About Carmelite Monastery- Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Denver · Littleton, Colorado
The Carmel of the Holy Spirit is a cloistered monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) in Littleton, Colorado, established in 1947 at the invitation of Archbishop Urban J. Vehr of Denver. The nuns live a strictly contemplative life under papal enclosure, observing the primitive Carmelite Rule and the Constitutions written by St. Teresa of Avila and renewed by the Holy See in 1990. Their sole apostolate is prayer and penance offered especially for priests, for the souls in their care, and for the intentions of the Archdiocese of Denver. Each day centers on the Traditional Latin Mass, the full Latin Divine Office, mental prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and manual work in silence.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (Carmel of the Holy Spirit); also under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
The Carmel of the Holy Spirit is not a parish but a cloistered contemplative monastery, yet the public is warmly welcomed to share in much of its liturgical life. The faithful are invited to attend the daily 6:30 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass, the weekly Friday Adoration and Benediction (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins after Mass and continues until 11:00 a.m. Benediction), and the annual three-day triduum in mid-July honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which includes the rosary, Benediction, the blessing and distribution of the Brown Scapular, and a sermon. Laypeople may also mail or drop off prayer intentions for the nuns to lift up in their daily prayer and penance, enroll in the Brown Scapular Confraternity to share in the spiritual goods of the Carmelite family, and support the community through the 'Friends of' Carmel of the Holy Spirit, since the Discalced nuns subsist entirely on alms.
Mass times at Carmelite Monastery- Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Denver
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily, 6:00 AM (half an hour before the 6:30 AM Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins after the 6:30 AM Mass and continues until Benediction at 11:00 AM
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction (community schedule)
Carmel of the Holy Spirit — Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Littleton
The Carmel of the Holy Spirit is a cloistered, autonomous monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) in Littleton, Colorado, within the Archdiocese of Denver. Founded in 1947 at the invitation of Archbishop Urban J. Vehr, the community lives under papal enclosure and observes the primitive Carmelite Rule together with the Constitutions of the Discalced Nuns written by St. Teresa of Avila, as renewed by the Holy See in 1990 with only the most minor and necessary adaptations possible. The nuns wear the complete traditional religious habit as given by St. Teresa, and their apostolate is one of contemplation: prayer and penance offered for priests, for all souls, and especially for the needs and intentions of the Archdiocese of Denver.
- Founded 1947 at the invitation of Archbishop Urban J. Vehr
- Autonomous monastery of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.)
- Observes the Constitutions renewed by the Holy See in 1990
- Lives under papal enclosure
- Profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience
History: From Jacques Benedict's Villa to a Carmelite Cloister
The monastery occupies the former country estate of Denver architect Jacques Benedict. A Chicago native and the first Colorado architect trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Benedict worked with Carrère and Hastings in New York and went on to design some of Denver's grandest Beaux-Arts residences and churches. In 1912 he built the villa on the south shore of Ketring Lake in Littleton, transforming an older farmhouse into a sprawling home in red brick with Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Romanesque Revival elements, and laying out the grounds with the prominent landscape architect Saco R. DeBoer. After Benedict's death in 1948 the property was acquired for the Archdiocese of Denver and adapted for the Discalced Carmelite Nuns who had arrived the year before. The new chapel and other additions echo the original house's vocabulary of red brick and round arches.
- 1912: Jacques Benedict builds the villa on the south shore of Ketring Lake
- 1947: Discalced Carmelite Nuns arrive in Littleton at Archbishop Vehr's invitation
- 1948: Benedict dies; the property becomes the Carmelite monastery
- Red brick and round arches repeated in later chapel and additions
Daily Liturgical and Monastic Schedule
Each day at Carmel of the Holy Spirit is ordered around the Mass and the Divine Office. The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated every day at 6:30 a.m. and is open to the public. The community then prays the complete Latin Divine Office — with the major Hours chanted on Sundays, Solemnities, and some feasts — and devotes two one-hour periods to mental prayer. The rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other prayers are prayed in common, followed by spiritual reading, a period of work, and two periods of recreation.
