carmelite10leader

   I came to Carmel myself, after a friend who already belonged, spoke to me about it. I have been a professed, lay carmelite for nearly eighteen years and have been leader of the Bedlington Chapter for the past couple of years.
Now when i look back i realise becoming a lay carmelite was a definite calling from God, a vocation, a coming home.

    To belong to the family of Carmel, gives you a feeling of peace and contentment. It certainly cannot change the everyday ups and downs, and the hurts and pain we all endure, but it does make a difference in how you cope with them, because you draw a great strength from the fact that your brothers and sisters, and not just those of your own chapter, but worldwide, are there to pray for you and support you.

    To Carmelites, prayer is as important as breathing, but lay carmelites can hardly spend there lives on there knees, otherwise dishes would pile up in kitchens, larders would become empty and places of work would require new workers.
Apart from the times we can spend in prayer, we simply offer everything we do for God. The little everyday things we do, so our lives become a prayer, and as a family, we never just pray for ourselves we pray for each other and also for the needs of the world.

    Once when walking along a country lane i stopped to look at the view and i just happened to look down where nestled in the grass were some tiny, little blue flowers. I certainly would have passed them by had i not stopped. They remind me of Lay Carmelites, living everyday ordinary lives in the world, unnoticed, yet breathing forth the perfume of their prayers towards heaven for the good of all mankind.

    Could God be calling you to be a lay Carmelite ? You are more than welcome to join us for any of our meetings. Why not come and visit us or contact us through our E-Mail.