Discalced Carmelite Nuns

In 1863, during the Civil War, the Carmelites came to St. Louis from Baltimore, Md. Since
that time, they have lived lives of prayer and penance following the tradition of St. Teresa
of Avila and St. John of the Cross. The Nuns of the Carmel of St. Joseph pray the Liturgy of
the Hours as a community and live a life of continual prayer in imitation of Christ’s hidden
life at Nazareth and in solitary places. Some of the prayer is before the Blessed
Sacrament, which is exposed daily both in the Nuns’ Chapel and in the public Chapel.

Rising before the sun can break through the darkness of night, the Discalced Carmelite
nuns wake to the sound of a loud wooden clapper and a voice calling them to communal
prayer with the words, “Praise be Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary His Mother.
Come to prayer sisters, come to praise the Lord!”

The cloistered nuns, wearing full-length habits and veils, make their way to a large, woodpaneled choir room to chant the Liturgy of the Hours, the universal prayer of the Church. It
is a duty they will ritually perform seven times each day as they intercede to God with their
prayers for mankind, giving special attention to praying for priests.

All are welcome – Daily 7:30am Mass, followed by Eucharistic Adoration all day,
through 7:50pm Rosary and Benediction.

All are also invited to the annual Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, held in July.

Carmel of St. Joseph
Chapel of the Precious Blood
9150 Clayton Road
St. Louis, MO 63124