Vocation and Promise
The Seculars' vocation is to live the Carmelite spirituality as Seculars and not as mere imitators of Carmelite monastic life . With the Friars and Nuns, they assist the Order in drawing the Church into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and His Mother, Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel. They are apostles of contemplative prayer, but also live intense lives of charity in their common occupations.
They profess a promise to the Order patterned on the monastic vows which guides their life. The Promise is to live according to the Constitution and to live the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience and the beatitudes adapted to their lay state of life.
Spiritually mature members receiving the recommendation of the local council of their community and the approval of their provincial superior are permitted to profess vows of chastity and obedience to their community, which are strictly personal and do not translate into a separate class of membership.
Read more about this topic: Secular Order Of Discalced Carmelites
Famous quotes containing the words vocation and/or promise:
“A vocation makes us unthinking; that is its greatest blessing. For it is a bulwark behind which we are permitted to withdraw when commonplace doubts and cares assail us.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“You’re gonna take the rap and play along. You’re gonna make every exact move I tell you. If you don’t, I’ll kill you. And I’ll promise you one thing, it won’t be quick. I’ll break you first. You won’t be able to answer a telephone or open a door without thinking “This is it.” And when it comes, it still won’t be quick. And it won’t be pretty.”
—Geoffrey Homes (1902–1977)