The Carmelites
The Society of the Little Flower serves the Carmelites and supports them in their ministries throughout the world.
The Carmelites are a Roman Catholic religious order of priests and brothers rooted in an 800-year tradition of spirituality.
Inspired by the Old Testament prophet Elijah, Carmelites seek to live in the presence of God and invite others into a deeper awareness of God’s faithful and active presence, working toward the realization of justice in God’s reign.
Following the example of Mary, the Mother of God, they strive to remain open to God’s saving and liberating presence, to help others recognize that same presence in the people and experiences of their lives. Like Mary, they echo a wholehearted “yes” to the movement of God’s Spirit.
Carmelites follow Jesus Christ by professing the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Serving in more than 50 countries, their ministry continues to grow, especially among the poor and in developing regions. Their work spans a wide range of settings, from college campuses to military chapels, from classrooms to counseling offices.
Carmelite friars serve as educators, chaplains, missionaries, counselors, and advocates for peace and justice. They minister to people across all walks of life, those with abundance and those with very little. Like Elijah, they challenge others to choose life, growth, and wholeness in God, as they strive toward the fulfillment of God’s reign.
In all their ministries, Carmelites seek to proclaim God’s presence within human experience and to stand against whatever diminishes that presence among God’s people.
Carmelite Resources
Other Carmelite Ministries of the Society’s Province
Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary
This is the home page of the Society’s religious leaders. Here you can learn about these men who serve the Catholic Church as Priests and Brothers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Peru.
This is the location to learn about the Carmelite commitment to Prayer, Community and Ministry. Here you will find out the requirements for becoming a Carmelite Priest or Brother.
Here you will find the foundation upon which all Carmelite communities were established, The Rule of Life. The Rule was given to the Carmelites by Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1204, and mitigated by Pope Innocent IV in 1247.
This is the place to learn more about what it means to be a Lay Carmelite. At this web site you can make purchases from “The Scapular Shop”, keep up-to-date on Lay Carmelite news, and learn about The Call to Carmel.
The Carmelites in Canada
Overlooking the world famous Niagara Falls, this Ontario facility provides Retreats, Workshops and opportunities for adult Religious Education. The Centre includes four Chapels, a religious gift shop, and overnight accommodations on twelve acres of beautiful grounds, within easy walking distance of the Falls.
