'Our Lady of Mount Carmel' is a name
used for Mary and the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16th
July. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the patroness of the Carmelite religious
order which was first started by a group of Christian hermits who lived on
Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. Today the Carmelite order includes Carmelite
Friars who serve God by guiding people in their prayer and faith life,
Carmelite nuns who live enclosed lives and serve God in prayer and Carmelite
laypeople who are committed to serving God in the spirit of the Carmelites in
their everyday life – Carmelite laypeople may be married. Carmelites wear a
brown scapular. Many years ago, this was a long brown garment that covered them
from shoulder to feet. It became a symbol of their dedication to Mary. Over
time, the brown scapular changed to become two pieces of brown cloth joined by
a string. One cloth hangs on a person's chest and the other hangs on their
back. It is worn under a person's clothes and it is a sign of their commitment
to following Jesus as Mary did. Mary shows us: how to be open to God and his
will; how to be guided by faith, hope and love; how to be close to the needs of
others; how to pray at all times; and how to discover God as present in all
that happens around us.
An article about the brown scapular and detail link
