Question #5: What does "Discalced" mean?

Question: What does “Discalced” mean?

Answer:

Discalced simply means “unshod.” “Calceus” is the Latin for “shoe” and “dis” means “without.” When St. Teresa began her reformed branch of the Carmelites, she wanted a life of greater poverty and so instead of wearing shoes, which were very expensive at that time, and still are, she decided that her Nuns and Friars would wear sandals, the footgear of poor people.

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Do you ever wonder what it is like to be a Carmelite Nun? To live in a cloister? To spend your days seeking the Face of God?

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