The Carmelites include friars, nuns, and laypeople. They follow the rule of Albert Avogadro, which includes silent prayer to hear the still silent voice of God. As Our Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father so we seek that Mystical Divine Union with the Holy Trinity. Carmelites practice contemplation and meditation. Famous Carmelites include the mystics John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux.

The Carmelite Saints

St. John of the Cross

was born on June 24, 1542 in Fontiveros, Spain, of poor and simple parents, from whom he learned the importance of self-sacrificing love. His father, His father, Gonzalo de Yepes, was an accountant to a richer relative who were silk merchants. In 1529, Gonzalo married Catalina Alvarez, who was an orphan of lower class; he was rejected by his family and forced to work with his wife as a weaver. Gonzalo died in 1545 when John was around 3 years old. Two years later, John’s brother, Luis, died probably as a result of malnourishment due to poverty. Catalina took John and his surviving brother, Francisco, first to Arevalo in 1548 and then in 1551 to Medina del Campo, where she was able to find work. At the age of fourteen, John took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered from incurable diseases. This experience led him to search for beauty and happiness in God alone. In 1553, he entered the Carmelite Order and was ordained a priest in 1567.

Later, along with St. Teresa of Avila, he began to reform the Order to its former life of prayer. Some of his brothers did not accept this and had him imprisoned for nine months. In an unbearably dark, cold and desolate cell, his love and faith were enkindled. Reduced to nothing by poverty and persecution, he experienced the intensity of divine love, writing, “Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.” This was the basis of the great mystical works he gave the Church, including Spiritual Canticle, and Dark Night of the Soul. He died on December 14, 1591 at Ubeda, Spain. St. John of the Cross is the Father and Co-Founder with St. Teresa of Jesus of the Discalced Carmelite Order. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

St. Teresa of Jesus

also known as Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic, was born on March 28,1515 in Avila, Spain. Her mother, Beatriz de Ahumada y Cuevas, died when Teresa was 14 years old. As a young teenager, she was vivacious and vain. When she was sixteen, her father, Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda, decided to send her to a convent for her education. At first, she hated it but eventually began to enjoy it because of her growing love of God and because the convent was less strict than her father. In 1535, she entered the Carmelite convent in Avila. She was occupied in entertaining many visitors in the parlor, which made it easy for her to slip into a worldly life and less attention and focus on God. These distractions kept her away from a true life of prayer.

At age 41, Teresa underwent a great inner conversion which led her to intensely seek union with God through prayer and contemplation. From her own experience of laxity in the Carmelite convent, she began a reform. With the help of St. John of the Cross, the Discalced Carmelite Order was founded. She reached high summit of wisdom and has given guidance to the whole Church. After many severe trials and difficulties, Teresa died at age 67 on October 4, 1582 at Alba de Tormes. She is the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

was born in Alencon, France on January 2, 1873. Baptized Marie Francoise Therese Martin, she was born to parents Louis Martin and Marie Azelie Guerin. After the death of her mother on August 28, 1877, her family then moved to Lisieux. Therese was only 4 years old then. Precocious and sensitive, Therese needed much attention. As a result, her father and sisters babied her. She had a spirit that wanted everything.

At age 14, on Christmas Eve 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love. At age 15, she entered the Carmelite convent of Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubts and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897 at the age of 24.

She was proclaimed Universal Patron of the Mission, alongside St. Francis Xavier on December 14, 1927 by Pope Pius XI. 

Pope John Paul II declared Therese Doctor of the Church on October 19th, 1997.