Our Lady Of Mount Carmel & "The Carmelites:An Historical Sketch"

A Journey Through Darkness

What is the spirit of Carmel? In my fantasy moments, reflecting on Carmelite people and images, I love to revel in Elijah, standing in triumph on Mount Carmel, after his triumphant defeat and slaughter of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19) -- his arms raised in triumph, like Rocky of film fame, shouting: "We did it, Yahweh, God of Fire! Thank you!" Some romantic part of me thinks of Carmelite spirituality as a journey up the mountain -- to success, happiness, light and fulfillment!

Yet that is not my experience! It has not been the experience of most Carmelites through the generations. The Carmelites were founded at the font of Elijah at the wadi ein Siah on Mount Carm-el, and so Elijah has always been our patron and zealous inspiration. But most often our experience -- my experience -- has been of Elijah running away to the cave of Horeb.

After his moment of triumph against the prophets, and slitting their throats, Elijah is proudly humble -- he expects the rain to come and the drought to end -- a small cloud announces the coming rainstorm -- remember, in the desert Holy Land, the rain is the measuring stick of God's love for God's people. The peoples' conversion, through the awesome confrontation, renews God's affection. Elijah had every reason to be proud and happy -- he had fulfilled his mission for God.

Yet King Ahab is furious -- the priest/prophets who belonged to his wife, Queen Jezebel, had been killed -- and his wife is furious and demands vengeance as a test of his love. Ahab sends troops after Elijah to snuff out this "Disturber of Israel" -- Elijah flees for his life -- little chance to enjoy and celebrate the great victory! He starts running to the desert -- Israel always is called to the desert when the covenant intimacy is threatened or challenged. His life is threatened. Exhausted from all that has happened and from his frantic flight, he starts to feel sorry for himself. "Why is this happening to me -- I'm the faithful one, O God. I'm the only one standing up for you!" He is tired and run down -- he gets down on himself. "I am no better than our ancestors!" Self-pity can consume righteous people.

He lays down to sleep and die. He doesn't want to go on -- darkness has overwhelmed his spirit. He is running away from danger to save himself. He is frantically running to God and away from God at the same time. A very strange journey! He sleeps under the cooling shade of the broom tree -- the sun and light are harsh on his beaten and broken spirit -- despite his attempt to escape and live in denial and death, the angel of God awakens him -- feeds him -- and demands that he get on with it -- "don't let the darkness overwhelm you, Elijah -- the journey is long but you are going to make it." The feelings of victory are distant echoes in his heart.

He walks -- the sun is hot -- the ground stony and severe -- he has been looking for the God of Victory -- the God of consolation -- he expected the refreshing and needed rain, but he's walking on arid, hard ground which reflects his spirit. Like most of us, he has been looking for God in wonderful, miraculous signs -- in lightning, fire, earthquakes and drenching thunderstorms -- in great and awesome activities -- in challenging, successful and fulfilling adventures. We all love the God of the mountain heights and highs -- the God of Light.

But Elijah is called to a cave -- a place of darkness, where the light only comes in partially. He hides and takes shelter in the cave. When life gets overwhelming and too much, we want to hide and protect ourselves. And he protests again how good he has been and how zealously he has worked for God and God's people -- but his pleas seem to fall on divine deaf ears. He is trying to ignite the darkness with his light. God speaks and tells him to shut up -- to let go of all expectations -- and listen. To have some inner quiet amid all the noise and voices shouting within and beyond him -- to listen carefully to what he is looking for -- and what impacts his heart and spirit. The Lord challenges Elijah to empty himself of his expectations and need for success -- to stand empty and naked before the Holy One. But as is his pattern, he looks at powerful wind storms of activity, he longs for igniting lightning and blazing fire, and earthquakes which shake up the status quo. But he is not experiencing God's presence. Only in the longing emptiness and darkness of unmet expectations does he quiet himself enough to hear the tiny gentle whisper -- and know it is God. He falls down in humble acknowledgement of the Holy One. Only then can he go to the entrance of the cave and look again -- and hear God's questioning voice: "Why are you here?" His self-pitying and justifying pleas again get nowhere with God -- "Stop wallowing in the darkness of your exhausted energy and being misunderstood and feeling sorry for yourself. Get on with it, Elijah -- remember, I am the whisper within. Take time to listen amid the adventures I am calling you to."

