16th July, Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel

According to tradition, on the day of Pentecost a number of men who walked in the footsteps of the holy Prophets Elias and Eliseus, and whom John the BaptIst had prepared for the advent of Jesus, embraced the Christian faith, and erected the first church to the Blessed Virgin on Mount Carmel, at the very spot where Elias had seen a cloud arise, a figure of the fecundity of the Mother of God. They were called: Brethren of Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel (Collect). These religious came to Europe in the thirteenth century and in 1245 Innocent IV gave his approbation to their rule under the generalship of Simon Stock, an English saint.

On July 16, 1251, Mary appeared to this fervent servant and placed in his hands the habit which was to be their distinctive sign. Innocent IV blessed this habit and attached to it many privileges, not only for the members of the Order, but also for those who entered the Confraternity of our Lady of Mount Carmel. By wearing the scapular, which is in smaller form than that of the Carmelite Fathers, they participate in all their merits and may hope to obtain through the Virgin a prompt delivery from purgatory, if they have faithfully observed abstinence, chastity according to their state, and said the prayers prescribed by John XXII, in the Sabbatine bull, published on March 3, 1322. The feast of our Lady of Mount Garmel, at first celebrated only in the churches of the Order, was extended to all Christendom by Benedict XIII, in 1726.

Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore beatae Mariae Virginis: de cujus solemnitate gaudent Angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei. * Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi.
Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary, on whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. * My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King.
(Psalm 44:2 from the introit of Mass)

Deus, qui beatissimae semper Virginis et Genitrlcis tuae Mariae singulari titulo Carmeli ordinem decorasti: concede propitius; ut, cujus hodie Commemorationem solemni celebramus officio, ejus muniti praesidiis, ad gaudia sempiterna pervemre mereamur.
O God, who hast been pleased to honour the Order of Carmel with the particular title of Mary ever Virgin and Thy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who celebrate this day her commemoration by a solemn office, may be shielded by her protection, and attain eternal joys.

(Collect)

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10604b.htm