Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, traditionally, is a title given to Our Blessed Mother in honor of having give the Scapular of Mount Carmel to Saint Simon Stock.  According to a pious tradition the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock at Cambridge, England on Sunday, 16 July, 1251. In answer to his appeal for help for his oppressed order, she appeared to him with a scapular in her hand and said: “Take, beloved son, this scapular of thine order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire.

It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant”  This tradition appears in precise form for the first time in 1642, when the words of the Blessed Virgin were given in a circular of St. Simon Stock which he is said to have dictated to Peter Boyle, his secretary and confessor. It is widely believed that its general content remains a reliable pious tradition; in other words, that St. Simon Stock was given certain supernatural assurances:

  • The special protection of the Blessed Virgin for his whole order and for all those wearing the Carmelite habit
  • Special aid, especially in the hour of death, to those wearing the habit in her honour throughout life, so that they should be preserved from hell. Indirectly, this promise is extended to all who from devotion to the Mother of God should wear her habit or badge and be thus as if it were affiliated to the Carmelite Order.

Sisters of the Holy Family whose feast day is  Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Sister Carmen Baca, Director of Seniors, Needy, and Hispanic Parish Ministry in Reno, Nevada.

Sister Elaine Marie Sanchez, Family/Neighborhood Outreach in Oakland, Past SHF President, Past Associate Director of Vocations and member of Board of Directors for Catholic Charities in Oakland Diocese, as well as ministries