Discalced Carmelites

Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

Ordo Fratrum Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo
Coat of arms of the order
Abbreviation	OCD
Formation	1562; 462 years ago (1562)
Founder	Teresa of Ávila John of the Cross
Type	Mendicant Order of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Legal status	Institute of Consecrated Life
Headquarters	Casa Generalizia dei Carmelitani Scalzi, Corso d’Italia 38, 00198 Rome, Italy
Membership (2022)	3,978 members (includes 2,897 priests)[1]
Superior General	Miguel Márquez
Affiliations	Catholic Church
Website	carmelitaniscalzi.com

The Discalced Carmelites, known officially as the Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (Latin: Ordo Fratrum Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo) or the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Latin: Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum; abbrev.: OCD; sometimes called in earlier times, Latin: Ordo Carmelitarum Excalceatorum), is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers. The order was established in the 16th century, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order by two Spanish saints, Teresa of Ávila (foundress) and John of the Cross (co-founder). Discalced is derived from Latin, meaning "without shoes".

The Carmelite Order, from which the Discalced Carmelites branched off, is also referred to as the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance to distinguish them from their discalced offshoot. The third order affiliated to the Discalced Carmelites is the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.