The history of the Carmelite order is steeped in tradition, dating back to an epochal event on July 16, 1251. On this day, the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have revealed herself to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite monk, and bestowed upon him the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, commonly referred to as the “Brown Scapular.” A hundred and twenty-five years later, the Carmelite order inaugurated the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, an annual celebration held on the same date.

Mount Carmel, a site of biblical significance, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. It is renowned as the location where the prophet Elijah famously vanquished the priests of Baal, thereby converting the populace to the worship of the true God. A myth persists that a religious community was established here even before the Christian era, however, concrete historical evidence is absent. The first documentable record of a monastic community on Mount Carmel dates back to the 12th century.

Regardless of the historical ambiguity, by 1263, the religious community had managed to construct a monastery and church, both dedicated to the Virgin Mary, on Mount Carmel. In 1254, Saint Louis, King of France, made a pilgrimage to Mount Carmel and was so inspired that he brought back six French hermits, for whom he built a convent near Paris. However, Mount Carmel fell to the Saracens in 1291; the monastery was burnt, and the monastic brothers were martyred. Notwithstanding, the Carmelite order spread throughout Europe, primarily due to the endeavors of Saint Simon Stock (1247-1265). The Carmelite Order received official approval at the Council of Lyon in 1274.

The Carmelite order today is perhaps most renowned for two of its members: Saint Theresa of Jesus, also known as Theresa of Avila (1515-1582), who accomplished a reform of the Carmelite Order despite facing numerous obstacles, resulting in the creation of the Discalced Carmelites; and Saint Edith Stein, or Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942), a Jewish convert, philosopher, and university professor, who was martyred at Auschwitz. Stein was canonized in 1998 and designated as a co-patroness of Europe in 1999.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. I have never heard the word ‘convent’ used when speaking about religious men. I have only heard ‘convent’ when referring to women. Also I believe it is St. Teresa of Avila not Theresa. St. Therese “The Little Flower” Lisieux is a Carmelite saint.

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  2. This is the patronal feast of the Carmelite Order. They take their name from Mount Carmel in Palestine, from which the Carmelite hermits later migrated to Europe.

    Legend states that Our Lady gave the brown Carmelite scapular to St. Simon Stock in England on July 16, 1251.

    Between 1376 and 1386 this feast was introduced in commemoration of the approval of the Carmelite Rule by Pope Honorius III in 1226.

    The feast was listed in the Roman Calendar in 1726 and is now celebrated universally throughout the Church.

    The Latin version of the new Opening Prayer asks that through the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin, God will assist us so that “aided by her help along the pathway of life, we may arrive safely at the holy mountain, Jesus Christ.”

    The mention of the “holy mountain” reminds us that Elijah the prophet lived on Mount Carmel with a colony of hermits.

    Throughout Carmelite history Mount Carmel has been the place of Mary’s glory as Mount Tabor was the place of Christ’s transfiguration.

    The antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah is from Sirach 51: 13-15: “When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom. She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will cultivate her. As the blossoms yielded to ripening grapes, the heart’s joy, my feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.”

    The antiphon for the Canticle of Mary, from the Gospel according to Luke (2: 51), presents Mary to us as one who heard the word of God and meditated on it in her heart.

    The discourse of St. Leo in the Office of Readings presents Mary to us as she who first conceived Christ in her mind and heart through faith and then in her body as his Mother. She is therefore an excellent model of Christian contemplation.

    Preface (Carmelite Missal):

    Father,
    all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks,
    as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Carmel.

    Your Word filled her heart and inspired all her actions,
    making her constant in prayer with the apostles and, through her share in our salvation, constituting her the spiritual mother of all mankind.

    She watches unceasingly with a mother’s loving care over the brethren of her Son,
    and lights us along our pilgrim way to the Mount of your glory,
    our beacon of comfort, and the embodiment of all our hopes as members of the Church.

  3. our lady of mt carmel sana po mtpos n ulan sna may psok n bkas cla pyt at manas pls sna wla nko problema gmot o vit umaga o gabi sna mkmove on nko pumogi mgka gf mgkwork sna tmhmk n pristina sna tmgl n ulan pls sna tmang pnahon alis ni kuya emil pls sna mkcmba ko cathedral bks sna mkbli ko sampaguita pls sna gmnda n pnhon pls sna ptwd po s lht ng klsnan ko tnx amen

  4. Saint Theresa of Avila, Saint Edith Stein, pray for us.
    Our Lady of Mount Carmel, reform our hearts and minds to combat the present day ‘priests of baal’ which rampage through every corner of the earth. Bolster our resistance to evil. Crush our foes with your unmatched humility. Protect us, for the sake of your Son. Amen.

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