← [[f1b-session-11|Session 11: The Promise in the Spirit of the Evangelical Counsels and the Beatitudes]] | [[f1b-formation-1b-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[f1b-appendix-a|Excerpt from The Hidden Life — Edith Stein]] → # Session 12: Rites of Admission and Ritual Instructions for Council and Formators: After the first stage of formation, the candidate makes a personal promise and commits himself or herself before God and the local community (fraternity) to follow the Constitutions of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites for three years. During this new state, the Secular Carmelite lives in accord with the Constitutions in a spirit of fidelity to the prescribed daily program of liturgical and contemplative prayer, in faithful participation in the meetings of the community, in formation, and in ongoing discernment. He or she does this with a view to making a life-long commitment at the end of three years (Ritual, 7-8). The Rite of the First Promise may be celebrated during a Eucharistic Liturgy, during the common recitation of the Morning or Evening Prayer of the Church, or in the context of a Liturgy of the Word (Ritual, 7). This Ritual has been officially approved by the Holy See and it is the only text authorized for the liturgical ceremonies of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. The prayers of the officiating minister who presides, and the formulas of acceptance and of commitment must be kept whole and unchanged (Ritual, 3-4). The Formation Director will meet with the candidates who have been approved for the Promise to prepare them for the Ritual, including the particular rites that will be used, the formulas of acceptance and of commitment, and the annual renewal of the Promise. Required Reading: Ritual for the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order, sections applicable to the ceremony to be used. Essential Points to Discuss: • The making of the Promise confers membership in the Secular Order and establishes spiritual and juridical ties with the Discalced Carmelites. By the promise of obedience, Secular Carmelites pledge themselves to cooperate with the legitimate Superiors of the Order and the governing council of the community, and to obey them, within the limits of the OCDS Constitutions (Ritual, Instruction of the Superior General). • Rites of Admission to the First Promise during the celebration of the Eucharist/Divine Office/Liturgy of the Word, according to the rite that will be used. Special emphasis should be given to the formula of the Promise itself. • When making the First Promise, the candidate’s given name is retained, to which the candidate may add a title of devotion (in those provinces where this is allowed). The Formation Director should help candidates understand the purpose and meaning of this title of devotion, and when and how it is used. • Candidates should understand when it is appropriate to publicly use the OCDS designation. (Refer to provincial policy or best practices, according to what is used in the local province.) • Review the formula for the Renewal of the Promise and when and how it is to be made (Ritual 84). Recommended Meditative Reading: The Promise: I _____, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in response to God’s call, sincerely promise to the Superiors of the Order of the Teresian Carmel and to you my brothers and sisters, to tend toward evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, obedience, and of the Beatitudes, according to the Constitutions of the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites, for three years. I confidently entrust this, my Promise, to the Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel. --- ![[maps/bibliography#^biblio-ocds-of1b|OCDS Formation I Year B]] > [[f1b-session-11|← Previous]] | [[f1b-formation-1b-handbook|TOC]] | [[f1b-appendix-a|Next →]]