Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates when Mary appeared at Mount Carmel to St. Simon Stock. Mount Carmel has deep Old Testament history that makes the place even more special. Most notable about Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the institution of the scapular.

Pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena to ask for her intercession!

About Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel has an interesting history. The first reference to Mount Carmel is actually before the time of Jesus! The Bible tells the story of the prophet Elijah, who prays at Mount Carmel. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, were in the midst of a drought. As a result, Elijah prayed to God, asking Him to send rain to save the people.

Elijah’s servant went up the mountain seven times to look for any signs of rain to save the dying people. On the seventh try, he came back and reported that a cloud was coming. Sure enough, a huge rainstorm came through, ending the drought and saving the Israelites.

Elijah believed this was the result of the Messiah’s mother. Even though Mary wasn’t even born yet, the prophet Isaiah had spoken of the virgin who would give birth to the Lord. Elijah believed this miracle was the work of this virgin. Hermits who lived on the mountain began to pray for the intercession of this virgin as a result.

Thousands of years later, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in the exact same location.

On July 16, 1251, St. Simon, then a priest in the Carmelite religious order, was on his way to the Holy Land. The group decided to stop to pray on Mount Carmel.

It was during that prayer that Mary appeared to St. Simon. In this apparition, or appearance of Mary, she is known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

She appeared to St. Simon holding Jesus as a child in one arm. On her other arm, she held a scapular. This is a long piece of sleeveless cloth worn by Carmelites in the Carmelite religious order. She promised that all those who wear this cloth and follow Christ faithfully will be brought by Our Lady into heaven at their deaths.

Since then, lay Catholics have also been entrusted with the scapular by being enrolled in the scapular. The scapular is considered a sacramental in the Church. The lay scapular consists of a necklace-like cord that is worn around the neck, with a badge on each end resting on one’s chest and back. The badges contain brown wool similar to the Carmelite habit. The wearer agrees to live a faithful life and pray the Rosary. In return, he or she receives the grace of being ushered into heaven by Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the scapular is still strong today. The practice grew in popularity again after Vatican II.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Feast Day: July 16

Why Pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena?

As patroness of the Carmelites, those who are in Carmelite religious life will appreciate this novena! Those who are in or are considering joining the Carmelite Third Order will also find this novena appealing.

If you wear a scapular, praying the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel can help increase your devotion to this practice.

Finally, if you love Mary, you’ll love this novena!

Praying to Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back all the way to the Old Testament. People have been praying to her for thousands of years! You can pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena for any intention!

If you are curious and have come to see.

If you are weary and have come to rest.

If you are grateful and have come to share.

If you are hurting and have come for solace.

If you are listening and have come to pray.

If you are seeking and have come for answers.

Welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Litany

Response to each petition: Pray for us Holy Mary.

Mother of God.

Mother of our Redeemer.

Mother of a lost child.

Mother of comfort and understanding.

Mother who shares our joys.

Mother who endures our sorrows.

Mother whose heart was pierced by a sword.

Mother most merciful.

Woman responsive to God’s word.

Woman willing to believe the impossible.

Woman who rejoices in her lowliness.

Woman with an undivided heart.

Woman wrapped in mystery.

Woman moved by the Spirit.

Woman champion of the poor and lowly;

Woman graced by a husband’s love.

Woman widowed by a husband’s death.

Woman at the cross.

Woman patient and waiting.

Woman clothed with the sun.

Queen of all beauty.

Queen of integrity.

Queen of painful meetings.

Queen of all our heart’s treasures.

Queen of our destiny.

Queen of peace.

Personal Act of Consecration

O Mary, Virgin and most powerful Mother, we consecrate ourselves to God through your Immaculate Heart. We consecrate our very being and our whole life, all that we love, and all that we are. We give our bodies, our hearts, and our souls. We give our homes, our families, our country, the world. Mindful of this consecration, we now promise to imitate you by the practice of Christian virtue. We hereby resolve to make this Novena of Nine Wednesdays in your honor, praying your intercession for our needs: (silently make your intentions.)

Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

O most radiant blossom in the garden of God

who opened so completely,

to the seed of Divine love,

plant yourself now in the reality of my heart.

Turning to you as a sister

take my hand in yours and share with me your gift of faith.

As we climb the mountain to God,

remind me that the overshadowing presence

of the Holy Spirit will open

the vision of my soul to all that I cannot see.

Yearning for you as mother

lift me onto your lap and hold me gently

in the arms of hope, sharing with me the promise of new life

passing from one generation to the next.

Reaching out to you as patroness

enfold me in your mantle of care

permeate my spirit with the grace of love.

May my yield for you be full

and my service to God complete.

As Our Lady of This Place,

continue to be my guiding star;

ignite in me wisdom

that I might follow your lead,

conceiving the Word within,

and bringing Jesus to birth in yet

a new day and time.

The First Day (July 7)

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendour of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother!