What is the Brown Scapular?
The Brown Scapular consists of two small panels of cloth joined by strings and worn over the shoulders.  The Doctrinal Statement on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel can be found at: http://www.carmelitesok.org/ocdsok/FormationMaterials/aspirancy.htm - scroll to Catechesis and Ritual for the Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and click on (Catechesis online and Letter from Carmelite Provincials)
The Brown Scapular is not:

1. a magical charm to protect you;
2. an automatic guarantee of salvation;
3. an excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life.

1. is a sign which has been approved by the Church for over seven centuries;
2. stands for the decision to follow Jesus, like Mary:
   1. open to God and to His Will;
   2. guided by faith, hope and love;
   3. close to the needs of people;
   4. praying at all times;
   5. discovering God present in all that happens around us.

The Brown Scapular introduces people into the Family of Carmel and points to a renewed hope of encountering God in eternal life with the help of Mary's protection and intercession.

Where Can I get a Ceremonial Scapular?
You can order one from the Aylesford Carmelite Center.  Write or call them and ask for an order form

8501, Bailey Road,
Darien
IL 60561
USA

Tel:+1 (630) 969-5050
Download the order form here: http://carmelnet.org/toc/LayCarmeliteOrderForm.pdf

A website for ceremonial scapulars for OCDS
The Endwell Community of St. John of the Cross in Endwell makes ceremonial Scapulars.
Plain brown, brown straps, contact Ronnie Jurasek, OCDS

Does the Scapular have to be made of wool?
A priest or authorized person enrolls people in the Brown Scapular once.  The Scapular can be replaced afterwards by a medal, which has on one side the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other, the image of Mary.  The Scapular holds us to live as authentic Christians in line with the teaching of the Gospel, to receive the sacraments, to profess our special devotion to the Blessed Virgin, which should be expressed each day, at least, by saying the Hail Mary three times.

How do I dispose of an old scapular properly?
Because a scapular is a sacramental, the proper manner of disposal is either burial or incineration.

What are some of the books used in formation?
T.O.Carm's require for formation the series developed by Tom Zeitvogel, T.O.C.  This currently consists in three books
1.The Formation Process for Lay Carmelites;
2. Phase One:The Lay Carmelite Order, An Introduction;
3. Phase Two:Initial Formation in Carmel.
Other recommended books are:-
Welcome to Carmel,   Michael Griffin, OCD
A Commentary on The Rule of Life,   Michael Griffin, OCD
Carmelite Growth Experiences,   Michael Griffin, OCD
Collected works of St. John of the Cross,   Kavanaugh and Rodriguez, OCD
Collected works of Teresa of Avila,   Kavanaugh and Rodriguez, OCD
Carmel's Call,   Carmelite Press, Darien, IL.
Springs of Carmel,   Peter Slattery, O.Carm
Albert's Way,   Michael Mulhall, O.Carm
Carmelite Historical Sketches,   Titus Brandsma, O.Carm
Profit of Fire,   Kilian Healy, O.Carm

Is there a Directory of Carmelite Email Addresses online?
A directory is maintained by the Austrian province of the Teresian Carmel. The OCDS website also has a list of OCDS email and websites.
Both of these directories are outdated but may be helpful for you.

What are the Different names in Carmel?
(Carmel DCJ, Servants of the Paraclete, Dixie Carmelites, etc.) are all religious congregations that are affiliated with either the Order of Carmel (O.Carm.) or the Discalced Carmelite Order (O.C.D.).  Each of these two main branches of the vine - O.Carm. and O.C.D. - have affiliated institutes, religious and secular, and other societies or institutes, which were founded in various locations, by various individuals, to accomplish a variety of tasks.  Some are very specific in their mission and purpose (e.g. Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm) and others are much broader in their mandate (e.g. Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa).

