In the Church there are men and women who set out to follow Christ and to imitate Him more closely by practicing the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity and obedience. (PC 1) They are called religious and by their lives, they show forth Christ in contemplation on the mountain (Contemplatives) or proclaiming the kingdom of God to the multitudes (preaches) or healing the sick and doing good to all men in various ways (active religious) (LG 46)

Carmelites are contemplatives who pray in the solitude of their monasteries in imitation of Christ praying on the mountain for the Church and the whole human family. Active religious go out to the people to help them in various active ways.