Forms and Days of Self Denial
Secular Carmelites will strive to live lives of simplicity and gentle austerity, witnessing to the joy of embracing the Gospel in its fullness.
In addition to the days of fasting and of abstinence proper to the Church of the USA and responding to the encouragement of our bishops “to prepare for each Church festival by a day of particular self-denial, penitential prayer and fasting” (NCCB Pastoral Statement “Penitent Discipline” to the US, Washington, DC, 1966) and to our Carmelite traditions, unless excused by reasons of illness or age, we will observe the following:
a) Members will fast on the Vigils of the following feast days:
March 19
St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
July 16
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 20
The Prophet Elijah
October 1
St. Thérèse
October 15
Holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus
November 14
All Carmelite Saints
December 14
Holy Father St. John of the Cross