Lay Carmelite Third Order

The Third Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel is an association of lay people who, in response to a call from God promise to live the Gospel in the spirit of the Carmelite Order and under its guidance.

As well as lay people, diocesan priests, who find in the Carmelite charism help for their spiritual lives and their mission in the Church and the world, may be members of the Carmelite Third Order.

The Third Order member is connected to the Carmelite Order by means of the promise which he or she makes. It is possible, following a very ancient custom, to make private vows of chastity and obedience according to one’s state in life in order to be consecrated more closely to God.

Lay Carmelites, filled with the spirit of the Order, seek to live their own vocation by silently listening to the Word of God, Lectio Divina. According to the constant tradition of Carmel, they will especially cultivate prayer in all its forms.

The members of the Third Order take their inspiration from the figures of Our Lady and the Prophet Elijah.

In the midst of their normal family lives, in the work place, in their social commitments and relationships with other people, Carmelite Third Order members seek out the hidden image of God. They try to live in the spirit of the Beatitudes, humbly and consistently exercising the virtues of honesty, justice, sincerity, courtesy and fortitude, without which no Christian or human life is possible.

The local Lay Third Order fraternity at Balluta, meet every first Sunday and every first Monday between 10.00 and noon, at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre, Scicluna Street, St. Julians.

Contact persons:

President of the Fraternity: Mr. Mario Attard.  (Tel. 21314684)

Secretary: Mr. Charles Axiak. (Tel. 21338923)

Spiritual Assistant:  Fr. Guido Micallef O. Carm. (21314187)