Elijah had to sit in the dark emptiness to experience God -- to be able to listen to the eternal whisper which we can so easily block out with the noise of our needs, expectations and feverish activity. He had to sit still in the cave and allow God to speak in divine tones so deep and so high, only finely attuned hearts can hear. He had to stop running from the darkness and bump into the God who loves surprises, if only to prove once again that he is God -- the only God!

Knowing Elijah's story, the first Carmelites faced up to their darkness. Disillusioned by the mixed motives and violence of the Crusades they had so nobly joined, they chose not to return home -- rather they felt called to go to the caves of Carm-el (God's garden), near Elijah's spring, to listen again to the ancient God whose voice they had heard but whose silence seemed to envelope their spirits. They gathered at the wadi ein Siah, on the southwest slope of Carm-el. Even in their choice they are called to a dry river bed (wadi), as they are looking for refreshment and life from some ancient font. Elijah drank from the desert -- they needed to learn to drink from the dry emptiness of their life experience -- the small spring of Elijah would remind them of where God's living waters flow. They sought the deluge, but could only drink from a small mysterious spring that flowed eternal.

Tired, burdened, disillusioned by life, they entered the caves, alone. Pain and darkness isolate. They sat in the darkness -- quiet and alone -- they needed conversion from the hardness of heart which reflected the stony ground of the Holy Land. They went to Carm-el, the Garden of God, to drink and be renewed. But they had to first sit in the darkness and allow their thirst to grow. Fasting and abstinence refine the senses and spirit. They were looking for the light amid the darkness, but they had to sit still and surrender to the darkness -- not let fear drive them into a frantic frenzy, within or beyond. As the demons of disillusionment and cynical darkness were screaming in them, they had to sit still and quiet themselves to listen to the gentle whisper.

As much as the human journey is a solitary one -- there is so much we must do alone -- Carmelite spirituality and true human development are not done in isolation. God created and creates a people. Each of us is incomplete and needs another! As much as each of us are created in the image of God, together we are a fuller reflection of God's Light, Face and Presence. Alone in the darkness of their caves and spirits, reflecting on the Word of God, they were drawn to each other for hope, companionship, for God's presence. They needed and wanted the prayerful and faith-filled search with each other. This was a journey about the God of All People, not simply about my God!

It is also interesting to remember that Carmelites have no one founder -- no one to live up to -- like trying to do it the way Dominic, or Francis, or Augustine did it. We listen to God -- we follow Jesus -- he is the only norm! And we strive to listen to him speaking in our caves, in each other and in the Word!

In gathering, especially for prayer, they build that simple oratory in the wadi, and dedicate it to the Lady of this Land -- Mary, the Lady of this place. Nazareth is right across the Jereziel valley from Carm-el. Aware that Mary was the conduit of God's light and Son coming into this world in the person of Jesus, they hoped that she would inspire them -- open them to the reality of God coming into their world. Thus, Our Lady of this Place would inspire them to believe more in the Light of Emmanuel -- if he was "God with us", Mary would lead them to experience that where they were, physically, spiritually, emotionally and relationally, that God was with them. She was and is our "Liege Lady" to whom we pledge our hearts and whose colors we wear on the crusade to God -- to Jesus, her son, and to God's Reign.

Later they would remember that when Elijah was looking for an end to the drought which spoke of God's distance, he saw a small cloud, announcing the coming of rain -- a divine torrent of rain that filled all the wadis and anything which distanced or separated us from God. Mary was the small cloud, the Star of the Sea, who brought the rainstorm which drenched the drought and measured God's endless love and pursuit of us.

This wonderful woman becomes their partner on the journey to light, their sister in faith. Driven from the mountain later, that Lady of this Place became the Lady of the Mountain and eventually Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who opens, inspires and empowers us to experience the Divine Presence wherever we are. They become the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. She teaches them gentle sensitivity to the Divine Whisper. She is the model of contemplative living.