- Traditional Latin Mass every day at 6:30 AM
- Complete Latin Divine Office (major Hours chanted on Sundays, Solemnities, and some feasts)
- Two one-hour periods of mental prayer
- Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other common prayers
- Spiritual reading
- Time for work and two periods of recreation
Sacraments and Public Liturgies
Although cloistered, the nuns welcome the faithful to share in their liturgical life. The daily Mass is offered in the Traditional Latin Rite, and confessions are heard every morning half an hour before Mass at 6:00 a.m. On Fridays, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins after the 6:30 a.m. Mass and continues until Benediction at 11:00 a.m. Each year in mid-July the monastery hosts a three-day triduum in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 14, 15, and 16) with rosary, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the blessing and distribution of the Brown Scapular, and a sermon.
- Daily Traditional Latin Mass at 6:30 AM
- Daily confessions at 6:00 AM
- Friday Eucharistic Adoration after Mass, ending with 11:00 AM Benediction
- Annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Triduum, July 14–16
Community Life and Spirituality
Community life at the Littleton Carmel is marked by intense silence, joyful fraternal charity, and special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. The prioress is the center of the community, and her daughters render her filial obedience. The nuns seek to identify with Christ Crucified through complete self-sacrifice and to embrace the heritage of their holy founders, St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross, in a shared thirst for authentic contemplation. As one of their own Constitutions puts it, contemplation of the divine mysteries and assiduous union with God in prayer is the very essence of their vocation and their one apostolate.
- Special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph
- Joyful community life centered on the prioress
- Intensity of silence throughout the day, with little speaking outside recreation
- Desire to be identified with Christ Crucified through self-sacrifice
- Shared search for authentic contemplation in the spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross
Vocations
The monastery welcomes women discerning a cloistered Carmelite vocation. According to the community's published qualifications, applicants should love prayer and desire union with God; be willing to sacrifice themselves completely for God and souls through a spirit of submission to authority; adhere steadfastly to all Catholic doctrine and dogma and the teachings of the Magisterium; enjoy good physical and mental health, good character, sound common sense, and adequate emotional balance and maturity; and be between the ages of 17 and 30. Inquiries are directed to the Novice Mistress by mail at the monastery address.
- Contact: Novice Mistress, Carmel of the Holy Spirit, 6138 S. Gallup St., Littleton, CO 80120
- Phone: 303-798-4176
- Age range: 17–30
- No email, fax, television, or internet — written inquiries only
Prayer Intentions and Brown Scapular
The nuns gratefully receive prayer intentions from the faithful by phone, mail, or in-person visit. They also enroll the laity in the Brown Scapular Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel — a spiritual affiliation with the Carmelite family that places the enrollee under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and shares in the daily prayers and worldwide works of the order. The scapular is traditionally blessed and distributed during the annual July triduum.
- Prayer intentions accepted by phone, mail, or in person
- Enrollment in the Brown Scapular Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Blessing and distribution of the scapular during the July triduum
Support: Friends of Carmel of the Holy Spirit
Because the Discalced Carmelite Nuns rely entirely on alms, a lay group known as the Friends of Carmel of the Holy Spirit assists the monastery through an annual fundraising drive. Donations of any amount may be sent directly to the monastery, where the check itself serves as a receipt.
- Friends of Carmel of the Holy Spirit — lay support and fundraising
- Donations mailed to the monastery address
- Check serves as a receipt
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
The monastery is located at 6138 S. Gallup St., Littleton, CO 80120, on the south shore of Ketring Lake, and can be reached by phone at 303-798-4176. By choice the community does not maintain email, fax, television, or internet correspondence, so all written inquiries — including vocation inquiries and prayer requests — should be sent by mail. The public is welcome to attend the daily 6:30 a.m. Traditional Latin Mass, the Friday morning Adoration and Benediction, and the annual July triduum, while always respecting the cloister.
- Address: 6138 S. Gallup St., Littleton, CO 80120
- Phone: 303-798-4176
- No email, fax, TV, or internet — contact by phone, letter, or in person
- Respect the cloister when visiting