In the 11th century a group of Latin Rite hermits began living on Mount Carmel in Palestine, following the example of the Prophet Elias who had lived there himself, many centuries before. In time these people of prayer became known as "the hermits of St. Mary of Mount Carmel." Their life was marked by poverty, manual work, silence, simple liturgical prayer and solitude. Because of Muslim victories in the Holy Land, the hermits eventually moved to England and other European countries, where they became the Carmelite Order of the Catholic Church.
