The Lay Carmelite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (historically known as the Third Order of Carmel) is an association mainly of lay persons. Its members, responding to a special call of God, freely and deliberately commit themselves “to live in allegiance withJesus Christ” according to the charism, traditions, and spirit of Carmel under the authority of the Prior General of the Carmelite Order. The members, though not in Religious Life, choose to live out their baptismal commitment according to the spirit of the Carmelite Order.