Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Folks, better late than never. Today we remember Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The feast is of particular importance to me because of the impact that Carmelite spirituality has had on me, and because I too have been vested with the Brown Scapular. The following information comes courtesy of EWTN:

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.


EWTN Document Library

Catholic Encyclopedia - Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
An article from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913).

Fr. Christian P. Ceroke - The Scapular Devotion
The origen and history of the scapular and the Sabbatine Privilege by Fr. Christian P. Ceroke, O.Carm. Taken from 'Mariology,' by Fr. Juniper B. Carol, O.F.M.

NA - Rite of Blessing and Enrollment with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
This is for anyone NOT previously enrolled with the Brown Scapular. Once a person has been enrolled, they are enrolled FOR LIFE. Whenever their scapular needs to be replaced, they NEVER need to be enrolled again NOR must their new scapular be blessed. It is blessed by the fact it is worn by the person already enrolled in the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Novena of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Feast Day: July 16th. Novena: July 7-15. 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!

Catholic Encyclopedia - Carmelite Order
An article on the Carmelite Order from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913).

Carmelites - Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm
This file provides the history, apostolate, spiritual life, formation, entrance requirements of this religious community.

Fr. William Most - The Brown Scapular
The background of the brown scapular is presented by Fr. William Most.

John of the Cross - Ascent of Mt. Carmel
This work deals mainly with the active purification of the soul by the 'night of the senses.' Published by ICS Publications, 2131 Lincoln Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20002.

Paul de la Croix - Carmelite Spirituality
Paul de la Croix's 1959 essay. From 'Some Schools of Catholic Spirituality', published by Desclee and edited by Jean Gautier.

Pope John Paul II - Message to the Carmelite Family
For the 750th anniversary of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Holy Father sent a Message to the Prior Generals of the two Carmelite Orders (ancient and reformed) in which he spoke of the important role of devotion to Mary in Carmelite spirituality.

Father Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. - Brown Scapular: a Silent Devotion
For the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July 2008, ZENIT presented an article written by Discalced Carmelite Father Kieran Kavanaugh, on the devotion of the brown Carmelite scapular. Father Kavanaugh is the English translator of the writings of both St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. He is a member of the Institute of Carmelite Studies and was the vice postulator for the canonization of St. Edith Stein.