CARMELITE PRAYER GROUP
AVE MARIA, FLORIDA USA
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
Mount Carmel has been a place of prayer and closeness to God since the time of the prophet Elijah in the 10th century before Christ (1 Kings 18:41). Christian hermits persevered in prayer there and in the 12th century The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel was founded.
The basis for the Catholic Church honoring Mary by her title Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back to the 13th century when Our Lady appeared to an English Carmelite priest named Simon Stock. According to tradition, on July 16, 1251 Saint Simon Stock had a vision of Our Lady where she gave him the Brown Scapular, a garment worn by religious over the neck and shoulders as an apron. It was to be worn by Carmelites “as a sign of her protection" with the grace of her help for final perseverance.
The wearing of a miniature version of the Carmelite Scapular, known today simply as “the Brown Scapular” from the color of the habit, has come to mean being joined spiritually with the Carmelite order in accepting the Blessed Mother’s love, devoting oneself to living as a faithful follower of Jesus, and trusting that Our Lady will protect us in life and at the hour of our death.
A simple way of understanding what "Carmelite spirituality" means can be summed up with these three questions: Do you long for a life of union with Jesus Christ? Do you have a tender love for Our Blessed Mother? Are you zealous for the salvation of souls and the sanctification of priests? If you answered "yes" to these three questions, we invite you to join us!