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Christianity is once again facing a dark and violent foe. Back in Polish history, a great king and, more recently, a great pope, can teach us a few lessons about how to deal with existential challenges.
One of the benefits of our pilgrimage to Poland in May was to learn about Polish history, and the benefit of learning about history is always to muse on how the events of history might apply today. Seeing how problems were resolved in the past can offer clues to the solutions which seem intractable in our day.
A recent biography by Miltiades Varvounis reminds us of one of the great heroes of European history, the Polish king Jan Sobieski.
Jan Sobieski gained glory and fame in his thirties through his exceptional military skills. He was acknowledged as the greatest warrior-king of his time. His patriotism, his strong faith and hope in God, his military reputation, his taste for arts and letters, and his talents-all these were legendary in his lifetime.
Sobieski is the unexpected warrior who saved Europe from the soldiers of Islam at the Battle of Vienna (1683)- a battle which was the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic cavalry charge of the Rohirrim that lifted the Siege of Minas Tirith in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
For those who are unaware, the Battle of Vienna is on par with the Battle of Lepanto in Christian Europe’s centuries-long struggle to stem the advance of militant Islam.
The battle took place on September 11-12, 1683 (note the 9-11 date.) From July, the forces of the Ottoman Empire, led by Kara Mustafa, had besieged the city of Vienna. Vienna was the crucial battleground because its geographical location meant it was the gateway to the rest of Europe.
By September, the Viennese defenders were famished and exhausted. German and Bavarian armies had marched to their aid, but the huge and well-organized Ottoman forces continued their siege, digging trenches to hide from the defenders on the city walls, and digging tunnels to blow up the fortifications from below. King Jan Sobieski, in the meantime, was riding south from Poland with his well-drilled cavalry, the Flying Hussars.
Upon reaching Vienna, with the Ottoman army close to breaching the walls, Sobieski ordered a full attack on September 12th. In the early morning of that day, the united army of about 65,000-76,000 men (including 27,000 Poles) attacked a Turkish force of about 80,000-115,000 men.
At about 17:00, after observing the infantry battle from the Kahlenberg hilltop, Sobieski led his cavalry in a massive charge down the hillside. The faltering Ottoman battle line was broken and the Ottoman forces scattered in disarray. About a half-hour later, Sobieski entered the deserted tent of Kara Mustafa and the Battle of Vienna ended.
Historians believe it was the largest cavalry charge in history. It not only swept away the besieging Ottoman armies, but also prepared the way for a mopping-up operation that eviscerated the Ottoman advance on Europe for ages to come.
Jan Sobieski’s victory over the forces of darkness reminded me of Pope St John Paul’s part in the downfall of communism. Faced with equally overwhelming odds, John Paul’s courage and charisma combined with prayer gave him much power. On June 2, 1979 the Polish pope celebrated Mass in Warsaw’s Victory Square in the presence of millions of his fellow poles. His inspiring homily and continued support of the Solidarity movement spurred his countrymen to stand firm. Their resistance became the first crack in the seemingly impregnable fortress of the Soviet Empire.
A true hero-whether he is Jan Sobieski or John Paul II-is not simply a political or military figure. A spiritual hero radiates truth, beauty and goodness-against which the powers of darkness cannot stand. Jan Sobieski, in his age, resorted to the use of military might. In his day John Paul galvanized the Polish people through an appeal to their fervent Catholic faith which was stronger than communist ideology. Both men, in their way and in their day faced down a colossal evil and defeated it.
With the massacre in Nice this month and now the cruel murder of Fr Jacques Hamel in France, we are reminded that Christianity is once again facing a dark and violent foe. This time a triumphant cavalry charge is not the answer, nor simply a pope rallying the faithful.
The insidious serpent of jihadist terror will not be defeated by diplomacy, bland words of peace or by more police and security precautions.
The global jihadist terror is driven by a false religion, and it will only be defeated by a person of faith- a new Catholic hero, a man or woman moving forward in this day in their way to overcome the terror with the truth, beauty and goodness of Christ.
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On July 16, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Mount Carmel is the mountain in the middle of the plain of Galilee on which the prophet Elijah called down a miracle of fire from the Lord to show the people of Israel who had strayed that "The Lord is God!" and that the prophets of Baal were worshipping a false god.
There is a tradition that traces the Carmelite Order's informal beginnings to the prophet Elijah himself, even though there is no evidence of this.
The formal beginnings are attributed to a group of monks who, in the 13th century, began living and praying on the mountain.
They venerated the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and from this veneration was derived the name Carmelite.
In 1226, the Rule of the Order was approved by Pope Honorius III, and 21 years later, St. Simon Stock, an Englishman, was elected superior of the Order.
