Carmelite Spirituality
Carmelite spirituality is characterised by an intense thirst for an immediate and direct experience of God. Reduced to its most fundamental expression, Carmelite spirituality is centred on prayer, understood as loving friendship with God, and contemplation as the free gift of God. Hence, Carmelite spirituality is focused on attention to one’s relationship with Jesus. This is expressed in various ways in the major sources of Carmelite spirituality, such as the Rule of St. Albert, the writings of the founders of Discalced Carmel Sts. Teresa and John of the Cross, and indeed in the writings of all our Carmelite saints.
In the 12th century, the Carmelites lived on Mount Carmel and built the first church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
They were joined by many pilgrims, established a rule and became formalized in the 13th century.
The Order spread to Europe and St. Simon became the sixth general in 1245 when the Carmelites government was moved to England from Palestine.
On July 16th, 1251, in the midst of great persecutions against the Order, St. Simon knelt in prayer to the Blessed Virgin in the convent at Cambridge.
Mary, holding the baby Jesus, appeared to him and handed him the brown scapular, a loose garment worn over the head, down the front and back, from the shoulders to the knees.
She told him to receive the scapular as a sign of a privilege she had obtained for them and all who honored her.
It was a "sign of salvation", a "safeguard in danger" and a "special pledge of peace and protection until the end of time".
"Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames". The problems that the Carmelites faced ceased and devotion to the scapular spread quickly.
Many miracles have been attached to the wearing of the scapular and Our Lady chose to include this apparition in two other of her appearances.
At Lourdes in 1858, Mary made her last appearance on July 16th, the same day she appeared to St. Simon Stock and the day the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel.
At Fatima in 1917, Mary made her last appearance to the children as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Our Lady of Mt Carmel
Feast Day: July 16th
Patron Saint of: Carmelites
Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel
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 me in my time of need!
In you I find consolation when afflicted,
protection when prosecuted,
strength when burdened with trials,
and light in doubt and darkness.
Dear Lady of Mount Carmel,
I firmly believe that you can grant
me the grace I implore.
My dearest Mary, be pleased to
accept this my act of perfect
resignation to the decrees
of your adorable heart,
which I sincerely desire
to be fulfilled in and by me
and all God's creatures forever.
Amen.
