In Commemoratione Solemni
B. MARIAE VIRGINIS DE MONTE CARMELO
Titularis et Patronae totius Ordinis Carmelitarum

16 July is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.


Flower of Carmel
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendor of Heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.

Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse,
Who bore one bright flower,
Be ever near us
And guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies
That flowers among thorns,
Bring help to the true heart
That in weakness turns
and trusts in thee.

Strongest of armor,
We trust in thy might:
Under thy mantle,
Hard press’d in the fight,
we call to thee.

Our way uncertain,
Surrounded by foes,
Unfailing counsel
Thou givest to those
who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother
Who in Carmel reigns,
Share with thy servants
That gladness thou gain’st
and now enjoy.

Hail Gate of Heaven,
With glory now crowned,
Bring us to safety
Where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.

[Flos Carmeli, translator unknown.
Taken from the Carmelite Proper of
the Liturgy of the Hours]

The original Latin can be found here.


There is more on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel here in the always useful Catholic Encyclopaedia on-line.

Fr. Pius Sammut, O.C.D. has a homily for today's feast here.


Many Catholics have a less formal affiliation to the Carmelite Order through the Scapular Confraternity and devotion to the Brown Carmelite Scapular. The Discalced Carmelite Order has a page devoted to the Scapular here. And once again, the Catholic Encyclopaedia has something to say here. That last link discusses scapulars in general and gives a small history of most of the Church's scapulars. The Carmelite one in particular can be found in section VI (b).