On 16 July 1251, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Simon and gave him the brown scapular and promised her protection to all those who wear the brown habit.
Pope Pius X decreed in the early 20th century that this blessing of the Blessed Virgin would extend to all who wear the medal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was instituted by the Carmelites sometime between 1376 and 1386.
Marian Apparitions Throughout History: Saint Simon Stock and Our Lady of Mount Carmel
(this is a part of my Marian apparition and visionaries series-- for more on different approved apparitions and visions of Our Lady, check out my #mary as seen through time and space tag!)
Imposición del escapulario de la Virgen del Carmen a San Simón Stock - Vicente Berdusán
1251. Only 43 years after the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Dominic and gifted him the rosary, another monk, this time an Englishman from the Carmelite Order, was about to have a grand, mystical experience that would shape the Carmelites for the better and introduce a new devotion for the Catholic Church. Let's dive into the story of Simon Stock and Our Lady of Mount Carmel...
The Carmelites:
The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, or the Carmelites, was named for the mountain it was founded upon: Mount Carmel of Palestine, the mountain where the contest between King Ahab's god, Baal, and Elijah's God, the God of Abraham, occurred, showing God's might over all others, and whose caves Elijah retreated into to pray.
Like Elijah, the Carmelites retreated deep into the caves, praying to God as hermits, before later building a chapel dedicated to God and protected by Our Lady, Mary, Star of the Sea, and the Prophet Elijah. Over time, the hermits grew in numbers before fleeing to Europe to avoid the bloody, Christian lead violence of the Crusades, and almost lost their identity to Pope Innocent III, who wished to consolidate the religious orders of Catholicism into one singular organization. Forced to adapt, the Carmelites shifted, hermits no more, now a monastic order, and found themselves scattered and unsure. Who were they without their mountain? Who could they be, now that they had taken on a monastic rule?
They had little cohesion, fought much amongst themselves, and were in need of divine intervention.
The Forest Monk:
Simon Stock was 12 when he left his farm in Aylesford, England for the forests. A soft-spoken boy with a head full of daydreams, Simon Stock had proved to be far from helpful on his father's farm, preferring solitude and meditation over hard work. He'd far rather spend his days in the back of the chapel in prayer than he would help his parents and siblings in the fields, so, after years of finding himself yearning for freedom from all worldly things, he crept out of the house in the dead of night and took for the woods.
The English forests welcomed Simon Stock will open branches, and he soon found a tree deep, deep in the woods, taller than anything he'd ever seen. The oak was alive, but damaged, a lightning bolt haven taken a massive hole from its side, leaving behind a sizable hollow where Simon Stock would make his bed.
For years, the boy lived in that hollow in the oak tree, embracing a life of solitude, prayer, and penance as he grew into a young man. His “hallowed hollow,” touched by God's lightening, for him and him alone. But Simon Stock couldn't be a hermit forever. When a group of travelers heading to the coast stopped to ask him if he'd life to join them on their trip to the Holy Land, Simon Stock left his holy tree behind, and as he returned to England years later, he found himself traveling with a band of Carmelites. In awe of their grace and Godliness, Simon Stock realized he'd finally found home.
Through his dedication and love of others, Simon Stock saw the Carmelite presence in England grow, and his leadership touched them so deeply that he was elected as the sixth Prior General of the Carmelites in 1247. But, even Simon Stock couldn't fix all the Carmelite's troubles. He agonized on how to best lead his fellow monks and help them adapt to their new surroundings, helping them build friaries in Cambridge, Oxford, Paris, and Bologna, but soon the tide of public opinion changed against the Carmelites, and they found themselves being expelled from their own towns. It seemed to them that they would never succeed as a true monastic Order outside their mountain... until the miracle of July 16, 1251.
A Holy Gift:
The weather in Cambridge this time of year was usually lovely, but now, as Simon Stock trudged through the mud after a summer rain, he couldn't enjoy it. His men were frazzled, and things were dire. Was it right to leave his tree? Were they right to cleave Mount Carmel?
There was a clap of thunder, and the skies open up. Simon Stock offered up his annoyance to the Lord before stopping under a tree to wait out the rain. Suddenly, the chill of the rain and mud was gone, replaced by a gentle warmth. His hair was dry, the hem of his garments clean of mud, and he felt as toasty and one would after a warm meal beside a crackling fire. Light broke through the leaves despite the dreary weather, and Simon Stock's heart skipped a beat.
