Flos Carmeli ('Flower of Carmel')

The 'day with Mary' (see yesterday's post) featured enrolment in the 'scapular' of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Carmelite Order has a unique, historical connection with England and I have decided to provide the whole subject with its own tab: Flos Carmeli ('Flower of Carmel'). There you will find information on the history of the English Carmelites and the Scapular.

To show how the English connection is unique and to encourage readers to study the matter further, consider the following:

1. Of all the kingdoms of Europe, England was the first that admitted the religious men of the Order of the blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, when the the persecutions of the Saracens obliged them to fly from Palestine, their native soil.
2. It was to an Englishman that the sacred Virgin gave the Scapular with her own hand.
3. The apparition of the Virgin took place in England in the Carmelite Convent at Cambridge.
4. It was in England that the Scapular wrought its miraculous effect.
5. It was in England that the devotion of the Scapular had its beginning, the Confraternity of the most blessed Virgin being erected there before any other place in the world. King Edward I procured himself to be enrolled in it.

[Source: A Short Treatise on the Scapular. Thomas P Colgan, Philadelphia. 1847]

This blog is launched

Today is the Feast of St Michael the Archangel and I spent it as a 'day with Mary' in the beautiful church of St James, Spanish Place, London. It was here that I decided to launch this blog today, even though it is still in the very early stages of construction.

My initial idea is to address the following question: why were the English faithful the only ones to refer to their country as Mary's 'dowry'?

Accordingly, my aim is to build a blog in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the particular part she has played in the lives of the English.

I offer the blog as a gift to you, Mary, our gentle Queen and Mother, praying that you may watch over my family and plead with your divine Son to forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of His mercy.

I also pray for the strength, protection and help of Holy Michael the Archangel in our war against the powers of darkness:

[11] Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. [12] For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. [Ephesians VI]

Prayer for England

O blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope, was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home. Amen.

Prayer to St Michael

PB, after Crivelli

Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.