The Virgin of Carmel is one of the most cherished and widely known Marian devotions in the Catholic Church.
Each year on July 16, we celebrate her feast day. Here are five things you may not know about this beautiful devotion:
1) Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Origins Trace Back to Mount Carmel in Israel
Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel began with hermits who lived on Mount Carmel (Isaiah 35:2), located in present-day Israel, starting in the 12th century.
These hermits eventually formed a community that became the Carmelite Order. Their devotion to Mary was centered on honoring her as the “Lady of the Place.”
Mount Carmel is also significant in the Bible: it’s the site where the prophet Elijah boldly confronted the prophets of the pagan god Baal and showed the power of the Lord (1 Kings 18:20–46).
2) The Brown Scapular Has a Profound Spiritual Meaning
One of the most iconic symbols associated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the brown scapular.
According to tradition, the Virgin Mary gave this scapular to Saint Simon Stock, a Carmelite prior, in 1251.
Far from being a superstitious object or amulet, the scapular is a sign of Marian love and protection. One of its most well-known promises is that anyone who dies wearing it with devotion will not suffer eternal damnation. The scapular received official recognition from the Church in 1587 and has been endorsed by many popes since.
3) Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Feast Day Is Linked to a Marian Apparition
The date of July 16 was chosen for her feast day because it marks the day the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock in 1251 and gave him the scapular. This apparition holds a central place in Carmelite spirituality and tradition.
4) Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the Patron Saint of Many Professions (Depending on the Country)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is most commonly known as the patroness of the sea, sailors, and fishermen.
She is also honored as the patron saint of other professions in various countries.
In Peru, for example, she is the patroness of the National Police; in Chile, she is the patroness of the Army. In some places, she is also considered the protector of drivers.
5) Her Devotion Is Especially Strong in Spain and Latin America
The Carmelites played a major role in spreading devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout Spain and the Americas.
Today, she is especially venerated in many Latin American countries, including Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel holds a special place in the hearts of Catholics around the world.
As Pope Benedict XVI beautifully expressed:
“Carmel, a high promontory rising on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near Galilee, has at its base numerous natural grottoes once favored by hermits. The most famous of these men of God was the great prophet Elijah, who in the 9th century B.C. courageously defended the purity of faith in the one true God against idolatry.
Inspired by Elijah’s example, the contemplative Carmelite Order arose—a religious family that has given the Church great saints such as Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
The Carmelites have spread devotion to the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, presenting her as a model of prayer, contemplation, and complete dedication to God.
Mary, more than anyone else, believed and experienced that Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is the ultimate meeting point between humanity and God. Fully embracing the Word, she ‘happily reached the holy mountain’ (Collect Prayer for the Memorial) and now lives with the Lord, body and soul, forever.”