Carmelites

Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary
of Mount Carmel
Ordo Fratrum Beatissimæ Virginis Mariæ de Monte Carmelo (Latin)
AbbreviationOCarm
FormationLate 12th century
FoundersEarly hermits of Mount Carmel
Founded atMount Carmel
TypeMendicant order of pontifical right
Legal statusInstitute of Consecrated Life
Membership (2022)
2,041 members (includes 1,303 priests)[1]
Motto
Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum
(Latin for 'With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts')
General Headquarters
Curia Generalizia dei Carmelitani
Via Giovanni Lanza, 138, 00184 Rome, Italy
Mícéal O'Neill, OCarm
Patron saints
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Elijah
Parent organization
Catholic Church
Websiteocarm.org
The Prophet Elijah is regarded as the spiritual father of the Carmelite order.

The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (Latin: Ordo Fratrum Beatissimæ Virginis Mariæ de Monte Carmelo; abbreviated OCarm), known as the Carmelites or sometimes by synecdoche known simply as Carmel, is a mendicant order in the Catholic Church for both men and women. Historical records about its origin remain uncertain; it was probably founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel in what is now Israel.[2]

  1. ^ Annuario Pontificio per l'Anno 2022. Citta del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2022. p. 1388.
  2. ^ "Catholic Encyclopedia : The Carmelite Order". New Advent. Retrieved 24 May 2019.