North Carolina, Raleigh – The origin of Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back to Israel, where the prophet Elijah prayed to God to end the drought. On the seventh time he climbed there, he saw a small cloud, and from that moment on, many devotees went to the mountain to venerate the place, giving rise to the Carmelite order.
From their monastery they did not want to create a new form of Marian worship. They decided to live in community under prayer and poverty, and their devotion to the Virgin allowed a new devotion to be born: Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
History tells that in the 16th century, on July 1251, XNUMX specifically, the superior general of the Carmelite Fathers, Saint Simon Stock, had an apparition of the Virgin of Carmen with a scapular and from then on the image of Our Lady of the Carmen: the child and the virgin with a scapular in her hand.
Every year, Catholics pray a novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel to celebrate her feast day; the novenas begin on July 7 and continue until July 16.
These novenas commemorate the Lady of Carmen and prepare Catholics to celebrate her feast.
Related> Scapular of the Virgin of Carmen: symbol of faith and protection
History and Symbolism of the Virgin of Carmen
Virgen del Carmen: The Star of the Sea
The Carmelites were forced to abandon Mount Carmel and an ancient tradition relates that before leaving the Virgin appeared to them, and she promised to be their Star of the Sea to guide them on their path.
It is often invoked for protection against storms and other natural disasters.
For the Spanish—led by Sergeant Major Don Alonso de Felipe Andrade—winning that battle on July 16, the Day of the Virgin of Carmen, was a miracle. That is why Tris Island, as it was known, was renamed Isla del Carmen. To remember that battle, there is a statue on the boardwalk in honor of Don Alonso.
The feast of the Virgin of Carmen is a time of great celebration in Latin America and Spain. In the Carmen Island, the celebrations begin at the end of June and end at the beginning of August. Among these activities, two processions stand out. One by sea, with shrimp boats and oil tankers, and the other by land, along the boardwalk and the streets of the city. There are also masses, baptisms and mass communions.
In Mexico she is also known as the “Mother of the Poor” and is revered as a champion of the working class. In the state of Campeche, faith in the Virgen del Carmen is very great thanks to a battle won in 1717 against some British pirates who had taken over the Island of Terminus, geostrategic for the then New Spain.
Colombia venerates the Virgin as Patroness of sailors, the National Police, the Armed Forces and drivers. Among the latter, it generates a very special devotion; on Colombian roads you can find sanctuaries built so that drivers can stop to pray and entrust themselves to reach their destination safely.
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Scapular of the Virgin of Carmen
It is a symbol of Marian devotion, consisting of a small brown scapular. It is one of the most recognizable symbols for devotees and is especially relevant because it is included among the so-called "sacramentals" by the Second Vatican Council.
This means that it is a sacred sign according to the model of the sacraments, through which effects, especially spiritual ones, obtained through the intercession of the Church are signified." (SC60)
Tradition says that Our Lady of Mount Carmel gave Saint Simon Stock the scapular on July 16, 1251, and left him this promise:
I will save everyone who wears my scapular from the fires of hell.
This promise of the Virgin is interpreted by devotees as salvation for those who die wearing the scapular.
July 16: Day of the Virgin of Carmen
Also known as Day of Our Lady of Carmen It is celebrated on July 16 of each year. His saints are especially important in Latin American countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina. In European countries, such as Spain, the Virgin of the Sailors takes a figure of the virgin on boats and sails along the coast.
Devotion to the Virgin
There are prayers to the Virgin of Carmen to give thanks, joy, offering and devotion.
We share with you two of those that are considered most powerful among the Catholic faithful.
We also leave the Novena to the Virgin that begins on this day in 2023. You can download the file to save or print.
Credit: From MAGISTER SACRORUM IULIANUS, Wikipedia.
Prayer to the Virgin of Carmen
Oh Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother also of sinners and special Protector of those who wear your sacred Scapular, for which His Divine Majesty exalted you, choosing you to be his true Mother, I beg you to grant me forgiveness from your dear Son. of my sins, the amendment of my life, the salvation of my soul, the remedy of my needs, the consolation of my afflictions and the special grace that I ask of you in this Novena, if appropriate for your greatest honor and glory and good of me. soul; that I, Lady, to achieve this I use your powerful intercession.
I would like to have the spirit of all the angels, holy and just, in order to be able to praise you worthily and uniting my voice with their affections, I greet you a thousand times saying: (Three Hail Marys).
Most Holy Virgin of Carmen, I wish that everyone, without exception, shelters under your protective shadow of your Holy Scapular and that everyone is united to You, My Mother, by the close and loving ties of this your beloved insignia.
Oh Beauty of Carmel! See us prostrate reverently before the sacred image of him and grant us your loving protection. I entrust to you the needs of our Most Holy Father the Pope and the Catholic Church, our Mother, as well as those of my nation and those of the entire world, my own and those of my relatives and friends.
Look with eyes of compassion at so many poor sinners, heretics and schismatics, how they offend your Divine Son and at so many infidels how they groan in the darkness of paganism. May everyone convert and love you, My Mother, as I wish to love you now and for all eternity. Amen.
La Virgen Del Carmen is also recognized among the Catholic faithful for helping people who are going through difficult times. This is the prayer to the Virgin of Carmen.
Supplication for difficult times
I have a thousand difficulties: help me.
From the enemies of the soul: save me.
In my mistakes: enlighten me.
If I have doubts and sorrows: comfort me.
In my illnesses: strengthen me.
When they despise me: cheer me up.
In temptations: defend me.
In difficult hours: comfort me.
With your motherly heart: love me.
With your immense power: protect me.
And in your arms when it expires: receive me.
Virgin of Carmen, pray for us.
Amen.
traditional novena
If you want to download the traditional novena to the Virgin of Carmen in PDF, click
*With information from Aciprensa, Gaceta UNAM
Ninth source: Google, unknown author .
Updated July 16, 2024
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