Carmelites

A 1045 Word Interview with the Carmelite Homemaker

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Cecelia Allen via phone call on March 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

You spent nearly a year in a Carmelite monastery before discerning a different path. Can you share more about that spiritual journey and how you recognized God’s call shifting in your life?

I started discerning religious life when I was little. I first wrote to the monastery when I was 14. Because they were cloistered I couldn’t visit, but when I was 16 I was able to stay in their guest room. I entered the monastery when I was 19 and felt a tug towards throughout High school. Eight months after I entered, I started feeling a tug towards some type of ministry, a more active service or retreat ministry. At first I thought this was another phase in the adjustment of contemplative life. I continued to feel this draw towards more active ministry. I really struggled to leave because I loved all aspects of that. I was given this advice by a priest, “to discern where you find peace.” When I left the monastery I felt peace but I still miss it. 

When I left that cloistered community I was thinking of joining another religious community. I realized that such women’s communities were either cloistered or very active in teaching 8 hours a day. 

I learned through the call to marriage that I could make my home a cloister, a type of miniature contemplative community. 

What was the most profound lesson you learned during your time in the monastery that continues to shape your life today?

Living the liturgical year. Being at the monastery when you are praying to the Divine Office your whole existence is centered on the liturgy. While I have been Catholic my whole life and received great catechesis, when I was at the monastery, it felt like it was my first Christmas as a Catholic. This was because Advent was such a profound time to prepare for Christ’s birth. It felt like Heavenly time where earthly time stopped and we entered more deeply into the life of Christ. 

You describe carrying “the little cloister” in your heart. How do you practically integrate Carmelite spirituality into your daily life as a homemaker? Are there specific practices, prayers, or rhythms you’ve adopted from monastic life?

I prioritize the Divine Office in my prayer life. I love the whole thing, but one hour I prioritize as a family is Night Prayer. Personally, I do enjoy Morning Prayer. 

St. Therese of Lisieux, a Carmelite saint, is known for her “little way” of finding holiness in ordinary moments. How do you see this spirituality manifesting in your role as a wife and homemaker? Could you share an example of how you’ve found extraordinary grace in seemingly mundane tasks?

Actually, it has been so amazing to study Carmelites from the perspective of a wife and mother. The more I study this spirituality, the more I realize it is applicable to our life in the world. Living in the presence of God undergirds all the Carmelite spirituality. I have been so encouraged by reading Teresa of Avila’s writings, The Way of Perfection, for everyone! This contemplative living is accessible for everyone. 

Carmelite spirituality emphasizes contemplation and interior life. In the midst of the busy responsibilities of home and marriage, how do you maintain a deep prayer life and sense of interior stillness?

That’s a good question, it’s definitely a work in progress. I have learned that in terms of maintaining a strong payer life it is not going to look like the days before. The other day I prayed the Divine Office but I was pacing up and down the hallway with my baby on my shoulder. Having that communication with your spouse to have them watch the kids while you pray is something I am working on. The big thing is accepting that prayer life isn’t the same as before marriage. 

For interior silence, I have Gregorian chant in the background playing. I used to think that silence, no background noise, was the way to draw into that interior silence. But I found that my mind wandered. When I have the chant playing in the background I am more drawn to focus on the silence. 

Your husband encouraged you to bring your Carmelite experience into your marriage. How has this unique spiritual background influenced your relationship?

I think it’s allowed me to see how a lot of people see religious life as the ultimate sacrifice. But having come from that religious life perspective I have become more aware of how marriage is also a vocation and a gift of yourself. The gift of totality in my marriage is something I learned, or became more aware of, due to my experience in the monastery. It’s that awareness our vocation (no matter which one you’re called to) is meant to stretch you to make you holy. 

Many young Catholics struggle with understanding their vocation. Having experienced both religious and married life, what wisdom can you share about discernment and listening to God’s call?

The biggest thing is to what the priest told me, “follow your peace.” If you are feeling a consistent tug towards religious life don’t be afraid to take action to pursue it. The postulant period (about the first year) is that time of discernment. Don’t be afraid to take the next step in discernment and don’t be afraid to discern out.

I realize that there’s two different tugs to marriage: the natural and the draw that’s indicative towards a vocation. And to ask God to help me discern the difference between the two. 

Who is your favorite Carmelite saint and why?