The men sought God's presence -- they wanted the God of Fire and Light, to re-ignite their passion. Like the simple Maid of Nazareth and the gentle whisper Elijah experienced, they had to be still and listen, aware of the historic divine promises and the ways this God would work and speak in, through and to them. Our Carmelite Rule is rooted in the Word of God -- filled with quotes and inspiration from Scripture. The Carmelites where to dispose themselves to listen, reflect and respond with the gentleness and zeal of Elijah and Mary.

Jesus was the Light -- Jesus is the Word and Voice of God! Carmelites live in allegiance to Jesus, believing that he is from God, of God and for God! We understand that to follow Jesus is to let go of a lot -- let go of everything, as he asked, and follow a paschal mystery of endless cycles of suffering, death and life. The journey of Jesus into surrender and the tomb/care cannot be short-circuited -- only in the cave of death and nothingness can we clearly hear the whisper that gives us life. Our relationship with Jesus, the Anointed of God, is at the heart of what it means to be Carmelite -- Mary and Elijah lead the way, but never get in the way.

These early Carmelites took vows, as we do today -- to each other and to God -- vows to walk through darkness into caves in search of light. The vow of chastity: to belong totally to the Beloved who seeks and embraces us, surrendering other sources of life and love to be free and wholehearted. Obedience: to listen to the God of Revelation in the many ways the Beloved speaks and directs, surrendering the power of playing God myself over my own destiny -- acknowledging that together we hear more clearly that whisper which can be misunderstood or ignored. Poverty: to let go and be free of all the things that want to possess us -- to live in an emptiness that invites us into the cave to be more sensitive to the light and to hear the Voice. Too many needs, drives and treasures can shout so loud we don't hear the Divine Whisper.

The call of Carmel is always to live in God's presence -- not to create the presence, but to acknowledge the Divine Presence, wherever we are.

Even as the God of history and needs of the Church transform the Carmelites from hermit/community contemplatives to the more active life of friars in Europe, the mountain cave experience does not die. The driving charism would be prayer -- the intimate union with God, developed in prayer. While we got caught up in all the monastic trappings and wordy prayers, the core call was always to silence and solitude -- to listen -- not to bombard God with words, but a quiet call to be with God -- to be focused -- to waste time, allowing deeper intimacy to develop, especially in times of dark emptiness, when God seemed absent.

When the Order in Europe stands before the Roman tribunal for approval, as the Church was trying to count, control and approve the many religious communities which were springing up, darkness was the experience. They were strange -- they were new -- they were small -- and had started in a foreign land -- the Holy Land. The Carmelites turned to their sister Mary, the Lady of the Place -- and asked for her assistance in the hour of darkness. Our history tells us that Simon Stock, at Aylesford in England, experienced Mary taking his apron and asking him to wear it as a sign of faith. The call was to interior renewal, not simply external observance -- a conversion of heart -- a sense of trust and abandonment to God. The Order was saved -- we made the cut and were one of only five who were approved as the mendicant orders of the Church. The tradition grew up about its magical and mystical powers -- the brown scapular became a sign of salvation. But Carmelites never saw it as a good luck charm or a guarantee of salvation. It was a call -- a mantle over the heart, to remind us of God's embrace and Mary's openness to God's presence. A sacramental to remind us of the true light -- the shining presence of Jesus when our world gets confusing, cloudy and dark. These are the colors and mantle of our Liege Lady, who inspires the crusade of our life. Our Lady of Aylesford is always about openness to God -- trust which lets go and risks -- not about secret charms, superstitious cloth, or magic prayers and blessed clothing which satisfy our security needs and somehow guarantee salvation. We wear the scapular as a sign of nakedness before God's revealing presence. It is a mantle of the heart, calling us to trust and let go and crusade for God.

When we became too busy or shallow, reforms called us back to God -- the Flaming Arrow tried to re-ignite a passion for the more contemplative life. The reform of John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila speak of journeys of light and darkness.

