Our Lady of Mt Carmel - July 16

HEALTH AND BLESSINGS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CARMELITE FAMILY ON THE SOLEMN LITURGICAL FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL

The Apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to Saint Simon Stock

The origin of the Carmelite Order is as old as it is glorious. It is believed, not without reason, that this Order is the continuation of the established school of the prophets of Mount Carmel, nine centuries before Christ, by the great prophet Elijah. The followers of this school were among the first converts to Christianity and the Carmel became the cradle of monastic life. After the dispersal of the Apostles, in the year 38, they built a chapel in honor of Mary and vowed to particularly sing her praises.

Later, France, along with other European countries, began the Crusades to wrest the Holy Land from the infidels. Since the Saracens intensified the persecution of religious orders in Palestine, the Carmelites migrated to France with Saint Louis, King of France. They established several houses and even travelled north as far as England. In 1241, the Earl of Kent gave the Carmelites a house on his property of Ayleshire. Simon Stock, an Englishman, was elected the head of the Order in England, and became Superior General of the Carmelites. He was ready to do anything in order to rekindle Marian devotion among the Carmelites.

By 1245, Stock was already deeply discouraged by the climate of antagonism with the other clergy, who even conspired against them in Rome and there was great danger that his order would perish. Stock spent the night of July 15, 1251, in prayer to the Virgin Mary seeking her assistance. She appeared to him holding the Infant Jesus, in the early morning of July 16, accompanied by a multitude of angels, surrounded by light and clothed in the habit of Carmel. She handed him the scapular of the Order, telling him: "Receive this scapular for your Order. It shall be a special sign of salvation. This is a privilege for you and all Carmelites. Those who die wearing this scapular shall be preserved from eternal fire."

Miracles occurred to confirm the truth of this apparition. This was the beginning of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, for Christians not ready to embrace the Carmelite Rule, in order to bring them, too, the blessings promised by wearing the scapular. The most important privilege granted to the Brotherhood of Mount Carmel after the scapular was given to St Simon Stock, is the one that was revealed to Pope John XXII: the Sabbatine Privilege -- on Saturday, because Our Lady promises scapular-wearers, who have been faithful to the spirit and rules of the Brotherhood, prompt delivery from Purgatory, especially on the Saturday after their death. Besides these two privileges, there are also many other indulgences attached to the scapular.


Adapted from Fr. L. Jaud, Lives of Saints for Every Day of the Year, (Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950)




Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.