There are many 'Our Ladys.' There is Our Lady of places like
Lourdes and Guadeloupe, Our Lady of devotions like the Rosary.
We also have many feasts of Mary, each celebrating God's goodness
to her. When we have 'Our Lady of somewhere' we usually concentrate
on how she is honoured in a place the Virgin who invites us
to repentance and healing at Lourdes, the Virgin of the poor
and marginalised at Guadeloupe. When we speak of Our Lady of
an Order or Congregation, we are alluding to the way in which
she is honoured in that institute.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July.
It draws our attention to the way in which Carmelites see her.
We know that the hermit brothers on Mount Carmel dedicated an
oratory to St. Mary early in the 13th century. In medieval times
that was the equivalent of their declaring that she is their
Patron who will look after them, and whom they in turn will serve ….
Later when the Carmelites came to Europe and joined the ranks
of mendicant friars, other images of Mary arose among them. They
took, of course, the notion of Mother common to all Christians
of the East and West. They also saw her as Sister, and honoured
her as the Most Pure Virgin, that is the Virgin of undivided
heart. From this time, too, Carmelites were much taken by the
beauty of Mary, so that a favourite invocation was, 'Mother and
Beauty of Carmel.'
In the late Middle Ages the relationship of the Carmelites to
Mary was represented by the Brown Scapular; the symbol here is
of Mary's protection and of people honouring her in the Carmelite
tradition. This symbol of the Scapular has been officially recognised
in the Church as a way of being consecrated to Mary and as a
way of seeking her help and protection.
Contemporary reflection on Our Lady of Mount Carmel is rediscovering
riches in the ancient tradition. A typical Carmelite vision would
be of Mary, the gentle presence, the one who is always around,
like a Mother or an Elder Sister who is watchful and caring for
those who come to her.
- Chris 0 'Donnell, O. Carm
Flos Carmeli
(Flower of 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 us in our necessity!
O Star of the Sea,
help and protect us!
Show us that you are our Mother!
The prayer Flos Carmeli (Flower of Carmel) was composed by
the Carmelite Saint Simon Stockand in answer he received
the Scapular
from Our Blessed Mother.
There are many 'Our Ladys.' There is Our Lady of places like
Lourdes and Guadeloupe, Our Lady of devotions like the Rosary.
We also have many feasts of Mary, each celebrating God's goodness
to her. When we have 'Our Lady of somewhere' we usually concentrate
on how she is honoured in a place the Virgin who invites us
to repentance and healing at Lourdes, the Virgin of the poor
and marginalised at Guadeloupe. When we speak of Our Lady of
an Order or Congregation, we are alluding to the way in which
she is honoured in that institute.
In the late Middle Ages the relationship of the Carmelites to
Mary was represented by the Brown Scapular; the symbol here is
of Mary's protection and of people honouring her in the Carmelite
tradition. This symbol of the Scapular has been officially recognised
in the Church as a way of being consecrated to Mary and as a
way of seeking her help and protection.