Teresa speaks of and challenges us to the journey into the interior castle which is our soul -- in our mystical tradition, Carmelites always believe that the human soul is the Divine Spark. It is brilliant crystal, sparkling like a diamond, and yet sometimes we are so blinded by the Divine Presence or lack of faith, that we don't see it. Slowly we walk through gardens and rooms -- the ways of water and thirst-quenching are the dividing lines as we draw closer to the center. There are always trials, fears and troubles, but we are called to trust the light shining at the center. The deluge comes as we walk less and are drenched in living waters of God's love. It transforms the way we view reality -- the way we view ourselves and others -- the Beloved has claimed the center and sparkles through us. Darkness doesn't go away -- but it no longer scares us or causes us to run. An inner peace gently overwhelms as we float in the waters of Divine Love. The diamond sparkles and we know the God who has always been revealing. Trust is the key -- "Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing dismay thee; all things are passing; God alone is unchanging. Patience obtains everything. The one who possesses God wants nothing. God is all one needs."

John of the Cross speaks of the Living Flame of Love, experienced during abandonment and despair. The absence invites and refines faith in the Presence. The journey through the dark night of the senses and spirit are the call deep within -- to trust -- to love more intimately than most of us want to publicly speak of. The Beloved is fire, inviting, burning, purifying, but never destroying -- like the burning bush of Sinai. The Ascent of Mount Carmel is a letting go and being free from the darkness of all attachments which bind and blind us -- even our expectation that we can earn God's salvation -- a "nada, nada, nada", so that God can lift us, embrace us and fill us at our depths. It is a journey beyond -- a journey within -- like Elijah at Horeb.

Both of these great Carmelite Doctors of the Church were misunderstood and even persecuted -- their teachings and contemplative trust of God were tested in darkness.

In our day, Titus Brandsma bears witness to the light of truth burning in the darkness of Nazi oppression -- a light that screamed and had to be snuffed out -- a voice that would not be silenced because God's children were being destroyed. In the dark tunnel of Dachua he still experiences the light and sacrifices himself for others -- like God, who is the spark of his soul. He radiated a cheerful courage amid the darkest of disasters -- he believed in the real presence and power of God amidst the worst inhumanity -- in the midst of the darkness of hell, he believed that Jesus had gone to the depths of hell and was present -- love triumphed. He wrote at the end: "We are in a dark tunnel ... at its end an eternal light is shining for us!"

Edith Stein, Sr. Benedicta of the Cross, (our newest saint) walks a path which sends her to her roots -- to the despair of atheism -- to serious questions because the darkness screamed so loud -- to following the Light of Jesus and becoming Catholic -- and eventually Carmelite -- she dies for a people seeking God's redemption amid the darkest of days. The Wisdom of God burned bright amid a life of misunderstanding, suspicion and search.

Always the journey of emptiness, letting go of fear to trust the light who is God even when life seemed so dark and the drought is endless thirst.

St. Therese of Lisieux, our newest Doctor of the Church -- her life was a struggle through darkness. The issues of abandonment by significant people like her Mother and older sisters; getting over her self-centered, hyper-sensitivity, migraines, and disappointments; her desire to have everything; her conversion on Christmas eve (which she described as Jesus changing "my night into radiant light"); her constant sickness; the terrible dark nights which tormented her spirit and tested her faith right to the end. Yet she smiled, believing that light was present even though she did not have the consolation of feeling its warmth. Despite struggles with great dreams to be a priest, warrior and missionary, she had to listen to limits in the cave of her experience -- and come to believe that she was "Love in the heart of the Church" -- God's energy and light, whether she felt it or not, would be priest, warrior and missionary and go to the ends of the earth. Only in that surrender of love did she come to experience that she was everything -- and her dreams were realized. She came to embrace the truth that God loved her littleness, her poverty, her emptiness, powerlessness and hiddeness -- not her successes. Her vocation was to be faithful, with a childlike confidence. She was heroic in a hidden way. She lived and taught a simple way of attending to the ordinary with extraordinary love. Love was being present to the moment -- because everything is grace -- the God of the present moment was here, no matter what she felt like. We are to be present to the moment, the person, the situation, with attentive love.

