
Each year on July 16, the faithful celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, remembering the gift of the scapular and honoring the Carmelites’ example of contemplation. As we reflect on the devotion of Our Lady of Mount Carmel this week, we invite you to read a collection of posts exploring the origins and history of the devotion, where you can find it honored at the Basilica, and more!
Reflections on Our Lady of Mount Carmel
According to tradition, the scapular of Carmel was presented to St. Simon Stock in the 13th century during a period of severe oppression of the Carmelite Order. The Blessed Mother appeared to him as an apparition and said to him: “Receive… this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor… a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.” In the years that followed, the scapular became a widely popular devotion, and now the faithful across the globe look to the Blessed Mother for protection and guidance under her title as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
A Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Did you know the Basilica’s chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel features a prayer requesting the intercession of the Blessed Mother under her title as the Star of the Sea? Though the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back over 750 years, today, the faithful around the world continue to look to Mary under this title, asking for peace and guidance.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel: A Virtual Tour
In the Basilica, the apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is honored in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel in the Great Upper Church. The chapel was gifted to the Basilica by the Carmelite Fathers of the American Provinces and dedicated in 1965. The Carmelites trace their origin to Mount Carmel in modern-day Israel, which the prophet Elijah consecrated to God (1 Kings 18), as depicted in the double stained-glass window above the chapel. Now you can explore the breathtaking chapel in immersive 360° with our virtual tour.
6 Carmelite Saints You Should Know
Maybe you’re familiar with the Basilica’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, but did you also know that it honors a variety of Carmelite saints? From the quiet “Little Way” of Thérèse of Lisieux to the epic escape of St. John of the Cross, each of their stories inspire us to pursue lives of holiness. As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we invite you to learn more about the legacies of these faithful Carmelites and discover where they are featured in this chapel.
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of Saints, ed. Bernard Bangley
The Way of Saints, Dr. Tom Cowan
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
Light a Candle at the Basilica
In honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we invite you to light a candle today at the National Shrine. Vigil candles burn in the chapels throughout the Great Upper Church and lower crypt level of the National Shrine. Each candle represents the faith of the supplicants and their fervent prayers entrusted to the loving intercession of the Blessed Mother.