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Home , Flos Carmeli, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Simon Stock, Stella Maris Monastery

Our Lady of

For other uses, see (disam- 1 History biguation). Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Tradition- ally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named . The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July.[1] The solemn liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was probably first celebrated in in the later part of the 14th century. Its object was thanksgiving to Mary, the patroness of the Carmelite Order, for the benefits she had accorded to it through its rocky early existence. The institution of the feast may have come in the wake of the vindication of their title “Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary extquotedbl at Cambridge, England in 1374. The date chosen was 17 July; on the European mainland this date conflicted with the feast of St. Alexis, necessitating a shift to 16 July, which remains the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout the . The Latin poem (meaning “Flower of Carmel”) first appears as the for this Mass.[2] The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is known to many Catholic faithful as the “scapular feast,” associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a devotional sacramental signifiying the wearer’s conse- cration to Mary and affiliation with the Carmelite Or- der. A tradition first attested to in the late 14th century Our Lady of Carmel by , 1641. says that Saint Simon Stock, an early general of the Carmelite Order,[3] had a vision of the Blessed Virgin the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Mary in which she gave him the Brown Scapular which formed part of the Carmelite habit, promising that those Carmelite Order. The first were Christian [4] living on Mount Carmel in the dur- who died wearing the scapular would be saved. ing the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries. They That there should be a connection in people’s minds be- built a chapel in the midst of their hermitages which they tween the scapular, the widely popular devotion originat- dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, whom they conceived of ing with the Carmelites, and this central Carmelite feast in chivalric terms as the “Lady of the place.” Our Lady day, is surely not unnatural or unreasonable. But the litur- of Mt. Carmel is the of . gical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel did not origi-

1 2 4 CHURCH TEACHING nally have a specific association with the Brown Scapular and intimate union with him. Mary’s soul is or the tradition of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. a sanctuary reserved for , where no In 1642, a Carmelite named Fr. John Cheron, responding human creature has ever left its trace, where to scholarly criticism that Saint Simon Stock's vision may love and zeal for the glory of God and the sal- not have historically occurred (these doubts are echoed vation of mankind reign supreme. [...] Those by historians today[5][6]), published a document which who want to live their devotion to Our Lady he said was a letter written in the 13th century by Saint of Mt. Carmel to the full must follow Mary Simon Stock’s secretary, “Peter Swanington”. Histori- into the depths of her interior life. Carmel is ans conclude that this letter was forged, likely by Cheron the symbol of the contemplative life, the life himself.[7][8][9] It was nevertheless uncritically embraced wholly dedicated to the quest for God, wholly by many promoters of the scapular devotion. The forged orientated towards intimacy with God; and the document’s claim of 16 July 1251 as the date of the vi- one who has best realized this highest of ideals sion (16 July being the date of the Feast of Our Lady of is Our Lady herself, 'Queen and Splendor of Mount Carmel) subsequently led to a strong association Carmel'.”[12] between this feast day, and the scapular devotion, and in the intervening years until the late 1970s, this association with the scapular was also reflected in the liturgy for that 3 to the Blessed Mother of day. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as well as that of Saint Simon Stock came under scrutiny after Mount Carmel Vatican II due to historical uncertainties, and today nei- ther of these liturgies, even in the Carmelite proper, make “O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, reference to the scapular.[10] splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. O 2 Carmelite devotion to Mary Holy Mary, Mother of God, and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity (make request). There are The Carmelites see in the Blessed Virgin Mary a perfect none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived model of the interior life of prayer and contemplation to without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet which Carmelites aspire, a model of virtue, as well as the Mother I place this cause in your hands. Amen.” person who was closest in life to Christ. She is seen as the one who points Christians most surely to Christ, saying to all what she says to the servants at the wedding at Cana, “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you.” Carmelites 4 Church teaching look to the Virgin Mary as a Spiritual Mother.[11] The Stella Maris on Mount Carmel, named after a A 1996 doctrinal statement approved by the traditional title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is considered Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the spiritual headquarters of the order. the Sacraments states that “Devotion to Our Lady of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, OCD, a Mount Carmel is bound to the history and spiritual values revered authority on Carmelite spirituality, wrote that de- of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary votion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel means: of Mount Carmel and is expressed through the scapular. Thus, whoever receives the scapular becomes a member a special call to the interior life, which is pre- of the order and pledges him/herself to live according to its spirituality in accordance with the characteristics of eminently a Marian life. Our Lady wants us to [13] resemble her not only in our outward vesture his/her state in life.” but, far more, in heart and spirit. If we gaze According to the ways in which the Church has inter- into Mary’s soul, we shall see that grace in her vened at various times to clarify the meaning and priv- has flowered into a spiritual life of incalcula- ileges of the Brown Scapular: “The scapular is a Marian ble wealth: a life of recollection, prayer, un- habit or garment. It is both a sign and pledge. A sign of interrupted oblation to God, continual contact, belonging to Mary; a pledge of her motherly protection, 3 not only in this life but after death. As a sign, it is a con- Carmel descending into to be made, due to ventional sign signifying three elements strictly joined: errors being preached about certain privileges associ- first, belonging to a religious family particularly devoted ated with the Brown Scapular (“the to Mary, especially dear to Mary, the Carmelite Order; extquotedbl).[15] second, consecration to Mary, devotion to and trust in her That privilege appears in mentioned Decree of the Holy Immaculate Heart; third an urge to become like Mary by Office (1613), and later was inserted in its entirety (ex- imitating her virtues, above all her humility, chastity, and [14] cept for the words forbidding the painting of the pictures) spirit of prayer.” into the list of the indulgences and privileges of the Con- fraternity of the Scapular of Mount Carmel.[16] Today, the Carmelites, while encouraging a belief in Mary’s gen- 5 Our Lady of Mount Carmel and eral aid and prayerful assistance for their souls beyond Purgatory death, especially her aid to those who devoutly wear the Brown Scapular, and commending devotion to Mary es- pecially on Saturdays which are dedicated to her, do not focus on the Sabbatine Privilege.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel with angels and souls in Purgatory. Baroque sculpture from Beniaján ()

Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been related with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Palmi. Purgatory from centuries ago. In some cases, she is shown accompanied with angels and souls wearing Brown , who plead for her mediation. In 1613, the Church forbade images of Our Lady of Mt. 4 11 EXTERNAL LINKS

6 Apparitions 1990, the Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, a priest of the Eastern Rite (Byzantine-Melkite) of the Catholic Our Lady of Mount Carmel was seen in the apparitions Church, initiated the Twenty-Four Hours Day of at Fatima to Lucia dos Santos during the miracle of the Prayer for Forgiveness and Protection with Our Lady of sun and also appeared to St. Simon Stock to whom she Mount Carmel at Trinity Site in the New desert. gave the Brown Scapular.[17] Each year on July 16th a prayer vigil is conducted at Trin- ity site to pray for peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons. 7 Miracles of Our Lady of Mount Carmel 9 Gallery of statues

• In Palmi on November 16[18] of each year is com- Statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel usually depict her memorated the earthquake of 1894, which had its with a Brown scapular. epicenter in the city and in which an event occurred defined as the “miracle of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”. For 17 days preceding this earthquake • Beniaján, Spain many of the faithful had reported strange eye move- • Chile ments and changes in the coloring of the face in a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The lo- • Chile cal and national press reported these strange occur- rences and in the evening of November 16 the faith- • Biscay, Spain ful improvised a procession carrying the statue on the shoulders of some of the faithful through the • Medellín, Colombia streets. When the procession reached the end of the • Paucartambo, city, a violent earthquake shook the whole district [19] of Palmi, ruining most of the houses along the • , USA way of the procession. Only nine people died out of a population of about 15,000 inhabitants, as al- • Oaxaca, Mexico most all of the population had been on the street as a result of the procession. Therefore a commemo- • Oaxaca, Mexico ration of the 1894 procession takes place each year • Pattada, Sardegna accompanied with the firing of firecrackers, lights and festive stalls.

The Catholic Church has officially recognized the 10 See also miracle,[20] crowning the statue November 16, 1896 as a result of the decree issued by the Vatican Chapter • Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel September 22, 1895. • Carmelites 8 Our Lady of Mount Carmel and • Mount Carmel the Peace Movement • Byzantine

The first atomic bomb was exploded at the Trinity test site on July 16, 1945, near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 11 External links The coincidence between this date and the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has led to a close association be- • Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Bandra, Mumbai - In- tween the Catholic anti-war movement and this feast. In dia 5