Even when she felt empty, arid and dry, her faith focused on her strong belief that she was protected with God's jealous care. That was the only light that mattered and it satiated her thirst for love. She did not like long, repetitious prayers -- was irritated by the rosary and the Nun behind her who was making noise rattling hers on the pew -- she fell asleep during community meditation. Her sister asked her to write her autobiography because she seemed so ordinary and they feared they would have nothing to say about her after she died. But God was so powerful and present in her, that even when she felt no consolation of presence, she believed in faith -- when her sisters asked her what she said to Jesus, especially in those moments of painful absence and darkness, she simply responded: "Nothing -- I say nothing -- I simply love Him!"

She beautifully captured the heart of the Carmelite vocation when she taught: "I understand so well that it is only love which makes us acceptable to God, that this love is the only good I seek. Jesus deigned to show me the road that leads to this Divine Furnace and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father's arms."

This wondrous Carmelite tradition is about light sparkling in darkness -- about rainbows that only shine in the mixture of rain and sun -- it is a spirituality rooted in the Incarnation -- God become flesh in the human person of Jesus -- that God is present in the human experience, in hidden and mysterious ways that only faith can embrace.

It is about listening and looking to experience the divine presence. Carmelites don't pray with a lot of words, but with hearts of love -- very relational prayer, and most times it is listening and being with, rather than bombarding God with lots of words. Carmelite spirituality is about creating caves, finding caves and sitting in caves carved out of our human experience to allow God to speak so that we can know the sacredness of all our lived experience. It is based on the faith experience that the God who permeates the whole universe, also lives deep within, at the core of who I am. Carmelites are encaved in silence and solitude so that God can breathe and speak, ever so gently, every so powerfully -- being in the cave enhances and focuses our sensitivity to the true light. Only when we drink of the darkness can we taste the light and see God in the fire, thunderstorms, earthquakes and activities of life.

Because we are created in the divine image and are the dwelling place of the Spirit of Jesus, the journey to light is a journey to self-knowledge. In getting to know God who is at our core, we know and embrace ourselves. There comes an honesty -- the truth purifies false images and illusions -- invites us to let go of false gods we create of our needs, dreams and fears. We learn to trust God's love in a way that profoundly transforms us -- we become filled with hope -- and see God everywhere.

Carmelite spirituality is about contemplation in action -- the being present always moves us beyond and into the future -- it is about isolating and self-preoccupation -- or even self-protection. Carmel always has a prophetic dimension that knows the truth of God breaking into and moving through human history. Elijah, after his powerful encounter with the gentle whisper, was sent forth to serve God's people. That has always been at the core of the Carmelite. The Voice moves us to work for the justice, reconciliation and fullness of God's Reign. The prophetic spirit, moved by God, usually irritates the status quo and causes creative action. Contemplation makes us more aware of the "not yet" -- it is part of the darkness which sheds light on God's future.

Carmelites are very human -- in fact, sometimes we are criticized for not being pious or clerical or "other-worldly" enough. We usually don't speak "highfalutin" language and don't practice pretence. We strive to be "of the people" as Jesus is "of the people" -- "one of us". The Incarnation of God in Jesus is critical. We are genuinely human because God is most present in the human experience, "the God in whose presence I live". Carmelite spirituality is not "other-worldly", focused somewhere other than where God has planted us in the garden of our human experience. I've heard the comment, almost as an accusation: "you almost seem too comfortable or casual with God!" What a compliment! God is so comfortable being with us -- why don't we let Him set the tone, as the One who invites us to the garden where he plants, works, blossoms and embraces us!

When Carmelites are faithful to our tradition and spirituality we reflect on the Word of God -- what it means in our life -- it's about sharing faith and space. It is lectio divina -- we are comfortable speaking about God and listening to God in each other -- and how the Word speaks in, to and through my experience. Carmelite spirituality is about a quiet place within that is a challenging journey deeper within and beyond.

Carmelites are about maneuvering through darkness -- the darkness of sin, disillusionment, disappointment, discouragement, feelings of being unloved, unappreciated, unimportant or unworthy -- the darkness of a lack of self-worth, addictive flight patterns, fatigue -- the heavy destructive darkness that I can earn my salvation, and live off my own resources -- the deceptive and blinding darkness of false gods I've created and unreal expectations -- maneuvering and journeying with faith that there is light hidden within the human experience, because of the enfleshment of God in Jesus and his absolute embrace of our human experience. Carmelites believe in our life, ministry and prayer that deep within lies the fire of God -- even if it feels like cooling embers, the fire never dies -- because the human soul is the spark of God.

