Carmelite Spirituality

Carmelite Spirituality, like all Christian spirituality, finds its roots in Jesus Christ and especially in the

mystery of his humanity. All our Carmelite saints have different ‘windows’ and insights into what Christ means

for themand for us. In this section we hope to gradually explore the teachings of our Carmelite saints. The

choice is vast and deep so it will take us on a journey together rather than a once and for all definition.

There is something for everyone and we can all come with confidence to drink of the ‘Water of Life’ offered

to us by Jesus our Lord and Friend. There are ‘even little pools for children’ as St. Teresa of Avila tells us!

For the great Carmelite saints, the heart of prayer is relationship. This means intimate, personal

relationship with God, a relationship with oneself rooted in truth, and an inclusive, all-embracing

relationship with one’s community and the whole of humanity and creation.

The spirituality of Carmel is rooted in Scripture as is the Carmelite Rule. The Mystery of God is so vast

that a whole life-time of ‘seeking’ will never exhaust its riches and it is also so simple that God’s ‘little ones’

have as much access to God’s wisdom as the learned.

St John. of the Cross

Drawing abundantly from the wellsprings

of the wisdom of our Carmelite Saints

we remain close to Jesus and Mary.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux