Saturday, July 24, 2010

The chapel of Mount Carmel - click for link


When on the holy day of the Pentecost the Apostles, through heavenly inspiration, spoke diverse tongues and worked many miracles by the invokation of the most holy name of Jesus, it is said that many men who were walking in the footsteps of the holy prophets Elias and Eliseus, and had been prepared for the coming of Christ by the preaching of John the Baptist, saw and acknowledged the truth, and at once embraced the faith of the Gospel. These new Christians were so happy as to be able to enjoy familiar intercourse with the Blessed Virgin Mary and venerated her with so special an affection, that they before all others, built a chapel to the purest of Virgins on that very spot of Mount Carmel where Elias of old had seen the cloud, a remarkable type of the Virgin ascending. Many times each day they came together to the new oratory, and with pious ceremonies, prayers, and praises honoured the most Blessed Virgin as the special protectress of their Order. For this reason, people from all parts began to call them the Brethren of the Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel; and the Sovereign Pontiffs not only confirmed this title, but also granted special indulgencies to whoever called either the whole Order or individual Brothers by that name. But the most noble Virgin not only gave them her name and protection, she also bestowed upon blessed Simon the Englishman the holy scapular as a token, wishing the holy Order to be distinguished by that heavenly garment and to be protected by it from the evils that were assailing it. Moreover, as formerly the Order was unknown in Europe, and on this account many were importuning Honorius III for its abolition, the Blessed Virgin mary appeared by night to Honorius and clearly bade him receive both the order and its members with kindness. (Dom Prosper Gueranger 'Liturgical Year' from the Feast of OLMC, Holy Liturgy)

The picture represents the statue of OLMC in Stella Maris Carmelite monastery in Haifa - see link on the post's title