Iuxta Fontem Eliæ



A very Carmelite weekend. Saturday was the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patronal feast of the Carmelite Order. Several people made promises in our community and one received the habit. Fr Paul, the priest who received me into the communty, is now back down in southern California -- good talk ensued. The celebratio solemnis very happily took up a large chunk of the day.

The second nocturn from the old Roman Breviary - slightly adapted - which tells the story of the feast can be found here.

The old Ancient Observance collect:

Crescat, Domine, semper in nobis sanctæ devotionis affectus: ut beatissimæ Virginis Mariæ singulari titulo Carmeli ordinem decorasti: concede propitius; ut, cujus hodie Commemorationem solemni celebramus officio, eius muniti præsidiis ad gaudia sempiterna pervenire mereamur : Qui vivis. Amen.

Always increase the growth in us, O Lord, of heartfelt holy devotion, and as Thou didst beautify the Order of Carmel with the singular title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that we who today celebrate the commemoration of her solemn office, may always merit to arrive at eternal joy by the aid of her protection . Who livest and reignest. Amen.

For more on Our Lady of Mount Carmel, take a look at Recta Ratio's posts for today and the past nine days. Tom has posted the novena prayers leading up to the feast day and some beautiful old images of Regina Decor Carmeli. You could start here and work your way down -- or to stay in chronological order, start here and work your way up.


Sunday the 17th is the feast of the holy Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne, 17 nuns and the members of their community household who were murdered by the French revolutionaries. Last year's weblog post at The Inn on the nun-martyrs was rather long (for me) and had some further links. You can find it here.