SECULAR ORDER OF DISCALCED CARMELITES
England, Wales and Scotland

Recently we were talking in a formation session about The Ascent of Carmel by St John of the Cross.  He begins in a Prologue by saying...

We were discussing the ‘ Offering of myself as a victim of Holocaust to God’s Merciful Love’ written by Therese of Lisieux the other day...

We were discussing Chapter 10 of Teresa’s Way of Perfection in an OCDS meeting last night and couldn’t help smiling as our foundress...

I remember vividly being taken to the West End to see the musical Godspell, based on the Gospel of Matthew, which contains a beautiful...

Yesterday was an emotional day.  We said goodbye to Agnes Rees at her funeral in Northampton.  We welcomed Agnes into our tiny new...

Today I discovered a thriving Carmelite Congregation previously unknown to me – the Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel.  I read about...

I confess to my great shame that till today I had never heard of Blessed Jane of Toulouse (d.1286 – feast day today) and yet, to my...

We take such delight in the wonderful story our St Teresa’s courageous and visionary reform of the Carmelites, but it is good to remember...

I found a marvellous passage on prayer by the Early Church Father Tertullian in the Office of Readings for today (worldwide general...

I can’t help being struck by the fact that the life of St Margaret Clitherow (1556-1586) – her feast is today – overlapped with that of...

This week on Thursday is the day for our Virtual Carmel – an internet meeting for those who are unable to attend physical OCDS meetings. ...

I found the following extract from a sermon preached about the Carmelites on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel by St...

As a historian myself, I sometimes come across delightful and even wonderful stories.  That of the two ladies three hundred years apart...

I must admit I am rather fascinated by notable people who had spiritual lives - often ignored by their biographers. One of the most...

“I took for my patron and lord the glorious St. Joseph, and recommended myself earnestly to him. I saw clearly that both out of this my...

At a recent OCDS meeting we discussed the full name of Therese – Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, and questions were...

The devil doesn’t like communities that devote themselves to the service of God, and often he inspires disruption to their harmony...

We were discussing contemplative prayer in an OCDS meeting in which I was present recently, and a member of the community remarked on the...

I was discussing the idea of the dark night of the soul with a fellow Carmelite the other day.  This has become almost a cliché today –...

The question of ‘feelings’ has come up in some recent Secular meetings I have attended, and it is so important.  We live in a society so...