Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Introduction
On July 16th we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, reflecting on her virtues and love for the faithful. The theology of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is based on the understanding that the Blessed Virgin is an exemplar; a model of prayer, contemplation, and virtue. These considerations are particularly significant for Carmelites and as such she is their patroness.
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Theology of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
On July 16th we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, reflecting on her virtues and love for the faithful. The theology of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is based on the understanding that the Blessed Virgin is an exemplar; a model of prayer, contemplation, and virtue. These considerations are particularly significant for Carmelites and as such she is their patroness.
We have seen through the liturgical year, that Our Lady embodies perfect obedience and openness to God’s will, no matter the personal cost. In this, Our Lady is not only the perfect disciple of Christ, but she also gently leads us to her beloved Son, Jesus Christ and as such is a model of faith, hope, and love.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel embodies the highest human aspiration in the Catholic Church. That is, complete union with God. Devotion to Our Lady, especially through the Brown Scapular, signifies a particular commitment to following Christ and a desire for her intercession and protection.
Our Lady as a Model of Interior Life:
The Magnificat prayer is a vivid testament to the purity of Our Lady’s heart and soul and illustrates why she is so beloved of God the Father and, of course, Jesus. “My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord,” she exclaims at the Annunciation, denoting her perfect inner self; a dogma defined by Pope Pius IX as the Immaculate Conception in 1854. This dogma, proclaimed in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus, explains Our Lady was conceived without original sin.
Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is seen as a path to greater union with God. It encourages the practice of virtues such as charity, chastity, and obedience. Of course, any special devotion to Our Lady leads to a deeper relationship with Christ and a more profound understanding of the Christian life, but this feast day has special resonance for many of the faithful.
The Carmelite Order views Our Lady as the ideal example of the interior life of prayer and contemplation they strive for. Her closeness to Jesus, exemplified by her words at the Wedding Feast at Cana (“Do whatever he tells you”), makes her a powerful guide for believers. The Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel near Haifa in northern Israel is considered the spiritual headquarters of the order, named after a traditional title of Our Lady. This monastery, built in the 17th century, is dedicated to the prophet Elijah and is a site of pilgrimage for Carmelites and others. One of the order’s most famous saints, Saint Teresa of Avila, called Carmelites “the Order of the Virgin,” highlighting Our Lady’s significance to the order.
The Brown Scapular, a traditional Carmelite devotion, is seen as a symbol of her special protection and a call to consecrate oneself to her. It is not a magical charm but a reminder of the wearer’s commitment to live a Christian life, following Our Lady’s example.
Wearing the scapular is also associated with the Sabbatine Privilege. This is a promise of early liberation from Purgatory on the Saturday after death, through Our Lady’s intercession for those who wear the scapular and who include observing chastity according to one’s state in life and reciting the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily (or fulfilling a similar pious work with permission from a priest).
The Stella Maris Prayer
The Stella Maris prayer, also known as Ave Maris Stella, is a traditional hymn and prayer dedicated to Our Lady. It calls on her as a guiding star to lead individuals through life’s challenges and towards spiritual salvation. The prayer has been attributed to various authors throughout history, with some sources suggesting it originated in the 5th century. It is a popular prayer among seafarers and has been adopted by organisations such as Stella Maris, the Catholic Church’s maritime charity. The Carmelites, who consider Our Lady, the Star of the Sea, have taken her as their patroness.
Hail, Star of the sea, gentle mother and ever Virgin, happy gate of heaven, taking that “Ave” from Gabriel’s lips, please show us peace. Breaking the chains of the guilty, bringing light to the blind, driving away our evils, obtain for us every good. Show yourself to be our mother. May He who for our sake deigned to be born, accept our prayers through you. Virgin all excelling, mildest of the mild, free us from guilt, and make us pure and chaste. Amen.
Three Day Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
This prayer is often associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and it is recited for three consecutive days.
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, help me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." (mention your petition) Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Amen.
The Litany of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of Heaven, pray for us sinners.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Victorious over Satan, pray for us.
Most Obedient Daughter, pray for us sinners.
Most Pure Virgin, pray for us sinners.
Devoted Spouse, pray for us.
Mother Most Tender, pray for us.
Model of Perfect Virtue, pray for us.
Sure Anchor of Hope, pray for us.
Refuge in Sorrow, pray for us.
Dispenser of the Gifts of God, pray for us.
Bastion Against Our Enemies, pray for us.
Our Aid in Danger, pray for us.
The Way Leading to Jesus, pray for us.
Our Light in Darkness, pray for us.
Our Consolation at the Hour of Death, pray for us.
Advocate of the Most Abandoned Sinners, pray for us.
For the Hardened in Vice, pray for us.
For Those who Offend Your Divine Son, pray for us.
For Those Who Neglect to Pray, pray for us.
For Those Who are in Agony, pray for us.
For Those Who Defer Their Conversion, pray for us.
For Those Suffering in Purgatory, pray for us.
For Those Who Do Not Know You, pray for us.
For those who grieve your Son, With confidence we come to you,
…
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing,
R. Intercede for us with your Divine Son.
Let Us Pray: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God’s tenderest mercy to man, refuge, and advocate of sinners, with confidence I prostrate myself before you, beseeching you to obtain for me [Mention your request silently]. In return I solemnly promise to have recourse to you in all my trials, sufferings, and temptations, and I shall do all in my power to induce others to love and reverence you and to invoke you in all their needs. I thank you for the many blessings which I have received from your mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be my shield in danger, my guide in life, and my consolation at the hour of death. Amen.
Prayer of Consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Queen and Mother of Carmel, I come today to consecrate myself to you, for my whole life is but a small return for the many graces and blessings that have from God to me through your hands.
I implore You to strengthen my weakness with your power, to enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom, to increase in me faith, hope and charity that I may make daily my humble homage to you. Kindly keep your eyes of mercy turned towards me and bring protect me in the daily struggle to be faithful to your Divine Son and to you.
May the Scapular separate me from all that is sinful in life and remind me constantly of my duty clothe myself with your virtues. Henceforth I will strive to live in the sweet companionship of your spirit, to offer all to Jesus through you, making my life the mirror of your humility, charity, patience, meekness and prayerfulness.
Dearest Mother, please support me with your never-failing love so that I might one day exchange your Scapular for a wedding garment in Heaven, albeit I am an unworthy sinner. I hope to dwell with Thee and the saints of Carmel in the kingdom of Thy Son. Amen.
Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Day One: Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendour of heaven, holy and singular, who bore the Son of God, still ever being still a pure virgin, please help us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother! (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Two: 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. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Three: 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 honour by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Four: 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 humbly ask that you gain from your Son, the grace for us to live as you, children in joy, peace, and love. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Five: 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. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Six: With loving provident care, Mother most amiable, you protect us with your Scapular as a shield of defence against evil. Through your help, may we bravely struggle against the powers of darkness, and always be open to your Son, Jesus Christ. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Seven: Our Lady, 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. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
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Day Eight: You give us hope, 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. May our hope 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. (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.
Day Nine: 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. 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 Saviour, 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! (mention any petitions)
Please say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.