Is there a source on the different groups of Carmel?
There is a book published at regular intervals by the Discalced Fathers called the "Conspectus O.C.D. " which lists all the O.C.D. - affiliated institutes in the back.  The Catholic directory lists all recognized religious communities in each diocese and any community canonically recognized as Carmelite would appear in that directory.  It may necessary to do some searching as they might not all appear in the listings of communities of men and communities of women in the back of the directory.  Basically there are two major divisions -- the Ancient Observance and the Teresian or Discalced Carmelites.  Each of these consist of friars and nuns who are under the respective generals and communities of religious sisters who are affiliated -- some more loosely than others -- to one or the other of these orders.  There are also some "evolving" communities that are affiliated to one or another of these orders.  The only reliable list of these groups might be the respective generalates.  Then there are groups that might be affiliated to no one, but have some recognition from their bishop.  These groups are of concern as without the affiliation to one order or the other, there is no guarantee that they are Carmelite in anything more than name or good intention.  So, basically -- the sources are the two generalates and the Kennedy Catholic Directory.
There are web sites for the two main orders, O.Carm and OCD.

Is there a website on the internet for the Liturgy of the Hours?
You can find the LOH online.

Do lectionaries/supplements for the LOH exist?
The optional lectionary does not exist in an editio typica form, though the biblical readings are given by citation.  There is some latitude given to the various episcopal conferences regarding the non-biblical readings.  Some years ago there were some attempts at producing the optional lectionary using a different selection at the local level.  The Office of Readings used to be the Office of Matins (though it has been restructured and made suitable for celebrating at any time) and was emphasized more in the Office.  In the restructured Office the "hinge" hours that are to be given precedence in celebrations are now Lauds and Vespers. This seems to have lead many to neglect the Office of Readings altogether, and in fact there are some publications that will provide for at least some celebration of all of the Office except for the Office of Readings.  The Daughters of St. Paul edition does print a list of the two year biblical cycle, though not a non-biblical reading cycle. (Fr. Steven Payne OCD)
You can order a Carmelite Missal at: http://www.carmelite.org.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_CARMELITE_LITURGY_47.html

What about Switching between TOCARM and OCDS & what should I expect?
The Rule and the OCD General Definitors in the past have made it very clear that any member of another secular order who wishes to "transfer" to the OCDS must start again, from the beginning, from square one, no short cuts.  The proper thing to do is to talk with the Director of Formation in the community whose meetings you have been attending.

Do I take a religious name, or use my baptismal name?
According to the OCDS statutes: "At entrance into formation, a Candidate normally retains his/her baptismal name. A title of devotion may be added to one's baptismal name, if desired."

What are the rules of life and statutes for T.O.Carm/OCDS ?
The rule of St. Albert is followed by both T.O.Carm and by OCDS.
The Rule of St. Albert and the OCDS constitutions can be found online.  The statutes for each Province are written by the Province's Provincial Council.  In the USA the Oklahoma Province statutes can be found at:

Where can I order Carmelite Materials?
Order Carmelite books & items from the contacts below.

ICS Publications
2131 Lincoln Road, NE
Washington, DC
20002-1199,
USA

Phone: +1 202 832-8489
or 800-832-8489 from the US outside the Washington, DC area
Fax: +1 202-832-8967

Teresian Charism Press
Father Michael Griffin, OCD
Holy Hill
1525 Carmel Road
Hubertus,
WI 53033
USA

Telephone: +1 (414) 628-1838

St. Elias Priory
P.O. Box 27
Tappan,
NY 10983-0027
USA

Telephone: +1 (914) 359-0535
Fax: +1 (914) 359-0856

The Aylesford Lay Carmelite & Scapular Center Scapular shop

8501, Bailey Road
Darien,
Illinois 60561-8417
USA

Telephone: +1 (630) 969-5050

Carmelite Shoppe
Carm Wear - http://ocdsrose.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page1.html
and
http://ocdsrose.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page40.html

Whom do I contact to become an Isolate member & what are the guidelines?
For T.O.Carm:  The Order of Carmelites no longer accepts candidates as isolates.  The Order maintains that some form of community is essential to the Carmelite Charism.

For OCDS the local statutes will contain more specific information about isolate status. The OCDS Constitutions state: 56.   Members of the Secular Order, who for reasons of distance, age, or illness cannot participate in the regular meetings of a community, remain members of the Secular Order and, under the authority of the Provincial Delegate, are to be associated to a particular community. It is the responsibility of the President of the community to establish contact with those members and the responsibility of these members to maintain contact with the community.

