For the Carmelites, the inizio noviziato (the beginning of the novitiate) marks the official entry into religious life. While a candidate spends the initial months as a postulant adjusting to the community, the commencement of the novitiate transitions them from a lay observer into a novice formally incorporated into the Order.
The beginning of the novitiate holds profound spiritual and symbolic meaning:
- Reception of the Carmelite Habit: During a simple and reserved community ceremony (rito di ammissione), the candidate receives the full brown wool habit of the Order. For women, this includes a white veil. The habit symbolizes an exterior stripping away of the world to “put on Christ.”
- Receiving a Religious Name: The novice is given a new name and title in religion (e.g., Sister Teresa of Jesus or Brother Thomas of Jesus). This signifies a new spiritual identity and a deeper detachment from their former secular life.
- Deep Immersion into the Charism: The novitiate—which lasts either one or two years depending on the branch of the Order—is an intense period of silent reflection, prayer, and study. Under the guidance of a Novice Master or Mistress, novices study the Rule of Saint Albert, the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, and obedience), and the writings of great Carmelite saints like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.
- Intentional Discernment: Because the novice has not yet taken permanent vows, the beginning of this phase starts a critical testing period. The novice evaluates their personal capability to live a lifelong cloistered, contemplative, or active community life, while the community simultaneously discerns the authenticity of the candidate’s calling
Alessandro Colao 
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