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Our Lady of Mount Carmel
On the 16th of July, in the ports and fishing villages of Spain, seafarers and fishers celebrate the feast of their patroness: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, known locally as Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
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According to tradition, devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has its origin in a vision experienced by the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18, 44). From the top of Mount Carmel, Elijah saw a white cloud rise from the sea. This cloud subsequently became a symbol of Mary and is one of the sources of the title “Star of the Sea”.
From the very beginning of Christianity, a group of monks lived on Mount Carmel. In time, this group would develop into the Order of Carmelites. Centuries later, one of their superiors, Simon Stock, established their devotion to Our Lady Star of the Sea.
On 16 July 1251, while in England, Simon Stock experienced a vision of Our Lady. She gave him a scapular promising that anyone who died wearing it would be saved from Hell. A scapular is a garment worn by monks and nuns to protect the front and back of their habits. These days it can also mean a holy medal.
There is a long history of devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel among Spanish seafarers. An 18th century Spanish Admiral observed
Stars guide seafarers at sea and Our Lady guides us in our lives
On 19 April 1901, Maria Cristina, Queen Regent of Spain, officially proclaimed Our Lady of Mount Carmel as patron of Spanish seafarers.
In the photographs, an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is carried through the Port of Barcelona, July 2006