Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Today: Our Lady of Mount Carmel




Happy and blessed feast day to all of my fellow Carmelites on Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  This is what is in the Carmelite Office explaining this feast day.



July 16th

Solemn Commemoration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Solemnity 
Mt. Carmel is commemorated in Sacred Scripture for its beauty, and it was there that the prophet Elijah defended the purity of Israel's faith in the living God.  Towards the end of the twelfth century A.D. near a spring called after Elijah, a group of hermits established themselves on Mt. Carmel and built an oratory in honor of Our Lady, whom they chose as their titular and patroness.  They became known as 'the Brothers of St. Mary of Mt. Carmel'.  They regarded the Bl. Virgin Mary as their mother and model first of all in leading the contemplative life, and later in sharing the fruits of their contemplation with others.  The Solemn Commemoration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was first celebrated in the fourteenth century, but gradually adopted throughout the Order as an occasion of thanksgiving for the countless blessings which Our Lady had bestowed on the Carmelite family, the Scapular being a symbol of this and of consecration to her. 



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