What is this Carmelite spirituality that one must practice in order to have an affiliation with the Carmelite Order?
The spirituality of the Carmelite Order is one of the preeminent spiritual traditions of the Catholic Church. It is difficult to reduce this spirituality to a few sentences. One who wears the scapular should certainly reflect upon the teachings of the great Carmelite saints, three of whom are doctors of the Church.
A few basic introductory principles of Carmelite spirituality would be:
- frequent participation in the Mass and reception of Holy Communion;
- frequent reading of and meditation on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture;
- the regular praying of at least part of the Liturgy of the Hours;
- imitation of and devotion to Mary, the woman of faith who hears the Word of God and puts it into practice;
- the practice of the virtues, notably charity, chastity (according to one's state of life), and obedience to the will of God.
From: Catechesis on the Brown Scapular at http://carmelitanacollection.com/catechesis.php