Above him, resting on a throne of cloud and vapor, was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She wore the clothes of a religious, though no Order he knew, a brown apron with a creamy white wool cloak across her shoulders, her face radiant, her hair covered modestly. Terrifying and glorious beings surrounded her, crying out the Lord's name with praise, holding out their many hands to keep a single drop of rain from falling on their mistress.
"Child," The Blessed Virgin Mary said, smiling softly, "Come closer."
Trembling, Simon Stock stepped closer, and Our Lady opened her hands, letting a strip of cloth fall from them. It was an apron, like the one she wore, made of brown wool. The wool was the width of one shoulder to the other and such a length that it reached the feet in front and behind, coarse but not rough.
"Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection."
Simon Stock clutched the scapular to his chest, laughing with disbelief and joy. It was beautiful. A sign from the Mother of God herself that the Carmelites would survive.
"Thank you," He cried, falling to his knees and kissing the hem of her cloak. "Bless you!"
"Go, and be well."
The clouds and vapors lifted into the stormy sky, taking Mary and the angels with them. Simon Stock pulled the scapular over his shoulders and ran to his brothers, ready to spread the news: they were protected under the eye of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and she would not let them flounder.
Simon Stock would go on to become a saint and one of the oldest documented Carmelites. After it was gifted to him by Our lady of Mount Carmel, Simon Stock began spreading the scapular devotion. It continues to be followed to this day, with the scapular signifying the wearer's consecration to Mary and affiliation with the Carmelite order, as well as Mary's promised protection. Simon Stock's feast day is May 16th, and the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on July 16.
The Brown Scapular is embroidered with the original promise of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Simon Stock: “Whosoever dies clothed with this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.” Additionally, several privileges benefit those who wear the Scapular:
1 As a sacramental, the brown scapular confers extra grace and disposes us to cooperate with it. (CCC 1670)
2 The Blessed Virgin Mary promises special protection in life and death
3 Final perseverance “at the hour of death”
4 Assistance after death and an early release from Purgatory (also called the Sabbatine Privilege)
The Brown Scapular is one of the most beloved sacramentals of the Catholic Church. It is a visible sign of our desire to belong to Jesus Christ through the loving care of His Blessed Mother.
Wearing the Brown Scapular is an outward expression of an inward commitment: to imitate the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to live faithfully according to the Gospel, and to entrust ourselves to her maternal protection. It is a daily reminder that we are called to holiness and invited to walk closely with Christ under Mary's mantle.
The Origins of the Carmelites
The history of the Brown Scapular begins with the Carmelite Order, whose roots trace back to the late twelfth century. During the time of the Crusades, a group of Christian hermits settled on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, a mountain closely associated with the prophet Elijah.
Desiring a life of silence, prayer, penance, and complete dedication to God, these hermits built a chapel in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and came to be known as the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. From the very beginning, the Carmelites looked to Mary as their Mother, Patroness, and perfect model of discipleship.
As political unrest forced many Carmelites to leave the Holy Land, the Order spread throughout Europe, carrying with it its deep Marian spirituality.
The Apparition
On July 16, 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock, then Prior General of the Carmelite Order.
During the apparition, Our Lady presented him with the Brown Scapular, saying:
"Receive, my beloved son, this Scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. Whoever dies clothed in this shall not suffer eternal fire."
Through this gift, the Brown Scapular became a sign of Mary's maternal protection and a call to live faithfully as disciples of Christ.
For this reason, Catholics celebrate Our Lady of Mount Carmel each year on July 16 (Today!).
Our Lady's Promise
The Church teaches that the Brown Scapular is a sacramental, not a magical object or a guarantee of salvation.
Our Lady's promise is understood in light of the Gospel: those who faithfully wear the Scapular, are enrolled in it, strive to live in God's grace, and persevere in following Christ may confidently entrust themselves to Mary's powerful intercession.
The Scapular is not a substitute for conversion, prayer, the sacraments, or a holy life. Rather, it is a sign that encourages all of these and reminds us each day to remain faithful to Jesus.
How to Wear the Brown Scapular
🤎 Be enrolled in the Brown Scapular by a priest or deacon.
🤎 Wear it faithfully as a sign of your devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
🤎 Live a life of prayer, receive the sacraments frequently, and strive to imitate Mary's humility, purity, and obedience.
🤎 Entrust yourself each day to Jesus through Mary, seeking to grow in holiness and fidelity to the Gospel.
A Daily Reminder
Every time you feel the Brown Scapular resting upon your shoulders, remember the invitation it represents: to belong more completely to Christ, to imitate His Blessed Mother, and to trust in her loving intercession.
The Brown Scapular is not simply something we wear, it is a way of life. It calls us to live each day with the heart of Mary: loving God above all things, faithfully carrying our crosses, and always leading others to her Son.
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