Aspirancy Year  

Formation I, Year A: Way of Perfection 

Formation I, Year B: History & Charism

Formation II, Year A: Ascent of Mount Carmel 

Formation II, Year B: Interior Castle 

Formation II, Year C: Story of a Soul 

The Aspirancy Year of Formation

The journey into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) begins with the Aspirancy Year, a period of initial formation designed to introduce candidates to the Carmelite way of life. This year serves as a time of discernment, prayer, and study, allowing aspirants to explore their call to the Carmelite vocation while integrating its spirituality into their daily lives.

A Time of Discernment and Growth

The Aspirancy Year is not merely an academic introduction to the Order; it is a spiritual journey. Aspirants learn about Carmelite history, its saints, and the core elements of Carmelite spirituality, particularly prayer, community, and apostolic service. They are invited to deepen their personal relationship with God through contemplative prayer, following the example of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and other Carmelite saints.

During this time, aspirants begin attending regular community meetings, participating in communal prayer, and developing relationships with fellow members. These meetings provide guidance, support, and an experience of the fraternity essential to Carmelite life. Aspirants are encouraged to cultivate habits of recollection, detachment, and interior silence as they seek to embrace the Carmelite charism more fully.

Commitment to Formation

The Aspirancy Year requires a commitment to learning and prayerful reflection. Aspirants study the Rule of Life, the Constitutions of the Secular Order, and foundational Carmelite texts that shape the spiritual path they are discerning. A formation director or mentor provides guidance, helping aspirants navigate questions and challenges as they integrate Carmelite spirituality into their unique vocation as laypeople.

At the end of the Aspirancy Year, after prayerful discernment and consultation with the local OCDS community, the aspirant may request to be received into the Secular Carmelite Order. If accepted, they enter the next stage of formation as a formal member of the community, deepening their commitment through ongoing study and spiritual growth.

A Step Toward a Lifelong Vocation

The Aspirancy Year is an essential step in the formation process, helping individuals determine whether they are called to live out the Carmelite charism in the secular world. It is a time of grace, self-discovery, and an ever-deepening love for God. Those who continue beyond the Aspirancy Year embark on a path of deeper formation, preparing for their eventual profession of promises as Secular Carmelites. 

For those drawn to a life of prayer amid the world, the Aspirancy Year offers a beautiful opportunity to embrace the spirit of Carmel and discern God’s call with clarity and peace.

The Temporary Promise

After several years of initial formation, a Secular Carmelite reaches an important milestone: the Temporary Promise. This commitment marks a deepening of one’s vocation within the Order and a greater dedication to living the Carmelite charism in the world. The Temporary Promise is a formal step in the journey toward full incorporation into the Secular Discalced Carmelite Order (OCDS), allowing the member to embrace the spirit of Carmel in a more intentional and structured way.

Commitment to the Carmelite Way of Life

The Temporary Promise is made after the completion of the initial years of formation, including the Aspirancy Year and two years of further study. By this time, the candidate has been immersed in Carmelite spirituality, learning the importance of contemplative prayer, detachment, and the practice of the presence of God. The promise itself is an act of the will, freely made, in which the member promises to live according to the OCDS Rule of Life and embrace the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience according to their state in life.

This promise is not equivalent to religious vows but is a serious commitment to strive for holiness through the Carmelite way. It signifies a deepening relationship with Christ, inspired by the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, and a willingness to live out the mission of the Order in one’s daily life.

Words of the Promise

During the ceremony, the member professes their promise before the community, saying:

"I, (Name), in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity and Our Blessed Mother Mary of Mount Carmel, desiring to live in the spirit of the evangelical counsels and of the Beatitudes, promise to the Superiors of the Order and to you, my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the Order and under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, for three years."

This promise is received by the community’s superior or delegate, acknowledging the member’s commitment and offering them support in their continued journey.

