spiritual writings — such as Essence of Prayer and To Believe in Jesus — she brought Carmelite mysticism into modern life. Her emphasis on trust, surrender, and God’s transforming love continues the living contemplative spirit of Carmel.