What is the history /symbolism of The Carmelite Shield?
The center of the shield is a mountain, which symbolizes both the actual mountain, Mt. Carmel in Israel where the Order was born, but it also, and more importantly, symbolizes the soul's union with God through prayer and contemplation.  On top of the mountain is a Cross, symbolizing the Person of Jesus Christ and His saving death on the Cross for us.  The Cross is in the center of the shield, symbolizing our need to center all that we are and all that we do on the Person of Jesus Himself.  There are also three stars on the shield.  The lower star, directly below the Cross, represents Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Carmel.  She is symbolically represented at the heart of Carmel and, in her role as Mother of God, is the one from whom the Cross, i.e. the Lord Jesus, came forth, hence the Cross rising from her star.  The two stars adjacent to the Cross represent the earliest patriarchs of the Order, St. Elijah and St. Elisha, the pre-Christian founders of Carmel.  Some key insights into their understanding of their charism.  The crown with its twelve stars also represents Mary, calling to mind St. John's glorious vision of her in Revelations as crowned with 12 stars (Rev. 12:1).  The arm and the fiery sword represent Elijah, who in his great burning zeal for the Lord called down fire from Heaven.  The inscription is the Latin translation of Elijah's words in 1 Kings: "With zeal I am zealous for the Lord God of Hosts ." (1 Kings 19:10).  So, the Carmelite lives centered on Christ, under the Queenship of Mary, inspired by and with the zeal of Elijah and Elisha.

What are the U.S. Provinces for T.O.Carm?
St. Elias Province consists of New York State, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and in Florida.

Carmelite Friars
North American Province of St. Elias
P.O. Box 3079
Middletown, New York 10940-0890
Tel:(845) 344-2223
Fax: (845) 344-2210

Most Pure Heat of Mary province has the rest of the country (including Florida) plus Canada, Mexico and Peru.

Lay Carmelite Directors office:
8501 Bailey Road
Darien IL
60561-8418
USA

Tel: +1 (630) 969-5050
Email:laycarmelites@carmelnet.org

What are the U.S. Provinces for OCDS?

The three main provinces in the United States are:

Washington Province (Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Provincial:
Very Rev. John Sullivan, O.C.D.
Provincial Office
1233 South 45th Street
W. Milwaukee, WI 53214-3693
Tel: 414-672-7212
Fax: 414-672-3138

OCDS communities in Washington Province:

California/Arizona Province (St. Joseph)
Provincial Fr.Gerald Werner, OCD
Provincial:
Very Rev. Matthew Williams, O.C.D.
926 E. Highland Avenue
P.O. Box 2178
Redlands, CA 92373
Tel: (909) 793-0424, 792-1047
Fax: (909) 335-1304

Is there a list available of contacts for the Discalced Carmelite Seculars?
In USA please contact the Provincial for the area in which you are interested. For any other country, the General Delegate to the Secular Order is:

Provincial Fr. Aloysius Deeney, OCD
Corso d'Italia, 38
00198 Roma
ITALIA

E-mail:al_dila@hotmail.com

What is the difference between O.Carm (Order of Carmelites) and OCD (Order of Discalced Carmelites)?
The Order of Carmelites (aka, calced Carmelites or the Ancient Observance of Carmelites) was established in the early 13^th century.  There was only one Order until the Reformation period of the 16th century when St. Teresa of Avila (Spain) led the reform of the Carmelite Order. She then founded another branch called the Carmelites of the Reform, now known as the Order of Discalced Carmelites (aka Teresian Carmelites). Her spiritual advisor was another Spaniard, St. John of the Cross, and he later led the reform of the men's branch.  One basic difference in the secular branches is that they have two different Constitutions.

What is the Edith Stein Guild?
"The Edith Stein Guild is an incorporated lay Catholic organization that was formed in 1955 under the patronage of Sr. Teresia Benedicta of the Cross, OCD (Edith Stein) to increase understanding and bring about greater harmony between Catholics and Jews.  Its membership includes persons of all religious persuasions."
It holds events that help Catholics become more aware of their roots in Judaism. . .
"Another important function of the Guild is the publication of a quarterly newsletter to inform those interested in their work of these events, to bring to their attention happenings on the local, national or international scene that are of a Jewish-Catholic nature."
A shrine in memory of her sacrifice and that of others who suffered and died in the Holocaust was dedicated in October, 1978 in Our Lady of Victory Church in lower Manhattan, New York City.

Address:

Edith Stein Guild
Our Lady of Victory Church
60 William Street
New York, NY
10005
USA

What is CINCARM?
A Carmelite Spirituality Mailing list, maintained by Lonnie Small, OCDS.

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