Discalced Carmelite Nuns

religious order

Also known as: O.D.C.

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June 25, 2026

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The Discalced Carmelite Nuns are a branch of the Roman Catholic religious order of Carmelites, founded by St. Teresa of Ávila in 1562. This reform aimed to restore a stricter, more contemplative way of life, emphasizing austerity, distinguishing them from the older branch of the order by their practice of wearing sandals instead of shoes and stockings, hence the name "Discalced," meaning barefooted.12

The Carmelite order itself originated on Mount Carmel in Israel around 1155, initially as a community of hermits. Over time, it evolved into a mendicant order of friars, brothers, sisters, and laypeople dedicated to prayer, community, and service. The Discalced Carmelites became a separate order in 1593. Both branches have been reestablished in various countries after suffering during the French Revolution and Napoleonic era.1

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Carmelite
…order became the order of Discalced Carmelites (O.D.C.). In spite of opposition and difficulties of many kinds, St. Teresa succeeded in establishing not only convents but also, with the cooperation of Juan de Yepes (later St. John of the Cross), a number of friaries that followed this stricter observance. The…
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…order became the order of Discalced Carmelites (O.D.C.). In spite of opposition and difficulties of many kinds, St. Teresa succeeded in establishing not only convents but also, with the cooperation of Juan de Yepes (later St. John of the Cross), a number of friaries that followed this stricter observance. The…
Read More