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
