about:
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel was seen in the apparitions at Fatima to Lucia dos Santos during the miracle of the sun and also appeared to St. Simon Stock to whom she gave the Brown Scapular.
- "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order and the Discalced Carmelite Order, and the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (also known as the Brown Scapular), is the habit of the two Orders. In its small form, it is widely popular within the Catholic Church as a religious article and has probably served as the prototype of all the other devotional scapulars. The liturgical feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, is popularly associated with the devotion of the Scapular.
- According to the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship, the Brown Scapular is "an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer."
- A traditional formulation of the Scapular Promise is "Take this Scapular. Whosoever dies wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and pledge of peace."
- This feast was instituted by the Carmelites between 1376 and 1386 under the title "Commemoratio B. Marif Virg. duplex" to celebrate the victory of their order over its enemies on obtaining the approbation of its name and constitution from Honorius III on 30 Jan., 1226 (see Colvenerius, "Kal. Mar.", 30 Jan. "Summa Aurea", III, 737). The feast was assigned to 16 July, because on that date in 1251, according to Carmelite traditions, the scapular was given by the Blessed Virgin to St. Simon Stock; it was first approved by Sixtus V in 1587. After Cardinal Bellarmine had examined the Carmelite traditions in 1609, it was declared the patronal feast of the order, and is now celebrated in the Carmelite calendar as a major double of the first class with a vigil and a privileged octave (like the octave of Epiphany, admitting only a double of the first class) under the title "Commemoratio solemnis B.V.M. de Monte Carmelo". By a privilege given by Clement X in 1672, some Carmelite monasteries keep the feast on the Sunday after 16 July, or on some other Sunday in July. In the seventeenth century the feast was adopted by several dioceses in the south of Italy, although its celebration, outside of Carmelite churches, was prohibited in 1628 by a decree contra abusus. On 21 Nov., 1674, however, it was first granted by Clement X to Spain and its colonies, in 1675 to Austria, in 1679 to Portugal and its colonies, and in 1725 to the Papal States of the Church, on 24 Sept., 1726, it was extended to the entire Latin Church by Benedict XIII. The lessons contain the legend of the scapular; the promise of the Sabbatine privilege was inserted into the lessons by Paul V about 1614. The Greeks of southern Italy and the Catholic Chaldeans have adopted this feast of the "Vestment of the Blessed Virgin Mary". The object of the feast is the special predilection of Mary for those who profess themselves her servants by wearing her scapular.
- Mount Carmel (Hebrew: הַר הַכַּרְמֶל, Har HaKarmel ISO 259-3 Har ha Karmell (lit. God's vineyard); Greek: Κάρμηλος, Kármēlos; Arabic: الكرمل, Kurmul or جبل مار إلياس Jabal Mar Elyas 'Mount Saint Elias') is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. The range is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a number of towns are located there, most notably the city of Haifa, Israel's third largest city, located on the northern slope.
- Mount Carmel is considered a sacred place/location for Christianity and other religions
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Teaching of the Catholic Church about the Brown Scapular:
Carmelite scholar Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD summarizes the Catholic Church's official position about the Brown Scapular thus:
With regard to the scapular as a conventional and sacred sign, the Church has intervened at various times in history to clarify its meaning, defend it, and confirm the privileges.
From these Church documents there emerges with sufficient clarity the nature and meaning of the Carmelite scapular.
1. The scapular is a Marian habit or garment. It is both a sign and pledge. A sign of belonging to Mary; a pledge of her motherly protection, not only in this life but after death.
2. As a sign, it is a conventional sign signifying three elements strictly joined: first, belonging to a religious family particularly devoted to Mary, especially dear to Mary, the Carmelite Order; second, consecration to Mary, devotion to and trust in her Immaculate Heart; third an incitement to become like Mary by imitating her virtues, above all her humility, chastity, and spirit of prayer.
This is the Church's officially established connection between the sign and that which is signified by the sign. No mention is made of the vision of St. Simon Stock or of that of Pope John XXII in relation to the Sabbatine Privilege, which promises that one will be released from Purgatory on the first Saturday after death.
