Discalced

A discalced religious order is one whose members go barefoot or wear sandals.

The nuns in the Carmelite reform convents erected by Teresa of Ávila abstained from wearing shoes, and were therefore indicated as discalced.

The origins of discalceation lie in Exodus 3:5,[2] where God tells Moses: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground".

A separate custom in Biblical times of taking off only one shoe as part of a socially witnessed contract is referred to in Ruth 4:7[3] and Deuteronomy 25:9:[4] After the various modifications of the Rule of Saint Francis, the Observants (who existed as an independent branch of the Franciscan Order before 1897) adhered to the custom of going unshod.

Sandals were also adopted by the Camaldolese monks of the Congregation of Monte Corona (1522), the Maronite Catholic monks, the Poor Hermits of St. Jerome of the Congregation of Blessed Peter of Pisa, the Augustinians of Thomas of Jesus (1532), the Barefooted Servites (1593), the Discalced Carmelites (1568), the Feuillants (Cistercians, 1575), the Trinitarians (1594), the Discalced Mercedarians (1604), and the Passionists (1720).

Alpargatas , footwear worn by the Discalced carmelites
A barefoot nun looking up to angels and a dove. She sits by a table. Other nuns enters through a side door.
S. Teresa in ecstasy while writing her works and surprised by her sisters . French school, 18th century.