Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena
Contents
Show HideOur Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates when Mary appeared at Mount Carmel to St. Simon Stock. Mount Carmel has deep Old Testament history that makes the place even more special. Most notable about Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the institution of the scapular.
Pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena to ask for her intercession!
About Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel has an interesting history. The first reference to Mount Carmel is actually before the time of Jesus! The Bible tells the story of the prophet Elijah, who prays at Mount Carmel. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, were in the midst of a drought. As a result, Elijah prayed to God, asking Him to send rain to save the people.
Elijah’s servant went up the mountain seven times to look for any signs of rain to save the dying people. On the seventh try, he came back and reported that a cloud was coming. Sure enough, a huge rainstorm came through, ending the drought and saving the Israelites.
Elijah believed this was the result of the Messiah’s mother. Even though Mary wasn’t even born yet, the prophet Isaiah had spoken of the virgin who would give birth to the Lord. Elijah believed this miracle was the work of this virgin. Hermits who lived on the mountain began to pray for the intercession of this virgin as a result.
Thousands of years later, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in the exact same location.
On July 16, 1251, St. Simon, then a priest in the Carmelite religious order, was on his way to the Holy Land. The group decided to stop to pray on Mount Carmel.
It was during that prayer that Mary appeared to St. Simon. In this apparition, or appearance of Mary, she is known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
She appeared to St. Simon holding Jesus as a child in one arm. On her other arm, she held a scapular. This is a long piece of sleeveless cloth worn by Carmelites in the Carmelite religious order. She promised that all those who wear this cloth and follow Christ faithfully will be brought by Our Lady into heaven at their deaths.
Since then, lay Catholics have also been entrusted with the scapular by being enrolled in the scapular. The scapular is considered a sacramental in the Church. The lay scapular consists of a necklace-like cord that is worn around the neck, with a badge on each end resting on one’s chest and back. The badges contain brown wool similar to the Carmelite habit. The wearer agrees to live a faithful life and pray the Rosary. In return, he or she receives the grace of being ushered into heaven by Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the scapular is still strong today. The practice grew in popularity again after Vatican II.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s Feast Day: July 16
Why Pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena?
As patroness of the Carmelites, those who are in Carmelite religious life will appreciate this novena! Those who are in or are considering joining the Carmelite Third Order will also find this novena appealing.
If you wear a scapular, praying the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel can help increase your devotion to this practice.
Finally, if you love Mary, you’ll love this novena!
Praying to Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back all the way to the Old Testament. People have been praying to her for thousands of years! You can pray the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena for any intention!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena Prayers
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God, thank you for the Blessed Mother. You are so kind to share her with us as a mother! Her apparitions throughout the centuries have brought much peace to so many people. And so many people have become closer to You because of her!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, when you appeared to St. Simon Stock in the 1200s, you presented him with the scapular. You promised to be with all wearers of the scapular, especially at their deaths. You also promised to rescue all of those who wear it from a lengthy purgatory.
Please watch over all those who wear the scapular. Intercede on their behalf to your Son. Reward them for their faithfulness in this practice by listening to their petitions. Inspire them to keep the promises they devote themselves to through this practice.
If you are calling me to consider wearing the scapular myself, please also make that known to me through this novena.
I also bring to you my personal intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God, You call all people to holiness. In a special way, however, you call all those in religious life to a particular kind of holiness. Thank you for the witness of these holy men and women!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please watch over your Carmelite sons and daughters. Please bless their charism of contemplation. Help them to grow deeper in knowledge of life and God. Open their minds to better understand God’s word and creation. Guide them to use this knowledge to share with others and change the world.
I pray that more people choose the religious life, especially over your patronage of the Carmelites. I also pray that more laity consider vocations to third orders. The laity can also grow in these disciplines and help the work of those in religious orders!
At this time, I also ask that you bring before your Son my other intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God, I entreat You to watch over and care for those who are less fortunate than I am. Especially keep in Your care those in third world countries who do not have enough food, water, or shelter to survive.
You saw the needs of God’s people, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Long before you were even the mother of Christ, the Israelites attributed the ending of the drought as a result of your intercession.
Since the beginning of time, you’ve been the advocate of God’s people. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I ask you now to watch over those who still are poor and suffering today. Fold them in the mantle of your love. Petition Our Lord to save them from their distress.
