Home » Destinations » U.S.A. » Cristoval, Texas: The Mount Carmel Hermitage

 

Cristoval, Texas: The Mount Carmel Hermitage

 

About the Monks of Mount Carmel:

The Hermits of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel are a community of men called to a life of silence, solitude, prayer, and penance for the good of the Church and the salvation of the world. As such, they do not engage in any apostolic, pastoral or educational ministry

They center their lives on the Word of God, through the Eucharist and Lectio Divina. The main activity of the hermits is prayer, and the Carmelite Order states: “Let each one remain in his cell, or near it, meditating day and night on the law of the Lord and keeping vigil in prayer, unless occupied with other lawful duties.” The cell is also the place where the hermit sleeps and takes his meals alone, except on Sundays and special days where the hermits eat in a common refectory. The cell is composed of a study, chapel, bedroom, bathroom, and porch. Each cell is separated from the next by an enclosed garden.

This single-minded attention to God in prayer becomes the means for assuming purity of heart, the “Pearl of Great Price.”

For the hermit, manual work takes its place beside prayer as a most important means to follow Christ, giving of himself in mind and body under obedience, as Christ was obedient to the Father unto death. Also, the hermit humbly remembers that he must toil to earn his living, identifying himself with the poor of the world.

 

About the Mount Carmel Hermitage in Cristoval:

Visitors are always welcome, and the public is invited to attend Daily Mass at 6:30 a.m. or on Sundays & Solemnities at 10:00 a.m.

They have a gift shop featuring many items made by the Monks, such as baked jellies, honey, biscotti, coffee, scapulars, rosaries and much more. The gift shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day except Sundays. Your purchases help to support the Monastery. And, if you can’t make it to Cristoval, they have an online store as well.

Traveling to the Mount Carmel Hermitage:

The Hermitage is in West Texas, south of the city of San Angelo.  There is commuter plane service to San Angelo (about one hour flying time from Dallas/Fort Worth.

Address: St Joseph’s Way, Cristoval, TX 76935

GPS coordinates: 31° 9′ 52.1712” N, 100° 32′ 31.4628” W

Tel: +1 325-896-2249

email:  Use the contact form on their website

Click here for the official website of the Mount Carmel Hermitage in Cristoval, Texas

Click here to find hotels and motels in nearby San Angelo, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

⇐Back to Catholic places of interest in the U.S.A.

 

Leave a Comment