My favorite is Elizabeth of the Trinity because of her writings on living in the presence of God. Her main focus is the indwelling of the Trinity in our souls due to our Baptism and living in that presence always. I found this so accessible as a wife and mother. 

I also enjoy the work of John of the Cross and Terese of the Andes. Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux would round out the top five (please don’t be mad at me!)

Where can my followers learn more about your ministry? 

I have a YouTube channel, Instagram profile and I have a blog. Links to these can be found at: Carmelite Homemaker.

About Cecelia: 

After discerning religious life in my high school years, I entered a Carmelite monastery when I was 19 years old. A year later, I discerned out, feeling called from the solitude of Carmel to some form of ministry. 

I am now a wife and mother, but my love for the monastery remains a deep part of who I am. I have made it my mission to bring the beauty of monastic life into my life in the world, and help others do the same.

Thank you for sharing!

How the Sweetness of Our Lady of Mount Caramel Increases Your Spiritual Life

/ chicoinematt

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on July 15, 2022.

Incredible saints have come from the Carmelite religious order: Saints John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux represent this Catholic spirituality. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Spiritual Mother of the Carmelites.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16th. During the late 14th century, St. Simon Stock received a vision of Mary who advised him to wear a scapular as a sign of her protection.

Before I go further, I have to clarify something to avoid getting a ticket from the grammar police. I am aware I misspelled Carmel in the title (who hasn’t said caramel in place of carmel 😊 at least once?). I did not know much about the Brown Scapular (or any for that matter—there is blue, green, and white too!) until a few years ago. This Catholic devotion provides a sweet win over sin. However, God planted many hints of this devotion in my childhood.

Before my son’s First Communion earlier this summer, we showed him some sacramentals I received for my First Communion and on the top right of the felt-laden box was a brown scapular. My mother also made it a point to frequent the local Carmelite monastery when Mass was open to the public.

Sacramental, Not Magic

The Brown Scapular is not a talisman—it does not bestow magical protection for the wearer. According to the Catholic of the Catholic Church paragraph 1677, “Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church. They prepare men (and women) to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify different circumstances of life.”

Brown Scapular

While Mary promised protection (and salvation) to all wearing the Brown Scapular upon death, the sacramental is a sign pointing at sacramental living. I had a priest bless my Brown Scapular. It is suggested you make a consecration to Mary as well.

Initially, Marian consecration seemed excessive (I already pray the Rosary). But the more I petition Our Spiritual Mother for guidance the closer I am to Her Son. St. Louis de Montfort wrote, “We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek—Jesus, her Son.”

We Give Titles to People We Honor

I have learned that the more a person learns about a subject or person there exists a direct correlation in an increased amount of titles or synonyms to describe them. For example, I had a lot of nicknames as an infant and toddler because of my parent’s love toward me. I have inherited that same knack to create multiple monikers for my children as well.

Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Within the Catholic Church, our honor toward Mary, the Mother of God, lends itself to a burgeoning of titles to reference her too. She has over 2,000 titles! Her title Our Lady of Mount Carmel reminds us that closeness to Mary is closeness to Jesus. Mary’s promised Simon Stock, “Whosoever dies in this garment shall not suffer eternal fire.” Again, the Brown Scapular is not a lucky charm or talisman. Instead, it is an outward sign of an interior lifestyle. The principles of Carmelite spirituality include:

  • Frequent participation in the Mass and reception of the Eucharist
  • Frequent reading of and reflections on the Word of God in Sacred Scripture
  • The regular praying of at least part of the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Imitation of and devotion to Mary, the woman of faith who hears the Word of God and puts it into practice
  • The practice of the virtues, notably charity, chastity (accordion to one’s state of life), and obedience to the will of God.

 Mount Carmel—A Place of Sweet Victory

Another interesting fact about the Carmelites is Mount Carmel is the same mountain where the Old Testament prophet Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Ba’al. Elijah lived during a time when Israel succumbed to idol worship. His complete trust in God allowed him to be an instrument for God’s power and majesty (1 Kings 18: 20-39).

Our Lady of Mount Carmel testifies to the power of God in an even better way than Elijah. Mary’s total obedience to God the Father’s will led the birth of Jesus Christ—our savior. The Blessed Mother of God leads us to the Son. You will battle sin all your life. Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel protects us and leads us to victory (through trusting in Jesus) over sin.

Related Links

History of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Priceless Treasure of Carmelite Spirituality

Information about the Brown Scapular

Thank you for sharing!