Faith & Tradition

The Enduring Relevance of the Carmelite Way: St. Thérèse, St. Teresa, and the Threat to Their Legacy

Posted on by Elizabeth Krupa
10
Jul

Carmel. 

It’s a name written on the hearts of so many Catholics, for a variety of reasons. “I have always remained little, therefore, and this is what has enabled me to aspire to the great heights of love. I am not counting on my own strength but on the strength of Him who, on the Cross, said: ‘I thirst.’” (St Therese, Story of a Soul, Manuscript C, 7r)

A thirst for souls. How many of us can understand what this means? Perhaps we thirst for Our Lord, we thirst for an eternity beside him. To thirst for souls, and to spend one’s life praying for the salvation of others – that is a very particular type of love, faith and vocation. St Therese, at the age of 15, was someone who felt that way. 

The Carmelite Way is an important antidote to the world – especially to today’s chaotic, materialistic and secular world. It focuses on prayer, simplicity and union with God. This life of prayer, away from the world, and the traditions of orders like Carmel, has gifted us some of the greatest Saints we have ever known. 

Although she offers us just one example, it is clear that St Therese remains one of the best loved and most widely known Catholics saints in the modern world. And yet, so many lay Catholics who love her seem to be unaware that the ‘Carmelite way’, and her legacy is under threat today. 

In this article, we will explore how the life of a discalced nun (like St Therese) is of value to us as lay Catholics, what threatens the legacy & charisms of saints like Therese, Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, and what we can do to protect the traditions of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

The History of the Discalced Carmelite Order

In the shadow of Mount Carmel, where the prophet Elijah’s fiery zeal for God burned bright, a band of 13th-century hermits gathered, their hearts aflame with devotion to the Virgin Mary. These early Carmelites, seeking solitude and ceaseless prayer, laid the roots of an order that would become a beacon of contemplative life. Theirs was a call to dwell with God, far from the clamor of the world—a call that echoes still.

In the 16th century, St. Teresa of Avila, a woman of unyielding faith, saw the Carmelite Order drifting from its original spirit. In 1562, she founded the Discalced Carmelites at St. Joseph’s convent in Avila, Spain, stripping away worldly excess to restore poverty, strict enclosure, and prayerful solitude. Her reform wove together the eremitical and communal, balancing silent communion with God and sisterly love. Teresa’s vision was a radical return to simplicity, a heart turned wholly to Christ.

St. John of the Cross, Teresa’s collaborator and a mystic of profound depth, enriched the Discalced Carmelite tradition with his spiritual theology. A friar and priest, he joined Teresa’s reform in 1567, embracing its call to austerity and contemplation. His writings, including The Dark Night of the Soul and The Ascent of Mount Carmel, illuminate the soul’s journey to union with God through purification and love. John’s teachings on detachment, humility, and the embrace of suffering as a path to divine intimacy became cornerstones of Carmelite spirituality, guiding Discalced friars and nuns in their pursuit of God alone. His poetic and theological genius complemented Teresa’s practical reforms, forging a legacy of mystical wisdom that endures.

This flame of reform spread beyond Spain. By 1604, it reached France, where figures like Blessed Anne of Jesus and Anne of St. Bartholomew carried Teresa’s torch. Their efforts bore fruit in places like the Lisieux Carmel, where St. Thérèse of Lisieux would later offer her “little way” to the world. Through these women, the Discalced Carmelites grew, their monasteries becoming havens of prayer and sacrifice for souls.

At the heart of the Carmelite way lies ceaseless prayer, asceticism, and devotion to Mary, embodied in practices like wearing the Brown Scapular. Small, autonomous monasteries, as Teresa insisted, guard this charism, fostering intimacy with God.

St. Thérèse’s Contribution to Faith

St Therese’ ‘little way’, the brown scapular, or a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima – these are all tools left for us to draw closer to the Carmelite way, a ‘life of hidden light’ as some have called it. St Therese’ teachings are accessible to everyone- to love Jesus with all your heart, in all of the little everyday acts you do. Perhaps her young age and innocence also makes her so easy to fall in love with – the cheeky smile we see in photos taken of her in her Carmelite habit or dressed up as St Joan of Arc. She is just like us in so many ways – and yet, she became a Saint. 

What is it about Carmel that has produced such impactful and powerful Saints?

St Therese’s distance from the world allowed her to connect with the truth – every single day, without distraction. Her writings make these eternal truths accessible in a new way, for a new generation, which is why she was made the youngest ever doctor of the Church. In her brief life, cut short by tuberculosis at 24, Thérèse transformed ordinary moments into eternal offerings, proving holiness is accessible to all who love with a child’s heart.

Thérèse’s autobiography, Story of a Soul, unveils her “Little Way,” making mystical prayer attainable for everyone—not just ascetics but ordinary souls. 

“For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.” Story of a Soul (Manuscript B, 3v)

In today’s whirlwind of distraction, consumerism, and self-promotion, Thérèse’s withdrawal into Carmel’s silence offers a countercultural beacon. Carmel is not a life without light – but one which shuts out all of the noise and distractions of the world, to engage in the eternally important business of drawing close to Our Lord, for praying for the Church in her active ministries and for the salvation of souls.

A Charism Under Threat?

St. Teresa of Avila’s Carmelite vision—a heart poured out in silent prayer, shielded from the world’s clamor—faces a subtle siege. In 2018, the Vatican’s Cor Orans, implementing Pope Francis’s Vultum Dei Quaerere, mandated reforms for women’s contemplative life: federation membership, extended formation up to nine years, and external meetings for nuns. Meant to unify and support, these rules feel to many Carmelites like a weight on a spirit meant to soar in solitude.

