What is the story of Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

Mount Carmel has been a place of prayer and closeness to God since the time of the prophet Elijah in the 10th century before Christ (cf. 1 Kings 18:41ff). There, also, Christian hermits persisted in prayer. And there, in the 12th century, the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin of Mt. Carmel were officially founded.

The 13th century, however, was a time of persecution for the Carmelites, and, in the midst of this trial, on July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Prior of the Carmelites, giving him the Brown Scapular. She said to him, “This is a privilege for you and the order: whoever dies wearing the Scapular will be saved.”

The wearing by others of a miniature version of the Carmelite Scapular, known simply as “the Brown Scapular” from the color of their habit, has come to mean being joined spiritually with them in accepting the Blessed Mother’s love, devoting oneself to the spirituality of the Carmelites, and trusting that Our Lady will protect them in life and at their death.