Saturday, July 16, 2016 is the liturgical feast of our patroness Our Lady of Mount Carmel and our community is celebrating with a whole week of events! First, Elliot Guerra will be hosting a Carmelite spirituality and history course after the daily Masses from July 11-15. On our website we will be showcasing a novena to Our Lady and a special Carmelite guest will be preaching over the weekend. Finally, on Saturday, July 16, 2016 we will celebrate at the 5:00 p.m. Mass and then have a parish BBQ immediately following! All are welcome!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th century. They built in the midst of their hermitages a chapel which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, whom they conceived of in chivalric terms as the “Lady of the place.” Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Traditionally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Saint Simon Stock.