Final Promise

Preparation For The Final, or "Definitive" Promise

After the candidate has made his or her Temporary Promise, he or she is admitted to the final period of formation as a secular Carmelite, known as Formation II. The goal of Formation II is to prepare the candidate to make the Final, or Definitive Promise, when the candidate will promise to live the life of a Secular Carmelite for the rest of his or her life. Formation II is a two-year period of continued study of the writings of our Carmelite saints, as well as other materials. At this stage of Formation, the candidate is also expected to participate every more fully in the life of the Community, and may be called upon to fulfill certain duties within the community, as he or she prepares to make a lifelong commitment to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.

At the close of Formation II, the candidate will write a letter of intent explaining his or her desire to make the Definitive Promise, and will have a discussion with the Community Council regarding his or her readiness to promise to live as a Secular Carmelite for the rest of his or her life.