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More formally known as the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, the Carmelites are a Roman Catholic religious Order founded on Mount Carmel, in the Crusader States, in the 12th century. Traditionally, Saint Bertold is credited with being the Order's founder but historical records about its founding are uncertain. The spiritual focus (charism) of the Carmelite Order is contemplation. In the sense that the Carmelites understand contemplation, it encompasses prayer, community and service. The Roman Catholic Church considers the Order to be under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The First Order of the Carmelites is the friars, who are active and contemplative, the Second Order is the nuns, who are cloistered, and the Third Order are laypeople who continue to live in the world, and can be married, but participate in the charism of the Order through liturgical prayers, apostolates, and contemplative prayer. The Order grew quickly after reaching Europe, with a hundred and fifty houses in Europe by the end of the 13th century. In the late 14th and 15th centuries, the Carmelites experienced decline. As their Rule was relaxed in order to encourage others to join, some of those within the Order refused to accept the mitigation, considering it to be a loss of the Orders vision and spirit. As reforms were introduced, some friars walked away. Saint Teresa of Ávila, along with Saint John of the Cross, established the Discalced Carmelites in the 1560s. Other branches of the Carmilite Order include the Byzantine Discalced Carmelites, the Hermits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Lay Carmelites, the Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, and Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa, as well as two communities of Carmelite Sisters: Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm.

 

 

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