Our Lady Our Mother Mary has many names and one of them is Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This title commemorates her role as Patroness of the Carmelite Order revered by Catholics all over the world.
The devotion is rooted in the biblical story of Elijah’s triumph on Mount Carmel, the mountain in Israel significant for the biblical story of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal, where fire from heaven validated the one true God, and the tradition of hermits who lived on the mountain in the late 12th and early to mid-13th century who thereafter built a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with the devotion, is believed to have been given by Mary to Saint Simon Stock. On July 16, 1251, while deeply immersed in prayer, St. Simon Stock experienced a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She appeared to him holding the Infant Jesus in one arm and the Brown Scapular in the other. She presented the Scapular to St. Simon with the following words:
“Receive, my beloved son, this Scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favour, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”
There are so many who have been saved by wearing of this sacramental. I particularly remember when riots broke out in Mumbai after the assasination of our then Prime minister Indira Gandhi , there was chaos but the scapular saved our brethren .
I also know of a priest who was drowning but he held on to the scapular and was miraculously saved.
While the devotion began in the Middle East, it has spread worldwide, with celebrations in countries like the Philippines, Brazil, and Spain.
We in Aquem are lucky to have the Carmelite monastery. Many of our lay brothers and sisters have joined the secular order of the discalced Carmelite order, carrying forward the wonderful works of charity, mercy, prayers and following their virtues.
In essence, Our Lady of Mount Carmel represents a powerful connection between biblical history, Carmelite spirituality, and Marian devotion, celebrated through the scapular and the feast day on July 16th.
– Gladys Da Silva (ward 3)