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AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
source: a very old carmelite prayer book which i never really read... (the book was created by a Carmelite community)
O
Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel, I come today to consecrate myself
entirely to you. To you as the Mother of Grace I owe all that I am and
all that I have, and my whole life is a very small return for the many
graces and blessings that have come from God to me through your hands.
Since you regard with an eye of special kindness those who wear your
scapular, I implore you to strengthen my weakness with your power, to
enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom, to increase in me
faith, hope and charity, that I may render, day by day, my debt of
humble homage to you.
May
your scapular keep your eyes of mercy turned towards me always and
bring me your special protection in the daily struggle to be faithful to
your Divine Son and to you. May it separate me from all that is sinful
in life and remind me constantly of my duty to behold you and to clothe
myself with your virtues. From henceforth I shall strive to live in the
sweet companionship of your spirit to offer all to Jesus through you and
to make my life the mirror of your humility, charity, patience,
meekness and prayerfulness.
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ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
source: a very old prayer leaflet (usually attached to the Brown Scapular); a prayer by the Third Order Carmelite
Most Holy Virgin Mother of God, I now consecrate to thy Immaculate Heart forever my body and my soul with all my thoughts, words, deeds and affections leaving to thee the entire right of disposing of me and of all that belongs to me for the greater glory of God and for all the intentions of thy Immaculate Heart. May the holy Scapular of Carmel inspire me to live in the spirit of true devotion to thee all the days of my life. May it be for me a lesson in modesty and simplicity, a symbol of unceasing prayer and the special sign of my consecration to thy Immaculate Heart.
When my last hour comes may this
“Sign of Salvation” save me from the fires of hell and the pains of Purgatory,
according to thy gracious promises, so that as soon as possible, I may join
thee, my Mother and Queen, in the everlasting joys of Paradise. Amen.
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PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER OF MOUNT CARMEL
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel#Prayer_to_the_Blessed_Mother_of_Mount_Carmel
"O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, 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 Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands. Amen."
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FLOS CARMELI
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flos_Carmeli
- a Marian Catholic hymn and prayer. Flos carmeli literally means "Flower of Carmel". In the Carmelite Rite this hymn was the sequence for the Feast of St. Simon Stock, and, since 1663, for the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. It is said to have been written by St. Simon Stock himself (c1165 - 1265). The prayer is taken from the first two stanzas of the hymn.
(Latin hymn)
Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, splendor caeli, virgo puerpera singularis.
Mater mitis sed viri nescia Carmelitis esto propitia stella maris.
Radix Iesse germinans flosculum nos ad esse tecum in saeculum patiaris.
Inter spinas quae crescis lilium serva puras mentes fragilium tutelaris.
Armatura fortis pugnantium furunt bella tende praesidium scapularis.
Per incerta prudens consilium per adversa iuge solatium largiaris.
Mater dulcis Carmeli domina, plebem tuam reple laetitia qua bearis.
Paradisi clavis et ianua, fac nos duci quo, Mater, gloria coronaris. Amen. (Alleluia.)
(English translation):
FLOWER of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden; Splendor of heaven, Childbearing yet maiden. None equals thee.
Mother so tender, Who no man didst know, On Carmel's children Thy favours bestow. Star of the Sea.
Strong stem of Jesse, Who bore one bright flower, Be ever near us And guard us each hour, who serve thee here.
Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee.
Strongest of armour, We trust in thy might: Under thy mantle, Hard press'd in the fight, we call to thee.
Our way uncertain, Surrounded by foes, Unfailing counsel You give to those who turn to thee.
O gentle Mother Who in Carmel reigns, Share with your servants That gladness you gained and now enjoy.
Hail, Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see. Amen. (Alleluia.)
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links/ sources:
- "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel
- "Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapular_of_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel
- "Mount Carmel" (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Carmel
- "Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (EWTN):
https://www.ewtn.com/faith/carmel.htm
- "Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (Catholic Encyclopedia):
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10604b.htm
- "Prayers to Our Lady of Mount Carmel" (Catholic Tradition):
http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/carmel1.htm