Teresa’s monasteries were small, autonomous sanctuaries, cradling prayer and poverty. Federation membership, with its centralized oversight, threatens this independence. The Fairfield Carmelites, for example, fear it could dilute their charism, drawing them from contemplation into external structures. Similarly, the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in Savannah, Georgia, saw their convent suppressed in 2020 under Cor Orans’s criteria for viability. 

Undeterred, these sisters, now the Habit Forming Sisters, continue their mission, seeking to build a new community rooted in Teresa’s vision of prayer and enclosure (see Habit Forming Sisters). Their struggle highlights the risk of losing the intimate “family spirit” Teresa cherished.

Some nuns warn of “woke topics” infiltrating federation meetings, fearing exposure to ideologies like gender theory. While Cor Orans mandates no such content, the concern is that centralized control could and already has in some cases, introduce ideas misaligned with the Carmelite focus on God. The Fairfield Carmelites, backed by Bishop Gainer, seek dispensations to preserve their Latin Mass and strict enclosure, while the Savannah sisters’ fight to rebuild underscores the stakes.

In a world choked by materialism and noise, the Carmelite way—prayer, simplicity, union with God—is a lifeline. When mandates threaten the silence St. Teresa and St. Thérèse lived for, we must ask: will we let this charism fade? Or will we stand with these sisters, keeping their light burning for souls thirsting for God?

Why the Carmelite Way Matters Now

In a world drowning in digital noise, where materialism chokes the soul and ideological battles fracture our peace, the Carmelite way shines as a radical antidote. The Discalced Carmelites, with their vow of silence, prayer, and detachment, offer what our age desperately lacks: a path to God’s heart. Their life, rooted in St. Teresa of Avila’s vision, is a countercultural witness—a quiet rebellion against a culture that worships distraction. In their cloisters, where prayer rises like incense, they find union with God, showing us that true purpose lies not in the world’s clamor but in the soul’s silent surrender.

St. Teresa crafted small, autonomous monasteries to cradle this intimacy, fostering the discipline needed for deep, ceaseless prayer. Yet, Cor Orans, with its mandates for federation membership and external obligations, threatens to pull nuns from this sacred solitude, risking the erosion of their charism. The Carmelite way, as St. Thérèse lived it, is a lifeline for a world adrift—a mission of praying for souls, for the Church, for us all.

We cannot let this light dim. Support traditional Carmelite communities like the Fairfield Carmelites and the Habit Forming Sisters through prayer, donations, or advocacy for dispensations to preserve their autonomy. Their life of sacrifice, pouring out love for souls, is a beacon of hope in our chaotic age.

I am Yours and born for You,
What do You want of me?
Majestic Sovereign,
Unending wisdom,
Kindness pleasing to my soul;
God sublime, one Being Good,
Behold this one so vile.
Singing of her love to You:
What do You want of me?

Yours, You made me,
Yours, You saved me,
Yours, You endured me,
Yours, You called me,
Yours, You awaited me,
Yours, I did not stray.
What do You want of me?

(An excerpt from St Teresa’s poem, In the Hands of God)

Bibliography

Books

  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Translated by John Clarke, O.C.D. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1996.
    The cornerstone of St. Thérèse’s “Little Way,” offering insights into her Carmelite spirituality and prayer. Essential for understanding her contributions. Available at ICS Publications.
  • St. Teresa of Avila. The Life of Teresa of Jesus: The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. Translated by E. Allison Peers. Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1960.
    St. Teresa’s account of her life and the Discalced Carmelite reform, emphasizing autonomy and contemplation. Key for the blog’s historical context.
  • Welch, John, O.Carm. The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today’s Pilgrim. New York: Paulist Press, 1996.
    Explores Carmelite spirituality, its history, and its relevance, covering figures like St. Teresa and St. Thérèse. Ideal for readers seeking a deeper understanding.
  • De Meester, Conrad, O.C.D. With Empty Hands: The Life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Translated by Mary L. Davidson. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2002.
    A biography detailing St. Thérèse’s Carmelite vocation and her accessible approach to holiness. Available at ICS Publications.

Articles and Web Resources

Recommended Videos

  • “Carmelite Nuns: A Life of Prayer and Sacrifice.” YouTube, uploaded by LifeSiteNews, March 15, 2022.
    A documentary showcasing the life of traditional Carmelite nuns, emphasizing their dedication to prayer and enclosure. It highlights the challenges posed by Cor Orans, offering a visual testament to the Carmelite charism’s enduring value.
  • “The Carmelite Way: Living for God Alone.” YouTube, uploaded by Catholic Faith Network, June 10, 2020.
    An inspiring exploration of Carmelite spirituality, featuring insights into the lives of Discalced Carmelite nuns. It underscores the timeless relevance of St. Teresa’s and St. Thérèse’s vision, inviting viewers to cherish their legacy.
  • “St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Little Way.” YouTube, uploaded by EWTN, April 12, 2019.
    A moving reflection on St. Thérèse’s “Little Way,” exploring her Carmelite vocation and its impact on modern spirituality. This video invites viewers to embrace her accessible path to holiness in today’s chaotic world.
  • “The Discalced Carmelites: A Call to Prayer.” YouTube, uploaded by The Catholic World, September 25, 2021. 
    A heartfelt look at the Discalced Carmelite life, emphasizing their mission of prayer for the Church and the world. It connects St. Teresa’s reforms to the contemporary need for contemplative witness.

Additional Notes

  • For further reading on St. Teresa’s reforms, see her The Book of Her Foundations (ICS Publications).
  • Kees Waaijman’s The Mystical Space of Carmel (Peeters, 1999) provides a scholarly look at the Carmelite Rule’s historical context.
  • For updates on the Habit Forming Sisters’ progress, visit their website 

Elizabeth Krupa

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