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Third Order of Carmelites

The Carmelite Third Order (Secular)
Since the earliest days of the Carmelites in medieval Europe, lay men and women have been attracted by the Order's spirituality, its particular 'slant' on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From the thirteenth century onwards lay people became members of the Order through the profession of promises, or through membership of confraternities linked to Carmelite friaries. These laid the foundations for the formal development of the Third Order (Secular) in the seventeenth century, an organisation of lay people - sometimes known as Tertiaries - who follow the Carmelite way of living according to their own state in life, professing promises of obedience and chastity. Carmelite tertiaries come from a variety of professional and social backgrounds. They continue to live in their own homes and work in the world, demonstrating their love of God through their love of family, colleague and neighbour.
 
 
Individuals and sometimes entire families are drawn to Lay Carmel.
 
Life as a Lay Carmelite is way of living in a spirit of true communion with the entire family of Carmel into which we are fully accepted and incorporated. The purpose of such commitment is the cultivation of a deeper and constant conversion that seeks God in openness of heart and mind
  • in contemplative and prayerful reflection on Christ as he is revealed to us, especially in the Scriptures
  • by a sincere sense of community that extends to all and implies an active concern for issues of justice and peace in the world God has entrusted to our stewardship
  • by faithful fulfilment of the will of God as it is manifested through the commitments arising from each member's individual state in life.
 
Today the Third Order is flourishing in Britain and across the world as the largest expression of the Carmelite Family.


During their reception into the Carmelite Third Order a new member receives the scapular, a miniature version of the Carmelite habit.
 
In 2007 Saint George Preca became the first member of the Carmelite Third Order to have his holiness formally recognised by the Church through a decree of canonisation. The sanctity of other holy men and women of the Third Order is being considered by the Holy See, and popular Carmelite tradition reveres a number of lay people associated with the Order over the centuries, such as Blessed Joan of Toulouse.
 
The Third Order has its own Constitutions known as the Rule for the Third Order of Carmel; to read the text online please click here. These Constitutions are supplemented for Lay Carmelites in Britain by the Statutes of the Third Order in the British Province.
 
Fifth National Gathering of the Third Order
Members of the Carmelite Third Order at their 2009 National Gathering.
 
 
Lay Carmelites form part of a local, Provincial and international community
 
In recent years the Third Order in Britain has experienced something of a spiritual renewal and organisational revival. A full programme of initial formation is now offered to potential candidates, and Lay Carmelite communities (Chapters and Carmelite Spirituality Groups) are growing across England, Wales and Scotland. There are approximately a thousand members of the Carmelite Third Order in Britain, linked to over twenty Chapters and Carmelite Spirituality Groups.
 
To download (as a PDF document) a simple guide to some useful formation resources produced by Lay Carmelites in Yorkshire please click here.
 
Initial and ongoing formation is an essential part of the Carmelite Tertiary's vocation
 
An important development within the Third Order in Britain in recent years has been the coming together of Lay Carmelites at regional, national and international gatherings. At such gatherings members of the Third Order are able to share ideas, support each other, and grow together as a family. In 2007 the Lay Carmelites of the British Province held their Fourth National Gathering, and compiled a Vision Statement for the years ahead; you can access this document (in PDF format) by clicking here. A Fifth National Gathering was held in 2009, and the Sixth National Gathering will take place at Aylesford Priory between 6th and 8th May 2011.
Laity and religious together make one Carmelite Family.

Lay Carmelite Communities
Communities of the Third Order and other branches of Lay Carmel are found throughout Britain in many expressions. Members of the Carmelite Third Order (Secular) normally belong to a Community (or Chapter). Unlike the friars, nuns and apostolic sisters, Lay Carmelites do not usually live together in a physical community but meet at least once a month for prayer and formation in Carmelite spirituality. Such meetings are a time to grow together in friendship and a deeper commitment to the values of Carmelite life. Each community arranges days or weekends of prayer throughout the year. For those, who because of distance or some other reason, are unable to attend a monthly community (chapter) meeting, a special link is maintained and developed with our team in the Lay Carmel Central Office at Aylesford Priory in Kent. Alongside the Chapters of the Third Order there are Carmelite Spirituality Groups developing as a new way of sharing the Carmelite way of life between people of different backgrounds, denominations and lifestyles.

York Carmelite Spirituality Group
 
Contact and Communication
To build up bonds of fraternity, Lay Carmelites attend local community monthly meetings, and (when possible) regional assemblies and national gatherings of the Third Order. The Carmelite Third Order in Britain held its Fifth National Gathering in May 2009 (pictured above); to read the keynote talk on the Carmelite Charism, given by Fr. Miceál O'Neill, O.Carm., please click here. Those who cannot attend meetings because of distance or age are considered 'distance members' and are supported in their Carmelite vocation in other ways, particularly through the monthly publication of Assumpta, the Third Order's magazine, and the international Lay Carmelite publication Carmel in the World.

Assumpta is produced 10 times a year for members of the Carmelite Family in Britain and anyone interested in Carmelite spirituality and news. Each issue contains articles on Carmelite spirituality written at a popular level, some of which are followed by questions for individual reflection or for group sharing. Items of current news, of interest to members of the Carmelite Family, and notice of new Carmelite publications, are a regular feature. The cost of receiving Assumpta is included in the annual contribution which Tertiaries in the British Province are encouraged to give to support the development of the Third Order (see below for details). Non-members of the Third Order who would like to subscribe should contact the National Secretary of the Third Order:
 
Mrs. Veronica M. Errington
Brook Cottage, 30 New Street, Mawdesley,
Lancashire, L40 2QP
Click here to e-mail Veronica.
 
The Editor of Assumpta is Mr. Nick Black.
Click here to e-mail Nick.

To download sample editions of Assumpta in PDF format, please click on the links below:

Finances and Annual Contribution
The costs of the Third Order and its development are not inconsiderable. In recent years members of the Third Order have committed to taking long-term responsibility for its resourcing (until now it has been heavily subsidised by the Carmelite Friars). To this end an Annual Contribution has been introduced, currently (in 2010) £25.00 per member (that is, anyone who has been received into the Third Order). To download the Annual Contribution form in PDF format, please click here.

Vocation to Lay Carmel
Membership of the Carmelite Third Order is open to Christians over 18 years of age who, together with a Carmelite community, discern that God is calling them to the Order's way of life. As with the religious of the Order, membership of the Third Order develops in different stages with a two-year period of initial formation before first promises, following by a further period of three years before final promises. To help in the process of discerning a vocation to Lay Carmel, the British Province has produced a set of Guidelines for Discernment; please click here to access the document as a PDF file.
 
 
The Third Order is open to anyone over 18 who, together with a community,
discerns a vocation.
 
Further information
The Third Order has produced two publicity leaflets giving a basic introduction to Lay Carmel, as well as a more detailed information booklet for those enquiring about the Third Order. Please click the links below to download the documents (in PDF format):

For more information about the Lay Carmelite vocation within the Third Order, please click here to e-mail Mr. John Berry, Provincial Delegate to the Carmelite Third Order.
 
Lay Carmelites are linked closely to friars of the Order through Provincial Delegates.

The Discalced Carmelite Order also has a branch for lay people, known as the Secular Order (OCDS) with various local communities. The Third Order of the British Province (TOC) and the Discalced Secular Order in England and Wales (OCDS) are increasingly working together to promote the values of Carmel.
 
Lay Carmel offers people of any background
a deep and fruitful spiritual path to follow.
 
Selected articles on Lay Carmel
These articles open in PDF format. For others see the Carmelite Spirituality section of this website.



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