Carmelite spirituality is very positive and powerful -- rooted in the Incarnation and resurrection of Jesus as the expressions of God's love for us. That our human experience is not engulfed in darkness, even if it feels like a dark cave sometimes -- we believe that our human experience of cave is really like a womb -- pregnant with divine presence and life-giving water. Life is not about light at the end of the tunnel -- it is about seeing the tunnel as light. The darkness only refines our sight and sensitivity to the Holy One!

Yes, Carmelite spirituality was born in Elijah's struggle to call God's people back to faith in the one true God -- and his flight to save himself. The Carmelites were historically formed by disillusioned crusaders fleeing the darkness in hope of seeing the light -- and it still continues today by crusaders battling the darkness of whatever diminishes, divides, destroys or demeans God's people -- because they believe in the Light!

"God lives, in whose presence I stand", proclaims Elijah.

"Be still and know that I am God!", speaks the Holy One!

Robert E. Colaresi, O. Carm.
St. Simon Stock Priory
Darien, Illinois

In honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on her feast day today and the Carmelites(my favorite order).

ping

Beautiful post, LIB. I love Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the Carmelite order. Some of our most powerful saints were Carmelites! Thanks for the ping! =)

Thank you JMJ333! I just love the Carmelites. I like how they kneel and spread their arms out,in the form of a cross.I wish I could pray like that.You're right,some of our most powerful saints are Carmelites! I never knew that they used to be known as the "White Friars."

It takes my breath away when I see them pray on their face. I used to have a holy hour from 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Saturday mornings, and I would pray like that sometimes because I would be the only one in there.

Its not something I do in my new hour because it is in the afternoon and I feel odd doing something so personal around strangers.

Our Carmelites are true warriors!

m_carmel.jpg (43771 bytes)

Novena To Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 16

First Day

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother!
(pause and mention petitions)

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Second Day

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness.
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Third Day

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. may we always wear it with honor by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours.
(pause and mention petitions) s)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Fourth Day

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us to be not only servants, but also your own children.
We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as you children in joy, peace and love. (pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Fifth Day

O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God's people.
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Sixth Day

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the Evil One.
Through your assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ.
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Seventh Day

O Mary, Help of Christians, you assured us that wearing your Scapular worthily would keep us safe from harm. Protect us in both body and soul with your continual aid. may all that we do be pleasing to your Son and to you.
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Eighth Day

You give us hope, O Mother of Mercy, that through your Scapular promise we might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory to the Kingdom of your Son. Be our comfort and our hope.
Grant that our hope may not be in vain but that, ever faithful to your Son and to you, we may speedily enjoy after death the blessed company of Jesus and the saints.
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Ninth Day

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son.
Behold us, your children. mtcarmel

We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel, through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death.
Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony!
Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help!
Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children.
Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls!
(pause and mention petitions)

Say: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

http://www.catholicism.org/pages/brown.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10604b.htm
http://home1.gte.net/lrodrigu/
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/carmel.htm
http://carmelnet.org/scapular/brown/brown.htm
http://www.nd.edu/~mary/Carmel.html
http://www.immaculata.ch/bilder/carmel3.jpg
http://www.basecamp.cnchost.com/cnovena9.htm
http://www.transporter.com/fatherpeffley/Spirituality/BRWN-SCAPa.html

PROCEDURE FOR THE BLESSING AND INVESTITURE THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

(Latin)

Priest - Ostende nobis, domine misericordiam tuam.
Respondent - Et salutare tuum da nobis.
P - Domine, exaudi orationem meum.
R - Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
P - Dominus vobiscum.
R - Et cum spiritu tuo.
P - Oremus. Domine Jesu Christe, humani generis Salvator, hunc habitum, quem propter tuum tuaeque Genitricis Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo, Amorem servus tuus devote est delaturus, dextera tua sanctifica, tu eadem Genitrice tua intercedente, ab hoste maligno defensus in tua gratia usque ad mortem perseveret: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

THE PRIEST BLESSES THE SCAPULAR AND INVESTS PERSONS SAYING:

P - Accipite hunc, habitum benedictum precantes sanctissima Virginem, ut ejus meritis illum perferatis sine macula, et vos ab omni adversitate defendat, atque advitam perducat aeternam. Amen.

