La orden de carmelitas descalzos en la Nueva España fue distinta al resto de las mendicantes: admitieron principalmente a peninsulares y, por excepción, a algún criollo; privilegiaron el repliegue interior en lugar de la convivencia y adoctrinamiento de los indios, su desempeño doctrinal sólo duró de 1586 a 1607 al abandonar la única doctrina que tuvieron en San Sebastián; sirvieron sobre todo a peninsulares, entre otras. Es por ello –y por su llegada tan tardía hasta 1585- que la historiografía ha presentado a los carmelitas al margen de los conflictos y de las pretensiones del resto del clero regular.       Más aun, la distancia que se les ha atribuido respecto de los intereses de franciscanos, agustinos, dominicos y jesuitas, ha provocado que se les muestre como favorables a los proyectos de la iglesia diocesana. Sin embargo, el abandono de la doctrina de San Sebastián es un buen ejemplo para mostrar cómo, aunque los carmelitas descalzos eran una orden reformada comandando las pretensiones regias, pugnaron —al igual que las demás órdenes— por no sujetarse al clero secular, privilegio del que habían gozado desde su llegada a Indias.

The order of barefoot Carmelite monks in New Spain was different from the rest of the mendicants: they admitted mainly peninsular Spaniards and occasionally one or two Creoles. They encouraged contemplation rather than socializing and indoctrinating Indians, with their doctrinal performance lasting only from 1586 to 1607, since they abandoned the only doctrine they had in San Sebastian, serving mainly peninsular Spaniards, among others. It is for this reason-and the fact that they did not arrive until 1585- that historiography has depicted the Carmelites as being unaffected by the conflicts and aspirations of the rest of the regular clergy. Moreover, the distance they are reputed to have had from the interests of Franciscans, Augustans, Dominicans and Jesuits means that they have been portrayed as supporting the projects of the diocesan church. Nevertheless, their abandonment of the doctrine of San Sebastian is a good example of how, although the barefoot Carmelites were a reformed order with significant aspirations, they, like the other orders, fought to avoid being subjected to the lay clergy, a privilege they had enjoyed since their arrival in America.

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