Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular: the history, the meaning, their significance for today

July 16th: the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Perhaps I am biased after having been a Carmelite Nun, but I believe this is truly one of the most unique and powerful titles of Mary's. Mary under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" is really a way of focusing on a particular attribute or message of Mary's, as every apparition and new title has been. The very history and meaning of her title explain the emphasis and message Mary wants us to receive.

THE HISTORY

In the early Church, hermits gathered on Mount Carmel in imitation of Saint Elijah from the Old Testament and in the spirit of the Blessed Virgin. Their mission was twofold: to live in the zeal of Elijah, a witness to the primacy of God (read 1 Kings 18) and to hearing His voice in the still, small whisper, and to live the hidden life of love and contemplation of Our Lady, who pondered all things in her Heart. They called themselves the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin.

Later in this community's life, they were faced with the pending reality of martyrdom. Some stayed on Mount Carmel to give their lives for Christ, and others moved on to Europe to maintin their way of life. When they arrived in Europe, they actually wore striped habits to distinguish themselves from the Franciscans and Dominicans who were also beginning around that same time. They struggled as they sought to adapt their way of life to living in European villages, and they had to accept some form of an active apostolate to stay alive. The transition was difficult, and the order was nearly suppressed by Rome, but then Our Lady came to the Prior General, Saint Simon Stock. On July 16th, 1251, Mary came to Saint Simon Stock and gave him the Brown Scapular and with it, the promise, “WHOSOEVER DIES IN THIS GARMENT SHALL NOT SUFFER ETERNAL FIRE.”

She went on to say,

“WEAR THE SCAPULAR DEVOUTLY AND PERSEVERINGLY. IT IS MY GARMENT. TO BE CLOTHED IN IT MEANS YOU ARE CONTINUALLY THINKING OF ME, AND I IN TURN, AM ALWAYS THINKING OF YOU AND HELPING YOU TO SECURE ETERNAL LIFE.”

The fruits of this promise showed quickly, as the Carmelite order was never suppressed and now to this day it is the order with the most communities and affiliations.

This promise is for the entire Carmelite order, and to every single person who wears the Brown Scapular. The Brown Scapular has been extended to lay people and Priests from other orders, a pool of rich grace open to anyone who wants to enter in. Far from a superstitious token, it is the garment of Our Mother, swaddling us; it is her touch, her embrace, and who won't experience profound supernatural graces when they allow Mary to hold them and form them in their day to day lives?

It was from this time on that Mary more formally received the title, "Our Lady of Mount Carmel", though she was known and honored by these "brothers of the Blessed Virgin" on Mount Carmel long before.

THE MEANING

The word "Carmel" means "garden". In the Song of Songs, the bride is described as an "enclosed garden". Our Lady is this enclosed garden, she is the "fountain sealed". When we enter into Carmelite spirituality, when we discover Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are really entering into the interior life of Mary. Carmel, this garden, is the Heart of Mary. This is for everyone. Mary is the perfect model of communion with God, she is the model of contemplation, recollection, of pondering all things in her Heart, of literally living day to day in the intimacy of Christ. She is the great teacher of these lessons, and her Heart is opened wide to us, to enter in and discover these riches for ourselves. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is for everyone who wants intimacy and a deep interior life with God.

Her Scapular, her very garment, is a simple way she has given us. She has given us the gift of being able to be wrapped in her embrace, in her maternal love. And as if one time wasn't enough, in both the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes and Fatima, Our Lady asked yet again that everyone wear the brown scapular.

And so the invitation is open, to enter into Carmel, to enter into the garden of Mary's Heart, to allow her to wrap you in her garment, hold you, protect you, form you as she did Christ. Your response is in your hands.