A Time of Deepening and Growth

The Temporary Promise lasts for three years, serving as a time of further discernment, growth, and preparation for the Definitive Promise. Members in this stage continue their formation, strengthening their practice of prayer, detachment, and community life. They participate more fully in the apostolic mission of the Secular Carmelites, striving to bring the spirit of Carmel into their families, workplaces, and parishes.

This period also allows the member to test their commitment, ensuring that they are truly called to live as a Secular Carmelite for life. It is a time of grace, where one’s interior life is further purified, and love for Christ is deepened through fidelity to daily prayer and service.

A Step Toward Definitive Commitment

At the end of the three years, the member may choose to make their Definitive Promise, fully embracing the Carmelite vocation for life. However, the journey does not end with the Temporary Promise; rather, it marks the beginning of a more profound walk with God, one that leads ever closer to the transforming union described by the Carmelite saints.

For those who seek to follow Christ more intimately in the footsteps of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, the Temporary Promise is a sacred and joyous milestone—a commitment to live in the presence of God and to become a witness of His love in the world.

The Definitive Promise

The Definitive Promise is the final commitment a Secular Carmelite makes after years of formation, prayer, and discernment. It signifies a mature and deliberate decision to embrace the Carmelite vocation for life, deepening one’s union with God and fully committing to the Rule of Life of the Secular Discalced Carmelites (OCDS). This step is a profound expression of love and dedication to Christ, lived in the spirit of the evangelical counsels according to one’s secular state.

A Lifelong Commitment to the Carmelite Way

By the time a member reaches the Definitive Promise, they have already spent years immersed in Carmelite spirituality. They have lived the Temporary Promise for three years, during which they have tested their vocation and strengthened their relationship with God through prayer, detachment, and service. At this stage, the call to live as a Secular Carmelite is no longer just an aspiration—it is a firmly rooted way of life.

Making the Definitive Promise is an act of love, surrender, and trust in God. The member chooses to follow Christ through the Carmelite charism, committing to a life of prayer, community, and apostolic service. This promise binds the member to the Order in a more permanent way, making them a full and lifelong member of the Secular Discalced Carmelites.

Words of the Definitive Promise

In the presence of the community, the member professes:

"I, (Name), in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity and Our Blessed Mother Mary of Mount Carmel, desiring to live in the spirit of the evangelical counsels and of the Beatitudes, promise to the Superiors of the Order and to you, my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the Order and under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, for the rest of my life."

The promise is received by the superior or delegate of the community, who acknowledges the member’s lifelong commitment and assures them of the support of the Order.

Living the Definitive Promise

Once the Definitive Promise is made, the member is fully incorporated into the OCDS and is expected to live out the Carmelite charism with greater depth and fidelity. This commitment calls for:

• A Deep Life of Prayer – Centering one’s life on daily mental prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Sacraments.

• A Spirit of Detachment – Living with simplicity and trust in God’s providence.

• Commitment to Community – Supporting and encouraging fellow Secular Carmelites in their spiritual journey.

• Apostolic Witness – Bringing the fruits of contemplation into the world through service, evangelization, and living as a witness of Christ’s love.

While the Definitive Promise is a commitment for life, it is also a continual journey of transformation. The Carmelite path is one of ongoing conversion, in which the soul seeks ever-deeper union with God.

Vows and the Evangelical Counsels

After making the Definitive Promise, some members feel called to take an even deeper step by professing a private vow of obedience and chastity according to their secular state in life. This vow is not required but is a further response of love to Christ, binding the member more closely to Him in the Carmelite way.

A Life Rooted in God

The Definitive Promise is not an endpoint but the beginning of a lifelong deepening of one’s relationship with God. It is a commitment to remain faithful to the call of Carmel, to persevere in prayer, and to trust in God’s transforming grace. By making this promise, the Secular Carmelite becomes a visible sign of God’s presence in the world, bringing the contemplative spirit into everyday life.

For those who have heard and responded to God’s call in Carmel, the Definitive Promise is a source of profound joy and peace—a covenant of love with the One who has called them by name.