The third week of thirty days with Mary

This third week of thirty days with Mary

we focus on the fire of divine love as embodied by Mary

as Our Lady of Carmel

Short History :

The Order of Carmel traces its routes to the prophet Elijah 

who dwelt on Mount Carmel, and is often regarded as the 

founder and first patriarch of the Order of Carmel dating

 back to 850 B.C. (8). On Mount Carmel there is a grotto

 known as the “Grotto of the Prophet” which is believed

 to have served as an oratory for Elijah, and attached to

 this grotto is a chapel erected to Our Lady of 

Mount Carmel which dates back to 83 A.D. (9). 

Elijah heard the voice of the Lord telling him to go 

and drink of the stream (1 Kings 17:2-5). 

He obeyed the voice of the Lord, and was chosen by 

God as a leader to bring Israelites back to Him (10).

 According to tradition, Elijah beheld a manifestation 

of a “type” of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

 “the little cloud like a man’s hand” arising out of the sea

 (1 Kings 18:44) (11), 

and some have traced the

 title of Mary “Star of the Sea” 

to this vision of Elijah.

Hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah 

(northern Israel) in the 12th century. 

They had a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. 

By the 13th century they became known as 

“Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” 

They soon celebrated a special Mass and Office in honor of Mary.

 In 1726 it became a celebration of the universal Church 

under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

 For centuries the Carmelites have seen 

themselves as specially related to Mary. 

Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to her 

and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception.

St. Teresa of Avila (October 15) called 

Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.”

 St. John of the Cross (December 14) credited Mary 

with saving him from drowning as a child,

 leading him to Carmel and helping him escape from prison.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (October 1) believed that Mary cured her from illness. 

On her First Communion, she dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life she frequently spoke of Mary.

There is a tradition (which may not be historical) 

that Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a leader of the Carmelites, 

and gave him a scapular, telling him to promote devotion to it. 

The scapular is a modified version of Mary’s own garment. 

It symbolizes her special protection and calls 

the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way.

Initiation of Fire :

The mandala of wholeness of the human psyche

contains the four elements of fire, air, water and earth.

In her story Mary is initiated into all four elements

on a psychic, spiritual and divine level.

The Immaculate Conception is the initiation of fire.

In the Catholic tradition both Mary and Jesus

was immaculately conceived.

For these seven days we contemplate the fire

of the Divine Mother and what it means to us

personally.  We contemplate the destructive power

of fire.  We contemplate the transformative power of fire.

We contemplate on the necessity of fire in this world

and in our interior world.

The deepest meaning of the Immaculate Conception 

in the spiritual journey of the Soul is

the absolute willingness of the Soul to surrender to

the invisible Bridegroom and to conceive the divine flame of love

and to give birth to the actions of the Christed One in the world.

In the same way that Mary had to endure the disbelief

of the collective mind of the world, you would have to

endure the disbelief of your own unconscious and

subconscious mind and its belief systems.

In order to receive the fire of the Mother (also known

as the Kundalini or the flame of divine love)

you will have to go beyond all reasonable doubt

and all ideas of the mind.

In these seven days you may contemplate on

where you have become resistant, defensive

or afraid of the initiation of the Immaculate Conception

in your own soul and where you have 

joined the inner chorus of disbelievers.

Does your ego play its part as Joseph, the supportive

caretaker and companion of the blessed Mary?

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, 

fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. 

Blessed Mother of the Son of God; 

Immaculate Virgin, 

Oh, Star of the Sea, 

Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, 

There are none that can withstand your power. 

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times) 

Amen.

blessings

Hettienne