Several English-speaking Carmelite provinces (e.g., the British Province of Carmelites or the Australian province) have posted for praying the Liturgy of the Hours with Carmelite supplements. These are not the full breviary but the Proprium (special prayers). To pray the full office, you would need a standard Christian Prayer or Liturgy of the Hours plus the Carmelite Proprium PDF.
This liturgy was highly solemn, rich in poetry, and featured unique calendars and rubrics that differed significantly from Rome.
When the hermits on Mount Carmel were given a rule of life by Saint Albert of Jerusalem in the early 13th century, they began utilizing the liturgy of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This Rite of the Holy Sepulchre was known for its distinct calendar, unique hagiography, and specific rubrics that reflected the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Teresian Reform
| Goal | Best Action | |------|-------------| | Free PDF of traditional Carmelite Breviary | Search archive.org for Breviarium Carmelitanum (1924) | | Free PDF of modern English Carmelite Propers | Search monastery websites for Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours | | Buy modern printed proper | Contact a Carmelite monastery (e.g., Baltimore, Wyoming) | | Use on phone/tablet | Download the Latin PDFs and use a PDF reader; no dedicated app exists | carmelite breviary pdf
Reading a complex liturgical layout with parallel text or rubrics is much easier on a large tablet screen than on a smartphone.
For the , a PDF of the Breviarium Carmelitanum is an invaluable link to the medieval Church of Jerusalem. For the average layperson or religious seeking daily prayer, a PDF of the modern Carmelite Proper to be used alongside the standard Liturgy of the Hours is far more practical and easier to integrate into a busy life.
Scans of books printed in 1599, 1720, or 1938. They contain the full, un-reformed Rite of Jerusalem. English / Vernacular Secular Carmelites, Modern Religious Several English-speaking Carmelite provinces (e
Be cautious of:
(the Rite of the Holy Sepulcher). Unlike the standard Roman Rite used by most of the Catholic Church, this traditional liturgy has deep roots in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Accessing the Carmelite Breviary (PDFs and Online)
Generic texts used for saints who do not have a full proper office written for them. This liturgy was highly solemn, rich in poetry,
These files contain the approved English or vernacular supplements used alongside the modern Roman Liturgy of the Hours.
When the Carmelites were forced to migrate to Europe in the 13th century due to geopolitical instability, they brought this Jerusalem liturgy with them. In 1294, the General Chapter of the Order officially codified their liturgical texts. This codified version became known as the Rite of the Holy Sepulchre according to the Use of the Carmelites, or simply the Carmelite Rite. Post-Tridentine Preservation
With the reform of the order in the 16th century by Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross, the Discalced Carmelites retained the traditional Carmelite Rite for some time. However, following the liturgical centralizations of the Council of Trent and subsequent 20th-century reforms, the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) largely adopted the Roman Liturgy of the Hours while retaining a proper calendar of Carmelite saints. The Ancient Observance (O.Carm.), meanwhile, preserved their historical Rite until the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms, when they also transitioned to a proper version of the modern Roman Office. Structure of the Carmelite Divine Office
If you're looking for a Carmelite Breviary in PDF format, here are some possible sources: