Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel begins today.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, help and model in the dark night of faith, pray for us.
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In October of 1917 at Fatima, during the miracle of the sun, Our Lady showed herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel.  Mt. Carmel is in Israel of course, the site of the great Old Testament miracle which took place through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, defeating the false prophets of Baal.  It is also the place where Elijah observed the prophetic sign of a little cloud rising from the sea, which some Fathers have interpretted to prefigure the coming era of grace - the birth of the Messiah.  (Trivia: Today the Carmelite monastery at Mt. Carmel is called Stella Maris, or Star of the Sea.)  Traditionally, the little cloud, much like the Burning Bush which Moses beheld, images the Blessed 'Virgin who would be with child' foretold in the Isaiah prophecy. 
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At any rate, for a long time now, I have considered Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to be the primary help and model, indeed our refuge in the troubles that afflict the world and the Church, especially as they concern the persecutions of Christians in the Middle East and Muslim countries, as well as the heresy, apostacy and corruption which seems to infect Catholic culture in many places across the globe.

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Prayer

O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed mother of the Son of God, immaculate virgin, assist us in our necessity. O star of the sea, help us and show us the way. Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who turn to you.


Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads, so that we can attain our goal. You who gave us the diving gift to forgive and forget all evil against us, and who are with us in all instances in our lives, thank you for all things, as you confirm once again that we are never to be separated from you in eternal glory. AMEN - Source