AFTER INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:

P - Ego, ex potestate mihi concessa, recipio vos ad participationem, omnium bonorum spiritualium, qua, cooperante misericordia Jesu Christi, a Religiosa de Monte Carmelo peraguntur. In Nomine Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus Sancti. + Amen.

Benedicat + vos Conditor caeli at terrae, Deus omnipotens, qui vos cooptare dignatus est in Confraternitatem Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo: quam exoramus, ut in hore obitus vestri conterat caput serpentis antiqui, atque palmam et coronam sempiternae hereditatis tandem consequamini Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R - Amen.

(English)

Priest - Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy.
Respondent - And grant us Thy salvation.
P - Lord, hear my prayer.
R - And let my cry come unto Thee.
P - The Lord be with you.
R - And with your Spirit.
P - Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, sanctify by Thy power these scapulars, which for love of Thee and for love of Our Lady of Mont Carmel, Thy servants will wear devoutly, so that through the intercession of the same Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and protected against the evil spirit, they persevere until death in Thy grace. Thou who liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

THE PRIEST BLESSES THE SCAPULAR AND INVESTS PERSONS SAYING:

P - Receive this blessed scapular and beseech the Blessed Virgin that through Her merits, you may wear it without stain. May it defend you against all adversity and accompany you to eternal life. Amen.

AFTER INVESTITURE THE PRIEST CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYERS:

P - I, by the power vested in me, admit you to participate in all the spiritual benefits obtained through the mercy of Jesus Christ by the Religious Order of Mont Carmel.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

May God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, bless you, He who has deigned to join you to the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin of Mont Carmel; we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent so that you may enter into possession of your eternal heritage through Christ our Lord. R - Amen. THE ROSARY AND THE SCAPULAR ARE INSEPARABLE. PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY.

Hi Pyro7480,bump,Pray the rosary everyday.

Wonderful tribute, thank you, Lady in Blue. I love Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Carmelites (including St. Therese of Lisieux). Thanks for the ping!

BUMP

THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FATIMA, MOUNT CARMEL, AND MYSTERIES OF THE SCAPULAR

There are many mysteries associated with the Scapular and "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" -- which is how the Blessed Mother presented herself to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251.

It was the brown Scapular of Carmel that was the progenitor for subsequent scapulars -- green, red, and other colors -- that were attached to prophetic apparitions, just as Mount Carmel itself is rich in mystical history (where Elijah invoked God and defeated the demon-worshippers of Baal).

The mysteries may even include the cloud Elijah saw in the Holy Land at Mount Carmel 850 years before the birth of Christ (1 Kings 18). At least one author has quoted a belief that the cloud prefigured the Blessed Mother. Whatever the truth of that, the tradition of devotion to her was upheld for centuries during the early Church by hermits who lived in the legendary Carmel highlands (known too for mysterious fossil remains).

How important is the Scapular, and how important is the Virgin of Mount Carmel?

We know that some of the greatest saints -- such as St. Therese the Little Flower, as well as famed Fatima seer Lucia dos Santos, who by all odds will also find her way to canonization -- were Carmelites, and that the Blessed Mother was attired in brown garments (as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel") during her last and most dramatic apparition at Fatima. That was on the day of the great sun miracle, and it accented the importance of this devotion.

Why? What was the significance? What does it mean for us? Why at Mount Carmel?

We even see a tie to Lourdes -- where the last apparition to St. Bernadette was on July 16!

The feast of this devotion was instituted by the Carmelites between 1376 and 1386 to celebrate the victory of their order over its enemies on obtaining the approbation of its name, an encyclopedia tells us. After a Cardinal examined the Carmelite traditions in 1609, the date was declared the "patronal" feast of the order and is now celebrated in the Carmelite calendar as a major double of the first class with a vigil and a privileged octave (like the octave of Epiphany).