Inspire me and my church to also consider ways we can help the under-served around the world, like your Son taught us.
Please also keep in mind my intentions that I lay before you now:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God, thank You for the gift of Your Mother. She gives us such a remarkable example of perfect love and faith! What a role model we are blessed to have in her.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, people sometimes struggle with their relationship with you. They believe that honoring you is like giving worship to God.
Yet, your example of love can be so powerful and relatable. Sometimes, it is hard to relate to Jesus. He is so perfect and divine that it can be intimidating to approach Him. Yet, you were a mother. You were a daughter. You were a simple person, whose life was suddenly turned upside by God’s plan. I can relate to that feeling.
Our Lady, please bring me closer to you, and thus closer to Jesus, through this novena. Please aid the understanding of all who struggle with their relationship with you. Please comfort me in your motherly embrace. And please bring my intentions before your Son, especially…
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
I know death is something to be considered with joy. After all, it’s reuniting with You, Lord.
But death can be so scary, too.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, you promised to be especially comforting to those who are dying or who have just died. I beg you to offer them a last opportunity to follow Christ. Appeal to them as a merciful Mother. Beg our Lord to give them one last chance.
Comfort the families of all those who are dying. Ease the fears of those who are on the brink of heaven and earth. Pour your love out on all those who are awaiting their final fate.
Please remember to Our Lord all of my family members and friends who have died. Please also bring before Him my other intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O Lord, You are so merciful.. As such, you’ve reserved a place between Heaven and Hell - Purgatory, a place where we can be cleansed and purified of the lasting effects of our sins.
That is where you come in, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Part of your promises to those who wear the scapular is retrieval from Purgatory. You told St. Simon that you would descend to Purgatory each week and release all those who wore the scapular during their lifetime.
I intercede today on behalf of all the holy souls in Purgatory. Please bring them quickly to Our Lord. Beg for them before your Son. I know He will not refuse your request.
Release them from their bondage and usher them home to Our Lord. There, they can love Him and be joyful with Him and you for eternity.
I ask that you particularly watch over any souls in Purgatory that I may know and love, especially those of my family and friends.
Please also keep in mind my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, when you gave the scapular to St. Simon Stock, you promised to especially watch over all those who wear it. You said, “It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace.”
My Lady, there are so many people who are suffering in this world. So many people are physically sick. So many people are mentally distressed. And so many are spiritually ill.
Today, I bring them all before you. Please hold them in your loving embrace. Give them the peace and protection you mentioned to St. Simon. Bear them before Our Loving God and ask for their healing. Intercede to end to their suffering. I especially pray for all those I know who are sick or suffering.
Please also keep in my mind intentions:
(State your intentions here)
God, I know that all things are in Your Hands. Please hear my prayers on behalf of all those who are sick and suffering. Allow me to offer up my own trials for their sake!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O God, how Your Heart must have been filled with joy at the Blessed Mother’s fiat! Her yes to following Your Will for salvation must have lit heaven up with joy.
I know how hard saying yes to You can be sometimes. I get afraid when I can’t see the outcome. I fail to trust You.
But then I see the results of Mary’s yes! I wonder what my own “no’s” to You are causing. Help me to trust You totally!
Can you help me to fill heaven with joy at my own fiat, Our Lady of Mount Carmel? Allow me to also say yes to God’s Will in my life. I want to bring God this same joy. I want to impact others just like you did. I want to trust!
Please also pray for my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Why did you give us the scapular, Our Lady of Mount Carmel?
It does bring promises of salvation and protection. However, I believe your motivation was the same as it always is. I believe you brought us the scapular to bring us closer to your Son.
The scapular bears a constant reminder in our lives to our devotion to God. Every movement of the fabric throughout our day should draw our thoughts to Him. Likewise, the promises of faithfulness are also meant to provide our soul its own protection.
That is why you had the child Jesus in your other arm when presenting the scapular! What was on your one hand would help lead us closer to what was on the other.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, lead me ever closer to your Son through this devotion. Throughout my life, draw me nearer to your heart. I know that your two hearts are so close. May my devotion to you bring me closer to Jesus’ heart!
Please intercede for me and present my intentions before Him:
(State your intentions here)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.