Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Commemorative masses will be held today in several churches and Marian shrines across the country in celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, marking the 766th anniversary of the widespread devotion to Our Lady’s brown scapular.

Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco will preside over a high mass at 6 p.m. at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Project 6, Quezon City. A solemn procession was held yesterday afternoon.

At the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Manila, QC, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia will preside over a high mass at 6 p.m.

This year’s feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is particularly significant as it coincides with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of its revered image from Mexico in 1618 as a gift from the Discalced Carmelites Nuns of Acapulco. Celebrations were held last May to mark the event.

The Blessed Mother appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lourdes, France in 1858 and on her last apparition in Fatima, Portugal on Oct. 13, 1917.

Mount Carmel is a holy place in northern Israel that was mentioned about 30 times in the Old Testament. It was the first place dedicated to the Virgin Mary as early as the 12th century.

Church leaders said, “The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel serves to remind the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s promise of special protection and heavenly graces to all those who wear the brown scapular, a sign of salvation and a safeguard in dangers. The Holy Mother promised that whoever dies wearing the brown scapular will not suffer everlasting fire.”