In the 12th century, there was a group of hermits living on Mount Carmel in northern Israel — these men were the first members of the Carmelite order. They had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, and she became the patroness of their order.
In the 13th century, some of the Carmelites moved to England. Tradition holds that Saint Simon Stock, a leader in the order, had a vision of Mary in which she gave him the 'Brown Scapular.' In the vision, the Blessed Mother promised that those who died wearing the scapular would be saved and asked Saint Simon to promote devotion to the scapular.
Devotion to the scapular spread and is still practiced by many Catholics in the Church today. It reminds wearers of the Gospel's call to prayer, humilty, and obedience — which Mary perfectly modeled. Wearing the scapular is a sign of one's pledge to imitate Mary's virtues and trust her Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is venerated as the patron of protection from harm and deliverance from Purgatory. Get to know more about this devotion to Mary through this Spotify playlist inspired by the Carmelite order and their legacy — featuring artists The Brilliance and Audrey Assad, and themes of dreams and trust.