• Brown Scapular: a “Silent Devotion” – 2008 article [11] http://www.ocd.pcn.net/mad_en.htm via Zenit news service by Fr. Kieran Kavenaugh, OCD discusses devotion to the Brown Scapular, the [12] Bede Edwards, OCDS. Carmel Clarion Volume XXI, pp 17–22. “St. Simon Stock—The Scapular Vision & the existence of historical problems, and pastoral prac- Brown Scapular Devotion.” July–August 2005, Discalced tice Carmelite Secular Order, Washington Province. (Father • The Virgin Mary in Our Life – Article about Marian Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi is quoted in this article) devotion in the Carmelite tradition • [13] Doctrinal Statement on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady Representations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Mount Carmel approved by the Congregation for Di- vine Worship and for the Discipline of the Sacraments, November 29, 1996. Can be found in the publication 12 References Catechesis and Ritual for the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Prepared under the direction of the North American Provincials of the Carmelite Orders. 2000. [1] Bede Edwards, OCDS. Carmel Clarion Volume XXI, pp 17–22. “St. Simon Stock—The Scapular Vision & the [14] Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD, Zenit News Service. Brown Brown Scapular Devotion.” July–August 2005, Discalced Scapular: A Silent Devotion July 16, 2008. Carmelite Secular Order, Washington Province. [15] 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia. Sabbatine Privilege -- “The [2] Bede Edwards, OCDS. Carmel Clarion Volume XXI, pp Bull [of the Holy Roman General Inquisition 20 January 17–22. “St. Simon Stock—The Scapular Vision & the 1613, clarifying what is permissible for the Carmelites to Brown Scapular Devotion.” July–August 2005, Discalced preach regarding the Brown Scapular] forbids the painting Carmelite Secular Order, Washington Province. of pictures representing, in accordance with the wording of the Bull, the Mother of God descending into purgatory [3] http://www.ocarm.org/pls/ocarm/consultazione.mostra_ (cum descensione beatae Virginis ad animas in Purgatorio pagina?id_pagina=648 Saint Simon Stock liberandas).” [4] The Carmelites and Antiquity. Mendicants and their Pasts [16] Catholic Encyclopedia: Sabbatine Privilege in the Middle Ages. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. [17] “The Messages of Fatima”. “Lucia also saw Our Lady of Mount Carmel who signifies the triumph over suffering.” [5] Louis Saggi, O.Carm; Saint Simon Stock (XIII Century) Saint, Priest – Scholarly historical information [18] See the wikipedia article on Italian (Italian) Festa della Beata Vergine del Carmelo (Palmi) [6] Bede Edwards, OCDS. Carmel Clarion Volume XXI, pp 17–22. “St. Simon Stock—The Scapular Vision & the [19] Il terremoto del 16 novembre 1894 in calabria e sicilia, Brown Scapular Devotion.” July–August 2005, Discalced Roma, 1907. Tesot full archive available: Relazione sci- Carmelite Secular Order, Washington Province. entifica sul terremoto

[7] Fr. Paul D'Souza, OCD. The Carmelite Scapular: History [20] See the wikipedia article on Italian (Italian) Miracolo della and Devotion del Carmine di Palmi [8] Herbert Thurston, S.J., “The Origin of the Scapular – A Criticism.” The Irish Ecclesiastical Record Vol XVI July– December 1904. pp. 59–75. Dublin: Browne & Nolan, Limited. – well researched 1904 journal article demon- strates the falsity of the Swanington letter as well as the forged papal bull that was the basis of the “Sabbatine priv- ilege”, discusses Carmelite history and the facts about the evolution of the scapular devotion etc.

[9] Louis Saggi, O.Carm; Saint Simon Stock (XIII Century) Saint, Priest – Scholarly historical information

[10] Fr. Paul D'Souza, OCD. The Carmelite Scapular: History and Devotion 6 13 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel?oldid=625333152 Contributors: Hen- rygb, Seano1, Tom harrison, Xandar, Crazyeddie, TonyW, Discospinster, Wrp103, Lima, Euyyn, Kenohki, Caeruleancentaur, Plumbago, Elizdelphi, Super-Magician, Karam.Anthony.K, Musical Linguist, YurikBot, Briaboru, Sophroniscus, Stijn Calle, Dilbert08, JBogdan, Allens, SmackBot, Gilliam, Hmains, Carl.bunderson, Jeffro77, Joejjc, Vdavisson, WSaindon, Luc., Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Simkiss, Clarityfiend, LadyofShalott, Angeldeb82, ChrisCork, Pink Fae, Fvasconcellos, CmdrObot, Rwflammang, GDbohdiStudent, Todowd, Cydebot, Jonathan Tweet, Gogo Dodo, Quibik, Thijs!bot, Marek69, Freddiem, NeilEvans, RapidR, Zupez zeta, Alekjds, Mark j, Jayzaran, CommonsDelinker, Boston, RockMFR, Toroid, Sherzo, NewEnglandYankee, MishaPan, Revoleoj, Technopat, Miguel Chong, John Carter, Mbarrieau, VanishedUserABC, SieBot, Jalanb, Flyer22, Jc3schmi, Kitscott, Denisarona, Martarius, ClueBot, Pipep- Bot, Hafspajen, SchreiberBike, Saebjorn, XLinkBot, Stickee, Avoided, Alexius08, Addbot, Lightbot, Luckas-bot, Phpscriptcoder, AnomieBOT, Rruz1986, Jordiferrer, Sanadick, RibotBOT, Cyfraw, FrescoBot, Cnwilliams, Marley2289, Aguyisawesome, HiW-Bot, ZéroBot, Tipene78, ClueBot NG, Matthew890p, Helpful Pixie Bot, Vivasanrocco, ChrisGualtieri, JBGeorge77, ThePepel-Eterni, Hmains- bot1, Mogism, Dominic Maria, FERNANDES Gilbert, 069952497a and Anonymous: 99

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