As for the Scapular: if it was so closely associated with Fatima, through Our Lady of Mount Carmel, does it bear a special significance in our turbulent (and prophetic) times? We are told of course that we are under Our Lady's protection if we die wearing a Scapular (as did Pope John Paul II) and we can assume that such protection extends to every day of our lives.

We need it more than ever.

It is a sacramental that like Holy Water is powerful against the enemy. "Take, beloved son this Scapular of thy order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace," the Blessed Mother told St. Simon. "Whoever dies in this garment will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant."

There are also Scapular medals, and in these difficult times it might be wise to plant such medals, as well as others, around our homes. Wearing one can be very important. Its mere presence reminds us not to sin.

At Fatima the Blessed Mother warned that the wrong fashions could lead a soul to hell -- and those who wear the Scapular are hard-pressed to wear the wrong kinds of clothes, for the simple reason that sinful, revealing clothes are out of sync with it.

There are mysteries attached to the sacramental itself. Does the brown Scapular benefit one who lives in sin?

As pointed out by Father John Schultz in The Divine Wisdom of Our Lady's Scapular, "There can be much merit; not of justification, but of disposing the soul for justification, through the merits of the Mother of God. To say that it is useless for a sinner to wear the Scapular, is, through ignorance, to blaspheme the Mother of God. When she appeared to St. Simon Stock she did not say: 'Whosoever shall die wearing the Scapular after leading a good life shall not suffer eternal fire.' That would make her promise superfluous. You and I could make a promise like that. What Mary did say was: 'Whosoever shall die wearing this badge of my confraternity shall not suffer everlasting fire.' No matter how extraordinary that promise may appear to be, the Blessed Mother made it, and she will keep it.

"Those who wear the Scapular always will die in the Grace of God because they have confidence in the protection of the Mother of God. And confidence in the protection of the Mother of God is a sign of predestination. Somehow or other the soul that is devoted to Mary will break with sin before death.

"There is a second reason why those who wear the Scapular will save their souls. They will never be without the help of prayer. The Mother of God showed a vision of hell to the three little children of Fatima. She told them: 'Pray for sinners. Remember that many souls are lost because they have nobody to pray for them.' The sinner who wears the Scapular has a whole worldwide confraternity praying for him."

[see also The Last Secret]

BTTT on July 16, 2005! Feast (optional) of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

July 16, 2005

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah (northern Israel) in the 12th century. They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. By the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary. In 1726 it became a celebration of the universal Church under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For centuries the Carmelites have seen themselves as specially related to Mary. Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception.

St. Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” St. John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel and helping him escape from prison. St. Theresa of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion she dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.

There is a tradition (which may not be historical) that Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, and gave him a scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified version of Mary’s own garment. It symbolizes her special protection and calls the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. Obviously, no magic way of salvation is intended. Rather, the scapular is a reminder of the gospel call to prayer and penance—a call that Mary models in a splendid way.

Comment:

The Carmelites were known from early on as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” The title suggests that they saw Mary not only as “mother,” but also as “sister.” The word “sister” is a reminder that Mary is very close to us. She is the daughter of God and therefore can help us be authentic daughters and sons of God. She also can help us grow in appreciation of being sisters and brothers to one another. She leads us to a new realization that all human beings belong to the family of God. When such a conviction grows, there is hope that the human race can find its way to peace.

Quote:

“The various forms of piety toward the Mother of God, which the Church has approved within the limits of sound and orthodox doctrine, according to the dispositions and understanding of the faithful, ensure that while the mother is honored, the Son through whom all things have their being (cf. Colossians 1:15–16) and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell (cf. Colossians 1:19) is rightly known, loved and glorified and his commandments are observed” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 66).

Thanks for the post. I spent two years at St. Alberts seminary in Middletown, N.Y.

Geez, I really miss that school.

Saint of the Day Ping!

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The parish in which I reside is "Our Lady of Mt. Carmel". A visiting priest gave us quite a comprehensive "history lesson"!

The parish in which I reside is "Our Lady of Mt. Carmel".

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My childhood parish here in Maryland was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I also attended OLMC grade school and high school. We were taught by Franciscan sisters.

BTTT on the optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2007!!