Role of Cloistered Monks in Carmel
The Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel are cloistered monks. Their priests are considered choir monks since the whole of their contemplative lives are devoted to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the chanting of the Divine Office in the choir and pursuing the heights of contemplation. They also share the fruits of their contemplative and solitary lives, by engaging in confessions, retreats, and giving spiritual direction to all who may come to the monastery.
Since they are not active friars, they do not belong to either the Ancient Observance or Discalced branches of the Carmelite Order, who originated as hermit monks but have been mendicant friars since the 13th century. The original hermits who lived on Mount Carmel in the 12th - 13th century however also called themselves monks. In one of the first works of the Carmelite Order, "The Institutions of the First Monks," also known as the Book of the First Monks written sometime during this period, the charism of the Carmelites was laid out as a hidden life of prayer performed by a monk. The Carmelite monks follow this same hidden monastic Carmelite life.
Cloistered Carmelite nuns also consider themselves to be cloistered monastics or hermits. Their life is closer the Carmelite Monks' way of life as cloistered contemplatives.
Fr. Daniel Mary was trained for eleven years in a hermitage of the Ancient Observance and through a close relationship with several houses of cloistered discalced Carmelite Nuns. Fr. Daniel Mary was clothed as a Carmelite by members of the order and lived in vows in a house of the order for many years. The Carmelite Monks use the suffix M.Carm. to designate membership in their order.
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