En  

Vocation

Stages of Vocation

Vocation is the desire instilled by God through the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person. Vocation is a choice regarding a way of life till the end of one's life. It is different for a profession.hence forth a vocational life is meant for effectiveness more than be efficient or successful activity and an authentic life that manifest harmony between word and action or between heart and lips. Every call has got four elements.

  • Risk
  • Self Sacrifice
  • Helplessness / Hopelessness
  • Rejection

Discernment

The Holy Spirit who is one of the agents of the vocation will help to find out the vocation of each candidate During the time period of formation the candidate herself can find out about her call. Also the community also tests her and find out whether she is fit for the Carmelite call.she can check it out whether she has the appitude for prayer, contemplation, silence, solitude also to lead a healthy community life.

Formation

Live - In

Before entering an aspirant would normally be in touch with the Sisters for some time, getting to know something of the spirit of Carmel.
A person who shows signs of having a vocation to the contemplative life may be invited for a live-in experience for a period of up to three months. This helps her to to come to a better understanding of our way of life and also gives the community an opportunity to get to know her.

Postulancy

When a person enters the community she begins a period of preliminary probation called postulancy, which lasts from six to eighteen months.
Under the guidance of the formator the postulant deepens her understanding of her faith and learns something of Carmelite history and spirituality. She is given space to help her adapt to her new way of life as she continues to discern her vocation.

Novitiate

Novitiate marks the beginning of religious life, when the candidate receives the Carmelite Habit and white veil. The formation of contemplative nuns is primarily a formation in faith.
Training consists largely in living the life, entering into the rhythms of solitude and community, of prayer and work, of study and relaxation. In all this, the formator accompanies the novice through the ups and downs which may be encountered in her formation as a contemplative.
The novice also receives instruction in scripture, liturgy, spirituality, knowledge of our Carmelite Saints, human development and the history of our Order.

Temporary Profession

After two years as a novice the candidate makes a commitment by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for one year. These vows are renewed annually over a period of three to six years. During this time there is a gradual integration into the full life of the community, with greater solitude and increasing personal responsibility.

Solemn Profession

At the end of the lengthy process of initial formation, Solemn Profession of vows marks a new beginning. The vows are anchors of commitment, and are for life – in the sense of being both life-long and life-giving.
Chastity: enriching life with the freedom to love many people at once, and to hold the world in our hearts.
Poverty: making a statement in the tangible reality of our lives that God alone suffices to satisfy the deepest yearnings of the heart.
Obedience: fidelity to God, in loving and intelligent acceptance of God’s desire for us and all of creation.

Ongoing Formation

Ongoing formation is an intrinsic requirement of religious consecration as it is of all human life.
In listening to the voice of the Spirit, who speaks in ever new ways, it is for Carmelites to respond to these new challenges with creativity and fidelity and to adapt the demands of the Teresian charism to the diverse circumstances of time and place.