Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers
Feast day: July 16 (optional memorial)
Patron of: The Carmelite Order and all who wear the Brown Scapular.
About Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel is the mountain in the Holy Land where the prophet Elijah defended the worship of the true God. In the late twelfth century a group of hermits settled there, living lives of prayer in imitation of Elijah and dedicating their chapel to the Blessed Virgin. From them grew the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, the Carmelites, who have always seen Mary as their Mother, Sister, and model of contemplative prayer.
The Carmelite family, which later gave the Church St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, celebrates its patronal feast on July 16. A beloved Carmelite tradition connects this title with the Brown Scapular, two small pieces of cloth worn over the shoulders as a sign of consecration to Mary and a promise to live as her child. The scapular is not a charm but a garment of love, reminding us to clothe ourselves in Mary's virtues. Our Lady of Mount Carmel invites every Christian to climb the mountain of prayer.
Prayers to Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Daily Catholic Prayers
Browse every saint in our Catalog of Saints A–Z.
Comments