| Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16th) |
| Catholic
Encyclopedia |
| This feast was instituted by the Carmelites between 1376 and 1386 under the title
"Commemoratio B. Marif Virg. duplex" to celebrate the victory of their order
over its enemies on obtaining the approbation of its name and constitution from Honorius
III on 30 Jan., 1226 (see Colvenerius, "Kal. Mar.", 30 Jan. "Summa
Aurea", III, 737). The feast was assigned to 16 July, because on that date in 1251,
according to Carmelite traditions, the scapular was given by the Blessed Virgin to St.
Simon Stock; it was first approved by Sixtus V in 1587. After Cardinal Bellarmine had
examined the Carmelite traditions in 1609, it was declared the patronal feast of the
order, and is now celebrated in the Carmelite calendar as a major double of the first
class with a vigil and a privileged octave (like the octave of Epiphany, admitting only a
double of the first class) under the title "Commemoratio solemnis B.V.M. de Monte
Carmelo". By a privilege given by Clement X in 1672, some Carmelite monasteries keep
the feast on the Sunday after 16 July, or on some other Sunday in July. In the seventeenth
century the feast was adopted by several dioceses in the south of Italy, although its
celebration, outside of Carmelite churches, was prohibited in 1628 by a decree contra
abusus. On 21 Nov., 1674, however, it was first granted by Clement X to Spain and its
colonies, in 1675 to Austria, in 1679 to Portugal and its colonies, and in 1725 to the
Papal States of the Church, on 24 Sept., 1726, it was extended to the entire Latin Church
by Benedict XIII. The lessons contain the legend of the scapular; the promise of the
Sabbatine privilege was inserted into the lessons by Paul V about 1614. The Greeks of
southern Italy and the Catholic Chaldeans have adopted this feast of the "Vestment of
the Blessed Virgin Mary". The object of the feast is the special predilection of Mary
for those who profess themselves her servants by wearing her scapular (see CARMELITES).
Transcribed by Paul T. Crowley |
From the Catholic Encyclopedia Copyright © 1913 Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic
Version Copyright © 1996 New Advent, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Provided Courtesy of New Advent Supersite to:
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