#flos carmeli

The Church celebrates this feast in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular. In 1251, St. Simon Stock was at prayer when Our Lady visited him and bestowed upon him the scapular, saying:

“Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time. Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames.”

In order to share the merits bestowed upon the Brown Scapular, one must:

Shun sin and live chastely according to one's station in life

Say every day, if possible, seven times Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be

L’Italia, da nord a sud, è ricca di santuari dedicati alla Madonna del Carmelo nati in seguito a prodigi operati dalla Madonna nel corso dei secoli a favore del popolo italiano. Scopriamone insieme alcuni per crescere nella devozione a Lei. (more…)

On Day 9 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, let's reflect on St. Teresa asking Mary to be her mother and finding comfort in her care.

SEQUENCE HYMN Flos Carmeli,vitis florigera,splendor caeli,virgo puerperasingularis. Flower of Carmel,blossoming, bearing one,light of heaven,mother of God’s dear Son,vine and virgin. SCRIPTURE Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother,…

On Day 8 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, let's reflect on St. Teresa's insights into the value of suffering and enduring trials.

SEQUENCE HYMN Per incertaprudens consiliumper adversaiuge solatiumlargiaris. In our stumblingguide us on God’s wise way,in our sorrowcomfort us as we pray,rich your mercy. SCRIPTURE I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s…

Day 7 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel: Reflect on St. Teresa's vision of the Virgin Mary and her promise to be present.

SEQUENCE HYMN Mater mitissed viri nesciaCarmelitisda privilegiaStella Maris.† Mother so tender,Who no man didst know,On Carmel’s childrenThy favours bestow,Star of the sea. SCRIPTURE I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this…

Day 6 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel: Reflect on St. Teresa's awe at Jesus' mercy and the healing power of the sacraments.

SEQUENCE HYMN Paradisiclavis et ianua,fac nos duciquo, Mater, gloriacoronaris. Key and gatewayopening on Paradise,mother, win usa place with you in Christ,crowned in glory. SCRIPTURE So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me…

On Day 5 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, we reflect on St. Teresa's trust in God's providence amidst trials and anxiety.

SEQUENCE HYMN Inter spinasquae crescis liliumserva purasmentes fragiliumtutelaris. All-chaste lilyrising despite the thorn,strengthen, help us,so feeble, soon forlorn,great protectress. SCRIPTURE Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to…

Day 4 of our Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel: Reflect on St. Teresa's account of a Sister’s peaceful death and Mary’s gentle protection.

SEQUENCE HYMN Mater mitissed viri nesciaCarmelitisesto propitiastella maris. Gentle parent,pure beyond human love,bless your children,star shining far abovethis world’s ocean. SCRIPTURE For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our…